The Hobbit

Other products by Vivendi Universal

Product Features

• Explore a 3D world filled with expansive environments
• Play massive levels in recognizable areas such as Rivendell, Mirkwood, Laketown and Lonely Mountain
• Jump, ledge grab, shimmy, climb ropes and ladders
• Play through 11 massive levels in recognizable areas such as Rivendell, Mirkwood, Laketown and Lonely Mountain.

Product Details

• Our recommended age: 5 - 20 years
• Manufacturer recommended age: 0 months and up
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00008XPJH
• Item Weight: 2 pounds
• Media: Video Game
• Release Date: July 22, 2004
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #5,397 in Video Games (See Bestsellers in Video Games)

Product Description

Platform: PlayStation2

From Children's Software Review
Set in the world of Middle Earth, this detailed, one player fighting/strategy game follows the story of the Tolkien's The Hobbit novel and is best suited for children ages 10 and up. Players steer Bilbo Baggins through places like Mirkwood Forest and Lonely Mountain, battling trolls and collecting gems for courage and health. The graphics are cartoony (like Zelda), but this doesn't take away from the game. We tested the Game Cube version, and found it to be very rich, with eleven different areas to explore. Strengths include a design that is really easy to either zoom through, or take more time and explore. For example, in the first level, all you need to do is fix a bridge and find a walking stick, and you're done. But you can take much more time and explore if you want to. The only thing we'd fix is to add a running mode -- Bilbo is a little slow at times, and our 16 year old seasoned tester found some of the puzzles really tough. One maze of islands, that requires specially timed jumps, stood out as being frustratingly hard. The bottom line? Buy it, if you're at all interested in The Hobbit book.Copyright © 2001 Children's Software Revue

Product Description
Play as Bilbo Baggins in a third-person adventure based loosely on the J.R.R. Tolkien novel, The Hobbit. Featuring an intriguing storyline it sends players to classic locales from the book in addition to a few completely new areas designed specifically for the game.Reenact all your favorite scenarios, including the meeting of Gandalf and the dwarves, the shadowy encounter with the hungry and insane Gollum and the battle with the dragon Smaug. Use the power of the infamous ring to become invisible and sneak past enemies and fight baddies with various weapons such as a walking stick, throwing stones, and the magical sword Sting.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Impressions..., November 16, 2003

By A Customer

As I've not yet completed "The Hobbit," I won't consider this a full-fledged review, but rather I'll note my initial impressions of the game (in which I've already invested three to four hours) in two distinct ways - first as a stand alone game and second as an avid J.R.R. Tolkien zealot (and hardcore gamer).

When you take the game itself, ignoring its namesake and the source material upon which it is based, it is a 3D action platformer with some very colorful, cartoon-like graphics. The art direction is regrettable, but it will surely appeal to younger gamers (and so will the "E" rating). Even so, children could become frustrated with some of the game's levels, which are challenging. I found sneaking past the trolls in "Roast Mutton" frustrating myself, mainly because of the game's less-than-stellar stealth-based gameplay (when the situation calls for it). Combat in the game is extremely basic and not overly exciting, but the platformming elements of the game work well enough. What's more, the levels are sometimes interspersed with charming animated sequences that further the storyline (but ususally are just bookended by cheesy artist's sketches that depict the happenings of the book). The game's soundtrack is quite good, and inspires images of rural Britain long ago. Voice-acting is not bad either. What you ultimately have is a game that is uninspired despite its source material (more on that in a moment), but should still provide some entertainment to gamers with a taste for the kinds of things it offers.

Now, as an avid Tolkien fan who grew up on "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings," I must regretfully report that this video game adaptation takes unnecessary liberties that spoil the Middle Earth lisence. Aside from the childish graphics, which fail to accurately depict our beloved world, the game invents its own ridiculous bestiary and occasionally thrusts Bilbo Baggins and company into situations that are not found in the book. Purists beware, for you will be annoyed. Even so, the game does try to follow the overall storyline of "The Hobbit," and the rendered cut-scenes in particular do adhere to the novel. And yes, I know a game is about gameplay, and adapting a beloved book into a game requires some artistic license, but I can't shake my irritation at some of the game designers' decisions. Nowhere in "The Hobbit" should Bilbo have to face fish-men or things that appear to be giant mutant squirels.

If you're a Tolkien fanatic and an adult gamer, you would do well to either pass on this game completely (assuming you can't stomach the kiddish graphics or, worse, the game's departure from the source material) or wait a while for the price to drop. There's some fun to be had here if you're more open-minded than most Ringers, but I certainly don't recommend it heartily at this point.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Surprisingly good, December 30, 2003

By	Gaby (Netherlands) - See all my reviews

When I first saw the graphics of The Hobbit I thought : "pf, just another kiddie game" - but then I played it myself and got hooked. Despite the colorful graphics it is more challenging than it looks like. Being a tough gamer myself and loving playing games like Hitman I must say The Hobbit was surprisingly good and for a change "not bloody". It is not as brutal and there is no blood or shooting; Bilbo has to fight spiders and ugly goblins thus making The Hobbit a relaxing game.But be aware: The Hobbit is not as easy as it might give you the impression! At times it is quite challenging and can be even frustrating. And there is a lot to do: exploring, solving riddles (you always find hints), fighting with a stick or the blue lighted Sting sword and throwing stones - (you get advanced tactics during gameplay making your hits stronger). What really makes it special is that you can use The Ring (I mean this is what the story is about, isn't it?) which you gain in a later level. The Ring makes you "invisible" to some creatures helping you to sneak past them. What is nice too is that there is no time limit to it (well of course there sometimes is e.g. opening those chests) so you can explore your surroundings. This to me was an extremely nice feature since Bilbo is small (he is a hobbit after all!) making some sceneries mostly impressive like the Dwarves'halls!
You have to cope with your tinyness here since some obstacles are huge! But there is always a way out and you will enjoy the victory of having made it. In fact some scenes kept me behind my PC for hours - I just couldn't stop until I finished them! I wouldn't exactly recommend it to younger kids under 10 since they might get frustrated when not being able to make their way but it is a hit for the older ones.
Get it and play it! Enjoy it! It is a nice challenging game that is good for your nerves as it is as I said not bloody - it is a great fantasy game!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!, November 16, 2003

A Kid's Review

This video game is awsome! It has solid graphics and great gameplay. 'The Hobbit' is a prelude to 'The Lord of the Rings' which, I guess, is one of the reasons it is so cool. There is a lot of fighting, puzzle-solving, and adventuring to do in this game. 'The Hobbit' is not an easy game because it is very strategic and gets pretty hard at some points. Fans of Zelda, such as myself, will really enjoy playing 'The Hobbit' video game for the Sony PlayStation2.

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