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I WILL Buy This Video Game For Sure

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 20
Date: November 02, 2003
Author: Amazon User

"The Hobbit" is going to be an awsome video game for the Sony PlayStation2. I can't wait to own it! It will have a lot of action and adventure in it. It is said that this game will be pretty strategic and challenging at some points. I love a game that challenges the person who plays it! And hey; "The Hobbit" video game is a prelude to "The Lord of the Rings". And "Lord of the Rings" is awsome! I haven't read any books by author J.R.R. Tolkien; but I have seen director Peter Jackson's movie trilogy; and the first two movies are a phenomenon! I can't wait to see the third one! Anyway: "The Hobbit" video game will have many evil fantasy characters to fight such as: trolls, goblins, huge spiders, and more. I cannot wait to own "The Hobbit" video game for the Sony PlayStation2!

Impressions...

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 27 / 31
Date: November 16, 2003
Author: Amazon User

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.

Excellent!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 9
Date: November 17, 2003
Author: Amazon User

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.

The Right Game For Me!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: November 17, 2003
Author: Amazon User

"The Hobbit" video game is a spectacular game! I haven't beaten it yet; but I just know that it is my kind of game. It is not too easy, has a lot of action, and has wonderful graphics and sound quality!

FUN

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 4
Date: November 17, 2003
Author: Amazon User

THIS GAME IS VERY FUN TO PLAY! I LIKE TO KILL THE GOBLINS AND HUGE SPIDERS. THE GAME CAN GET A LITTLE HARD SOMETIMES THOUGH. BUT ITS STILL A GREAT GAME! THE HOBBIT ROCKS AND ROLLS!!!

Awsome!!!!!!!!!!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 10
Date: November 18, 2003
Author: Amazon User

This is an awsome game and any person who knows a good viedo game knows they will love this. The graphics are tight and the music is catchy. The gameplay is really fun with lots of action and strategy involved.

Be Warned

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 9 / 11
Date: November 25, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Vivendi Universal released the Fellowship of the Ring a year ago. The game was one of the most frustrating things I've ever played. Incredibly short, yet annoyingly stupid, the choices they made to change the story seemed to make no sense. The graphics, though decent for a computer game, were pathetic for Playstation 2.

The fact is, Vivendi is treading a fine line here. They have to compete with the hugely popular EA Lord of the Rings games whose many advantages include scenes from the blockbuster movies, amazing gameplay, and incredible graphics (almost always a given with EA). "Fellowship" simply did not make the cut.

The point I'm trying to make is RENT IT first. I'm a LotR freak too. All this impulse buying is dangerous. Rent it, then buy. The other thing to remember is that Vivendi's games tend to be incredibly short once you get the hang of them. When I finally got out of the Shire in "Fellowship" (stupid Ringwraiths), it took me about 2 and a half hours to beat it. When playing "Hobbit", I got through almost 3/4 of the game in an hour. If Vivendi keeps going the way they have been, this game is will not be worth $50. Go play "The Return of the King" instead.

What the?

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 3 / 6
Date: November 27, 2003
Author: Amazon User

When I wrote a reveiw on The return of the King and Amazon reccomended The Hobbit so I rented it and its AWESOME. This game is a lot like The fellowship of the ring (I own everything to do with LOTR because I'm a HUGE fan) but better.My Dad has a copy of the Hobbit book but I never read it. So it is also nice to find out what its about.It was also wise to mix Zelda with the hobbit, That will make Zelda fans LOTR fans. Adventure fans this is your game.

Hobbit Hopes

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 8
Date: November 30, 2003
Author: Amazon User

THis game is okay, but very boring. I hate the graphics. It does have some interesting moments, though.

Rent first, buy only if you still enjoy it

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 15 / 18
Date: December 05, 2003
Author: Amazon User

The Lord of the Rings trilogy has been getting quite popular in the past few years. It was inevitable that the original story - of Bilbo Baggins finding the ring - would become a new computer game.

Bilbo Baggins is enlisted by Gandalf to go along with a group of dwarves to explore and steal back a treasure from the dragon Smaug. As you go you gain skill with your sword and courage for your hobbit brain.

The game is on the cutesy side and bears no resemblance to the movie hobbits. It's more based on the infamous cartoon version of the Hobbit by Arthur Rankin Jr, with round-bellied short creatures that refuse to talk of adventure. The game involves a lot of jumping from pillar to pillar and going on eternal quests fetching needles and hammers and nails. Yes, there's bashing involved too, mostly of the jump-and-slash, jump-and-slash, jump-and-slash kind.

Don't get me wrong - I *love* Lord of the Rings and will eagerly buy any game based on the series. But I also love great gameplay. I would play Zelda for months and months, and the games based on the movies in the Lord of the Rings trilogy were superb. This one is on the cute side and is more about running through bushes and shrubs gathering up "courage gems" than any actual real thought. You could easily win this game in a few hours. Sure, you can then go back and find "every last gem" ... but really, running around every square inch of ground hoping mysterious gems pop out of the ground isn't my idea of fun.

I'd recommend renting this one and playing it for a weekend. You'll easily win the game several times in that period. If you still find the game fun, buy yourself a copy and enjoy! But if you've tired of the incessant repetitive music, jumping platform areas and tediously long speeches by then, you'll be quite happy to trade the game back in and get something else. I recommend Return of the King - now there's a game I love playing over and over!

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