Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4370 in Computer & Video Games
• Brand: Sierra
• Released on: 2002-12-06
• Platform: PlayStation2

Amazon.co.uk Review
For even the mildest fans, anything related to this beloved book deserves top-notch treatment; Vivendi's officially-authorised The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings falls disappointingly short of that goal. The game is intriguing enough (credit the source material) to play through entirely--once. For the cost of the game, you are guaranteed a reasonably pleasurable 10 hours of gameplay. After that, it will likely sit on your shelf.

There are good things in this game: the RPG mechanics are fine (at various points in the story, you play as Frodo, Aragorn and Gandalf), the visuals are beautiful in parts, and certain aspects of game design are fantastic (Gandalf's magic-casting stands out). Little touches make it appealing to true fans, for instance when Aragorn receives the repaired Sword of Elendil and it glows during fighting. It would be a great game for even non-LOTR fans to play, since a good deal of backstory is provided in lengthy cinematics throughout the game. Fellowship's greatest asset, of course, is the story itself, as well as the bevy of villainous creatures that provide great boss-fight material. Many other games probably wished they had a Balrog to offer.

But the story deviates strangely from the book in order to satisfy the format of an RPG game. The final boss-fight (which we won't spoil here) is completely unrelated to anything devised by JRR Tolkien, and it seems hollow, strange and unsatisfying. The puzzles sprinkled throughout the game are random and often frustrating, as is your first encounter with the Ringwraiths (inevitably, you die many times--too steep a difficulty curve right out of the gate). This game is still strongly recommended, but with many caveats. Proceed with caution, and you're likely to enjoy yourself. Expect a masterpiece, and you'll be wishing you'd saved your money for a different PS2 title. --Jennifer Buckendorff

Manufacturer's Description
Guide Frodo Baggins and the characters of The Fellowship of the Ring through the villages, countryside and dark forests of Middle Earth in the Fellowship's great quest to protect the ring. Meet all the characters of J.R.R. Tolkien's first book of The Lord of the Rings and share in their journey and direct their actions. But you'll need all your wits and best strategy to elude the terrifying servants of the Dark Lord who seek to claim the ring for their own evil purposes.

Customer Reviews

Fellowship of the Ring
It was excellent, I enjoyed using the Ring as Frodo, fighting armies as Aragorn and casting spells as Gandalf. The parts that were hard were the Black Riders in the Shire, defeating the troll at Weathertop Hill, defeating the Nazgul in Knife in the Dark, fighting the Balrog in the Abyss Fight and defeating the Nazgul and it's Fell Beast. I can't wait to get Two Towers or Return of the King.

Why does everyone think that this game is so rubbish?
I'm not quite sure why previous reviewers have made this game out to be boring and a complete waste of time any money. Its great! Ok, in place it strays abit from the book but so what, no game that is based on a book or film is ever going to be exactly the same, and to be honest, its quite a refreshing change.

The graphics are absolutly class, and although the general gameplay was slightly easy it was fun and entertaining all the same. Its also great how you get to play as different characters from the film like Gandalf and Aragorn.

Ok, so its not the all time best game, so what, its fun and entertaining and really thats all that a good game needs to be. If you like Lord of the Rings or just want a fun game to play on then i would recommend this game to you.

dont expect a match for the book, but what could?
looking at its current ps2 and pc reviews i think its players were expecting a game that would somehow do the book justice. i think this is an unrealistic thought. fellowship of the ring is a good game that sketchily takes you through the first book. in the first part which involves escaping from black riders, call me stupid, but i was actually finding myself fearing for the little hobbit's life. i thought the game successfully built tension, contained simple but involving puzzles, and was graphically pleasing. i was hoping for a more final fantasy like rpg, but instead you go through the characters like chapters. otherwise i enjoyed it. it was nice to see old man willow, tom bombadil, the barrowdowns, and the steeded nazgul at the end, and also sensitive use of tolkein's vocabulary. it kept me smiling rather than drooling.