Intro: The 2000s gave us iconic fantasy worlds, from Harry Potter’s magical adventures to Narnia’s enchanting realm. But none were as celebrated as The Lord of the Rings, brought to life by Peter Jackson’s films based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s legendary books. While I know more about Harry Potter, I’ve always admired The Lord of the Rings for its epic story and rich worldbuilding. Unsurprisingly, the movies led to several video game adaptations. The first, based on The Fellowship of the Ring, was a letdown for fans, turning a promising story into a tedious game.
Summary: Hobbit Frodo Baggins (Steve Staley) is tasked by a tall wizard named Gandalf (Tom Kane) to take the One Ring of Power to the edges of Middle-earth to be rid of its dark and sinister powers. Along the way, he gains helpful allies and comes across dangerous encounters as the evil Dark Lord Sauron will stop at nothing to retrieve the One Ring of Power to rule all of Middle-earth.
Story: To its credit, the game traces the first chapter of the Lord of the Rings saga fairly well. Occasionally, it tosses in new obstacles and characters not found in the movie, but these additions neither disrupt nor enrich our understanding of Middle-earth. What the adaptation truly lacks, though, is the emotion that made the film so memorable. Even as it echoes the same major story beats, the game misses the epic impact, leaving pivotal moments feeling hollow. It’s a mix of faithful and occasional deviations from the source, but the retelling never comes close to the depth achieved by the book or movie. In the end, Tolkien’s world deserves better.
Characters: All the familiar faces from the film that we've grown attached to lose much of their charm in the game. Every character—from Frodo to Gandalf—feels one-dimensional, made worse by lackluster voice acting. I know it sounds harsh, but after experiencing the impeccable casting and emotional depth of the movie, the game’s portrayals just fall flat. Only Aragorn comes close to capturing the spirit of his on-screen counterpart; the rest simply don’t measure up to the richness Tolkien gave them in his stories.
Gameplay: There are countless creative possibilities for designing an engaging game set in the Lord of the Rings universe. Unfortunately, this particular title falls short. While it’s understandable that technical limitations existed at the time of release, the gameplay quickly grows repetitive and unremarkable, giving players little reason to dive deep into the wonders of Middle-earth. You can play as Frodo Baggins, Aragorn, or Gandalf, each equipped with their own unique abilities to take down enemies along the way. Yet beyond occasional puzzle-solving and gathering health pickups, defeating enemies is about all that’s on offer—and even that feels pointless, since combat is rarely required. Most enemies can be ignored entirely, stripping battles of any real significance or reward. To its credit, the game sometimes lets you play as Gandalf, whose magical staff offers a brief thrill and can easily overpower foes. But that only highlights what’s missing: iconic characters like Gimli and Legolas are nowhere to be found in the roster, a glaring omission that could have added much-needed variety and excitement. The worst offender is the save feature. If you die at a critical moment, the game simply stops—and if you haven’t saved recently, you’ll be forced to start over from your last save point. It’s a frustrating design choice that only makes the experience more infuriating. The whole experience would have benefited from a more ambitious approach—perhaps as an RPG or a co-op multiplayer beat ‘em up. There’s so much potential in transforming a beloved film into a dynamic gaming adventure. Sadly, Black Level Games never fully taps into that promise.
Graphics: I have to give credit to any game that tackles early-2000s CGI—a few from that era truly shine, given the technical hurdles. Still, visually, this game just left me uninterested. Every location seems to blur together, using a washed-out color palette that drains any sense of magic from the scenery. The character models aim for realism, but I can’t help but think a slightly more stylized, cartoony approach—like what EA pulled off with the early Harry Potter games—might have worked better. Backgrounds are almost empty, and, as I mentioned before, they blend so much that nothing stands out. Sure, recreating the vivid atmosphere of the movies with 2002 graphics was a tough challenge. But looking at what games like Halo: Combat Evolved accomplished around the same time, it’s clear that even with limited tech, there were ways to make Middle-earth feel truly wondrous.
Music: Brad Spear’s compositions fall flat, missing the mark when it comes to evoking the pulse-pounding adventure and grandeur of true epic fantasy. From what I’ve found, Spear isn’t a widely recognized composer. Creating a sweeping, unforgettable score on par with Howard Shore’s is no small feat, but these tracks sound more like generic stock music than anything memorable or distinct. Like much else in this game, the music is a letdown, leaving me wishing I could just listen to Howard Shore’s work instead.
Conclusion: Rushing a game to match a movie’s release rarely ends well, and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring is proof. The gameplay, story, and characters all fell short compared to the film. Fans of Tolkien’s world were understandably frustrated—this adaptation just didn’t capture the magic. I respect the developers’ effort, but more time might have led to a game worthy of the legendary books and movies.
(Final Grade: C)