Introduction
To this day, it remains very rare to find video games based on a novel license. Whether they have been good or bad, the fact remains that it is a very uncommon sight. The truth is that novels are the most sensible licenses to use for video games anyway. For people who have trouble making a book come to life on their own, a game like that would surely help them in many more positive ways than a movie ever could. There have been too many games made that are based on movie licenses and in some ways that is reasonable except that a good seventy percent of the time those games are not worth buying. I am truly happy that this game is based more on the book than the movie, not because the movie was bad or anything. It is just because I feel there is more chance for a game based on a novel to succeed. Did this formula make a good game? Well I will have to say yes. The game is not perfect in any way but it has flaws that can be easily overlooked because it has the other features to help the game hold its own.

Gameplay
This game is one of the first games reviewed here to feature an entire section that discusses the story. My opinion of the story will affect the score of the gameplay as it does play a great part in the overall flow of the game. The game follows the book much more than it follows the movie. It does keep the great feel of both versions of the story, while at the same time, making its own experience just as worthwhile. The story for those of you who do not know, is revolving around a hobbit names Frodo Baggins, who lives in a shire filled with many more of his people. When another hobbit names Bilbo Baggins leaves, he leaves a mysterious ring that awakes severe concern in the eyes of the great wizard Gandalf. After all of this, Frodo has to set out on a quest of mystery, adventure, and horror. The story is very deep and that is shown through the game as much as a video game is able to do. Some key story points seem to be missing but are sometimes described by supporting characters. The story is what will keep most players tuned in. Even fans of the book and movie who may have already read and watched it a million times will enjoy this game. I am not surprised that they decided to follow some of the books text as it is evident throughout some major points in the game and I do believe that it was a smart choice. Overall the story complements a great gameplay experience and it makes the game even more enjoyable than expected.

Fun
If I were to choose between the book, the game or even the movie, I would of course choose the book. Nothing has been able to present the story of this great author in a better way and I do not think that it will ever be possible. The game is a great game for patient people who love long games. The gameplay may be a tad bit slow, but it has what it takes to be an entertaining video game. The graphics, story and sound also do a nice job of making this game what it is, a damn fine game. Go buy it, you will not regret it.



Story
The gameplay of this game is quite refreshing, if not a little slow. The game follows a somewhat simple turn based battle engine that has a few innovative quirks that make it stand out. I will leave you to find those out but you will know that it is not entirely a cut and dry battle engine. There are many quests to take and most of them require you to find people or items. For completing missions you are usually rewarded with items or information that will help you continue your quest. The game seems a little slow paced compared to other RPG’s of the same type, mainly because there are a lot of similar missions. People who do not have patience in receiving rewards will find themselves tired with this game well before they should. The battles are fun, but they also have a slow paced feel to them. I like them very much because they are simply executed and should be easy for anyone to grasp. There are many weapons and items to collect throughout the game so the avid explorer will find much to hunt for. The bosses are quite difficult and the overall difficulty is ramped up near the end. This game is quite long compared to most of the RPG’s that have hit the Game Boy Advance so far. For the patient gamer, this game will keep them occupied for about 15-20 hours, and that is only to beat the game and get to the end. I was very surprised with the gameplay I was presented with in this game.

Graphics
The visuals at first seemed to lean towards average, but I soon realized that there was great thought and time put into every aspect of the visuals and realized that the storybook look of the game was not an accident. It not only seems to be done on purpose but it also makes the game look a lot more vibrant. The game features all of the right touches where and when it is needed. The colors are dull when needed and they are colorful when the scene calls for it. The graphics bring the books vision to life at least as good as the movie did. The environments are detailed and the use of color is great. While most of the buildings seen in towns look similar, they do each have different aspects that set them apart. The character models are the only aspect of the visuals that I personally believe could have been worked on more. The main character’s animations are great but some of the town folk and even some supporting characters look a bit stiff. This does not change the fact the character models are well detailed as they look as good as they possibly can, with the restraints of the Game Boy Advance. Overall I believe the graphics are a great feast for the eyes. While not perfect, they do the job necessary to bring the world of the book to pixels.

Sound
The sound in this game is to say it best, ok. It is nothing that overflows with quality and it is nothing horribly bad either. It mainly just is what it is, a suitable filler for an overall great game. It does not seem to me that the sound of the game was a major focus as many of the sound effects seem generic and overused. The music on the other hand is well designed and sets the right mood when it is needed most. The music can become repetitive but it never becomes much of a burden that it would make you turn away from the game. The tunes do not resemble the music of the movie and if it was meant to, then I think it missed a couple of notes. On the other hand if it was to simply be a new soundtrack, then they did a fine job. Just do not expect anything like Mozart or your favorite rock and roll band. Overall the sound does well for what it was meant to be, a decent filler for an overall nice game.