Hobbit, The - GBA

As the release of the third and final chapter in the Lord of the Rings saga approaches, and the familiar worldwide Tolkien fever spreads once again, it seems Vivendi has seen fit to take advantage by releasing a game based on the series' prequel. The Hobbit, as most of you will be aware, is the novel that introduced the world to the chronicles of Middle-Earth and its inhabitants, telling the story of Bilbo Baggins, an unassuming Hobbit who becomes unwittingly thrust into an epic adventure.

The game sees players take on the role of Bilbo and guide him on a quest from his peaceful Hobbit-hole in Hobbiton, through the dark and harrowing Mirkwood, to the Lonely Mountain, home of Smaug the Dragon. Along the way, an assortment of hazards stand in your way, from gaping chasms to treacherous mountains, and a great many puzzles need to be solved. Oh, and lets not forget the hordes of enemies that need to be dealt with if you are to survive the quest.

The gameplay itself combines elements from Zelda-style games with those of the more traditional RPG. As such, you'll encounter old conventions like power ups and also elements like improving skills, as seen in the more traditional adventure. There's also a strong emphasis on the more stealthy and thoughtful approach - the odd bit of sneaking around is often required and at times you'll even need to do things like pickpocket the enemies.

Throughout the game, a host of familiar characters populate the virtual Middle-Earth, such as Elves, Dwarves, Trolls, and Goblins. You'll also encounter some more friendly faces along the way, however, including Gandalf and Thorin the Dwarf.

The Hobbit delivers an in-depth adventure that closely follows the plot of the well-loved story, so it should certainly have a wide appeal.
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