Appallingly drab follow-up to The Hobbit. Given the source material available, it's criminal just what a wasted opportunity this game was although it's clear considerable effort was expended upon it. In another game the advanced (for the time) parser would have been a blessing but here it merely gets bogged down by the dire gameplay and less than enthralling storyline. Even being able to order your companions around and carry items for you (a clever feat at the time the game was released) pales after a while. Pure randomness plays a large factor at one point during LOTR, meaning that the sinister Black Riders may well catch you no matter what you do. As with its predecessor, this game is a nightmare to map with locations often listing half a dozen exits which lead pretty much nowhere. One to avoid. Go play Bored of the Ring instead, a parody way superior to the game it is based upon.
Rating: *
Reviewed by David Whyld (16 Jun 2004)
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