Gandalf the Ripe: "The Lord of the Rings" has received a prequel about cooking
The game Tales of the Shire was brought to Russia with great delay due to logistical difficulties.: The Lord of the Rings Game, a chamber project based on Tolkien. The company that made her famous for her work with director Peter Jackson on the "Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit" trilogies, and developed designs, costumes, sets, and various props for the two Hollywood trilogies. Therefore, it is not surprising that it was she who created a very accurate video game about the life and everyday life of hobbits. Translated into Russian, it is called "Tales of the Shire." With a modest budget, this is one of the most notable game projects in the most famous fantasy universe.
The fabulous world of Hobbits
Studio Wētā Workshop specializes in films and TV series, she has worked on a large number of cult series: "Dune", "Thor", "King Kong", "Alien". She practically did not play games, except for the release of the game for virtual reality helmets Dr. Grordbort's Invaders in 2018. In fact, Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game has become a full-fledged debut of the company in the category of large-scale games for consoles and smartphones. The project was released on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Nintendo Switch, as well as on iOS and Android mobile devices. The flagship copy of the PlayStation 5 game was provided by the Russian distributor of consoles and video games Achivka for testing.
Screenshot from Tales of the Shire: A Lord of The Rings Game
According to the authors, the events unfold between the actions of "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings", so technically "Tales of the Shire" can be called a bridge between two stories — Bilbo Baggins and Frodo Baggins. We will immediately warn all fans of Middle-Earth and the fireplace corners of Hobbit dwellings: the game has problems. Despite the fact that the Wētā Workshop magically brought Peter Jackson's world to life with its sets, costumes and props, it failed to repeat the same trick in an interactive game. And the story here is a bit different than you expected. Let's figure out what's good here and where it could be improved.
The game begins, as it should for any cozy story, with a cameo by Gandalf. Do you remember how he appeared in the trilogy: an unexpected but always welcome guest? It's the same here — only after that you're left alone with your custom hobbit (the hairy-legged one, of course!). Your new home is the former burrow of old Ruby, who, as it turns out, was not a big fan of comfort. The door won't open, the gate is broken, and the garden is blocked with logs.… But it's not a real hobbit house if you don't have to work hard to make it!
Screenshot from Tales of the Shire: A Lord of The Rings Game
Gradually, as you renovate the house, you discover a whole world of cozy activities: fishing, picking berries, planting vegetables, cooking delicious food and making friends with the locals. It's especially nice to see Bywater slowly turning into an official village. With your help, of course.
Cooking occupies a special place among the activities here. Your dishes are determined by three parameters: "Piecemeal/Smooth", "Crispy/Delicate" and four flavors (sweet, salty, bitter, sour). You need to balance them by slicing, mixing, frying and adding spices to make the Hobbits love you. It's incredibly exciting. Especially when you manage to cook the perfect dish that your neighbors praise you for.
Gardening is also a great joy. It's all about efficiency here: the seeds require a specific location, and you squeeze the radish between the cauliflower, leaving just a pixel of space. And when everything grows and the garden looks like a masterpiece, it's incredibly pleasant. And don't forget about the "companion plants": they make the harvest even tastier, and that's always a plus.
Screenshot from Tales of the Shire: A Lord of The Rings Game
Hobbits in the game are not just cute creatures with fluffy hair. They are lively, with character. For example, if you don't feed your neighbor for a long time, he will send you a reproachful letter. Ignore him and he'll get bored. But no one invites you to "communal meals" where you can share food and find out the news. It's a bit insulting, but maybe it's part of the hobbit character.
How did the fans rate it
Unfortunately, the game was not without technical "surprises". Sometimes she slows down, like Pippin after drinking a whole pint of ale. Sometimes the screen goes blank, leaving only a tiny sliver of visibility. And sometimes, when you go into the forest, it suddenly turns red (with black spots!), and it lasts for several minutes. But the team is already working on a fix — there have been fewer crashes since the last patch, and there is hope that everything will get better. At the same time, it is known that the development process was difficult: the team suffered from a lack of experience and support, as well as layoffs, delays, publisher closure, poor management and the so-called crunches, that is, overtime hours.
— Cool detailed customization of the burrow, the opportunity to explore the Shire, grow vegetables and flowers, fish and collect collections. Interesting cooking mechanics, an unusual system for building relationships with characters through dinner parties," Tolkien fan Alex Whale told Izvestia: Tolkien fans often prefer pseudonyms to real names.
Screenshot from Tales of the Shire: A Lord of The Rings Game
He is echoed by another connoisseur of Middle-Earth, BaniteBaby, a subscriber to numerous thematic communities on the writer's work. She confirms that the novelty treats her beloved universe with respect and is even addictive. She was especially captivated by the approach for casual players: "It's interesting to build a house, fish and collect resources. There is no action, everything is very beautiful and atmospheric." However, BaniteBaby noted that her husband, who is also a Tolkien fan, felt that the game should have action, such as attacks by trolls or orcs. And he didn't play.
Tales of the Shire is like a warm blanket: cozy, but with a couple of holes. There is everything here to spend time with pleasure: cooking, gardening, friendship with hobbits. Sometimes the developers seem to be in a hurry, but they put their heart into the project anyway, it feels like it.
Screenshot from Tales of the Shire: A Lord of The Rings Game
If you love cozy games, hobbits and are not afraid to work a little (in a good way), then Tales of the Shire is your choice. Yes, there are flaws, but they don't negate the whole atmosphere. And if you're a fan of Middle-earth, then you definitely shouldn't pass by, because this is a chance to get used to the world you love so much and help hobbits make their home even more comfortable. It's not a super hit, but the 78.6% rating of the game indicates that it has already found its audience.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
