The second part of this new series will give a quick overview and review of every computer game in the Tolkien universe.
Hopefully you can use these guides to choose which you would play whilst waiting for the army of Uruks to blow through the Deeping Wall.
Lord of the Rings: Game One
Lord of the Rings: Game One is the first part of a text-based adventure game series based on our favourite J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic fantasy novel, “The Lord of the Rings.” Developed by Beam Software and published by Melbourne House, the game was released in 1985 for various platforms, including the Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum.
Graphics and Gameplay
Being a text-based adventure, “Lord of the Rings: Game One” relied heavily on descriptive text to convey the story and environment. The graphics, where present, were limited, typical of games from that era. Gameplay involved players typing commands to interact with the environment and characters, solving puzzles, and progressing through the narrative.
Story and Faithfulness to the Source Material
The game followed the events of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Fellowship of the Ring,” the first book in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. While it attempted to capture the essence of the novel, given the limitations of early 1980s technology, the game’s narrative was necessarily condensed, and certain details may have been simplified or omitted.
Reception
“Lord of the Rings: Game One” received mixed reviews. While some players appreciated the attempt to bring Tolkien’s world to life in a game format, others found the text-based nature and limited graphics less engaging than other contemporary titles. The game’s difficulty level, typical of many adventure games of the time, also polarised opinions.
Legacy
This game is considered a precursor to later adaptations of “The Lord of the Rings” in the gaming world. Subsequent games, especially those developed in the 2000s and beyond, benefited from advancements in technology, offering more immersive experiences.
3.5+ One Rings out of 5
Check back soon for the next game in this review series Shadows of Mordor:Game Two-1987 and check out the previous entry in the series 1982 game The Hobbit at the link here.
