Reviews

[PC Mackintosh]

From what I have been reading in the reviews here and elsewhere online not just critics but even some initial general player base feedback. There is a fair amount of players who basically admit the game isn’t good overall but still recommend it purely based on the LOTR IP. But that to me is now starting to confirm it is a cash grab.

If it wasn’t for the LOTR IP and just some generic cozy game, then I’d expect this to be overwhelmingly negative already.

Just seems like a good chunk of people are clinging onto the IP more than anything for a game that as I read more and more both negative and positive reviews highlighting essentially it fundamentally having bad bones. Sad to see the LOTR license be tarnished with poor quality games over recent years. Hoping this wont be another one.

I’ll continue to wait and see more feedback as the days go by but so far it’s not looking good in my opinion.

[Gaben has lost my business.]

Thank you for your review of reviews from the perspective of someone who hasn't played the game.

[Tia1230]

Originally posted by PC Mackintosh:

From what I have been reading in the reviews here and elsewhere online not just critics but even some initial general player base feedback. There is a fair amount of players who basically admit the game isn’t good overall but still recommend it purely based on the LOTR IP. But that to me is now confirming it is a cash grab.

If it wasn’t for the LOTR IP and just some generic cozy game, then I’d expect this to be overwhelmingly negative already.

Just seems like a good chunk of people are clinging onto the IP more than anything for a game that as I read more and more both negative and positive reviews highlighting essentially it fundamentally having bad bones. Sad to see the LOTR license be tarnished with poor quality games over recent years.

I’ll continue to wait and see more feedback as the days go by but so far it’s not looking good in my opinion.

Why would I listen to people reviewing the game complaining? Are they me? No it depends on your taste in games whether you will like it or not. Other people can state their opinions on the game but its not you so they can't speak for you if you are going to like it.

[PC Mackintosh]

Originally posted by justdrop:

Thank you for your review of reviews from the perspective of someone who hasn't played the game.

You don’t need to play a game to have an opinion on it and to be able to bring up a point of discussion. Doing research watching gameplay, reading reviews etc can come to the same conclusions if you bought and played it.

Would you still have bought and played this and enjoyed it if it wasn’t LOTR themed for example?

If yes then fair enough, I’m just saying based on what I am seeing in a fair amount of positive reviews/people keeping it etc that’s the only reason they are mentioning whilst also listing a bunch of problems with the game design and depth etc.

[Where'sMySupersuit!!]

Tbh if I cared enough I wouldn't recommend it purely due to its performance being all over the place.

[Gaben has lost my business.]

Originally posted by PC Mackintosh:

Originally posted by justdrop:

Thank you for your review of reviews from the perspective of someone who hasn't played the game.

You don’t need to play a game to have an opinion on it and to be able to bring up a point of discussion.

You didn't have an opinion on the game though, you had an opinion on the opinion of someone else. We appreciate your efforts, please continue.

[Tia1230]

Originally posted by justdrop:

Originally posted by PC Mackintosh:

You don’t need to play a game to have an opinion on it and to be able to bring up a point of discussion.

You didn't have an opinion on the game though, you had an opinion on the opinion of someone else. We appreciate your efforts, please continue.

Well said.

[PC Mackintosh]

Originally posted by Tia1230:

Originally posted by PC Mackintosh:

From what I have been reading in the reviews here and elsewhere online not just critics but even some initial general player base feedback. There is a fair amount of players who basically admit the game isn’t good overall but still recommend it purely based on the LOTR IP. But that to me is now confirming it is a cash grab.

If it wasn’t for the LOTR IP and just some generic cozy game, then I’d expect this to be overwhelmingly negative already.

Just seems like a good chunk of people are clinging onto the IP more than anything for a game that as I read more and more both negative and positive reviews highlighting essentially it fundamentally having bad bones. Sad to see the LOTR license be tarnished with poor quality games over recent years.

I’ll continue to wait and see more feedback as the days go by but so far it’s not looking good in my opinion.

Why would I listen to people reviewing the game complaining? Are they me? No it depends on your taste in games whether you will like it or not. Other people can state their opinions on the game but its not you so they can't speak for you if you are going to like it.

Yeah I do get that and everyone’s taste is different etc. The reason I created the discussion was more around not just the ones complaining but even some of the ones leaving positive reviews/deciding to keep the game were even mentioning a bunch of issues but then will imply because it’s LOTR IP they will still recommend it/keep it.

That’s where I am questioning is it another cash grab when I see that sort of stuff it begins to imply so. If I’m being honest I’ve not totally made up my mind on it just yet. But will continue to watch more gameplay and read updates on it in the coming days and weeks.

Interested to know more from other players though about their experience so far.

[Ihateeverybody]

So Far its fine. Nothing to write the folks back home about. It doesn't do anything new or revolutionary other than the Hobbit twist (thats not a negative). I am still learning (only 3 hours in) so can't really say anything against.

At the same time I can't really say anything super positive. I am not seeing anything that Wows me. As far as I can see, what they have done is adequate.

I do have some notes however. Unless I missed it there seems to be no way for us to relax. Sit a spell, take our shoes (metaphorically) off. Can't even use the Furniture in our house. Even the Sleep function doesn't have us actually in the Bed. What's the point of it then? Seems a wasted opportunity.

Same thing that's faced in many a game to be honest. For example in Cyberpunk you can't just take a seat anywhere or do things the NPCs do. Mass Effect was the same.

[PC Mackintosh]

Originally posted by Ihateeverybody:

So Far its fine. Nothing to write the folks back home about. It doesn't do anything new or revolutionary other than the Hobbit twist (thats not a negative). I am still learning (only 3 hours in) so can't really say anything against.

At the same time I can't really say anything super positive. I am not seeing anything that Wows me. As far as I can see, what they have done is adequate.

I do have some notes however. Unless I missed it there seems to be no way for us to relax. Sit a spell, take our shoes (metaphorically) off. Can't even use the Furniture in our house. Even the Sleep function doesn't have us actually in the Bed. What's the point of it then? Seems a wasted opportunity.

Same thing that's faced in many a game to be honest. For example in Cyberpunk you can't just take a seat anywhere or do things the NPCs do. Mass Effect was the same.

Interesting that is quite similar to the impression I am getting from what I have seen and read so far. Biggest thing I guess for me is the depth and longevity of the game but guess that will be a while before people start to confirm more on that. My fear is it getting stale and repetitive quickly.

How do you feel about the price point based on your experience so far?

[IHaveNoMercy]

Unfinished game clinging onto the LOTR IP for dear life. Needs some serious work. Spare your hardware and your wallet until devs show they want this game to go somewhere. Personally, the fact that this released without multiplayer or any mention of it, has pretty much put me off entirely for the moment. I wanted to share the shire with a friend, got plenty of games with much lower price tags, of much higher quality that can be played. What makes this so special? Even LOTR IP can't protect what little they have released with.

[heather1348]

When a game that might interest me releases, I always check out a variety of reviews, game play videos, and forum comments. Even if someone has different preferences from mine, reviews still include statements of fact that can be useful, and the aggregated information gained from multiple reviews and forum posts is usually sufficient for me to determine whether or not I want to spend my money on a game.

Early reviews are mixed, and there hasn't been enough time yet for people who bought the game right at launch to see everything in the game, so available information is still incomplete. So far, I see some good ideas in the game, but it looks more like an initial early access release than a full release. Some game features look bare bones and unfinished. For example, NPCs apparently have nothing to say outside of quests and story events; for a game centered on socialization, this is a big hole.

Many reviewers report performance problems and crashes. Hopefully these get fixed soon. Problems like these can screw up the launch of an otherwise good game, and they can be deadly to a game that is getting a mixed reception for its content.

Since the game has the appearance of an early access release even though it isn't marketed as such, my inclination is to wait and see if the developers continue working on it and add a greater variety of activities to the game. As it is, it looks like it would be fun to putter around in it for a short time, but it might get old fast. Considering that it costs roughly twice as much as Stardew Valley, it doesn't look like a great value in its present state. I'll wait for more information and see if any of my current impressions from early reviews are wrong.

[Clockwork]

This game never even would've been made if it wasn't for the IP.

This is what developers with no talent do instead of making their own world.

[Tia1230]

I still don't really understand why anyone would take the word of a reviewer because they aren't you. What they might not like you might. Not everyone is the same. Everyone has different things they look for in a game. I love life sim games that have things to do in them. I don't necessarily need any of the NPC to talk to me unless I am buying things. I just like cozy relaxing games you don't need to think in.

[Ihateeverybody]

Originally posted by PC Mackintosh:

How do you feel about the price point based on your experience so far?

Well. In my experience it comes out (I got it for around $36 in cluding taxes and stuff) so Its about 3 containers of Coffee (I get the Big round ones of Folgiers at around $12 or so). Those seem to last 3-4 weeks each so around 3 months of coffee (Me and 1 other person consuming). Variables depending.

I haven't been to a movie in ages so that might be a better analogy but I don't know the pricing. I do know the last time the concession stand was almost non existent (Bladerunner 2049 was the movie).

[Jason]

Originally posted by Ihateeverybody:

Originally posted by PC Mackintosh:

How do you feel about the price point based on your experience so far?

Well. In my experience it comes out (I got it for around $36 in cluding taxes and stuff) so Its about 3 containers of Coffee (I get the Big round ones of Folgiers at around $12 or so). Those seem to last 3-4 weeks each so around 3 months of coffee (Me and 1 other person consuming). Variables depending.

I haven't been to a movie in ages so that might be a better analogy but I don't know the pricing. I do know the last time the concession stand was almost non existent (Bladerunner 2049 was the movie).

People need to stop comparing the price of games to other things in life and start comparing games to games.
In a world where Netflix and Amazon prime exist that comparison is mute.