Sure thing, here’s a reimagined version:
Won’t entirely fill you up, ya know?
So, there’s this game that’s kind of nestled its way into the whole cozy fiction scene—Tolkien’s Hobbits. I mean, they’re like the poster kids for chill vibes, right? A warm home, good vibes, hearty meals—just pure comfort. So when I heard about Tales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game (mouthful, I agree), I was thinking it would be a win. Sadly, what sounded like a delicious pie ended up being a bit, well, half-baked.
Okay, picture this: It’s set between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. You get to bump into Gandalf (briefly, don’t get too excited), plus random easter eggs that make you go, "Hey, I remember that!" You’re this hobbit newbie in Bywater, aiming to put this tiny spot officially on the Hobbiton map. Cool idea, right? It starts charming, but then it’s lots of running all over to chat with folks who, apparently, always want you to whip up some food. Bywater is like a maze you’re constantly navigating, which honestly kept me going because the writing is, admit it, cute.
And oh, cooking. That’s the heart here. Grow your veggies, forage like a pro, then back to cooking. Love the hobbit vibe here! But—big but—it’s kinda the whole game. Each quest wraps up with food invites, a delighted character, and a rinse-repeat scenario. It starts to get thin, not enough layers for a meal… or a game.
Days go by in-game like, you wake, do your farm-fish-forage routine, chitchat, then crash. Stay up too late? You’ll sleep in, but who doesn’t love a good sleep-in? Like most life sims, there’s time management, but I found myself twiddling my thumbs waiting for bedtime. Like, lots of empty hours I could’ve used for… something. Anything.
The game’s launching on both Switch and Switch 2. Played on both. Visuals? Meh. They hold up, just don’t expect head-turning art. Characters looked a bit, I don’t know, odd? Props for having a bearded lady dwarf, though. Frame rate on Switch 1 is like a rollercoaster, and even Switch 2 doesn’t fully smooth the ride. There was that one glitch—bright red sky for a bit—wild! But mostly it’s about the crashes. Seriously, almost every 20 minutes like clockwork. Save like your life depends on it, or you’re starting over every darn time.
Shire‘s got the bones of a killer idea. Just feels more like a rough draft right now. There’s hope it might shine eventually, but with those jitters and crashes? Tough call. I wanted to fall for this game, dream of it turning into something grand, but for now? It’s just not there.
