The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

 PlayStation 2
Metascore
59

Mixed or average reviews - based on 19 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 19
  3. Negative: 4 out of 19
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  1. Games Radar
    60
    But why Surreal Software decided to make the playing the game such hard work is anyone's guess. [GamesMaster]
  2. PSX Nation
    50
    One boring, predictable and by-the-numbers attempt to cash-in on the popularity of Peter Jackson’s movies.
  3. GameZone
    74
    This game will only suit hardcore fans of the J.R.R. Tolkien series.
  5. Electronic Gaming Monthly
    52
    True fans of the books will look past the problems and enjoy the game. [Dec 2002, p.210]
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  6. GameSpot
    55
    Merely an average adventure game with a high-profile license attached.
  7. GamePro
    60
    Captures the beauty and magic of Tolkien’s world...visually. Once you pick up the controller, you’ll find your enthusiasm slipping quickly away.
  8. Cheat Code Central
    60
    Even though series fans may be pleased with the inclusion of missing scenes from the movie and faithfulness to the overall plot, I smell a rush job to the market here.
  9. TotalGames.net
    72
    Hardcore RPG fans may find it a bit on the easy side and it's not a particularly long game, but there's definitely more to it than EA's effort despite not having movie clips throughout.
  10. PSM Magazine
    60
    The focus should have been on making the experience as exciting as possible, not just accurate. [Holiday 2002, p.50]
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  11. Cincinnati Enquirer
    70
    The game suffers from some repetitive missions with a lot of "fetch this and find that," plus many of the camera angles are finicky.
  12. Gamers' Temple
    68
    The general lack of interesting and fun gameplay makes this a hard sell.
  13. Official U.S. Playstation Magazine
    70
    While the game may not fully reach its heroic potential, it does competently adapt the greatest sword-and-sorcery epic of all time. [Dec 2002, p.162]
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  14. Play Magazine
    70
    It doesn't hold a candle to the Xbox version in terms of visual appeal. [Dec 2002, p.82]
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Awards & Rankings

54
#54 Most Discussed PS2 Game of 2002
75
#75 Most Shared PS2 Game of 2002

User Reviews

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User Score
5.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 41 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 41
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 41
  3. Negative: 17 out of 41
  1. LunarD3ATH
    Nov 29, 2022
    0
    Anyone who says this game is the "best" or even remotely good is lying to you. Assume they're trolls.

    This game is a pile of **** and is    Anyone who says this game is the "best" or even remotely good is lying to you. Assume they're trolls.

    This game is a pile of **** and is the reason EA won the licensing war for the franchise's movie adaptation rights.    … Full Review »
  2. AmadouIraklidis
    Oct 28, 2022
    7
    Really fun game. It did a great job of setting the atmosphere and universe of lord of the rings.
  3. GabePhoenix
    Mar 7, 2022
    4
    I confess; this game has some magic in it, but it could've been a lot more. It starts off quite nicely, in the Shire, introducing it's manyI confess; this game has some magic in it, but it could've been a lot more. It starts off quite nicely, in the Shire, introducing it's many habitants, and their way of life. It can be relaxing and surprisingly good to just walk around the place and explore it's surroundings.

    The lore is great, and it follows the book in a satisfying way, but the gameplay itself is the real problem in here... especially the combat, and it's COMPLETELY failed attempt of a stealth. It can be absolute hell to control Frodo in a fight, and less of a tragedy for the other characters, such as Gandalf and Aragorn. "Oh, but Frodo can't fight", I know he can't, but the gameplay is still trash all the same.

    The level design has some inspired segments, but the graphics themselves are not really that great to look at (and that's putting it mildly). By the end of 2001 (a year ago at that time), we already had games like Final Fantasy X and Shadow Hearts, so there's no excuse for such mediocrity from a respectable IP such as this one; you could feel the developer did put a certain small amount of passion in some aspects of this title though.

    I had some fun in it, but that's probably 'cause I just love the theme it's based, so I went in with all the patience in the world.

    Anyway; there are a lot of semi, or full RPG games out there in the PS2 market that would completely obliterate this guy, but do give it a try if you're a LOTR fan, or you'd just like to experience the Fellowship of the Ring story arc in a video-game.

    It is a BELOW AVERAGE game.    … Full Review »
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