#surreal software

I remember playing this back when we first got our Xbox, and judging it inferior to EA’s Return of the King game. As part of my current larger quest through various Tolkien games, I replayed it and feel even worse about it. But I was interested to discover that the game released on PS2 and PC is not the same experience as the Xbox version. They’re broadly similar, but the differences make all the difference in the world.

When the game was announced, it was an Xbox exclusive by WXP. Later in development a port was developed by Surreal Software, with various changes made. I’ll talk about the differences as they come up. The first thing to know about this game is it was made without the movie licence (although it certainly takes inspiration from choices made for the movies). This means it lacks things like Weta’s design work or Howard Shore’s iconic score, but allows it the much-touted faithfulness and inclusion of book-exclusive content.

Now I don’t so highly prize faithfulness to the source material in an adaptation; rather, I like them to take liberties and expand in interesting ways. You do get some of that here, like some little good-deed quests in the Shire, meeting an Orc-enthralled Ori in Moria (Xbox only), or the early appearance of a Nazgûl’s fell beast (which apparently can breathe fire) as part of the final boss in the newly-created climax... but it’s not much. It is pretty cool seeing Tom Bombadil, living trees in the Old Forest, and barrow-wights, but at the same time the game completely skips over Boromir’s death, which I thought was an odd choice.

As for how the game plays, it’s been described as an action-adventure, if that means anything to you. If you ask me the action is repetitive and bland, and the adventuring dull and unrewarding. You will swap between playable characters depending on the level: Frodo is super wimpy and has a Fable-style morality meter, which after the first level in the Shire kind of gets forgotten about as a mechanic (mess with your neighbour’s stuff and it goes down, do quests and it goes up) and persists solely as a “Ring meter” to limit your use of the overpowered artefact. Really you can ignore this whole mechanic for the entirety of the game. Also, he’s the only one who can jump in the PS2 version.

When Aragorn is unlocked the combat becomes more bearable, and Gandalf is an unstoppable killing machine with his array of flashy magic spells, especially since the game overloads you with mana-restoring miruvor. The battling is where the experience is most different between the two versions; it’s actually ok on PS2. You can’t charge your attacks but you have a finishing move, enemies go down easier, and your ranged attack is actually worth a damn (and not subject to limited ammunition). Other Fellowship members also accompany you more often and help out in fights, making it less of a slog of attrition.

Generally speaking the PS2 version feels cut down from the Xbox version. Much of the level design is the same but simplified, there’s fewer quests and a smaller inventory to mess with, and a number of enemy types are missing. But the streamlining actually makes it a stronger experience I feel, less tedious and better balanced. Plus it uniquely has a fun secret weapon on the last level: a gift from Gollum replaces Andúril with a supremely powerful fish. And that’s not mentioning the biggest difference of all. The Xbox game is just way too dark. It’s gloomy, grey, occluded, grim, dim, dim, dim! I think they worked too hard on the technical aspects of the lighting engine without considering the actual playability of visibility. On PS2 you can actually see what you’re doing! And with a more cooperative camera to boot.

The two games share a lot of assets, including Pippin’s remarkably irritating voice, but there’s odd changes. Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas have new designs on PS2 (the latter’s Xbox model being recycled for Haldir), and Sam has both a new model and I’m pretty sure a new voice actor too. In all cases I actually prefer the Xbox models, although the PS2 Galadriel matches the FMV cutscenes better. On the other hand the returning enemies on PS2 also have new designs which I think are stronger, particularly the gnarly new troll variants.