More Thoughts From Me: Moving Into the Shire
Tales of the Shire is out now and thanks to our editor in chief Adam Roffel, I was able to get a digital copy of it for Xbox Series. I’ve been wanting to check this out! Is it a good game? Let’s go to the Shire!
I’ve been hearing a lot of bad things about Tales of the Shire. All the reviews came out and said it wasn’t a good game. I wasn’t sure if I would get to play Tales of the Shire. Had I dodged a bullet? Well, unexpectedly I got a copy from our fantastic editor and dug into the game on Xbox Series. How is it so far?
As for this writing, Tales of the Shire is a ton better than reviews are saying it is. Yes the graphics are not spectacular and probably feel more like last gen graphics than current gen, but I think the graphics do a good enough job and make the Shire look cozy, especially the inside areas which are better looking than outside.
None of it horrible looking though. I’ve seen far worse looking games on Xbox and elsewhere. The only major graphical glitch I’ve seen currently is that the in-game camera can get too close to the character and appear to be inside of the hobbit’s head. You can back out of there. Its scary in there!
The real treat is Tales of the Shire’s gameplay. Its a pretty simplistic game in that you live as a Hobbit, move into a town, interact with the villagers some, fish, decorate, fixing a meal, having a meal, and garden. The game could do with a bit more dialogue for its villagers but the interactions that are there are pretty neat. Honestly going around: exploring the town, fishing, decorating, making meals and having second breakfast is a lot of fun.
Tales of the Shire is exactly what I’d expect the game’s gameplay to be: a very cozy, easy-going game with no real challenge. I don’t have to be challenged in the Shire! Save that for middle earth! Here in the Shire we just walk around and eat. Its just a cozy and cute game where you get to be a hobbit. I’m enjoying it a lot.
I don’t think the game was meant for long play sessions. Its a game you pick up for maybe an hour or less and you go be a hobbit and then come tomorrow. I wish it had a real-time Animal Crossing-like clock and not that super fast Harvest Moon clock. Oh well.
Am I saying this game is as good as Animal Crossing? Heck no. As good as Harvest Moon or Hello Kitty Island Adventure or Disney Dreamlight Valley? Definitely no. Tales of the Shire is a good game so far though. We have to normalize the idea that not every game has to be the best thing ever or even just really great. I think people, especially reviewers, had an expectation that this game would be better than it is. Its not a great game. It is a good game where you get to be a Hobbit. Thats my opinion so far. Could I change opinion as I keep playing it? Possibly. Anything is possible.
Right now, I’m having a blast in the Shire. This is exactly the kind of game I wanted it to be. It doesn’t go above and beyond. Its more like a Hobbit than a game. It just wants its second breakfast. Me too.
More Thoughts From Me is an opinion column. The thoughts presented here are mine and mine alone. Yes I would like to see updates that further improve the game. More content! MORE!
Article By Daniel Fugate
