LEGO The Hobbit
- April 10, 2014
- Traveller's Tales
- 20h median play time
"LEGO The Hobbit" is an action-packed game with single-player and local multi-player options for up to 2 players in split screen. Embark on an epic journey across Middle-earth, solving puzzles and battling creatures, while reclaiming the Lonely Mountain. With a good story, fantastic mechanics, spectacular graphics, an amazing soundtrack, plenty of humor, and the ability to explore iconic locations, this game offers a fun and entertaining experience, despite being quite grindy and buggy.
Reviews
- story1,274 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 77 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The story of "Lego The Hobbit" is largely based on the first two films of the Hobbit trilogy, but it ends abruptly after the second movie, leaving out the climactic events of the third film, "The Battle of the Five Armies." Many players express disappointment over this incomplete narrative, as it results in a cliffhanger without resolution, and there are no plans for additional content to finish the story. While the game features enjoyable gameplay and humor typical of Lego titles, the lack of a complete storyline significantly detracts from the overall experience.
“The story is well-written, but the crashes and bugs destroy all the fun in this game.”
“The story follows the source material as it should, while of course adding a bit of humor here and there.”
“What is there is very well done, and the story is told with a lot of humor, which made the playthrough a real delight.”
“Apparently, I was playing the final mission—news to me—because the credits just casually rolled up like nothing happened.”
“I would not recommend this game if you are hoping for a complete experience, as it left a very sour taste in my mouth when after Smaug said 'I am fire, I am death', I was not given a 'continue story' option.”
“The story ends at a cliffhanger and even though I'm sure most people know the cliffhanger is resolved, the player is still left with a feeling of incompleteness that will probably keep most people from going into free play mode.”
- gameplay430 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Lego: The Hobbit" is a mix of familiar mechanics from previous Lego games, enhanced by new features like resource gathering and crafting, which some players found engaging while others deemed tedious. While the game offers enjoyable cooperative play and a variety of character abilities, it suffers from repetitiveness and technical issues, including bugs and an unfinished storyline that leaves players feeling unsatisfied. Overall, the gameplay is solid but lacks the innovation and completeness that fans of the franchise might expect.
“Each dwarf having their own special ability was nice as a way to encourage you to use them more, and the buddy attack mechanic was always cool to see in the bullet-time slo-mo.”
“The gameplay is great, and the exploration of Middle-earth is fun and addictive.”
“The new gameplay, such as the 'buddy up' system and the mineral search are fun enough to immerse yourself in the world of Lego again.”
“The gameplay is uninspired, the combat is repetitive, and the puzzles lack the cleverness and variety that made earlier entries in the series enjoyable.”
“The game mechanics seemed to be on autopilot, relying too heavily on the formula that worked in previous titles without introducing any meaningful improvements or surprises.”
“The lack of completeness in the storyline, uninspired gameplay mechanics, outdated graphics, and technical issues make it difficult to recommend this game to anyone, especially to fans of LEGO or The Hobbit.”
- humor234 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -1 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The humor in "Lego The Hobbit" is widely praised for its lighthearted and whimsical approach, effectively blending the original story with classic Lego silliness. Players appreciate the quirky character animations, playful cutscenes, and clever dialogue that evoke laughter throughout the gameplay. While some feel the humor may not reach the heights of previous Lego titles, it remains a charming and entertaining experience, particularly for fans of the franchise.
“The quirky character animations and playful cutscenes had me chuckling more than once—it's like they mixed in a secret ingredient of laughter to the recipe.”
“Lego the Hobbit provides a lighthearted and family-friendly adventure through Middle-earth with its charming Lego aesthetic and humorous storytelling.”
“I had a blast playing Lego Hobbit, a game that flawlessly embodies the spirit of the Hobbit films with great humor and charm.”
“The humor in the game often falls flat, relying too much on funny bugs rather than clever writing.”
“I expected a lot more laughs, but the jokes felt forced and the humor was inconsistent.”
“While there are moments of humor, they are overshadowed by awkward dialogue and unoriginal gags.”
- graphics183 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Lego The Hobbit" receive mixed reviews, with some praising the charming and colorful visuals that effectively capture the Lego aesthetic and the landscapes of Middle-earth. However, many critics note that the graphics feel dated compared to other titles, with some describing them as lackluster and buggy, particularly on lower-end systems. Overall, while the game is visually appealing in parts, it struggles with technical issues and does not meet the expectations set by more recent games.
“The graphics and the visuals are top and will instantly teleport you to Middle-earth.”
“The attention to detail in the LEGO interpretation is impressive, and the game's colorful visuals and lighthearted humor brought a smile to my face throughout.”
“The graphics are superb, and every here and there I would just stare at the screen awing at how pretty it was.”
“Graphically, Lego® The Hobbit also falls short of expectations.”
“While Lego® games are not known for cutting-edge graphics, the visuals in this installment felt dated even by Lego® standards.”
“The graphics are outdated and lackluster, with character models that look like they were lifted straight from a bargain bin.”
- stability165 mentions
- 2 % positive mentions
- 1 % neutral mentions
- 98 % negative mentions
The stability of "LEGO The Hobbit" has been widely criticized, with players reporting numerous bugs, crashes, and glitches that disrupt gameplay. While some users noted that it is less buggy than previous LEGO titles, the game is still considered unfinished and plagued by issues such as freezing quests and character malfunctions. Overall, the game's stability detracts significantly from the experience, making it frustrating for many players despite its enjoyable elements.
“It runs great on PC.”
“The game looks great, and runs great and so far has been following the story of The Hobbit pretty well.”
“It's got a fantastic story, no glitches, no bugs, plenty of stuff to collect and loads of characters to unlock. Performance is great at 60 fps; this is a must buy, especially if you're a Hobbit fan.”
“The game is unfortunately super buggy; we had lots of random crashes (sometimes in the same cutscenes), were sometimes hard-stuck as some game-internal checks failed (which required restarts and fiddling with the graphics settings) and had lots of freezes that often lasted over 10 seconds, sometimes within seconds one after another.”
“From game-breaking glitches to crashes and freezes, Lego The Hobbit is about as stable as Mount Doom during an eruption.”
“This game is a mess, chock full of glitches.”
- grinding94 mentions
- 2 % positive mentions
- 10 % neutral mentions
- 88 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with players describing it as tedious, repetitive, and often frustrating due to bugs and unskippable cutscenes. Many reviews highlight the excessive resource farming, fetch quests, and crafting mechanics that detract from the overall enjoyment, making the pursuit of 100% completion feel like a chore rather than a rewarding experience. While some players appreciate the game's visuals and humor, the grinding elements significantly diminish its appeal.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Medium level of grinding.”
“Despite being a LEGO game, which makes it perfect to 100%, The Hobbit feels annoyingly grindy thanks to the LEGO loot.”
“Collecting and figuring out where all the resources you need to complete side quests was, in my experience, less fun and more tedious.”
“The gathering of items to build solutions was interesting at first, but then became tedious.”
- music78 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising the incorporation of Howard Shore's original soundtracks from the Hobbit films, which enhances the immersive experience. The soundtrack is described as epic and fitting for the game's adventurous tone, while the use of voice acting from the movies adds to the authenticity. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's atmosphere and enjoyment.
“The epic soundtrack adds to the adventure, making you feel like you're part of a blockbuster movie.”
“The biggest positive point is probably the official music by Howard Shore and actual movie dialogues used in the game!”
“Using the magnificent soundtrack from the Hobbit trilogy gives another spirit to the gameplay.”
“While a stock standard LEGO game experience, the lack of story completion, the uneven pacing, the excessive gating to force free play, and the fact that the game makes you sit through not one, but two 16-line unskippable choral songs makes the post-game drag on beyond its welcome, and the story mode just a drag.”
“You also do still get lots of original-movie soundtrack music and actual movie-actors' voices, plus Christopher Lee does an inter-chapter narration, but after that it's an abomination.”
“For music and sound effects, they mostly reuse it from the whole series with recognizable songs peppered throughout the game.”
- optimization22 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 45 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues such as stuttering, freezing, and game-breaking glitches, particularly on PC. While some users experience smooth gameplay at 60fps, the overall consensus indicates that the game is poorly optimized, leading to frustration and a subpar experience for many.
“This game also runs perfectly on my computer and is very well optimized.”
“It runs smoothly and all the places look like from the movie/middle-earth.”
“Performance is great at 60 fps, this is a must buy, especially if you're a Hobbit fan.”
“I have to run the game without VSync to avoid sub-40 frame rates and stuttering, which leads to all sorts of glitches in scripted sequences.”
“It's also poorly optimized, riddled with game-breaking glitches that require frequent restarts, and a few bugs that can only be fixed by playing on a TV.”
“The quality and level of performance leave much to be desired, and playing without a gamepad is terrible.”
- replayability22 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
Overall, "Lego The Hobbit" is praised for its high replayability, with players enjoying the exploration of various areas, unlocking characters, and completing hidden quests. The game offers a casual and enjoyable experience, making it a solid choice for those who appreciate replay value, despite some criticisms regarding humor and certain gameplay elements. Many reviewers highlight that the game provides good value for money through its engaging content and replay opportunities.
“With a high replayability and even bigger satisfaction, Lego The Hobbit is a worthy addition to both the Lego universe and the Lord of the Rings universe.”
“From the Shire to Rivendell to the Lonely Mountain, every area contains hidden objects and as you complete more levels, more and more playable characters and quests will appear.”
“The levels have a lot of replayability so you can definitely get your money's worth.”
“The levels have a lot of replayability, so you can definitely get your money's worth.”
“While Lego: The Hobbit does maintain its replayability, it lacks any of the sense of humor of the original games.”
“They had a lot of replayability for a guy like me who likes to unlock all the characters.”
- atmosphere15 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the game is generally praised for its strong connection to the source material, with many players noting its impressive visuals and immersive qualities. While some feel that certain areas lack detail, the overall experience is enhanced by humor and engaging gameplay, making it enjoyable for both kids and adults. Comparisons to other titles in the series highlight a consistent appreciation for the atmospheric elements, despite some gameplay flaws.
“I've played Lego Hobbit on ultra settings with 500fps and I really must admit: this game is so gorgeous and atmospheric that I was really impressed.”
“As far as the atmosphere of the game goes, it's very strong.”
“Very atmospheric game with many humorous elements.”
“Gameplay is mediocre, not to say it's bad, but if you've played any Traveller's Tale LEGO game, you've pretty much played them all except for some small additions or atmosphere changes.”
“Lego Lord of the Rings is finished, manages to somehow keep the atmosphere from the movies, and has a decent non-glitchy overworld; I would recommend that over Lego The Hobbit.”
“Lego The Hobbit has no such problems, and benefits from the films' lighter atmospheres.”
- monetization7 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized as a blatant cash grab, with misleading advertising suggesting the inclusion of content from the third movie that is ultimately absent. Players feel deceived by the promotional materials, which promised more than what was delivered, leading to dissatisfaction and frustration over the game's value. Overall, the monetization approach has left a negative impression, overshadowing any potential gameplay improvements.
“They needed a quick cash grab, and that's what they created.”
“The fact that WB just pushed this out after the second movie as a cash grab is so obvious it's painful.”
“Had I not been misled by the advertising that the 3rd installment would be available as DLC, I wouldn't have purchased this game.”
- emotional7 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is mixed; while some players found it heartwarming and capable of evoking tears, others felt it lacked the depth and narrative cohesion of the original films, leading to disappointment over omitted key emotional moments. The gameplay and visuals are praised for their charm, but the absence of significant emotional scenes left many feeling disconnected from the story. Overall, the game offers a lighthearted experience, but it may not satisfy those seeking a deeper emotional connection to the source material.
“Made me shed a tear.”
“And the LEGO game's signature humor is still here, and it still is classic. I never saw these movies, but this made me feel like I had a connection to them.”
“You never get to see the emotional ending of The Hobbit.”