The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn's Quest- What's in Store?

When, after a hideously disappointing film adaption of Phillip Pullman’s ‘The Golden Compass’ was panned, New Line Cinema collapsed into its brother company Warner Bros., Warner decided they wanted more than just New Line’s film franchises, so they took The Lord of the Rings game rights off EA as well, no doubt hoping they might be able to spark a bit of interest back into old fans ready for 2011s and 2012s two film adaptations of J.R.R. Tolkien’s ‘The Hobbit.’ And so, to start with, we’re going to have ‘The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn’s Quest.’

In case six film free years have left your memory hazy, Aragorn is the one who goes from creepy looking, scraggly haired guy, to the slightly more combed King of Gondor. This makes him a great hero to star in yet another gritty LOTR game entry. But that’s not where Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment are taking it; this game’s for kids!

The trailer details a cartoonish rendition of  Samwise Gamgee with an abnormally large head, warning his freaky hobbit children, in Sean Astin’s own voice, that the story he is about to tell them may be wee tad too scary for them. So, it is only after being reassured by a particularly clingy child that none of them will be frightened, that Sam begins to tell the story of fan favourite character, Aragorn. And so, The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn’s Quest begins.

Set for a delayed release in spring 2010, this primarily Wii made game is designed to allow families to spend cosy evenings together reliving the story of The Lord of the Rings as Aragorn, or a second player Gandalf, from the exaggerated point of view of Sam. The game is going to allow the player to use the Wii-mote as a sword, staff, bow and spear through what is looking to be simple combat. To accompany this gameplay, a more colourful Middle Earth is present, and it looks as though all the creatures and enemies have been given a bit of a softer edge (I don’t remember house spiders scuttling out of the Black Gate).

So, this certainly doesn’t look like The Lord of the Rings game fans have expected to follow Conquest. With promised sequels, however, and with Peter Jackson (LOTR Director, Hobbit Exec. Producer) being pitched a Lego Hobbit Game, this might be something fans will have to get used to. So whether it makes you growl like Gimle, or laugh like Merry, The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn’s Quest will be hitting the shelves sometime during Spring 2010 on the Wii, PS2, DS and PSP.