Did you ever just, you know, feel like something should be mind-blowingly cool, but then it just – I dunno – flops? That’s kind of my vibe with “Tales of the Shire,” this game that’s all about hobbits. You know, those short folks from Tolkien’s world who love food, friends, and all things cozy. By the way, love the Shire stuff, but this game? It’s like you expect a tasty pie but end up with, like, lukewarm stew.
So, here’s what’s going on: you bounce into this small place called Bywater, playing as your own hobbit, right? Gandalf says “hi” early on (which is cool), and then you’re running around trying to make Bywater a big deal or something. You’re doing all these little quests, chatting with other hobbits, and yeah, you’re making food a lot – because of course, hobbits and food, right? But it’s kinda confusing, this back-and-forth across a maze that’s supposed to be a village. Still, there’s something charming in the writing, like it keeps you going even though you’re lost half the time.
Anyway – wait, cooking! That’s a big deal here. You’d think a game about hobbits and cooking would be more exciting, but it’s mostly repetitive. You farm, forage, and prepare dishes for guests. And yeah, it’s cute watching characters get thrilled over your cooking – same cutscene though. Fun the first few times, but then it’s like watching paint dry. There’s not much to it, honestly. Ironically, your hobbit never gets hungry. Seriously. It’s like, should be a big deal, but no. But hey, if you’re into super chill experiences where stuff barely happens, maybe it clicks.
Oh, and the day system? It’s a thing. Doing all your little tasks till bedtime, unless you want to stay up – which just means you’re groggy the next day. Woohoo, right? But sometimes you’re just… bored, waiting for the day to end. I’d end up fishing. A lot. Not sure why. Just killing time.
Now for consoles – exciting part because it’s coming out on Switch and Switch 2. Played it on both, and graphics are kind of meh, honestly. Hobbits look a bit weird, but hey, dwarf woman with a beard – that’s neat. The framerate? Oof. Like, serious dips on Switch, and even Switch 2 isn’t quite the hero here. Oh, and there was this weird bug with the sky turning all red. No idea why. Spooky.
But the crashing – yep, imagine trying to do anything, and boom, game’s like “Nope!” Crashes all the time, so save your progress unless you love repeating stuff over and over. Becomes a nightmare, really. Frustrating isn’t the word.
All in all, man, “Tales of the Shire” has potential. Seriously, could be awesome someday. But right now? It’s like a rough sketch of a masterpiece. I want to love it, really do, but it’s tough when bugs and crashes are your constant companions. Fingers crossed it gets patched or something. Until then, maybe wait it out and see if things get better. Or don’t. Life’s full of surprises.