Summary
MostLord of the Ringsfans can agree that they’ve wanted to visit the Shire at least once in their lives. And while the intact Shire sets down in New Zealand are about as close as anyone can get in reality, visiting them just doesn’t capture thewarm coziness of Tolkien’s beloved setting. Weta Workshop’s upcoming titleTales of the Shirewill remedy this longtime issue by giving players their first-ever chance to explore the rolling green hills of the most welcoming corner of Middle-earth.
The game is shaping up to be the perfect marriage betweenAnimal CrossingandLord of the Rings, allowing players to explore the Shire, build out their own hobbit hole, and interact with the locals. And whileAnimal Crossingfans might look forward to interacting with such fan favorites like Isabelle and Tom Nook, there’s one NPC thatTales of the Shirecan include that will instantly make the game feel like the authentic Shire experience they’ve all been chasing since they first read Tolkien’s classic books.
Tales of the Shire Would Feel Incomplete Without Bilbo Baggins
Bilbo Baggins needs to be in this game. Even if it’s only a brief cameo. Bilbo isn’t just a hobbit. He’s the hobbit. Even more than his nephew who stars in theLord of the Rings, Bilbo is one of the first characters that springs to mind when people start talking about Tolkien’s charmingly quaint society of halflings. Not including the character thatdefined the archetype for all hobbitsmoving forward would be a huge misstep for the game and a big disappointment for longtime fans who’d appreciate the chance to talk with Bag End’s famous burglar.
The game is confirmed to take place between the events ofThe Hobbitand theLord of the Ringstrilogy. This means that not only is Bilbo alive, but he’s still very much his familiar self, not yet corrupted by the insidious influence of the Ring. He’s had his character arc afterBilbo’s journey with the dwarvesand his love of adventures has already labeled him as the “weird, cranky old man” of Hobbiton.
How Can Bilbo Be Incorporated into Tales of the Shire?
Incorporating Bilbo intoTales of the Shirewill be tricky, as the game does not actually take place in his hometown of Hobbiton. Instead, the title takes place in thenearby hobbit community known as Bywater. A seemingly difficult challenge to overcome, due to hobbits’ natural inclination to stay put in their hometown. But Bilbo isn’t just any hobbit; he’s one of the few who’s willing, if not outright eager, to get out and explore the world outside his home. It’s easy to believe he swings around Bywater, especially with its proximity to Bag End.
Complicating things further is Bilbo’s own disposition precedingLord of the Rings. After returning from his adventures inThe Hobbit, his friends and neighbors begin to write him off as an eccentric; hobbits hate adventure, and those who indulge in it almost as much as they love their second breakfast. With so much disdain from his peers, Bilbo develops a local reputation as something of a grumpy old man.
A fun arc for the game could be the player character trying to win Bilbo over. Perhaps they heard stories of the great hobbit adventurer and, in a manner uncharacteristic for most of the Shire-folk, are as impressed with Bilbo as the audience is. Maybe there’s a subplot throughout the game where the player has to try and impress a visiting Bilbo by hosting various functions andparties that coincide with his trips to Bywater, eventually breaking down his grouchy facade and becoming one of the few hobbits Bilbo will happily call one of his friends.
