Summary
The Lord of the Ringsis one of the most influential fantasy franchises around, andTales of the Shireis shining the spotlight on one of its most notable races: Hobbits.Tales of the Shireset out to bring cozy life sim gameplay to life with Hobbits in the leading role, which is a drastically new approach toThe Lord of the Rings.
Whether it be in the story ofThe Lord of the RingsorThe Hobbit, the small-statured, easy-going race that J.R.R. Tolkien dreamed up has usually led the narrative.However, the one major difference between these stories andTales of the Shireis that the Hobbits were always embroiled in some sort of adventure or battle.Bilbo was known for his adventurous spirit, while Frodo was thrust into the middle of a monumental war between good and evil.Hobbits are known for their peaceful lifestyle, but this has rarely ever been the main focus of Tolkien’s stories. Such a cozy atmosphere could prove to be a great change of pace, but it could also be too drastic.
Tales of the Shire Foregoing the Turmoil of Middle-earth
The Peaceful Life of Hobbits Could Make or Break Tales of the Shire
It’s one thing to appreciate the uneventful lifestyle that Hobbits tend to enjoy, but it’s a completely different thing to center an entire game around this concept.Middle-earth is a vast landthat is filled with a lot of excitement, good and bad, so sticking to only the Shire could run the risk of feeling uneventful for many fans ofThe Lord of the Rings. Farming, fishing, and enjoying a casual stroll are wonderful things, but this could also get boring rather quickly.
The Shrine is a beautiful place, but completely ignoring the horrors of Middle-Earth only diminishes the value of the peace that Hobbits enjoy!
It’s unclear what age of Middle-earthTales of the Shirewill focus on. However, there has rarely ever been complete peace in the land.Tales of the Shireignoring the regions of Middle-earththat lie outside the Shire could diminish the game’s intended tone of relaxation. It could be hard to play along with a carefree life sim when there is potential turmoil and horrors just outside of one’s neighborhood. For the most part, whenThe Lord of the Ringsshowcases a Hobbit character in the past, they are presented as fish out of water. That’s what makes them so compelling. Putting a small creature up against the larger-than-life forces of darkness is a powerful contrast.
Missing this aspect inTales of the Shiremay feel odd to those who are particularly passionate aboutThe Lord of the Ringsand its lore. Also, there is still the potential for the game to feel stale without the ongoing war of Middle-earth being the focus, but only time will tell.
Tales of the Shire Can Still Find Its Audience
Despite these concerns, the cozy life sim genre is still as prevalent and popular as ever.Stardew ValleyandAnimal Crossinghave really brought relaxing, low-effort games into the spotlight in recent years,andTales of the Shireis smart to capitalize on this. Weta Workshop’s upcoming Hobbit-focused venture may not be for every fan ofThe Lord of the Rings, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be.
Tales of the Shireis looking to appeal to fans of a certain genre, so even if the game seems dull or uneventful to those who are more invested inThe Lord of the Ringsand its wars, it will still find its audience. Yes,Tales of the Shireis at a much slower pace than the franchise usually goes for, but maybe that’s exactly what it needs.
