The Hobbit (2003 video game)

From Tolkien Gateway
The name The Hobbit refers to more than one character, item or concept. For a list of other meanings, see The Hobbit (disambiguation).
The Hobbit (2003) cover.jpg
The Hobbit
Video game
DeveloperInevitable Entertainment (GC, PS2, Xbox)
The Fizz Factor (PC)
Saffire (GBA)
PublisherSierra Entertainment
PlatformGame Boy Advance
GameCube
Microsoft Windows
PlayStation 2
Xbox
Release dateNA: November 11 2003
EU: November 28 2003
GenrePlatform, Adventure

The Hobbit: The Prelude to The Lord of the Rings is a video game published in 2003 by Vivendi and Sierra Entertainment. It is a platform game set up around the events in The Hobbit. It is the second interactive adaptation after Melbourne House's 1982 version.

Cast[edit | edit source]

Actor Role
Michael Beattie Bilbo
Tom Kane Narrator
Jim Ward Gandalf
Clive Revill Thorin
James Horan Smaug
Daran Norris Gollum

These six were the only actors whose roles were specified on the game's credits; all others were simply called "Voice Talent". Some of these can be identified:

Actor Role
Alister Duncan Kíli
André Sogliuzzo Bard, Ugslap
Andrew Ableson, Brian George, Cam Clarke, Clive Revill, Dee Bradley Baker, James Horan, Jane Singer, Jim Ward, Joshua Seth, Kathryn Cressida, Kath Soucie, Michael Ensign, Michael Gough, Oliver Muirhead, Robin Atkin Downes, Tom Kane Voice Talent
Candi Milo Bell Goodchild
Daran Norris Bombur
Grey DeLisle Wicked
James Arnold Taylor Balin, Carl Sandyman
Jennifer Hale Lianna
Nathan Carlson Bofur
Patrick Pinney Beorn
Rob Dean Elvenking Thranduil
Steve Staley Galion
Victor Raider-Wexler Balin, The Master of Laketown
Wally Wingert Balfor
Unknown actor Corwin

Synopsis[edit | edit source]

Levels[edit | edit source]

Dreamworld[edit | edit source]

During the dwarves' visit to Bag End, Bilbo falls asleep and dreams he is at the Battle of Five Armies. Bilbo has no health and is invincible in this level; this level is designed to get the player used to the controls.

An Unexpected Party[edit | edit source]

Bilbo is sent to the Green Dragon, but first he must collect provisions for Bombur and do different jobs for various Hobbits.

Roast Mutton[edit | edit source]

Bilbo is sent to investigate a fire-light. This stage introduces the first enemies: wolves, frog-like creatures and at last, Bill, Tom and Bert. The last task involves sneaking past the Trolls.

Troll-hole[edit | edit source]

Bilbo must explore the troll cave and find the troll key, needed to open the cave. It is learned that the Witch-king of Angmar built many caves in the area (when it was still known as Rhudaur), and many of his minions still lurk there. He finds Lianna, an Elf of Mirkwood, and a dagger, which he names Sting.

Over Hill and Under Hill[edit | edit source]

After visiting Elrond, Thorin and Company make for the Mountains. Bilbo is sent to find fire-wood, but ends up battling wolves and other weird creatures, and dodge stone-slinging Giants.

Riddles in the Dark[edit | edit source]

After being caught by goblins, Bilbo is separated from the rest of the Company. This level introduces Goblin-town as a Dwarf-mine, complete with lifts and a rollercoaster mine cart track. In this level, Bilbo meets Balfor, a Dwarf of the Iron Hills, and Ugslap, the Goblin guard. The level ends with Bilbo finding the Ring.

At this point, an animation starts, depicting the riddle game, followed by a story board telling of Bilbo's reuniting with the Dwarves. A second animation depicts the hiding in the trees and the rescue by the Eagles. The narrator then summarizes the story from the drop off at the edge of Mirkwood (Beorn is omitted at this stage) to the capture of the Dwarves by the spiders.

Flies and Spiders[edit | edit source]

Bilbo is lost and must find his way through a spider infested Mirkwood (in which he has to fight many poisonous spiders, as well as "minions of the Necromancer"). He meets Corwin, a man of Lake-town, whose camp was attacked. Bilbo can retrieve his brother's ring for him. After that, he must rescue the dwarves from being eaten by the three giant spiders Wrath, Wicked and Wild.

Barrels Out of Bond[edit | edit source]

Bilbo and the dwarves are not safe out of Mirkwood yet. The dwarves are captured by elves and Bilbo must find a way to rescue them as well as a way to escape, while avoiding being seen by elves. This level introduces the extensive use of the Ring. After entering the halls, Bilbo meets Lianna again, who will help him. Bilbo must find the Dwarves and herbs to drug Galion, and battle the frog-like creatures and more spiders. From conversations Bilbo picks up when passing Elves the White Council is mentioned: they finally attacked Dol Guldur.

A Warm Welcome[edit | edit source]

Bilbo manages to put the Dwarves in barrels, and escapes to Lake-town. In Laketown, Bard and Calamar, the Master of Lake-town, recruit Bilbo for more burgling and spying. He must stop a crime syndicate of Lake-men and Orcs, who have stolen the Black Arrow. All Dwarves are scattered around Lake-town, and many of them appear for their first time here.

Inside Information[edit | edit source]

After leaving the Long Lake, Bilbo finds the secret entrance. After nerveracking sneaking, Bilbo manages to steal the Cup of Thrór from right under Smaug's nose. Smaug notices and is less than pleased, and Thorin sends Bilbo back to find the dragon's weak spot. After Bilbo shows off to "Smaug the Magnificent" and declares himself "Barrel-rider", Smaug confronts Bilbo, and heads off to Lake-town, where he meets his demise. With the Dragon gone, Bilbo must find several items - the Necklace of Girion, the spears of Bladorthin, the Ruby of Gróin and a golden serving dish. After that, he must bridge a chasm by flooding it.

The Gathering of the Clouds[edit | edit source]

In the Lonely Mountain, Thorin has only one task for Bilbo: finding the Arkenstone. Several rune-puzzles require solving before Bilbo has to go to the Treasury, the Forge, the Gear Room and the Water Room. Though there is an entrance to the Old Treasuries, Bilbo cannot go there because it stinks too much of Dragon. After creating a new key, Bilbo finds the Arkenstone. Picking it up ends the level.

The narrator introduces the next problem: the Men and Elves. Bilbo sneaks off and gives the Arkenstone to Thranduil and Bard, and for that, he is cursed by Thorin. When Dáin Ironfoot arrives, all seems to end in battle. But a flash of lightning marks the return of Gandalf, who informs them of Goblins.

The Clouds Burst[edit | edit source]

This level is the Battle of Five Armies. Bilbo, who stands with Gandalf and Thranduil on Ravenhill, volunteers to bring a message to Bard; he is about to be attacked in the rear. During his trip he must save Corwin, and on Lianna sends him to find Beorn. After a short rampage, Beorn is captured, and Bilbo must free him by kicking over several barrels. After freeing Beorn, the game is finished: Beorn kills Bolg, who sits on a giant warg on an inaccessible dias.

After this, the narrator starts the epilogue. Laketown is rebuilt, Bilbo gets a reward, and walks home with Beorn and Gandalf. Neither the auction of Bag End nor the visit of Balin are featured.

See also[edit | edit source]

External links[edit | edit source]

Licensed video games set in Middle-earth
 Melbourne House: The Hobbit (1982) · Lord of the Rings: Game One (1985) · Shadows of Mordor (1988) · War in Middle Earth (1988) · Crack of Doom Software Adventure (1989) · Riders of Rohan (1990)
 Interplay Productions: The Lord of the Rings, Vol. I (PC) (1990) · The Lord of the Rings, Vol. II: The Two Towers (1993) · The Lord of the Rings, Vol. I (SNES) (1994)
 Vivendi Universal: The Fellowship of the Ring (2002) · The Hobbit (2003) · War of the Ring (2003)
 Electronic Arts: The Two Towers (2002) · The Return of the King (2003) · The Third Age (2004) · The Battle for Middle-earth (2004) · Tactics (2005) · The Battle for Middle-earth II (2006) (The Rise of the Witch-king (2006)) · Conquest (2009) · Heroes of Middle-earth (2023)
 Turbine/Standing Stone Games: The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar (2007-) (Mines of Moria (2008) · Siege of Mirkwood (2009) · Rise of Isengard (2011) · Riders of Rohan (2012) · Helm's Deep (2013) · Mordor (2017) · Minas Morgul (2019)) · War of Three Peaks (2020) · Fate of Gundabad (2021) · Before the Shadow (2022)
 Warner Bros: Aragorn's Quest (2010) · War in the North (2011) · Guardians of Middle-earth (2012) · Kingdoms of Middle-earth (2012Armies of The Third Age (2013) · Shadow of Mordor (2014) · Shadow of War (2017) · Rise to War (2021)
 Glu Games: Middle-Earth Defense (2010)
 Traveller's Tales: Lego The Lord of the Rings: The Video Game (2012) · Lego The Hobbit (2014)
 Daedalic Entertainment: The Lord of the Rings: Gollum (2023)
 North Beach Games: The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria (2023)