The Hobbit (2003). Play online

Summary

The Hobbit on Game Boy Advance surprises with its isometric, three‑quarter top‑down perspective that leans toward stealth and puzzle solving rather than the straight‑up hack‑and‑slash of the console versions. I’m drawn to Bilbo’s moveset: he can jump, climb, swing on vines, and wield three distinct tools—a walking stick, handy stones, and later the dagger Sting—each upgradeable via magical scrolls, while the One Ring grants brief invisibility.

Health is tracked by Courage Points, collected as colored diamonds, and every 1,000 points grants an extra life. At chapter’s end a quirky vendor appears, offering stones, healing potions, antidotes, skeleton keys and health upgrades. Chests are scattered throughout, opening either through a timed lock‑picking mini‑game or instantly with a skeleton key.

The soundtrack, composed by Rod Abernethy, Dave Adams and Jason Graves, mixes live orchestral and Celtic acoustic elements; it even earned the 2004 Game Audio Network Guild award for Best Original Soundtrack.

Critics were split: they praised the game’s faithful nod to Tolkien’s world and its polished graphics, but many found the quests too easy and the gameplay lacking originality.

Storyline

In The Hobbit (Game Boy Advance), Gandalf arrives in the Shire and convinces Bilbo Baggins to join Thorin Oakenshield’s band of thirteen dwarves on a quest to reclaim their treasure from the dragon Smaug. The party travels through the Misty Mountains, where goblins attack, Bilbo falls into dark caves, discovers a mysterious ring, and encounters Gollum before being rescued by eagles and taken to Mirkwood.

Captured by Wood Elves, Bilbo uses the ring to slip into Thranduil’s hall, where the injured elf Lianna aids him in freeing the dwarves. They escape to Lake‑town, where Bilbo befriends Bard, the town’s captain, who later slays Smaug.

Bilbo then sneaks the Arkenstone out of the mountain and gives it to Bard to prevent war. Thorin’s fury triggers the Battle of the Five Armies, which ends with the goblins defeated and a lasting peace among humans, elves, and dwarves. A mortally wounded Thorin apologizes, and Bilbo returns home to the Shire with Gandalf.