J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings: Volume 1 (1994). Play Free Online

Summary

J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, Vol. I for the SNES is an action‑role‑playing mash‑up that drags players through the Fellowship’s early quests. You start as Frodo and, as you roam expansive levels, you recruit Sam, Pippin, Merry, Aragorn, Gimli and even a non‑combatant Legolas or Gandalf via cheat codes. The title stands out for its quirky multiplayer option—plug in extra controllers and a Super Multitap and up to eight friends can each control a character, though some (like Legolas) only wander around taking damage.

Gameplay revolves around endless fetch‑quest errands, and when an NPC drops the dead flag, it’s permanent—no resurrection until you start over. Reviews were split: 1Up slammed it with a 2/10, calling the AI “horribly lazy,” while GamePro warned of tiny sprites and boring repetitions. Electronic Gaming Monthly was kinder, giving a modest 6.6/10 for a slower, patient‑playstyle RPG. The sequel never materialized, leaving this multiplayer‑centric oddity as the sole SNES representation of the Fellowship’s journey.

Storyline

The Lord of the Rings: Volume I (often just Lord of the Rings Volume I) drops you in as Frodo Baggins. As you progress you recruit the rest of the Fellowship—Samwise, Pippin, Merry, Aragorn, Gimli and even Gandalf—while Boromir only shows up for a brief cameo. The game supports the Super Multitap, allowing up to eight players; the standard roster is Frodo, Sam, Pippin, Merry, Gimli and Aragorn, with Legolas or Gandalf playable via cheats, though Legolas can only move and take damage. Uncontrolled characters are handled by the AI, and any character that dies stays dead for the rest of the run.

Gameplay consists of a string of fetch‑quests across huge areas, where you must locate misplaced trinkets for NPCs. The journey mirrors the book’s early locations—the Shire, Bree, Rivendell and the Mines of Moria—and culminates in a battle against the Balrog in Moria, a departure from the novel’s ending. A planned Volume II never materialized due to poor sales.

Edited by Maya Carter