I Played Tales of the Shire EARLY... 🦶🌱| Gameplay + Impressions

[@PaytonsCorner]

Hello everyone just a reminder that being a lord of the rings fan is not a prerequisite to play this game ✨

[@orion.6]

Even so I feel like you could've done a little research on the Hobbits before this video just so you don't seem uneducated about things related to the lore. I havent read or watched LotR or the Hobbits either but I can at least give a nod to the developers for sticking to the original lore instead of going for a more aesthetic theme like every other game. Speaking of aesthetic tho this game has gorgeous animals and I wanna play just so I can see them

[@PaytonsCorner]

@@orion.6 I’m not sure why so many people think I need to know about the lore to play this game. I feel like it’s just people being very protective of a series they obviously love which I totally get- but this game is a standalone game. Are we going to ask every person who purchases Tales of the Shire to consume other Lord of the Rings media first? I don’t think I need to do research to give an honest first impression. That’s what this was- a first impression. They are very clearly marketing this game to cozy gamers and not just people who are fans of the books / films. Hence them reaching out to me and a million other channels that specialize in cozy gaming. In their showcase alone they kept stressing how they want this to be a cozy game for cozy gamers. So I gave my thoughts playing a brand new cozy game- simple as that

[@lizhustedt4254]

@@PaytonsCorner Yeah, hard agree with you here! When I'm looking at reviews for games that have a significant franchise, I want to know a variety of opinions / data points. I find it equally as important to watch reviews from hardcore LOTR fans, as well as folks who aren't familiar with the series. I have a hunch that this game could be an attempt by the devs / publishers to introduce potential fans to the series -- while also serving the existing fan base. Could we *not* push our glasses up and "Um, actually" Payton? kthx

[@iiAyJayo]

@@PaytonsCorner 100% this. The goal of video game developers is to sell as many copies of the game and make as much money as possible, they want EVERYONE to buy their game and play it. It's a cozy game made for cozy gamers, not a Lord of the Rings game made specifically for Lord of the Rings fans.

[@MadsTheGoblin]

So many of the things you didn’t like are just Hobbit things 😭 the hairy feet, the cramped living spaces, Gandalf showing up and just knowing everything about you- that’s just How It Is in the Shire

[@pithygrapefruit]

The feet are iconic Hobbit thou. Please don’t take my harfoots from me. They do need to be improved though.

[@Phantomsangel]

I agree. I think I may pick the hairiest to show hobbit pride lol.

[@NobodySuspiciousHere]

We need the lady dwarf with beard options too 🗣️🗣️💯

[@maddib1723]

​@@NobodySuspiciousHere what?! 🤢

[@NobodySuspiciousHere]

@@maddib1723 it's a nod to Lord of the Rings, all female dwarves have beards, just like the males do. Same for how all hobbits have hairy feet, male and female hobbits all have hairy feet :9

[@bobbyhill9918]

​@@maddib1723your gonna piss your pants when you find out some women grow facial hair like men do

[@KoopaKiiid]

it's actually really funny, a lot of the design things you didnt really like is actually accurate to the lore 🤣😅 like the feet (they're supposed to be way big for them), and the house feeling claustrophobic (they live in little 'hobbit holes'), they're small folk!

[@lizhustedt4254]

Well, based on the movies, the hobbit holes aren't claustrophobic *to the hobbits*. I will agree that the ceilings felt disproportionately short to the scale of the character. Or course, if Gandalf walks in there, he should feel scrunched up, but not the resident. :D

[@TheDawnofVanlife]

Those feet are just yeah….hobbity. The most lore thing ever is customizable feet 😂😂😂

[@romrom920]

what you were calling sharpie eyeliner is meant to be their lashes! thats why all the characters (including animals) have them and why it it moves so much when they blink!

[@lovetobecolouring2]

I can’t wait . I’m a long time Lord of the Rings and Hobbit fan ( read the books , absolutely worth your time ) This game looks adorable and so much fun . ( hobbits are very small which is why the fishing rod seems so big.. )

[@aroseydragon2873]

Don’t worry the feet are like that because in lore, hobbit feet grow to have hair that protects them from weather and thick soles that protect from the terrain. They have no real need to wear shoes so they simply don’t! It’s like how animal paws are basically built to be shoes.

[@pithygrapefruit]

Bywater and the prancing pony? So fun. Good nod to fans. We know where that is and what later becomes of it. It is ruined by Saruman but then taken back at the end of the series.

[@icenodi]

I think some of the criticisms are nods to the original lore. Obviously the feet are different, but the hairiness is a defining characteristic of the hobbits. Puddifoot is one of the many hobbit families you hear about in the book (sad no Baggins). The odd walking style is more akin to what I thought when reading the lore, though that is my interpretation. The low ceilings are typical of the hobbit holes, though I agree the camera zooms are frustrating.

[@Zaralove1750]

I really love the look of the game. It could always use polishing of course but I think the world is beautiful and the hobbits are so cute. I can't wait for March 25th! So very excited.

[@22lostservice]

I am a huge fan of Lord of the Rings and one who has wanted a cozy Hobbit game forever. So far this is looking pretty good to myself and many other fans like me. One thing I did want to point out if you missed it. Other people who got to do an early play noticed that Delphinium (sp?) the one who tells you about foraging is a disabled hobbit. She has one wooden peg leg.

[@22lostservice]

​@@wiliestrogue2924 ah your a bigot. I miss read your first post thinking the NPCs were lacking a bit of diversity and that was your issue . Its been proved that Tolkien did refer to darker skinned hobbits. Sorry you can only enjoy something if it is only white cis and hetero. Maybe expand your world view.

[@djmckay4869]

I'm a huge fan of Hobbits. I can't wait for this game to release. It's perfect in every way for me personally.

[@MarthaWocket]

My skepticism was with gameplay and the early stuff has convinced me id probably adore this game!! Everyone keeps echoing the fact that yea, the stuff you dont like is mainly lore but lemme tell you fishing poles really are just that huge and its pretty normal ùwú i hope they flesh out more things to do in the loop of the game, im very interested in how obtaining meat besides trading/purchasing will go. I love RDR2 so if they did something like that (doubt tho) it would be nifty.

[@Rhinneh]

Although I love LOTR, I wasn’t really fussed about this game. It does look like it needs a few subtle pointers on what to do but otherwise I’m actually really looking forward to it now! (It’d be nice if there were different ‘foot styles’ though , they all just look like Frodo’s foot with different ‘hairstyles’ 😂)

[@Lexi-M]

As a fan of the series, how do you feel about the lack of voice acting? are you ok with it or were you hoping for major story points to be voice acted?

[@Rhinneh]

@@Lexi-M I’d prefer to hear more voice-acting, especially since I’m sure they could give regional voice actors a lot of work.

[@MissBubbles]

Liked before video's live, did it for the foot in the thumbnail 🦶

[@JoshGamingGarden]

I can't wait to see what you thought of this one 😆

[@craftavenuecreations4931]

Hi Josh!!

[@TonksTheFool]

I'm so excited for this game. I don't think it's a bad thing for them to push it back to 2025 if it means they polish it a little more. They're clearly going for a style with the hobbits, which is cool, I just hope they improve it a little more.

[@shippookie]

no, fishing rods are big and especially since ypu're a hobbit i feel like they made it the right size

[@PaytonsCorner]

Homophobic and Racist comments are being deleted btw And omg I can’t believe I even have to say that for a CUTE COZY GARDENING GAME 🤪

[@belladieci]

This game has been on my radar for a while. I’m so excited for it. I actually like the art style. Thanks for the sneak peek!

[@cataclysmic75]

I think this game is going to be great, but I am also a huge Hobbit-LOTR fan (the books). And I'm sure others have mentioned this, but their feet are so big and hairy because they're basically their shoes. And one thing about Hobbits... They love "comfort"... and eating. They love their meals. And Hobbits do have curly hair. All of them.

[@ryastor]

I can already tell the player character movements are going to make me nauseous while playing 😭

[@itsjacobj]

Two things: -I’m very in the fence with this. I’m a big fan of the cooking and food party mechanics, but man is the rest of it very iffy for me -I now want to see a Hobbit Rager™️-like, everything the same as the game aesthetic, but the people at the food party are talking and acting like it’s a stereotypical reality show wild party 😂

[@4itsrox]

Girl when you got to the feet I died…💀🪦😂

[@PaytonsCorner]

What do YOU think about Tales of the Shire 🦶🌱

[@Cubezella]

I am like pay !foot freak me out and all these feet emoji are making me uncomfy 😅

[@elisabethaziz87]

I actually didnt expect I like the character design cause when they show it the trailer back then, it didnt hooked me, but i think it looks so much better now and looks cute?😂 cant wait until its full released tho

[@wiliestrogue2924]

DEI slop. If you're a huge fan of Tolkien...you'll recognize that this isn't his vision. Where is the beer and pipeweed? Why are there dark skinned Hobbits? The books clearly describe what hobbits look like. This game has zero respect for the books. Wallets closed.

[@Hundelsa]

I can’t stop thinking about historic paintings of babies looking like old men every time I look at som of the hobbits in this game.

[@boardgamesonthemoon]

Is the skipping linked to having chosen “Perky” mode? Do you skip when you’re grumpy or a snob? Maybe it changes up?

[@ryastor]

Pretty sure the skipping is your "sprint" animation.

[@boardgamesonthemoon]

⁠yes, sure, but thought a different personality choice might change the effect of the sprint animation, just wondering how or if a different choice effects game play some way some where

[@ryastor]

@@boardgamesonthemoon doesnt appear to be, I've watched a few different people playing early copies now and it's always the same

[@pithygrapefruit]

Snobby? Like Lobelia Sackville-Baggins. 😂😂 that’s cute.

[@fr.andygutierrez5356]

Excellent review… one of the more helpful ones that they will get out of this early preview, I would imagine. Thank you!

[@freinchy2]

I’m so excited for this! I would love if they put out a demo because I’m dying to try it!

[@georgiekate589]

Ooo really looking forward to this!

[@sockhal4595]

Thanks for the review. I’m a little concerned that the game could be a succession of fetch quests and dinner parties, which I would find quickly boring.

[@iiAyJayo]

I was excited for this game, but after seeing the early access content, I'm having the same concerns. When there are games like Stardew Valley that have so much content and variety, it's hard to look at this game and have very high hopes. Seems way too simplistic and boring. I'm sure diehard LotR fans will have a decently fun time with it, but I think I might have to pass.

[@juliannacarvalho4319]

The Npc set up is giving Fae Farm

[@RachelXKnight666]

These characters have way too much personality to be compared to the bland npcs of fae farm

[@tayloredwards2796]

thanks for this! i've been so excited for this game. i'd agree that it might not look the best, but i'm so excited for a game where i can live out my dream of being a hobbit and hosting dinner parties

[@iiAyJayo]

Oddly specific dream

[@telmaneves946]

Cant wait !! I fell in love with it just with the first trailler on the Nintendo direct monts ago!

[@lindseypaputa4983]

I love your love and positivity keep up the good work 😊

[@Emugasm]

I don't think this one will be for me. I was really excited about it when it was first announced, but I've only seen the movies once (and don't recall any of the details really), grew up confusing it with Harry Potter for some silly reason (probably because I kept confusing Gandalf and Dumbledore for the same character), and never read the books. Still, I was excited, but seeing the gameplay and the general direction here now I'm probably giving this one a skip. Too many mechanics and details in the cooking, too many fishing mechanics, I prefer something a bit more dumbed down and more aesthetically pleasing (a la Fae Farm, Sun Haven, Ova Magica, etc). Also I just am not one for nature-y settings and a heavy emphasis on actual farming, but I was willing to overlook that if the gameplay turned out great. Honestly very disappointed that this one won't be for me, but nothing's for everyone so that's fair enough.

[@RachelXKnight666]

Sounds to me like you actually didn't watch the trailer lol

[@iiAyJayo]

@@RachelXKnight666 I don't get it. What gave you that impression

[@RachelXKnight666]

@@iiAyJayo their comment about not knowing cooking was a core gameplay mechanic

[@iiAyJayo]

@@RachelXKnight666 I think they were just hoping that there was more to the game than cooking and fishing and dinner parties. I mean Stardew has pretty much all those things and 1000+ more, and it was made by one dude. I'm hoping there's more to this game, but the early access footage isn't really getting my hopes up.

[@RachelXKnight666]

@@iiAyJayo Stardew doesn’t have cooking as its CORE gameplay mechanic. The trailer was all about throwing dinner parties for this game

[@hanabira]

Thank you for showing us! Honestly it looks better than I thought it would hahaha not a bad game, not a bad concept, just needs some more polishing but they have 6 more months to do that.

[@shana_bobana3501]

This has me more hopeful for this game. I did not think it would have as many pros. They definitely came up with a few unique elements. I’m not totally sold yet but I didn’t hate this like I thought I would.

[@RachelXKnight666]

I'm more sold on this game with these videos than I was before them

[@darin-ka]

I can get through the graphics if the game mechanics are good and the story is captivating. I like the mechanics so far as for the story I’m not so sure. Hope it’s not just a long-long-long fetch quest. And yeah… the FEET😅! I think it would be better if they went with the hairless option rather than that strange small “bush”. I really do like how food, veggies, fish and especially animals look! And the textures are natural and realistic. Thank you for sharing with us, Payton! ❤

[@lindseypaputa4983]

I’m a blonde redhead so thats tough hopefully they’ll have highlights etc

[@tianaharn2983]

I am not a fan of Lord of the Rings, but my husband and his dad are big fans of the movies, and his dad read the books every year. I'm interested in the game, and I'm sure my husband will love it too being a fan of the movies and cozy games.

[@wiliestrogue2924]

Do not buy this for an LOTR fan. They will not appreciate the desecration of a beloved IP. This isn't Tolkien's vision. Where is the beer and pipeweed? Why are there dark skinned Hobbits? The books clearly describe what hobbits look like. This game has zero respect for the books. Wallets closed.

[@bailey6195]

I think this game will be a pass for me! I look forward to seeing everyone's streams of it! Thanks for the sneak peek Payy!

[@pinkypromise_]

Whyy?

[@RachelXKnight666]

​@@pinkypromise_also curious lol

[@iiAyJayo]

@@wiliestrogue2924 Nobody cares enough to respond to any of your comments, so why do you keep poisoning the comments section

[@wiliestrogue2924]

@@iiAyJayo Facts matter. If "THEY" have to pay people millions to push an ideology...it probably isn't good...or sane. Simple logic. People are done with DEI. We are done with the it across all media. There has been so many fails this year it makes my heart sing with joy. Society has rejected "The Message". You will never be accepted. Time for you to go away now. Bye bye.

[@wiliestrogue2924]

@@iiAyJayo You'd be angry too if someone took something you created and bastardized it beyond recognition. This is not Tolkien's vision. It's DEI slop. Stop supporting slop. Wallets closed.

[@vivalamew]

I apparently bought my first Lord of the Rings trilogy books on a Fantasy Fair on the day of the Hobbit. It's fate y'all 💫😅

[@Cozzyhane]

Is there coop or multiplayer?

[@Cubezella]

This game reminds me of the PlayStation 2 game “HOBBIT” the first part your in this super cute and cozy hobbit town (I like never played farther in , I wasn’t skilled and always died but hated the uncozy vibes it had later) It gives me the vibe of the start of the game so ya. Also he never read or watched the movies or anything either aha

[@lovetobecolouring2]

Hobbit ?

[@Cubezella]

@@lovetobecolouring2 yes hobbit . Like I said I’m not a fan or anything

[@MrNae876]

I’m not a fan of Lord of the Rings either but im a sucker for cozy games and this game doesn’t look that bad to me. It super cute even for this early access it gives me hope since they decided to release it later so maybe there will be better updates im looking forward to it either way! Also I wish more cozy games include love interests and house building.

[@msemma4316]

I am on the fence with this game! I do not like the way the characters look - but I LOVE cooking mini-games in games like this. So..... I may check it out... thanks for this video Payton!

[@Jane_and_Meg]

I was looking forward to this game but I think the dialogue needs tightening up - at the moment it comes across as a bit lame in quests tbh I generally switch off if there is too much chat... I'm not a fan of all the cooking I can see that could become tiresome esp if you don't have anything yourself to eat! I love the graphics and music though and the character creation. I also think the bird navigation is a great idea. So once it fully released we shall see! Fingers crossed. 🤞🏻

[@pinkypromise_]

I’m not a fan of the graphics as well BUT I know for a fact that it will play amazingly on the Switch because of it.

[@celestinelocsin]

is this on switch or pc? hahahha the summary is like stardewwww, ooooblets and fields of misteriaaaa

[@phoenixastra4429]

looks cool but like a lot of cozy games it needs more going on and lots of story content to give it life

[@fruitp0osikul557]

you cant just have qualms about a game and not know anything about the actual movie, the feet is a hobbit thing😭 youre right you dont have to watch the franchise to be a fan but you still have to understand it to appreciate it more.

[@fruitp0osikul557]

it doesnt just have to be that you do research but the entirety of it being hobbit focused is because its based off of the series. it just doesnt make sense to change stuff thats canonically based- just because YOU feel like its weird😭 that kind of ruins its name in a sense if you take away a lot of the stuff that MAKES them hobbits 🤷 like the homes and yea! the feet are pretty…interesting but theyre how they’re supposed to be hair and all😭😭 even in the books.

[@Phantomsangel]

For some reason the game looks like it runs better for you than it did for Josh. I do hope they do fix the kinks in it.

[@RachelXKnight666]

Josh has been the only video I've watched so far that had problems playing it

[@iiAyJayo]

Who is Josh

[@PaytonsCorner]

@@Phantomsangel I think Josh may have been playing on a different graphic setting than I was! I kept all the graphics as default!

[@RachelXKnight666]

@@iiAyJayo Josh gaming garden

[@HermioneAndGinevra]

A HUGE part of the reason she is SO hard on this game is cuz she LITERALLY hasn’t seen lord of the rings, The Hobbit, or read any of the franchises. This is honestly really hard for fans of the series to watch because so many of us would appreciate the opportunity to demo this game compared to this streamer. It breaks my heart as a franchise nerd. Like she’s complaining about what makes hobbits, HOBBITS.

[@PaytonsCorner]

@@HermioneAndGinevra I actually don’t think I was SO hard on the game at all! I ended up enjoying the gameplay but yes I don’t love some of the aesthetics and the graphics. Since they are seeming to market this game so much to cozy gamers I think that there will be a lot of people interested in the game who also have not been exposed to the franchise and I think that’s okay!

[@iiAyJayo]

Why can't it just be okay with you that a non-fan of LotR doesn't like certain aspects of the game? Is the game only for fans of the franchise? Is she not allowed to have an opinion of the game just because it doesn't line up with the opinions of some fans? All of the butthurt LotR fans in the comments keep saying the word "complaining." Try rewatching the review, but this time pretend like you know nothing about LotR, and then tell me if her video comes across as "complainy." I'm a fan of open world games like GTA, RDR, Skyrim, etc. I'm also a HUGE Harry Potter fan. I loved Hogwarts Legacy because I could immerse myself in the world I love so much. But I can also admit that as an open world action RPG, it's kind of mid compared to other games in the genre. I saw positive and negative reviews from action RPG gamers on KZbin that aren't HP fans, and respected the opinions of all of them, because there is no game that is made for everybody.

[@andrerodon3921]

If you knew literally anything about Hobbits or Tolkien this game would have made total sense to you.

[@iiAyJayo]

She said at the beginning of the video that she doesn't have any knowledge of hobbits or Tolkien.

[@anitacrumbly]

noooo 2025 whyyyyyy would you do this to us :(

[@RachelXKnight666]

Would you rather they rushed it out before it was ready?

[@siggemushu]

🎃🧡

[@looc_96]

Complaining about Gandalf knowing about you would be like complaining about getting a letter from Hogwarts in a Harry Potter game when you didn't apply. Sure, you don't need to have read or watched LotR to play Tales of the Shire, but you're reviewing a game with previous lore...and then complaining about all the parts related to that lore. It just leaves a bad taste as a reviewer when you don't respect the work that the game you're reviewing is based on, and criticise/question everything to do with that: "ew why do they have big feet" "ew why do they have hair on their feet" "ew why is the house small"

[@PaytonsCorner]

I think you’re confusing commentary as “complaining”. I had no issue with Gandalf knowing everything about the character or the fact that it’s a small house. But if it’s going to be a small house I think the camera should be zoomed out because it’s clunky and claustrophobic to navigate. The feet…yeah still not my favorite but this whole hour long video was full of me giving tons of things I did enjoy as well

[@looc_96]

@@PaytonsCorner You did say things you enjoy, but you were also reacting negatively towards things that are lore related. I'm not confusing commentary, you're just not acknowledging that your tone about these aspects of the game (the source material it is based on) is the most critical or dismissive. And you're getting defensive in with your comments, both this one and the pinned one, because people have pointed this out.

[@iiAyJayo]

If she hasn't read the books, how can she respect the works that the game is based on? She's reviewing the game as she sees it, and she gave a clear warning at the beginning of the video that she has no connection to or nostalgia for LotR. Also, she wasn't complaining, she was listing her PERSONAL cons. In case you don't know what that means, it's things she PERSONALLY doesn't like about the game. In other words, it's her opinion, which she is entitled to, just like how you are entitled to your opinion of the game. And I don't think she said any of the things you quoted her as having said. If I'm wrong, please include timestamps. Clearly you don't understand the point of game developers giving a game reviewer early access to the game, so let me spell it out for you. It's so they can receive feedback AND criticism so they can get a better idea of how to make the game approachable for all types of people, whether or not they know the lore. Your comment is completely braindead.

[@athenatherose5074]

Yeah i hate feet xD so shoes are a must

[@RachelXKnight666]

Hobbits don't do shoes lol

[@davidstahl1819]

I do not like the gender slider.

[@RachelXKnight666]

A gender slider is a problem why exactly

[@RachelXKnight666]

@@wiliestrogue2924 whatever helps you cope

[@RachelXKnight666]

@@wiliestrogue2924 are you just going around the internet spamming this crap on all the videos of this game? Lmfao

[@wiliestrogue2924]

@@RachelXKnight666 Yes dear.

[@RachelXKnight666]

@@wiliestrogue2924 imagine going around the internet spamming the same thing on multiple videos. What a pathetic existence you have

[@gloriasdaughter940]

the characters are just plain ugly no matter what you do to them. Its awful. The world is gorgeous and the decor is great etc. but it is HARD to get past how ugly all the characters are in this game, including the customizable ones. I don't know if I could get past it. So ugly. The game is cute but my understanding is you plant stuff, grow stuff, hunt stuff, fish and throw a party in an endless loop, with a few fetch quests thrown in. I am likely out on this game. For me it will get repetitive very quickly and I will get bored and stop anyway. I do however plan to watch other people play it until I get bored of that too

[@jilyvanily]

I love the idea. But I dislike the rest 😭 I was so excited for this game, the devs seemed so sweet but the graphics seem so off.. the hobbits look so wonky, squishy, idk how to describe it. They look like rumpelstiltskin from Shrek lol. There were so many visual bugs, I get that they have six month to change things and I really hope they do. I don't know the lore but why are some of the hobbits so mean? That wasn't cozy at all in my opinion. And my biggest problem is that we can not pet the animals!? That is a crime haha The idea behind the game is incredible and all I want basically. I just hope they will use the next six months to improve the graphics, because the game has so much potential.