Summary
Tales of the Shireis looking like a promising, if unconventional, entry in the cozy sim genre, fully embracing the source material of theLord of the Ringsfranchise. But one thing Weta Workshop needs to keep in mind is thatTales of the Shiremust include good customization options, and more than one area needs them.
When first announced,Tales of the Shiretook many by surprise.Lord of the Ringsis hardly the first franchise that comes to mind when thinking about a simple, cozy experience, but Weta Workshop has been showcasing how it approached the well known story from a new angle. Honing in on the life of the hobbits was a creative and promising way to bring fans to a new side of Middle-earth with a more peaceful disposition. So far, players have seen glimpses of an in-depth cooking mechanic, sprawling gardens, and a detail-oriented decorating system for their hobbit hole’s interior. But customization in cozy games is important, anddecorating hobbit holes should only be the beginning. When it comes to customization,Tales of the Shirewould do its best to focus both on the character’s home and the hobbits themselves.
Tales of the Shire Needs to Embrace Customization from Multiple Angles
Despite the positive response of gameplay previews,Tales of the Shirehas been receiving some criticism in a few areas. Fans ofLord of the Ringshave been quick to point out that the idyllic hobbit communities don’t represent most of Middle-earth, which is steeped in conflict and frequently at war. In a setting like this, emphasizing the most peaceful race could be seen as a drawback. Though the concept ofTales of the Shirecan only do so much to address that type of concern, Weta Workshop does have the means to create a solution. By incorporating more customization into the game, players could be allowed to depict their community however they see fit.
With players designing their community as they like, it ensures that they, much like the hobbits created by Tolkein, don’t want to leave the shire. A key trait of the hobbits depicted inThe Lord of the Ringsis that, except for the heroes of the franchise, they are a particularly insulated community, which allows them to keep the tranquil lifestyle emulated byTales of the Shire. By fully embracing customization, Weta Workshop has addressedconcerns thatTales of the Shireplayers might want to leave the Shire, a desire foreign to typical hobbits. But, while the interior customization looks incredible, character customization should be just as in-depth.
Tales of the Shire Needs Highly Customizable Hobbits
So far, little information has come out about what character creation inTales of the Shirewill look like. Screenshots from the game have depicted a wide variety of appearances, so it stands to reason that players will be able to make their character unique, but to what degree remains to be seen. Typically, cozy games don’t focus too much on character creation. Games likeAnimal CrossingorStardew Valleyhave different outfits, but only a few sparse options for facial and body features. In order to stand out,Tales of the Shireshould take inspiration fromThe Simscharacter creation, which is extremely versatile. In this way, players can create hobbits that look almost any way they please, ensuring that they feel at home in their cozy hobbit hole.
A key trait of the hobbits depicted in Lord of the Rings is that they are a particularly insulated community.
Hobbit Holes Need to be More Than Holes
The hobbit hole that the player will live in looks to have a highly customizable interior. Previews have even shown players rearranging the books on the shelves and the plates on the tables. One issue common in cozy games, though, is the house layout. Because they are ultimately holes in the ground,hobbit holes might be a double-edged sword. In this regard, Weta Workshop needs to consider the idea of various layouts for the interior. These types of extra customization might be all it takes to bringTales of the Shirefrom good to great.
