Pete's Expert Summary
My human seems to have acquired a box of organized chaos from a brand called Ravensburger, which typically produces sturdy puzzles that are satisfying to knock off a table. This, however, is a "game" in the form of a book. It appears to be a cooperative affair where the humans must guide little plastic effigies of hairy-footed people and elves through a series of stressful scenarios depicted on the book's pages. The appeal for me is obvious: a treasure trove of small, flick-able miniatures and dozens of cards and tokens practically begging to be scattered by a well-aimed tail swish. While the humans are busy "avoiding Black Riders," I'll be busy assessing the aerodynamic properties of a "Gimli" miniature. The primary drawback is that it requires intense human focus, which could detract from mandatory petting sessions, but the sheer quantity of potential new floor toys might be worth the temporary neglect.
Key Features
- IMMERSIVE COOPERATIVE GAMEPLAY: Guide Frodo, Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli through iconic moments from the trilogy - Avoid Black Riders in the Shire, survive the Mines of Moria, and make a final stand at Mordor
- INNOVATIVE CHAPTER BOOK FORMAT: The unique 'game book' turns pages to new boards representing pivotal scenes from this classic tale - Makes for exciting and varied game nights or a full day of fun
- QUALITY COMPONENTS: Included are 1 Adventure Book game board, 7 character miniatures, 42 Story cards, 18 Special cards, 15 Plot cards, 5 Eye of Sauron cards, 52 counters, 4 reference cards, and a rulebook - All designed with attention to detail
- UNIQUE CORRUPTION TRACK: Navigate temptations of the One Ring as you cooperate to complete challenges - Beware the risk of drawing Eye of Sauron Cards
- PERFECT GIFT: Featuring gorgeous, thematic artwork across the game board, cards, counters, and tokens, and detailed miniatures of the film’s characters - Ideal for birthdays, holidays, or simply to make any Lord of the Rings fan’s day
A Tale from Pete the Cat
The evening began with an unwelcome ceremony. My human, with an air of reverence I typically reserve for the opening of a fresh can of tuna, placed a large, dark box on the coffee table. The scent of new cardboard and ink filled the air, a promising overture. From within, they extracted not a single, elegant toy, but a bewildering clutter of components and a strange, spiral-bound book. They laid the book open, its pages displaying a map of some dreadfully green and over-manicured countryside. This, they announced, was "The Shire." It looked drafty. Their attention soon turned to a little rulebook, a fatal error on their part. I saw my opening. I leapt silently onto the table for a closer inspection. The plastic figures were, I admit, of a certain quality. Detailed, well-balanced. I nudged a gray-bearded one with my nose. He slid nicely across the glossy page. But then, my eyes caught a glint. Near the edge of the board sat a tiny, golden token. A ring. While my human babbled on about a "Corruption Track," I felt a different sort of pull. A primal, feline need to possess the shiny thing. My quest had been decided. As they finally began their "game," I began mine. They moved their pieces with painstaking care, reading from "Story Cards" and making tense noises. I waited, a shadow of soft gray fur against the dark wood. They turned the page to a new board, a dark and gloomy mine. Perfect. In the momentary confusion of rearranging their little men, I saw my chance. The ring token was momentarily unguarded. The human was distracted, trying to decipher what a "Plot Card" meant for their little bearded dwarf. With the focus of a predator, I executed a flawless maneuver. A gentle, almost accidental-looking sweep of my tuxedoed chest sent a cascade of useless "counters" to the floor as a distraction. In that split second, a single white paw darted out, hooking the golden ring with one perfect claw. I retracted it instantly. They yelped at the mess of counters, completely oblivious to the real heist. I hopped down from the table, the prize secured, and trotted off to my lair beneath the armchair. This game was a masterpiece. It provided not only high-quality trinkets but also the perfect cover for a thrilling tale of thievery and conquest. It is, without question, worthy.
