LEGO The Hobbit is the newest release for the LEGO video game series from developer Traveller's Games. The new title follows closely to the narrative of the two Peter Jackson directed blockbuster films and is based upon the original J.R.R. Tolkien works as well.

Sandwiched between the last two films LEGO The Hobbit feels like it's missing its ending, and the characters just don't have the instant recognition and iconic status as their LotR counterparts.

It may be incomplete, narratively speaking, but Lego The Hobbit is just as content-packed as any other game in the series, and is a great experience for Lego and Middle-earth diehards alike.

Flawlessly embodies the spirit of The Hobbit films; Massive open world to explore; So much to see and do

Only covers content from the first two movies; Overwhelming amount of characters and skills; Crafting can be frustrating

As much as Lego The Hobbit was inevitable - as well the last words Bilbo would ever want to hear while being flown around by those eagles - it does rather beg the question: "Wait, now

very good and fun game, but once you've finished the storyline, you've only just defeated smaug, and it cuts to black, free to explore middle earth, much like the LOTR lego set, and frankly to be honest, LOTR was a more fun game, just because of the more material.

the game only contains two of the three segments, the final segment is only available online while connected. I feel a slight bit ripped off by this fact. Just thought you might want to know before you buy!

Home loving Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit with a simple life, with a simple home who loves his simple possessions. So when Gandalf the Grey invites a party of dwarves to Bilbo's home, this was the beginning of an adventure that he never expected.

Typical Lego humour and fun; Voices & soundtrack taken from the movies adds authenticity; New gameplay elements experimented; Looks fantastic; Heaps of replay value

Lego Middle-Earth is starting to feel a little too familiar

LEGO The Hobbit is rated E-10 with ESRB descriptors of Cartoon Violence and Comic Mischief. You can punch, slash, and zap bad guys, but they just fall down or go to pieces when defeated. They make it perfectly clear that everything is made out of LEGOs, so violence isn't really that bad.

My sons love the game and its hard enough not to be over in just a few hours.

With the many franchises under its belt, LEGO has a commanding lead over mixing in the fun of building with and destroying things made out of LEGO bricks with the likes of the Avengers, Star Wars and Batman.

Puts you in the story of Middle Earth without a whole lot of LEGO sets to buy; Good amount of voice-acting from the original cast of the movie; Lots to unlock

Repetitive problem-solving methods; Some cumbersome character-switching