Play Lord of the Ring Online

Lord of the Ring came out on the Super Nintendo in 1994, developed by Interplay Productions. It was part of that wave of licensed games trying to capture the feel of a big fantasy world, but on a system that was already pushing its limits with titles like Donkey Kong Country. You could tell they were aiming for something ambitious, even if the hardware sometimes fought back.

You control Frodo, and later other members of the Fellowship, moving screen by screen through locations from the books. The main goal is to destroy the One Ring, which involves a lot of dungeon delving, fighting orcs with a sword or bow, and gathering key items. The combat uses rotoscoped animation that gives sword swings a unique, almost weighty feel, but the controls can be awkward in crowded fights. It's not an easy game; you have to manage your health and choose engagements carefully. Playing it feels like a rough but earnest attempt to live inside Middle-earth for a little while.