LEGO The Hobbit (Nintendo 3DS)

In ‘LEGO The Hobbit’, players guide Bilbo Baggins, Gandalf The Grey, Thorin Oakenshield and a wide arrange of characters in an adventure based on the first two films of director Peter Jackson’s ‘The Hobbit’ film trilogy (in turn based on the books by J.R.R. Tolkien).

The Nintendo 3DS version plays very similarly to the other console versions, expect that players view the action from an upper perspective rather than the third-person experience from the other editions. The 3DS Touch Screen is used to swap around the many available characters in each level, while most of the action takes place on the upper screen. Also displayed on the Touch Screen is the character’s super move and a party menu (only available in Free Play mode).

Controls include using the Circle Pad to control the characters, L to switch characters (along with the Circle Pad), the X and Y buttons to attack (far and close ranges, respectively), R to perform each character’s unique super move, B to dash and A to interact with objects.

Like other LEGO video game efforts, players collect studs scattered throughout the levels (which can be used to purchase characters, hints, extras and others), Gold Bricks that add to the player’s game percentage and Red Bricks that unlock extras within the Pause Menu.