Video games based on books/movies/etc.

I saw an ad last night for “the official game based on the literary works of JRR Tolkien” and it got me to wondering. I don’t play video or computer games myself, but for those who do, is it helpful knowing the plot of the source material ahead of time? For example, does knowing Borimir will turn indicate that in playing the LoTR computer game, fragging Borimir up front is a good strategy?