The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle Earth series was first released in 2004 not long after the third film in the trilogy was released by EA. The game is very good, the quality in presentation especially for people who are major Tolkien fans, is highly enjoyable, the campaign is exciting; allowing you to take control of the heroes and armies of Middle Earth. The graphics are excellent for a 6 year old game and overall the settings are good although lacking in any real variety.
The presence of clips from the film and voices add to the realism and draws you into the world of the game. The first game in the series was a good game but luckily for gamers across the world the next game in the trilogy was a huge step up arguably the biggest leap forward between an original and sequel game. The biggest problem in the game is the forced positioning of structures in both the campaign and skirmish game modes. This takes quite a bit of the freedom of the game away from the player.
The second game the Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle Earth 2 is a breathtaking game, truly excellent, EA managed to outdo themselves with this game which followed on two years after it’s predecessor.
As with the first game you can decide whether to play a good or evil campaign; both of which take you all over the world and allow you to play as and interact with some of the best characters from the books and movies. It’s a Tolkien fans dream as you unleash characters like Tom Bombadil and Sauron to cause ruckus all over the battlefield. With better graphics than most PC or console games of today (no exaggeration), it is a game that you just want to keep playing over and over again. The cut-scenes in the campaign are a real highlight featuring stunning artwork that portrays Middle Earth in a somewhat fresh and beautiful light. It rivals the work of Alan Lee for some of the best pictures of Tolkien’s creations.
Gameplay-wise you will find yourself visiting new locations, our favourite being the underground Dwarven Kingdom of Erebor. A domain under the rule of King Dain, is one of the most exciting levels of the game as you must fight back wave after wave of enemies until time runs out.
The jewel in the crown of this game is the brilliant skirmish section to the game where a single game can last hours and you can fight as several different factions such as elves, men, dwarves, etc. each with their own strengths and weaknesses. The battles are fantastic as large armies clash over huge battlefields with powers and heroes been thrown in for good measure.
The game also comes with many new features, including the ability to create and customise your own hero.
It looked like EA could not better Battle for Middle Earth 2 but yet again they showed why they are one of the best game developers when they finally released the expansion pack: The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle Earth 2 – The Rise of the Witch King. (Try saying that ten times fast). This game is not only one of the best RTS (real time strategy) games ever but one of the best PC games ever made. It has everything that battle for Middle Earth 2 had plus a whole lot more. It does an excellent job of bringing a better and bigger game to the table with the addition of a complete new faction, the Angmar (not the best faction but are good fun).
Extra options are also made to ‘War of the Ring’ mode and ‘Create a Hero’ .The campaign is detailed and excellently written, as you lead the Witch King on his quest to become the leader of the Nazgul and Sauron’s right hand man.
Overall these three games are a must have for any serious fan of Real Time Strategy or Lord of the Rings. They pack some serious longevity and have more than enough customisable modes of gameplay to keep you busy for hours. All of these games are available to buy now and can be got at a serious cut down price. If you are looking for some Tolkien action then now you know where to find it.
Gold Coins:
8.2 / 10
