The Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth II

"The Battle For Middle Earth Begins!"

Graphics/Environment 10/10: Ever wonder what it would be like to recreate the battles of the LOTR trilogy? Well of course their were the console games, and the original BFME, but the attention to detail in this game far surpasses that of any LOTR game I have played to date. The map which blew me the way the most was Minas Tirith. The detail to the city is incredible, making it one of, if not the most impressive level/map I have seen in any RTS. The Ents, flying boulders from catapults, arrows soaring through the sky, and the character graphics are all equipped with a great sense of realism, which makes the game that much better.

Sound/Music 10/10: Who doesn't love the LOTR movie trilogy music? Well if you don't you might want to keep the sound off on menu screens. The soundtrack which I enjoy from the movies is ever present in game and out which helps give you the LOTR feeling. The sounds range from roaring trolls, "whiffing" arrows, the loud horn sounds that ring out when Saurons armies move out, and of course the clashing of swords.

Control 10/10: I'm an RTS fan so I'm used to the style of controls from games such as this, but it won't take long even for a beginner to learn them. The controls are simple yet effective which allows you to enjoy yourself when playing the game so you don't have to press numerous "hotkeys" like some RTS' which takes away from the point of the game: To have fun.

Online Gameplay 10/10: Ever want to play the classic LOTR battles with friends? Or maybe start up a clan for some competition? Well now you can better then ever before which was attempted on some console LOTR games. Playing online consists of three modes: Tournament, Open play, and "War of the Ring". Tournament mode pits you up against another player(s) for a competitive match up, which is then recorded on an EA ladder. My favorite mode, "open play" allows you to enjoy the fun of playing with others while maintaining a competitive spirit. The final mode "War of the Ring" allows for many different variables to be put into place for a competitive match up while trying to "capture" the land you're fighting on.

Offline/Story (campaign) 10/10: The interesting part of this game is the two different campaign scenarios where you can either play as good or evil. Both story modes are fun and playing to defend (or attack) the various Middle Earth worlds puts you in control of the fate of either side. Offline skirmish mode and War of the Ring mode are worth buying the game even if you cannot get online. The offline mode takes away the competition of playing online and gives you the freedom to enjoy the LOTR battles against AI opponents, which allows you to experiment with the different abilities of the various classes within the game.

Overall 10/10: I will say I'm a big Lord of the Rings fan, and playing the epic battles in an outstanding game in the many different places within Middle Earth has been enjoying for me thus far and I believe it will continue to. If you like RTS games in general this is a must own, even if you are not a fan of the LOTR trilogy, The Battle for Middle Earth II has so many great features it is a game that should not be passed up!

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 03/09/06