The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

"Gimli...don't mess"

The game needs no introduction, though my review may. This is my first review at GFAQS, so just bear with me. I owned The Two Towers (TTT) prior to the release of Return of the King (RotK), but sold it for some extra cash to be able to buy RotK.
I loved TTT. It was fast-paced, intense, and undeniably fun. Return of the King brings this back, and then some. There was one big disappointment (in my eyes), though.

Graphics: 9/10
TTT had some amazing graphics, but RotK managed to top even those. With spectacular partical explosions, sprays of blood as your weapon cuts through hordes of Uruks, and a significantly improved Gimli model, they . . . well they rock.
One annoying thing, though, and it's been mentioned in other reviews, I know. The characters' mouths don't move when they talk. But that's all the complaints in this department.

Sound: 9/10
Not much to say about the sound, except that it's awesome. Great musical score (especially in the demo video), shouts from characters and enemies, just awesome.

Gameplay: 10/10
The gameplay is fantastic! With interactive items such as ballistae and war pikes (my favorite . . . oooo I love those . . . seeing a mountain troll topple right in front of me from a burning pike . . . mmmmm), awesome combos, and intricate levels, the gameplay is utterly solid. Not to mention Gimli's uber-cool combos and banes. The fact that the demi-god Gandalf is playable (and he, of course, rocks) is great. Mountain Trolls got nothin' on this Maia.
Another thing. RotK has co-op mode, so grab a friend (or complete stranger that can't mug you) and get to hacking.

Replayability: 8/10
Great to go through levels like the Southern Gate and kill over 200 orcs again and again. And of course 2-player is great. And the unlockables, from characters to levels . . . good stuff.
The bad thing is that my favorite code from TTT is not present (slow-mo). I mean, I loved it in TTT, and the combos would have looked soooooooo awesome in slow-mo. So I'm going to cry about it and take a point or so off.

In conclusion, this game is great. I'm still playing it, and loving it. Just go out, buy it, put it in, and quote our favorite dwarf as you slice and dice the minions of Sauron: ''Let them come! There is yet one dwarf in Moria who still draws breath!''

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 11/29/03