The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

"It's all about the co-op mode."

Even though there are alot of LOTR games coming out, don't let this one get crushed under the flow. It's a gem when you're playing with a friend, and is simply a must-play if you are a fan of the series.

Story- 9/10
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The story is taken directly from the movie, and it is presented over the course of the game magnificently. Although the ''seamless'' transitions from game to movie aren't as seamless as I'd like them to be, it is still done tastefully and not in overabundance. You can start off the game as Aragorn,Legolas or Gimli. Later on, as you get further into the game you can switch off to Gandalf,Frodo, Sam or Merry. There are also 3 unlockable characters, but be warned, not every character can be used it every battle. For instance you can't use Gandalf at the King of the Dead stage, but you can use him at the Black Gate stage.

Gameplay-10/10
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This is where the game shines. This is no button masher, killing orcs requires thought to the specific units and the situation. There is a speed attack for unshielded foes, long range attack for enemies that are a ways off (duh) and a fierce attack for those with shields. Not to mention the L2 button which allows you to jump back, the parry button and the kick button, which is great for knocking down ladders and keeping the crowds of orcs at bay. But the real meat of the system is in the combos. They are the fastest way you can kill off opponents, and depending on the quality of the combo, and how fast you reacted. The different ratings you can get for combos are Fair, Good, Excellent and Perfect. If you get enough perfects in a row, you go into perfect mode where pulling off perfect combo kills is a breeze. This is a great system, because at the end of the levels you get more or
less experience depending on the quality of combos you got. With the said exp points you can buy new skills, more health and strength. It's also alot of fun (when playing in co-op) mode to see who can get more perfects. Some might find this game difficult on single player mode, and I highly recommend co-op mode. It's just much more fun when you are playing this with a friend.

Graphics-9/10
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Everything in this game, from the enemies to the backgrounds to your characters is very detailed. Even the faces are somewhat realistic to the characters that they are supposed to portray. Not only that, but the body mechanics are very life like and the animation isn't choppy or slow. They keep up with the intense action that you face in the game.

Sound-8/10
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All the actors in the movie (at least to my ears) lend their talents to the game, and do a wonderful job. Battle noises are apparent in all their gory glory ($$$), no doubt thanks to wonderful THX surround sound.

Replay Value 4/10
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Eh..I guess if you really want to use all the unlockable characters you can, but I don't see this as a game you'll go through many times over.Unless with friends..this game is a blast to play when you have a buddy or two to play it with. Which leads into my next point-

Buy or Rent?
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I would rent this, personally. If you go through co-op mode, you can get through the whole game in about 8 or 9 hours, maybe less. It all depends on how easily you are able to adept and use the system to your advantage. Some may find this as a worthy game to buy, and if you really think you will play this alot, then by all means go ahead. I just see no reason to buy it at the current 50,45 dollar price when it's just as good as a rental.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 11/16/03