The Lord of the Rings, The Third Age

"A Decent Game in the LoTR Saga"

An rpg set in Middle Earth! What more could LoTR fans ask for? Well, personally, I'd ask for more freedom in the game. Take on the role of an unknown Gondorian soldier in a quest to follow behind those heroes making Middle Earth save for all.

Gameplay: 8/10

This is the game for you if you're a Final Fantasy nut, or you just enjoy the style of play made popular in the FF games. The world is big, but very linear. The Third Age does provide us gamers with a chance to see what Sauron and his forces are all about in "Evil Mode". There is also a Co-Op option so you can play with a friend.

Story: 7/10

Follow in the wake of the Fellowship of the movie/books. A somewhat progressive storyline, however it is nothing special. There are a few things that just don't make sense, but it doesn't really decrease the value of the story in this game.

Graphics 8/10

The graphics are spectacular, however I believe they could've payed more attention to some textures and models, namely the characters are all very blocky and stiff. I feel like the characters are just going to break out into Mr. Roboto or something.

Sound: 10/10

The music, voice acting, and overall sound effects all leave a lasting impression on the gamer. You will adore the sound in this game, pretty much because it's taken directly from the films. The sound in this game is phenomenal.

Conclusion: 7/10

Being a huge LoTR fan, I jumped on this game. I actually had no idea about the gameplay at all, and I assumed it would probably be similar to KoTOR, but I was pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed this game very much, but it didn't quite live up to my expectations as an rpg. Perhaps being able to barter would've made the game somewhat more interesting, but all in all the game is not bad. It is quite long and should provide you with plenty of entertainment.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 11/05/04