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

"Great game with some minor flaws."

Concept:Take the warcraft engine and set it in Middle Earth.

Graphics:The graphics on this game really demonstrate the power of the Xbox 360. There can be hundreds of units on screen at once but every single unit has its own little details. For example, if one unit has low health it will appear thin and wasted. The special effects are superb also. Watching the Balrog breath fire all over your enemy base is a once in a lifetime experience... until you tell it to do it again. There is only one flaw with LOTR's graphics. I noticed a lot of slowdown in the tutorial and when there were hundreds of units being blown into the air.
I would give the graphics a 9 out of 10.

Gameplay:This is where the game excels. Good graphics are a nice touch, but it's the gameplay that makes or brakes the game. EA did a great job with porting the keyboard and mouse interface over onto the Xbox 360. The controls, while they do take some time to learn, are fluid as can be. Buildings all require actual strategic and tactical placing. You also need to coordinate your units very well. So be warned, if you expect to just rush the base, do not buy this game.
The gameplay gets a solid 10/10.

Entertainment: Another important quality of a game is how fun it actually is. I'm happy to say that LOTR:BFME II is one of the funnest games I have ever played. It will definitely keep you entertained for years. It is also easy to learn so you don't need to be an RTS vet to play this game. The game of course includes a single player mode but the real fun is online. There are several different types of online play including capture the flag. Add to this team matches and over 40 maps to choose from and you've got yourself a solid title.
I give the entertainment a 10 out of 10.

Rent, buy, or ignore: If you are a fan of shooting games or sports games, ignore this. There is nothing for you here. If you are even a slight fan of RTS, a definite buy. And if you are any kind of Lord of the Rings fan, you have to buy this.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 07/10/06