The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

"A decent, enjoyable hack-n-slash..."

It seems that EA and it's developers have finally broken the stereotype that movie-to-game transitions suck, because all 4 versions of the Two Towers are fantastic. This version plays remarkably similar to it's next-generation cousings, but the GBA version is probably the worst of the lot. Still, it amounts to be a fun, though short, hack-n-slash.

Graphics: 7/10
First off, I was amazed that they were able to actually compress small, short bits of movie footage to run on the GBA. Obviously, due to the extreme compression, these sequences don't look the best, but extra points for this amazing feat. The main game looks decent, but it's nothing to show off the GBA's powers with. Environments are done nicely, and some look pretty impressive, but character sprites, though recognizable, are pretty ugly. Some nice textures, but some instances of slight slow-down.

Sound-8/10
Most of the tunes are ripped straight from the movie. That's not a bad thing, because why mess with greatness? However, they sound a bit grainy. Some of the tunes created for the game are a bit annoying, but overall, a job well done.

Gameplay-8.5/10
Choose from one of 5 characters (Aragorn, Legolas, Gandalf, Frodo, and Eowyn, but, sadly, no Gimli), each with different quests, and play through scenes from the The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers. Gameplay consists mainly real time action RPG elements. Find weapons, equip them, and slash at enemies. Find new weapons, equip them, and slash at new enemies. It's a bit repetitive after awhile, but it plays very similar to the next-generation versions of the same name. The RPG elements consist of leveling-up, gaining new stats, and getting attribute points. These points can be used to purchase new abilities. Example: As you progress, Aragorn can learn the ability to wield two swords and once, Gandalf can learn spells, and Legolas can recover HP from standing still. Multiplayer co-op adds much replay value to the game.

Replay-7/10
Each of the five different characters present you with a different quest, however, some quests are a little similar, so you probably won't bother to play through them all. Link-up to another person who owns the game, and you can go through the game co-op. Co-op mode is great fun, but it gets repetitive.

Overall-8/10
A fun, flawed, short, engaging, repetitive, but most importantly worthwhile action-RPG. If you're a serious Lord of the Rings fan, you'll probably dig it, if not, try renting it first.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 02/11/03, Updated 02/11/03