8.4. Really? Based on what? The box art?
The good.
While some people may say the graphics are dumb. The graphics are kinda nice I think.
Different units with different strengths and weaknesses. And ability to get better units by behaving certain ways.
The BAD.
Standard battles on open plains are ok. But just wait till you try to siege. Go ahead. Try it. If your soldiers dont get stuck on a siege ladder and climb endlessly.......watch them get slaughtered by a group of peasants with pitchforks garrisoned in a tower. Or, try to tell your men to get off the damn wall and go into the center of the castle you are siegeing. The just stand there.
So most of the time you are forced to let the AI do the battling because only it can seemingly overcome the terrible programing and soldiers that wont follow orders. But then half the time even the AI doesn't know what its doing. Leave the battle field and let the AI fight it for you to manage some things. Come back sometime later, both armies are in the exact same spot.
Get done with the first campaign. And if you are anything like me, youll say to yourself. "Wow, I know like in lords of the realm II all the maps are essentially the same and you do the same things...but at least LOTR II it was simple, fun and WORKED. Screw this"