Console RTS done right! While not as good as the orginal or its computer counterpart its still one heck of a game.
User Rating: 8.1 | The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-Earth II X360
I was pretty exited when i first heard this game announced. Having been a BIG fan of bfme 1 and having played the 2nd only on abysmally low settings i was really exited to be able to play it the way it was ment to be played. While i admit the controls can be cumbersome at times, but once you get the swing of things you'll be dropping orcs and liberating / taking over middle earth in no time. The Game features a evil and a good story mode and while not as epic as the original theres still loads of good gameplay to be had. Achievements are given by completing the bonus objectives durring a mission and it overall works well. The game offers a skirmish mode which is really good. Since this GREATLY adds to the replay value. The graphics are very good for an rts game and while the framerate does dip it's not really enough to take one out of the action unless you're a real nit picker. Good news, the great licensed soundtrack makes it return makeing for some epic battle themes and such. The overall gameplay hasen't changed much. Most notable the factions have been split. Fusing the men of middle earth and making the dwarfs, elves, goblins, mordor, isengard. All these factions have their own unique feel and play quite differently from each other. Though the game does run on a rock paper scissors like system so your going to see the equivilent of a spearmen and archer and such for all sides but the factions have little quirks that make them unique. So between all the offline modes and the online mode this should keep you busy for awhile. If you have the pc version and can run it well, i wouldnt recommend getting this game unless you have a really nice entertainment system. But those looking to play the game they way its ment to be played like i did or those who have never played an rts before, Your gunna want to check this out.
