Battle For Middle Earth 2 delivers a mixed strategy of the Total War game style with RTS that makes this one of the best
First of all, the presentation is very good for a 2006 game, perhaps it was one of the best in RTS at that time. The visuals are simply amazing and the character animations make the game look more real. so if your a graphics whore looking for a good RTS, look no more because BFME 2 will sweep you off your feet and you'd be playing it for hours.
Secondly, the gameplay has just gotten much better. Aside from the campaigns and skirmishes versus the AI, a new game system called War Of The Ring has been introduced to the series and it is fantastic. It's pretty much a dumbed down version of Total War but you would have to fight for territory against your enemy. Whenever you engage with an opponent, you could either play the battle in real time or just simulate it but beware, you could risk the entire region if you do simulate it.
Last but not least, the story is set onto other characters in Lord Of The Rings , and basically it's about what really happened in the North while the Fellowship were in the south, fighting armies, walking through dead marshes or simply just eating salty pork.
The art direction really went well for this one and LOTR fans will not be dissapointed with this game at all. If you are one reading this, then I'd recommend this game, it will be a blast.