With 8 missions per affiliation, this diamond of a game is fun and cool but too small and short to leave an impression.

User Rating: 8 | The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-Earth II PC
Though not the best in the series, Battle for Middle-Earth 2 is truly a step forward in gaming and Tolkien's lore. Since the first 2004 BFME, the 'Lord of the Rings' plot has been sucked dry in every media imaginable. Now, with BFME 2, another look is taken into the history behind the masterful trilogy. The heroes Glorfindel, Gloin, Elrond, Galadriel, and Arwen are minor charaters in Tolkien's plots but in BFME 2, they seize the spotlight with never-before-seen abilities and personalities. The good campaign looms over the evil one but each mission on either side provides a challenge. The living world map, something vaunted in the first game, has disappeared to my disappointment. No longer is the choice between the Gap of Rohan, Rhun, Mordor, Isengard, and more but rather 'Good' or 'Evil'. The choices have been cut down but the available powers have been vamped to the point that the Powers screen is almost mind-boggling. The survival missions are fun and remind players of the Helm's Deep days, except that dwarves are now crushing orcs. Goblins, Elves, Dwarves, and Dragons make a debut into the gaming franchise and familiars like Fell Beasts, Isengard, and Grima also return. Behold, players, a game worthy of playing yet too short to flesh out.