The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers Updated Preview
We take another look at EA's PlayStation 2 game based on Peter Jackson's films.
We recently had a chance to check out the PlayStation 2 version of EA's upcoming game based on Peter Jackson's excellent film adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings trilogy. As we reported earlier, the game is being codeveloped by Electronic Arts and Stormfront Studios, and it will incorporate story elements from last year's The Fellowship of the Ring movie with story elements from the forthcoming The Two Towers, which is due in theaters this December. The game has come quite a ways since we last saw it, and the build we received provided us with a chance to play around with all the playable characters, levels, and extras being packed into the game. Judging from what we've seen, The Two Towers' mix of 3D combat, RPG elements, excellent graphics, and movielike storytelling is looking very promising.
The game opens with an abbreviated version of the film's opening that alternates between film footage, real-time cutscenes, and short segments of gameplay, all of which do an excellent job of setting the tone for the game. In the interactive bits of this prologue, you'll take control of the elven warrior Isildur and wreak havoc on the assembled orc masses. The short sequence is a quick tutorial on the attack system you'll be using in the game and a showcase for the game's impressive graphics engine. You'll be coached on the three main attacks in the game--speed, fierce, and killing blow--via tips shouted to you on the battlefield and onscreen text that lets you know how effective your blows are. Speed is obviously the quickest attack in the game, and while it doesn't do much damage, it can be useful for setting up a larger combo. Fierce is a stronger but slower attack that does a lot more damage and is perfectly suited to destroying shields. The killing blow is a slow attack that will finish off your enemies with one hit once you've knocked them to the ground. Each of the attacks is mapped to one of the face buttons on the PlayStation 2 controller and can be chained together to perform combos and special moves once you've earned them. An onscreen momentum meter will fill as you successfully land blows and will dramatically increase the effectiveness of your attacks when full. You'll also be able to kick nearby opponents and use a unique ranged attack on distant foes. A cool addition to the game's control since we last saw it is the ability to use the right analog sticks in place of the buttons to trigger attacks by pushing the stick in a certain direction and then pressing on it like a button. The analog stick system seemed to work best with Legolas and Aragorn, whose speed and combo attacks have a very distinctive rhythm to them, while the face buttons suited Gimli.
Following the prologue, you'll go to a summary screen, where your skill in battle will be determined according to your performance. The various types of blows, ranging from excellent to poor, will be tallied, and you'll be given points and a ranking. Once you've reviewed the summary, the game will start and you'll be brought to a world map. You'll be able to select one of three playable characters alluded to above: Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli. Each character will have unique attributes that will affect how he handles, and those attributes will require you to adjust how you go through a level. For example, Legolas is an excellent ranged fighter but just a decent melee fighter, whereas Gimli is death with an axe in close quarters but decidedly less lethal at a distance. Aragorn is probably the most well rounded of the three, although his ranged arrow attacks are far less powerful than Legolas'. While each of the characters has individual strengths and weaknesses, you'll be able to do something about that thanks to the RPG elements in the game. The main game differs from the prologue in that when you come to the summary screen, you'll be able to use the points you earned in a level to buy upgrades for your character and level him up. You'll find five groups of upgrades to select from, ranging from new combos to permanent supplements to stats such as health and defense. While you'll be able to switch characters between levels, you'll find it best to settle on one to take through the game, as you'll need a pretty buffed-out character to deal with the insanity of the later stages in the game.
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Quick Links
Summary | Reviews | News | Previews & Features | Images | Videos | Answers | Hints & Cheats | Forum | Check Prices
- EA Games
- Stormfront Studios
- Beat-'Em-Up
- Release: Oct 21, 2002 »
- ESRB: Teen
Games you may like…
-
LotR: Fellowship of the Ring
(PS2) -
Lord of the Rings: ROTK
(PS2) -
Lord of the Rings Third Age
(PS2) -
The Hobbit
(PS2) -
LotR: Treason of Isengard
(PS2)
Users who looked at content for this game also looked at these games.
See More Similar Games
0 Comments