GENRE
	Role-Playing Game
	DEVELOPER
	EA Games
	PUBLISHER
	EA Games
	NUMBER OF PLAYERS
	1-2
	CONNECTIVITY
	no
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For any hardcore gamer, everyone knew that a game like this would come along eventually. After all, why let such a good license die when all three films have already been released theatrically, on DVD, and composed in video game form? Lord of the Rings: The Third Age isn't so much a cash milker as it is a fun role playing game with some good ideas, some iffy play mechanics, and beautifully orchestrated production values. As a turn-based role-playing game, this title may not flex any big muscles when it comes to gameplay. Anyone who's ever played any turn-based RPG will immediately recognize how learned The Third Age is within the "oldest trick in the book" game. If you think that this is simply a rip-off of Final Fantasy X... well, you're half right.

visuals

Lord of the Rings: The Third Age may not be the sweetest eye candy that you’ve ever set your irises on, but the level of production value oozes with great character design and superb special effects. Using a revamped version of the visual engine that was used in last year’s Return of the King video game, The Third Age uses finely detailed character models to get the job done. While the detail may not be as strong as say that which is in the films themselves, but each weapon and piece of armor is finely crafted and looks brilliant when put into play. Even the Elegost’s brooches look particularly fancy. The special effects used in certain special melee attacks and spirit attacks, or magic, are all spectacular, although when used to full effect against several enemies or one ferocious monster (read: graphic intensive), things can get a little choppy. It can be forgivable most of the time, however. The animations are nicely captured, but some could have used a little bit more life. All in all, one of the best features about this light role-playing game is its visual prowess.

audio

Featuring cuts from Howard Shore’s award winning score as well as a well produced set of sound effects and voice acting, everything in The Third Age not only sounds professionally made, but made with quality as well. The music is key to any role-playing game. It sets the tone and the overall setting of the world that you are fighting in or for, more often than not. The music taken from the films fits perfectly into this role. After all, who here hasn’t put on the Two Towers soundtrack during an epic Dungeons and Dragons campaign? That’s a rhetorical question. The game’s sound effects are amazingly well produced, featuring brutal clashes and blistering magical blasts. Everything fits and it isn’t overly dressed. In fact, some of the variety can get a bit stale until one of your characters slashes through a warg’s mouth with a bone-crushing “clang!” Then you’re up on your toes again. While you may not recognize any of the voice work, aside from Sir Ian McKellan who narrates and portrays Gandalf, it’s certainly professional quality. These aren’t just some people dragged off of the design team to get some free overtime. Let me rephrase that. If they are people from the design team, perhaps they’d do better in another field. Add some THX certified sound in there and you’ve got yourself one of the most well produced role-playing games this year.

gameplay

Lord of the Rings: The Third Age uses several different practices from many other turn-based role-playing games. Many gamers have already expressed the similarities between this game and Final Fantasy X, in fact. While it does borrow heavily from other games, nothing can replace the sprawling world of Middle Earth, even if you are mostly restricted to the areas surrounding the film trilogy. However, aside from the genre, there are several other differences between this game and its other film-based counterparts. For example, you will no longer be fighting as Gandalf, Aragorn, and other members of the fellowship. Instead, you take up the role of Berethor, leading his own band of elves and dwarves along side the fellowship. While it certainly isn’t the most original concept, it should definitely appeal to the fan fiction writers of today. What if (and it’s a big if), there was another fellowship helping the original group towards their path to glory. While they didn’t get the recognition they deserved, they hold a steady course throughout the game, fighting through the events of the films from the Mines of Moria to the Black Gate.

There’s no actual overfield in The Third Age. Your characters simply traverse different areas with the miniature map provided in an effort to reach your destined position. It’s almost as if there’s some ever present dungeon master holding your hand throughout the entire quest. There’s some sense of freedom in that you can choose which paths to follow, but the only way to ultimately progress is to follow the blinking red dot. What role-playing game would be complete without random battles, though? While some play it off that they aren’t completely random, let’s face it. Whenever your party is walking around and they’re attacked by some unseen force, they’re pretty much random. However, there are a few clues that you will be attacked within a certain area. If Saruman’s forces are about to attack, you’ll see a glowing blue palantir (or orb). If Sauron’s forces are about to attack, you’ll see his flaming red eye. Sometimes, if you’re lucky, you’ll suddenly be attacked by enemies sprouting out of nowhere. Either way you slice it, the battles are random and there’s plenty of them.

Battles themselves are often the same run of the mil fare. Your group of three pop in to tangle with the baddies. More often than not, you’ll have a choice between a physical attack and a spirit-based attack. Physical attacks are dispersed between your main attack and your weapon-based attack. Weapon-based attacks are much more powerful, but will eat up some of your ability points. Some of these attacks are actually more powerful against certain races. No, it’s not necessarily politically correct, but if the dwarf Hadhod hates goblins, more power to him. Spirit-based attacks are your magical abilities. As usual, they are primarily based within the elements. You’ve got water and fire attacks along with some helpful defensive abilities. Berethor has a Leadership ability which helps out the party as a whole and Morwen has the ability to steal things like items and hit points. All in all, everyone has their own little specialty and it’s generally hard to choose between all six companions. However, you can always switch between them in combat and not miss a turn.

There may be a lot of random battling going on, but you don’t have to worry about a thing. You’ll never spend more than half an hour power leveling your party to take on the area’s boss. There’s always a stagnant flow of experience to keep your party beefed up to its maximum potential. Leveling up your character is simple enough. Simply spread the points between your various statistics such as strength, dexterity, and spirit. You’ll also never need to worry about gold, gil, or any form of currency whatsoever. After all, where would you spend it, in a shop? Fool! There are no shops in Middle Earth! Or at least there aren’t any shops on the way to Mordor. Never fear, though, as your party will also enjoy a steady stream of equipment, items, and other pleasantries. Equipment is organized nicely, wherein most items are unique to only one character.

multiplayer

Turn-based role-playing games hardly ever have a multiplayer feature. Ever. Is it necessary to have one? Not really. Is it welcome? Perhaps. At least it is in this title. After all, if you have a friend come over who wants to play the game with you, you aren’t going to say no, right? That’s just mean. Each player controls a set amount of characters and you’ll play just as you would with one controller without the hassle of passing it around. It’s fun, but it isn’t going to keep your guests entertained at a party or anything.

overall

Outside of the fancy franchise milking exterior you may find an entertaining, while lacking, role playing game. It’s fun and will keep you playing for at least 30 hours if you go everywhere, find everything and kill everyone. If you’re a big fan of the franchise or if you’re looking for a quick diversion in between this year’s big name RPGs like Baten Kaitos, Tales of Symphonia or even Mega Man X Command Mission, you should definitely pick this one up. If you’re looking for something along the lines of last year’s Return of the King, you may want to pass this one by and wait for the next Lord of the Rings video game. Will there be a next one? Is dwarf tossing fun?

8.0/10