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Cool

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 19
Date: June 12, 2004
Author: Amazon User

This game has wonderful graphics and looks much better then other lotr games I have seen. zyou can choose to be good or evil. You control everything. Its up to you whether you want gondor to win or Mordor to win. You decide the fate of MiddleEarth.

Preview for The Battle for Middle Earth.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 14 / 57
Date: June 20, 2004
Author: Amazon User

From what I have seen from the screenshots, I can't really say much but it looks fantastic. It will be using Command and Conquer Generals engine and it looks pretty good from the screenshots. You can say it is somewhat similar to Medieval Total War series or Shogun series but with a Generals engine. It looks like it will have more than just 50 or 100 units in a battle unlike Starcraft or Warcraft, it probably will have up to 10,000 units in a battle like it does in the movies. I still can't really rate this game because I haven't played it yet but
it is one of PCgamer's top of E3 and it is definitly on my "to have list." Maybe, the game's results might be bad because PCgamer says that results might be rushed but I trust the developers to do a good job because they are about to release one of the most great RTS ever. At least it seems like it will be one of the best. I'll leave it to the developers to do a good job. Since the game is published (not developed) by Electronic Arts, I'm assuming that this game will be good (you know how EA publishes all the good games). Enough talking, while then, I'll be playing my War of the Rings for a while...

RTS King

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 15
Date: June 20, 2004
Author: Amazon User

If you have not seen the trailers, "Inside the Battle" clips, and the game demo at the official site, you might as well stop reading right now for you will not believe when I tell you how magnificent this game is.

I want to start this review first by saying that the movies truly brought to life the fantastic books by Tolkien. Peter Jackson and Professor Tolkien are geniuses! The games created by EA Games (ROTK and TT) were beautifully created and threw the player into the movie in a tense, cliff-hanging action game. The new game they are about to release is stunning. To control hundreds or thousands of units at once is unbearable. But through the catupults and Fell Beasts, an expert RTS gamer would be in awe at the immense war game in front of the screen. You decide the battles and the outcome of the war.

However, what difference is there from this and the other Real-time strategy games? Mark Skaggs and his team created is a mark in gaming history. A new generation of games has been created from this game based on the battles of the award-winning epic trilogy. The AI in this game act exactly like they would in real life. The Gondor knights cower in fear in front of the fierce cave-trolls. The gigantic Oliphaunts and Ents rampage in fear as they are set on fire. The Balrog triumphs in glory as it crushes the last Minas Tirith soldier in its flaming hand. All of this can be found in this game. Amazing!

The fate of Middle-earth is entirely in your hands as you play with four different teams with their own unique abilities. Good luck and conquer your foes.

Middle-Earth is yours to Command!!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 69 / 92
Date: June 23, 2004
Author: Amazon User

(...)Experience Middle-earth like never before in The Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth, the first The Lord of the Rings game that puts you in command of a real-time, open world. Control the legendary heroes, massive armies, and epic campaigns of Middle-earth in over 25 missions based on all three films of The Lord of the Rings trilogy. From waging all-out combat among the vast forces of good and evil to controlling your favorite heroes and characters to managing the troops and resources of your side, the fate of a living, breathing Middle-earth is in your hands.

Key Features-Fight the epic, sweeping battles from the Academy Award-winning The Lord of the Rings film trilogy from a whole new perspective-as commander of hundreds of soldiers and creatures. Control massive armies and interactive battlefields across the vast world of Middle-earth. Lead the forces of good or evil by controlling one of four unique groups, from the Riders of Rohan to the forces of Sauron, each with its own playing style, resource management, and base-building techniques. Take command of strategic territories across a highly detailed, 3D map of Middle-earth and turn the tide in the battle to control The One Ring. Forge new heroes, customize their abilities and powers, then lead them into battle where they'll gain experience and rank in their quest for victory.
Watch your armies come to life as they express emotion-from anger to fear to triumph-when reacting to events and their surroundings. Make smarter and faster decisions in the heat of battle with an all-new intuitive, streamlined interface that gives you contextual control of your forces and structures. Challenge fellow rulers online in massive multiplayer battles."-From eagames.com
Check out sweet screenshots and videos at eagames.com

The four playable sides with info on their weaknesses and strengths are as followed:
"Gondor
Strengths: Defense, economy (lots of economy upgrades and get money within the safety of their castle, lots of allies they can summon to their aid), knights, rangers, army of the dead, eagles.
Weaknesses: Not as strong at offense, more reliant on castle walls, fewer troop numbers, low mobility - have knights but unable to quickly exploit enemy mistakes.
Resources: Farms, blacksmith, gold from killing enemies.
Heroes: Gandalf, Faramir.

Rohan
Strengths: Powerful versatile fast offense - horsemen, best and most heroes in the game, magical allies like ents and elves.
Weaknesses: Low numbers, only moderate defenses.
Resources: Farms, gold from killing enemies.
Heroes: Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, Theodin, Eowyn, Eomer.

Isengard
Strengths: Large numbers of tough urak-hai, powerful magical spells (like change the weather and exotic technologies), bombs, ladders, balistas.
Weaknesses: Poor defenses, weak heroes, high resource consumption.
Resources: Slaughter house, forge, lumber mill, gold from burning down enemy buildings.
Heroes: Saruman, Lurtz.

Mordor
Strengths: Free troops encourage wave assault tactics, sacrifice your own troops for veterancy and cash.
Weaknesses: No defenses, weak individual soldiers, no ability to upgrade troops except for veterancy.
Resources: Slaughter house, forge, lumber mill, gold from burning down enemy buildings.
Heroes: Witch King, Nazgul."-From gamespy.com

Wow!!!!!!! This game look's fun!!!!!!!!!!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 13
Date: July 07, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I can't wait you'll have fun being the Riders of Rohan it will be cool or be defending Gondor from the army's of Mordor another thing is to get seige tower's and get up on the walls as Mordor !!!!!!! Or be Isengard and fight at Helm's Deep go to Gamespot to look at pictures because there are two new pictures. There are downloads there were some of the people who working on the game tell you how they're making the game.

THIS GAME IS INSANE

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 30
Date: July 08, 2004
Author: Amazon User

ALRIGHT FIRST I WANT TO SAY THAT IF IT HAD BEN A POSIBILITY I WUD HAV PUT 500 STARS INSTED OF 5. SECOND, THIS GAME LOOKS SO AMAZING THET WEN I SAW THE TRAILER I PEED MY PANTS, AND THIRD I HAVENT EVEN PLAYED THE GAME AND I LUV IT SO MUCH IM GONNA BUY 50 COPIES JUS SO I CAN HANG THEM ON THE WALL AND STARE AT THEM.THAT SED, ILL GET INTO MY REVIEW.I HAVENT PLAYED THE GAME YET BUT IF THE GAME IS HALF AS GOOD AS THE TRAILERS IT WILL B INCREDIBLE.I MEEN NOBODY CAN SAY THET THE GRAPHICS IN THIS GAME ARENT THE BEST THEYVE EVER SEEN THRUTHFULLY. AND EVEN WITHOUT THE GREAT GRAPHICS THE GAME WILL B AWESOME. U CAN BLOW DOWN WALLS WITH THE FIERY BREATH OF THE MASSIVE, DEMONIC BALROG, U CAN CLIMB THE WALLS OF MINAS tIRITH IN A SIEGE TOWER, U CAN WATCH PEOPLE GET SWEPT UP BY LOW FLYING FEL BEASTS ONLY TO B DROPPED AGAIN FIVE HUNDRED FEET HIGER, U CAN EVEN WATCH UR SOLDIERS AS THEY BUILD A CAMP. THE DETAIL IS ALSO INCREDIBLE. INSTED OF WATCHING UR MEN RUN IN AND OUT OF A GOLD MINE LIKE IN WARCRAFT (ANOTHER GREAT FANTASY RTS) U CAN WATCH AN ORC BUTCHER WHISTLE AND CALL A BEAST UP INTO HIS SHOP. A FEW SECONDS LATER AND U SEE THE BUTCHER WALK OUT OF HIS SHOP AND HANG A SLAB OF MEET ON A HOOK. UR MEN EVEN CHEER WEN THEY WIN. THERE IS SO INCREDIBLY MUCH TO DESCRIBE BUT ITS 2 O CLOCK IN THE MORNING AND I WANT SUM SLEEP. IM NOT SUGGESTING IT, IM TELLING U THET U NEED TO GO TO GOOGLE SEARCH ENGINE AND TYPE IN THE BATTLE FOR MIDDLE EARTH. CLICK THE FIRST LINK THEN GO TO VIDEO CLIPS AND WATCH ALL SIX TRAILERS. I HOPE THIS WAS A HELPFUL REVIEW BUT EITHER WAY I JUS HAD TO TELL PPL ABOUT THOSE TRAILERS IM SO EXCITED I THINK IM GONNA DIE.

A must get?

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 15 / 64
Date: July 16, 2004
Author: Amazon User

OK, I'd like to start off saying that I haven't bought a PC game in well over a year. Just nothing out there that I would want. However, LOTR: BFME might just be a game that gets me to break my game buying hiatus. Well, there's a couple coming out between now and then that I may buy if I can afford to. But anyway, there's a few issues that I worry about with this game.

Yes, the graphics are good, based on a up-dated version of the Command & Conquer: Generals engine, which is supposed to be able to support thousands of 3D animated troops on the field. But what about replayability? Being that this game is based on a 25 mission campaign as such, what will be the replay value? Will there be "skirimish modes"? Or once you're done with the campaign, you're done? Let's hope not. In fact, I'd like a random campaign generator that allows you to use the main Middle Earth strategic map to cruise around and fight your own battles. I wanna fight a battle at The Shire, darn it! Imagine an Urak-hai ransack of The Shire! Dead little Hobbitt'sis every where....

But anyway, this game, at least for its graphics and revolutionary RTS control features, should be a good addition to any RTS fan's collection.

Review for Lord of the Rings : Battle for Middle Earth

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 15
Date: July 16, 2004
Author: Amazon User

This game looks awesome. The graphics and A.I. in the game is really advanced. I like how you can make it so the units have there own thoughts about other units. Like in one of the movie clips the humans backed away from the troll. I am really looking forward to this game!!!!!!

A delight for the gamer's eye and for any LOTR fan.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 46 / 79
Date: July 28, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Command and Conquer meets Tolkien...
Age of the Empires meets Middle Earth...
Rome Total War meets Minas Tirith...

Move so many units you can't even count them (finally), feel the battle, use your heroes to rally your men...

Middle Earth is perfectly recreated through all armies, units, and heroes. Graphics and sound are impeccable.

See Balrogs come to life, sprout fire and destroy armies with one swipe of their flaming sword. Use Gandalf to unleash magic on horror struck orcs while boosting courage in the defenders of Gondor.

View a full screen. Only a tenth of the screen is covered by maps and command options, giving you a very large view of what is going on (normally up to a 1/4 is covered).

Commanding your armies and directing units is easy and swift. Units readily respond and do not defy your orders as happens in so many other games.

As an RTS fan I will surely buy this one as soon as it comes out...
no wait, I think I'll just go ahead and preorder it now.

(Attention, at the moment this review is being written the game is still not released, thus this review is based on two hours of gameplay experienced at a local convention. Therefore consider this a "first impression.")

FANTASTIC Game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 118 / 145
Date: August 07, 2004
Author: Amazon User

EDIT**: I've been playing the game for several days now, and I can say that it has lived up to all of my expectations (see preview below). While you can't control as mnay troops as in Rome:Total War (we may need to look for a LOTR mod in the future), BFME has its own little niche, and it's a very nice one at that. Inevitably the comparison to RTW will be made, but these are two very different games. In RTW, you can control thousands of low-poly troops, but in BFME, you control hundreds of very high poly soldiers, each with very detailed animations and emotions. Yes, the emotions are a nice part of the game.

The graphics are beautiful- they really bring the Middle Earth world to life, especially with the settings maxed out. Howard Shore's score also adds a great side to the game, with some additional remixing that sounded quite good. Voice acting was also pretty good, although you can tell in some parts that they didn't really use Viggo for Aragorn.

Gameplay; I like the new use of veterancy, which puts a crimp on players who rush to build every single building possible, and just pump out units. Cavalry in the game is very powerful, so you'll need to group your men into the right formation. Formations do give some help in BFME, although flank attacks and tactical maneuvers are unheard of, unlike RTW. All the battles are faithfully recreated, including a mission to defend the fellowship and Lothlorien from marauding Moria orcs (one of the scenes cut from the extended edition of FOTR). The Helms Deep mission is fantastic- it brings all the rigor, stress, and excitement as portrayed in the movie and books.

The heros are a hoot to use; especially Gandalf, who seems a bit overpowered. A pity the completed Sauron model cannot be played, and in general, it seems that the forces of Evil have fewer Heros than the forces of Light.

The single player campaign missions are very delightful; you can basically replay the steps of the Fellowship or of the Dark Lord, but of course with your own little additions. The multiplayer maps are wonderful, with maps taken from all the geographical locations in middle earth.

Conclusion: A very enjoyable RTS game, that fully immerses you into the ME universe. My only gripe is that the Command Points threshold is set too low, but you can mod the particular file to change that. However, the low command points number was probably set at that level to prevent gameplay lag; at the Battle of Care Andros, with several hundred troops on screen (and despite have 1 gb of PC-4200 ram) I experienced some lagging effects. Sprint, don't run to get your copy NOW! What are you doing wasting time reading my review? Get it! :P
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To say that Lord of the Rings: Battle for Middle-Earth looks amazing would be an understatement; it looks fantastic and unbelievably good! I am highly anticipating its release on November 15th, and based on what the EA team has shown us thus far, it looks like all of their hard work has come to fruition. Based on an upgraded version of the C&C: Generals engine, LOTR:BFME brings you into the Middle Earth universe in glorious 3-D, with the capability to zoom-in onto the battlefield for those intense hand-to-hand melees. Of course, there will be those detractors who suggest that BFME is nothing but Generals ported into Middle Earth; in some ways, that's true. A lot of the great features of Generals are retained in BFME, and then some. The EA team has added unique touches, as well as a greater emphasis on tactics, rather than the massed tank rushes that most RTS players are used to. In addition, there are a multitude of unique features and immersive environments that make BFME really come alive.

First, the maps and general gameplay. Gone is the traditional style of RTS with big menus that take up the lower half of your screen. In its place is a context-driven menu, which takes up far less space, and allows the player to bask in the beauty of the BFME engine. It looks extremely intuitive; by clicking on a building, 6-7 options will form in a circle around your cursor, allowing you to just move the mouse slightly to select an option. Base building appears to consist of 6-7 buildings built on pre-fabbed sites inside a protective wall, with additional buildings being allowed to be built outside of the wall. Each of the buildings is true to the movie, and conceived in enormous detail that really lends to the atmosphere. For instance, the Orc slaughterhouse, Orc pits, Warg ranges, and Gondorian archery range. Zooming into the slaughterhouse, you can see the orc butcher cackle with glee and rub his hands together as he whistles for a cow to come up the ramp. He kills it, and carries the steak to hang on a rack outside. Or in the pits, you can see the head Orc prodding the mud with his rod, bringing up a `baby' Orc/Uruk-Hai that slides down the ramp and gets a sword and trudges out. Or at the Warg range, you see an orc clamber onto a Warg, and walk out of a corral. At the Gondorian archery range, the splendid architecture of the once Numenorians is visible in the smallest bricks. You can actually see Gondorian longbow men practicing inside the courtyard, shooting at targets and such. You can play as Rohan or Gondor or Mordor or Isengard; not sure about the Easterlings though.

Second, the units are true to the movie and fashioned in great detail. Buildings can be upgraded with earned points to achieve veterancy and thus pump out more advanced units. The Gondorian archery range can produce regular longbow men, but as the building is upgraded, it can produce say Faramir's rangers (which are a bit like the American pathfinders in C&C: Generals), and what look like upgraded rangers with stealth ability. The Gondorian barracks can produce regular footsoldiers on level 1, but when upgraded to level 2 and above, can procure the more elite Fountain guards. The forces of evil are generally like the Chinese in Generals; infantry is either really cheap, or free, and orcs are continually coming out of the pits with no extra help from the player. There are of course, hero units as well! Units seen so far include Gandalf, Eomer, Theoden, Faramir, and Aragorn. No word yet on evil heroes.

Third, the EA team has decided to add a bit more of a tactical element than was present in Generals. While a group of Gondorian infantry can easily defeat a horde of orcs, (and when they do win, they break out into cheers, thus giving a +1 to their attack), they run away or quake in their boots at the mere sight of a mountain troll picking up a tree to smash them into the ground. That fear subtracts a -1 from their attack. Even the elite Fountain guards with their pikes are no match for the mountain troll and his ad hoc tree-club. But you can group your men into having the archers stand on the inside, while surrounded by Fountain Guards, and thus easily take down a troll. It also looks like you can fully recreate the sieges at Helms Deep and Minas Tirith, and play on the Fields of Pelennor.

Fourth, one item that is a nice carry-over from Generals is what appears to be Generals points. If playing as Mordor, and you kill 100 Gondor soldiers, your catapaults can fire the heads of those unfortunate men at your enemies for an added attack bonus. Or, you can call in Eagles or Nazgul to pick up hapless infantry and dash them into the ground. Probably the most interesting Generals unit is the Balrog, which looks extremely powerful at the moment. Not only can he stomp around and crush the peons, but he can crush a unit into ashes, shoot fireballs from his mouth, and with his very appearance, burn everything around him to a crisp.

If you're a fan of the movies and RTS games, this is definitely one game that you do NOT want to miss! Place your pre-order today! And no, I'm not a plant, just an overly excited fan with too much time on his hands.

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