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SE is great if you're into "Making Of" and soundtrack, otherwise get standard edition

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 27 / 28
Date: May 03, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I was in closed beta for a short time. I have a pretty critical view on where I spend my money and I don't like paying for a game that is released unfinished. This is the first MMO I have beta'd, out of five, where I continued on into retail.

LOTRO has had one of the smoothest launches ever, has made tough calls early in maintaining player economy, is selling a well polished product day one, and has already announced the first expansion (FREE) for June.

The beginning levels are fun and different for the various races, making for good replayability/alt characters. Players are rewarded beyond simple killing for exploration of areas, use of skills, etc in a way that makes players actually PLAY their characters rather than worrying about how much exp/hour they can make. Mindless grinding will get a player levels, but only by playing, exploring, and using their character's abilities will they gain full character development. Many skills have effects that are not in the description or are synergetic with other skills that the hack-n-slash/low attention span player will miss.

MMOs have a hard time balancing familiarity with originality. Turbine has walked a tightrope between accuracy and playability and IMO has done a fine job.

Perhaps the biggest lure is that there is MUCH more of Middle Earth that will be coming over the years and getting to experience the process is something I look forward to.

Specific to the SE items, they are nice if you like "making of" info and want the soundtrack. The in-game item and map are underwhelming and should not be the reason you pay extra for the SE.

Good MMO. Turbine released a ploished bread and butter MMO

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 14 / 14
Date: May 21, 2007
Author: Amazon User

This is a great MMO for anyone new to the genre. It's polished and stable at release. Turbine has more then made up for it's horibble job with DDO and AC2 with LOTRO. They set out to make a good and polished MMO using established MMO gameplay and they did it. They never promised this game would be revolutionary and it's not but it is somewhat evolutionary in nature despite only being one step forward in the genre.

This game pretty much plays like any EQ1-esque MMO. So if you played WoW or EQ2 then you should be familiar with this style of game play. The main portions of this game are story / quest driven so that means you'll always be engaged in the world in some way other then just grinding on mobs mindlessly for no reason. The main means of leveling are quest completion base and so that means you'll be doing a ton of quests. If you like sand-box type games that don't give you anything to do or which just throw you into a game world ala EvE-Online, Saga of Ryzom, Lineage 2 etc...then this game is not for you IMHO. If you like more structured MMO's with end-game and a strong central story line in the back ground then LOTRO is a good game to try out.

Special Edition fraud description - true description here

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 24 / 31
Date: April 25, 2007
Author: Amazon User

This is what IS included with special edition. LOTRO install DVD in rectangular cardboard cd sleave holder. LOTRO soundtrack and making of DVDs in rectangular cardboard cd sleave holder. Special product key paper with a 10 day buddy key. LOTRO quick reference card with a very general map of middle earth on back. (whole dvd case is length and width of normal game case but a little deeper.) approx. 7" x 12" map of middle earth on 20lb parchment paper. map has low contrast, so you might not recognize it when viewing across the room. paper lotro game manual. Besides the additional in game item, THE ONLY DIFFERENCE INSIDE COMPARED TO STANDARD is the parchment paper map and the soundtrack/making of dvd.

The game is awesome. On same caliber as WoW and Everquest 2 series. Turbine has shown good faith during beta by continually coming out with new content.

A superb effort, if a little familiar

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 15 / 16
Date: April 24, 2007
Author: Amazon User

As a World of Warcraft addict, I entered the Beta test for this game with some cynicism. WoW seemed to have everything an online adventure game could have, and I'd pretty much mastered it. What could this new game offer that was any better?

For a start, it's prettier. Not in a color-palette sense (WoW is remarkable in its use of color) but in the environments and sense of depth. Grass blows, leaves fall, water... does everything water should. You'll find yourself playing in pools just to watch the ripples.

And of course, it's Lord of the Rings, the mythos that started it all. So you'll stumble across the Prancing Pony, Tom Bombadill, and even "me old Gaffer" as you journey around the world. Quite a thrill.

Solo play is carefully structure to make you think you know what you're doing, which is encouraging for those of us who are less than coordinated. But "fellowship" teaming is where the fun really happens. It's not mandatory to team-up, but when you do it's a blast.

Sure, there are a few weak points. Character generation is limited for a next-gen game, and some of the models are kinda *cough* ugly *cough*. The resource-gathering system is clumsy, and sees you fighting other players for mining nodes and randomly distributed tree branches (ore and wood respecitively). Using those resources to craft items will often break the bank, and rarely do the crafted items compete with quest-found items (so they're hard to sell).

One thing I did find interesting was the similarity to World of Warcraft, in terms of controls and gameplay. The questing system is tried and true, so it's hard to say that was duplicated. However, the character controls, UI layout, and even the chat system are almost direct copies from WoW. I've no doubt the developers sat in front of WoW and had to list all the things they liked and didn't about the game... and then they were told to improve on them. While this is not a bad thing in my mind, it will have a lot of people thinking they're tramping familiar ground.

Overall, the game is superb and will probably succeed in what it aims to achieve -- to replace World of Warcraft as the planet's most played online game -- even if it does feel a little dated in places already.

Description of Content is Wrong

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 14 / 16
Date: April 25, 2007
Author: Amazon User

See the discussion threads or go to the official website for the real description of the Special Edition. There is NO cloth map, NO figurine, and the in game item description is also wrong. There is a small, useless , paper map and the in game item is good for 5 minutes every 2 hours. The game is great, but the SE is not worth it. Get the regular edition and have just as much fun.

Definitely a fun romp through LOTR

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 8 / 8
Date: June 01, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I've played a number of MMORPGs including, yup, WoW. But, let it be known that I'm not an "achiever". I could care less if I get to level 60 in 24 hours. I just want to have fun.

That being said, I think LOTRO is a very well executed game. Much like WoW (at least so far), the game is largely bug free and enjoyable out of the gate. You definitely see the usual bug/rat-killing, FedEx missions and the like but you also get a great feeling for the LOTR world and environment.

There are some innovations, like the music system, which make the gameplay different. Things like Deeds which are essentially running side quests that give you abilities or bonuses to your stats, a much better quest tracker than WoW's default one, Felloship maneuvers, Monster Play, and some interesting crafts like Farming make the gameplay more immersive and fun. There is also an instancing system which is used very well early in the game to give you the sense that the environment is changeable.

Most of the downside of the game is limited to either existing MMOG limitations (like the aforementioned bug/rat-killing and some almost laughable FedEx missions that make you feel like a tennis ball at Wimbeldon) or are minor glitches that will (hopefully) be corrected soon (like the fact that the quest list keeps collapsing when you level up or instance). The crafting system is extremely expensive but is thankfully better than Vanguard's ridiculous one.

All in all, if you're a fan of LOTR or if you are tired of WoW, this is definitely a game to try out. For MMORPG noobs, this can be a good experience, especially right now without the overly mature (read: lots of high-level experienced players) populations that EQ and WoW currently have.

True to Tolkien

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 8 / 8
Date: May 25, 2007
Author: Amazon User

This game is the most fun I have had on the computer in a while. The world is kept true to Tolkien's descriptions, and you can meet most (possibly all...) of the characters in the books. I have gotten lost in the Old Forest and found Tom Bombadil's house. I have met Barliman Butterbur and Strider in the Prancing Pony. Farmer Maggot tends his fields in the Shire.

There are enough different elements in the game to keep most people amused. There are more quests than one character can manage, and are easily identified by a ring above the NPC's head. The quests are also well written, eliminating frustrating hours wandering in the wrong area. The crafting of items is well set up, with cooperation between characters encouraged to create some items in almost every profession. There is an auction house set up so you can sell items to others, and find the elusive item you need.

The extra items you get in game for getting the special edition are worth the extra money, but there is no figurine and no CLOTH map. The soundtrack CD and extras DVD are also very nice.

If this had actually included the cloth map and figurine that were promised, it would get five stars.

Truly, one game to rule them all

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 8
Date: April 22, 2007
Author: Amazon User

To put it briefly - this game rocks. Obviously, being backed by the books, this game has an amazing epic storyline that doesn't parallel the Fellowhips story but instead supports it by allowing players to be involved in the War of the Ring, the grand picture around the entire story. Combat and grouping is fun, challenging and leaves you wanting more with each battle. Finally, the loads of Middle-earth extras make this the perfect game for anybody who is a fan of MMORPGs and Tolkien's work.

If you're looking to get into or find a new MMORPG, definitely try this game out. You won't regret it.

Complex and Fun

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: May 20, 2007
Author: Amazon User

At first glance, the game seems similar to WoW, but only at first glance. The UI is similar to the WoW UI, but with full control and movement built into the game. There are mods you can download to change the look and placement if you want. The gameplay is exciting and never ending. Tons of quests, crafting, RP, and other things you can do in the game.

The game is driven around the LOTR Lore, meeting key characters, interacting with them really makes you feel apart of something bigger. Gametime is key to leveling as it is not a grinding game, but quest driven game. A good Kinship and Fellowship with Stratigies can plow through just about anything. The Fellowship manuvuers are great. The built in Voice communication really helps in hard times and is also another great addition to the game.

I highly reccomend getting this game if you are a LOTR fan, a MMO fan.

Lots o fun

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: May 15, 2007
Author: Amazon User

This game if full of fun, lots of quests to keep you busy, and an active community. I will be playing this game for years to come! It is always fun to find places that you read about in the books or have seen in the movies, and just explore vast landscapes.

This game is pretty taxing on lower end graphics cards, but can scale down fairly well to lower end cards.

I would recommend this game to anyone who enjoys adventure, community questing and character building.

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