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Rules Them All (If you like Japanese-style RPGs)

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 18 / 21
Date: November 17, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I'm surprised to see as many negative reviews as I have for this game. I think the problem is that a lot of people are used to American style RPGs and don't understand that this is supposed to be a Japanese-style RPG.

In a nutshell, American style RPGs tend to let you create your character at the outset and focus on exploration and decision-making that affects the course of the game. You could call it a D&D approach. Japanese-style RPGS, on the other hand, tend to give you a predetermined character which you use to progress through a long, mostly linear storyline. They usually use anime style graphics and feature lengthy cutscenes.

In my opinion, this game is an excellent execution of the Japanese-style RPG. The graphics are beautiful, the audio is perfect, the storyline is excellent, the cutscenes are literally feature-film quality, and the turn-based battles are modeled on the outstanding combat system used in Final Fantasy X. If any of that sounds appealing to you, I highly recommend picking this one up.

a biased opinion from a true lotr fan

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 29
Date: August 22, 2004
Author: Amazon User

ok, now for you hardcore lotr fans, this game should be the best lotr game in the franchise. only a lotr rpg would get this title. for the hardcore fans, there really isn't anything better to do than just wander middle earth and observe the whole world someone's created. i mean, sure, the graphicks probly gonna kick butt, and the gameplay is probably going to be just like ffx, which is a good thing, but for myself, the best part of this game will be roaming middle earth, killing orcs, fighting with the fellowship, and the ability to be a dwarf, elf, and human. this will truly be the best lotr game yet

Can't work, can't eat, can't sleep, MUST PLAY THIS GAME!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 8
Date: November 09, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Let me start by saying that I have rarely found any games based off a movie that are worthwhile. Every now and then you might find a game that is decent, but won't keep you from shirking any of your adult duties. Those games are few and far between such as, Knights of the Old Republic, All Neverwinter Nights and Baldur Gates, Diablo, Starcraft, Warcraft I.

So when I picked up this little gem, I made sure that I kept my receipt and hurried on home. After about 3 hours of gameplay, I couldn't stop. After 7 hours, I couldn't stop. Finally after 16 hours, I finally had to put it down, as all my regular adult responsibilities were beyond the critical point as to their required completion dates. This game is simply amazing.

Graphics:
The graphics are very good. You can tell the developers spent a long time to make sure that there were no awkward clipping planes, and artifacting was at a minimal. What sets this game apart besides the very nice graphics, was the scenery of the game. There are points in this game that I feel like I have been transported to Middle Earth. There are times where I stop playing the game and just wander around to look at the scenery like a tourist on a field trip. The scenery and production are BREATHTAKING.

Sound:
Over the last couple of years, developers are finally starting to realize the importance that amazing sounds and sound effects bring to a game. This is one of the few titles that truly master the art of great surround sound implementation. I have yet to meet it's equal except for some early horror titles like Fatal Frame. It's not merely that it uses surround sound and you can hear it on all of your channels, it's the perfect implementation of the sound. It is very obvious that they hired a very professional team to mix each sound effect to THX standards to perfection. To help elaborate, there was one scene where I was standing deep in a cave where the end of it actually opened up to a cliff over a river. While I was standing on the edge of this remarkable geological structure, you could hear the coastal wind whistling by, while high over head a mysterious Middle Earth gull flew over head. This is just a small sample of the sounds that await you in Middle Earth!

Gameplay:
The game took a little while to get going. The controls were pretty standard, but the book that comes with the game is surprisingly inadequate. I think it's all of 10 pages with 3 pages of that being credits. I would recommend buying the Game Guide that goes along with this game as it has lots of great recommendations, without spoiling the game. It uses the turn based battle menu, just like Neverwinter nights. I enjoy this turn based style as much as I enjoy the fluid battle mode like Fable. The turn based style helps add to appeal of the game as battle strategy becomes more crucial as the game goes on. This game is not for those who are into the hack and slash method of fighting. You must use strategy, and this game will push you to your limits, especially if you are bold enough to use the Hard level. You don't buy or sell any items from shop vendors, but can only gain items from drops, chests, and things you create yourself. This I find kind of nice, as sometimes you can get bogged down with the economic aspect of games and can at times take away from overall gameplay.

Overall:
I will say I was very surprised about how much I liked this game. I NEVER like games that are so linear and restrict your movements so much, but I have to say that I really LOVE playing this game. I think that part of the reason that this game plays so well for me is that I have a really nice Audio/Video system which this game utilized fully. Every time I cast a spell it emerges me into that world. I can see why some people did not enjoy this game, and can't really blame them. As for me, I really enjoyed this game and think that it will strike a cord with some others out there who appreciate the aspects of this game that are really well done. Do not buy this game if you have any responsibilities in your life that need to get done in the next week or so. If you don't heed my warning, you might find yourself late at night mumbling to yourself while holding this game disc, while gently saying, "my precious, my precious." Oh, but it's so sweet.

Final Fantasy 7&10 Exact Clone

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 8
Date: November 12, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Third Age is an amazing game if you got into the final fantasy series. Third Age plays exactly like final fantasy almost to the t.
The characters are pretty much the same too....thief(like reiku) Healer (like yuna) Warrior (like cloud) Bowman(like gun guy in ff7 and 10 (vincent))ect...i'm about 70% through the game after about 40 hours of game play and am looking forward to playing the game in evil mode. I would say buy this game if a:you love rpg's and final fantasy b:if you have ALOT of time on your hands...One really cool thing about this game is the 109 movies scenes you can unlock(actual movie with deleted scenes) one cheesy thing about the game is the redundant battle scenes with the same foes....does not have the same beastiary as ff7 or 10....You can also aquire characters from the movies for certain fight scenes...i've played gimli, aragorn, faramir, there is an elf similar to legolas, but haven't played as him yet....I would highly recommend this game to the die hard final fantasy fans and rpg fiends like me....Hope this helps

GREAT GAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 28
Date: August 06, 2004
Author: Amazon User

This is going to be the best LOTR game yet. You can play as both the good and bad guys to destroy the ring or conquer middle-earth. You should get this game as soon as it comes out!

Great

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 4
Date: December 03, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I really enjoyed this game. While it has a set storyline, so do a lot of other games. the LOTR video games are also similar to this, except that this game has more dialogue and a storyline different from that of the movies.

Sounds like Knights of the Old Republic

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 25
Date: October 31, 2004
Author: Amazon User

This Sounds like the Star Wars RPG "Knights of the Old Republic" in which you get to choose the light side or the dark side of the Forcee. I really hope that the gameplay and design is similar because the only thing that might be as cool as "Knights" would be a Lord of the Rings version of it. I'm an avid gamer but I don't really like turn-based RPG's much, so I hope that this is going to have real-time gameplay instead. Anyways can't wait until it comes out so I can rent it. For anyone who likes Star Wars or RPG's check out Knights of the Old Republic, Which is in my opinion the best Star Wars game to date.

My son thinks this game is great!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: January 19, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I received this game in perfect shape! I am very pleased with the seller and the game. The game was a gift to my son for Christmas and he plays it all the time!

Probably will be a good game...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 39
Date: October 31, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I won't know how good this game will be but it sounds ok. It will probably be a good game... but I was talking to my friend about it and this RPG sounds a heck of a lot like Knights of the Old Republic. Three person action party, picking up allies along the way, and free roam... not to mention the picking sides part. I am a serious LOTR fan but, gosh, if you're one, too, please don't say something like,"This is gonna be a great game! :-D!" Well we don't know, so I'd be quiet if I were you. It's kind of 4-year-oldish.

Your lord and master,
Grand Admiral Thrawn

SECOND BEST TO LOTR TWO TOWERS

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: January 26, 2005
Author: Amazon User

This is a cool game with great graphics and cool armor and weapons. This a cool RPG. This game has a cool plot and better graphics but two towers was a better game. The fighting style is good but it gets really stupid when ppeople keep coming and don't give up. But this is a great game.

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