The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II (Xbox 360)

Return to Middle-Earth with The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-Earth II for PC. In this sequel to the critically acclaimed The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-Earth, the focus shifts to the North. With 3 new factions –- Elves, Dwarves, and Goblins -- players lead their armies to victory, with the aid of new heroes, weapons. Based on battles that were hinted at in the Tolkien books and film adaptations, this jam-packed sequel offers 16 new campaigns and 40 skirmish maps, guaranteeing months of exciting gameplay. Protect the Elven city of Rivendell from an invading Goblin army. Make those meddling Hobbits pay and destroy the Shire.

Pros: I've read many forums giving this game praise. I can't stress enough, if you're an avid RTS gamer or have played them in the past, You need to pick up this game. It won't let you down! It's really fun to play using Xbox Live and the built-in VoIP chat. And yes, the control scheme does work... Even the single player is fun, as it takes stuff from the books that parallel what you see in the movies. This game is remarkably fun. I had my doubts at first, but the control scheme was setup very well and it hasn't lost my interest yet. Either way, playing a Stategy game on the console is really fun, especially since you can kick back and play from your favorite gaming chair or couch.

Cons: Yes, the performance is a slow at times, but it's a very complex game, both visually and gameplay-wise... the fun factor far outweighs the performance slowdowns.

If you have ever dreamed of being a commander in a huge army in the Lord of the Ring universe, then this is the game for you! The game has 2 campaigns, evil or good. Both are very well executed as a RTS. You can also play skirmishes where you choose who you are and you also choose the computers side. Also if you have the internet then you can play multiplayer. The is not to difficult either. But in my opinion being good is easier. So if you have a 360 or PC and like either RTSs or The Lord of the Rings then I would recommend this game!

Concept:Take the warcraft engine and set it in Middle Earth.

Graphics:The graphics on this game really demonstrate the power of the Xbox 360. There can be hundreds of units on screen at once but every single unit has its own little details. For example, if one unit has low health it will appear thin and wasted. The special effects are superb also. Watching the Balrog breath fire all over your enemy base is a once in a lifetime experience... until you tell it to do it again. There is only one flaw with LOTR's graphics. I noticed a lot of slowdown in the tutorial and when there were hundreds of units being blown into the air.
I would give the graphics a 9 out of 10.

Gameplay:This is where the game excels. Good graphics are a nice touch, but it's the gameplay that makes or brakes the game. EA did a great job with porting the keyboard and mouse interface over onto the Xbox 360. The controls, while they do take some time to learn, are fluid as can be. Buildings all require actual strategic and tactical placing. You also need to coordinate your units very well. So be warned, if you expect to just rush the base, do not buy this game.
The gameplay gets a solid 10/10.

Entertainment: Another important quality of a game is how fun it actually is. I'm happy to say that LOTR:BFME II is one of the funnest games I have ever played. It will definitely keep you entertained for years. It is also easy to learn so you don't need to be an RTS vet to play this game. The game of course includes a single player mode but the real fun is online. There are several different types of online play including capture the flag. Add to this team matches and over 40 maps to choose from and you've got yourself a solid title.
I give the entertainment a 10 out of 10.

Im a big lord of the rings fan and i have played the demo many times and i think it would be the moneys worth for the game.The game has a couple new features added to the game like:u will be able to play any side, u will be able to build yur own fortress (any were u like to), and the best u will be able to fight with your ships...