Small bugs and minor unbalanced gameplay can be very frustrating at some times, since this game was very promising.
Good features:
- Heroes play a significant role in the game. You can't think of a win without them.
- Powers and Hero's powers are very powerful and spectacular. Very satisfying to watch an entire enemy army or battalion being blown miles away.
- Sound effect, musics and voice over are one of the strongest features in the game, since it's exactly what you hear in the movie trilogy.
- Being able to defend a stronghold like Minas Tirith or Helm's Deep in skirmish/multiplayer map brings some variety to the game. This leaves some potential for great and intense battle. Every fortress has a unique style.
- The Create-a-Hero feature let you build a hero just like you want.
- Immersive ambiance.
Bad features:
- Worst AI i've ever seen. Playing agains computer player completely ruin the gameplay.
- Some Heroes are way to powerfull or too easily accessible. Too much Health, too easy to regenerate, too much damage. A high level Hero can survive the attack of an entire army. Very unbalanced gameplay on that point. Damage and Health should be reduced OR cost and creating time should be raised.
- Couple of things that doesn't makes sense. For example, only 2 trebuchet bullet can destroy the wall of Minas Morgul... but it takes at least 50-60 bullet to destroy Minas Tirith walls... one is too easy and the other is way too hard. Elven archers fully upgraded can do way too much damage.
- It's too easy to win or to easy to lose. Games scenarios are very predictible and therefore can be very frustrating at some times. The first player to get his heroes to high levels is going to win... it's just a matter of time. The game begins with they searching for experience points without giving some to the enemy. So basically, it disencourage players to create big armies when you know that your enemy has some high level heroes with devastating powers that will grant him really big experience points. Finaly, you can feel very powerless in some situation. Unless the enemy makes a very stupid tactical move, it's easy to predict who will win and who will lose.
- Races walls are not worth the money.
- High ground affects too much the ranged attack.
This game is great, but since it is based on immersive gameplay, some minor gameplay balance issues can ruined the player's experience in some situation (especially in fortress map).