A full review from a LOTR fan
To begin with, the graphics are just spectacular. The improved graphics engine of Command & Conquer:Generals game gives beautiful places and themes from the Tolien mythology. The zoom-in ability shows you significant details. The only drawback I found here is the repeated desert textures since most maps are designed with few trees and many desert paths and hills or mountains, so someone may be bored of this monotony. The characters similar to the movies' with their photos in the palantir if you select them. The interface is quite useful, with a circle in the left bottom supposed to be the Palantir which shows the in-game movies and the map. Next to this is a smaller circle, which shows the options of every unit or structure you choose, as well as the bonuses it has. In the bottom there are the hero's icons for quick-selecting and their heal bars. Finally, in the left there are the power icons.
The game's sound is really good, with voices from the movies' actors playing almost anywhere (when you select or order them, during the loading screens, where Gandalf/Saruman explain the map's history). I'm sure nobody will have any disagreements from the voices . Soldier's voices are pretty good, with roars from the trolls or their drum beats, and scary screams from goblins' massacres. The sound effects are really good, and if you have an EAX-support sound card you will listen to loud and deep explodes, thunders or any other sounds. The songs are from the original soundtrack, so it will be familiar to you.
The most controversial thing of this game is its gameplay, and especially the specific build spots. Most reviewers have written negatively about it but some fans have no problem, or even enjoy it, so its about your opinion. I myself had no problem. The controls are the standard, but you can change them to the old Red Alert style, if you are more comfortable with it.
There are 2 campaigns, good and evil, although the functions are 4: Gondor & Rohan as the good side, Mordor and Isenguard as the evil forces. Functions that belong in the same force have many similarities (units, structures, powers) but every one has its own characteristics. For example, as Rohan you will be able to control Rohirrim cavalry, which is much more powerful than any other mounted units (perhaps except heroes). Also each function has its own heroes. Tactics is without doubt not the best feature of the game, since it's not so well-developed. Units can change their formation to gain some bonuses. The main connection among the units is the usual rock-paper-scissors, with cavalry taking over infantry, infantry archers and archers cavalry. Especially cavalry can run over enemy infantry if they stand in their way while horses run, with a spectacular animation. Building and producing units is an easy task. All you need is money (as it's the only resource in the game), and levels! Yes, in this game nearly everything can gain levels, with buildings' max level 3 and units' 10. Higher building levels means faster building and/or new units or upgrades. Upgrades are purchased once from the building and then applied to each unit you want. As a result, upgrading isn't so cheap and needs careful selection. Finally, units are built in groups.
Since money is needed everywhere, let's talk about it. They can be found at farms (good) or lumber mills and slaughter houses (evil). These buildings take also levels according to the time they exist.
The only limitation to the production of units is the popularity cap, which has caused a lot of complains from fans for being too low. Each map offers 2 or more strongholds, some expansion camps and many expansion farms, so that the opponents can always build somewhere.
Here comes another difference between the sides - evil doesn't have walls. This makes them more vulnerable, but their guarding towers are cheaper and there are more soldiers in each group to counter this. In good side having archers on the walls is from my viewpoint the best feature.
And if time comes close to face the "game over" screen don't fear, because powers are here! Powers can be "purchased" from the powers' menu, if you offer the wanted number of battle points, which you gain during battle. When purchasing a power, another is unlocked, and so goes on like a tree. In the end you may summon even a Balrog or and Army of the Dead, bringing death to the enemy's lines.
And at last, there come the heroes. Heroes are basic at BFME, because of their powers and strength. They also gain levels, like normal units, and unlock more powerful abilities and spells. Not all the heroes are present (for example, there are only 2 Nazgul and the Witch-King) but this doesn't make them too few.
And after that... the end. I enjoyed this game although some history inaccuracies (Gandalf not falling in Moria) bothered me as a LOTR fan. The multiplayer is the best choice, perhaps even from the evil campaign, and after the patch 1.02, which has solved many balance problems, many have returned to increase their ladder levels again, by battling in Middle-Earth.