Very impressive but lacking in the "interest retention" category

User Rating: 8.1 | The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age PS2
By tabian00 | Review Date:
I know I wasn't the only person to be overwhelmingly excited when I heard that EA was making an RPG based on the "greatest story ever told" by J.R.R. Tolkien. After a few hours with the game harsh reality set in. The graphics are by far the most impressive part of the game with on-screen appearance changes whan adding new weapons, armor and accessories. The fighting system is standard turn-based RPG format with extravagant over-the-top maneuvers causing set-number damage to an emeny. The character modifications are very well thought out with great customization available to make that "hacking war machine" or "magic casting phenom" every good RPG should have. The special moves are impressive but come with their share of frustrations as well. The moves are aquired by using moves similar to them and attaining points (one at a time) toward getting the next skill or ability. The top skills are within the range of 90 - 100 points each, meaning that if you want a heavy hitting move you need to use other weaker moves 90 - 100 times before you can get it. Then the story line sets in. Although I understand it is a different tale than told by Tolkien I did not like the fact that some pretty major events have been altered simply due to the fact that popular demand thinks certain enemies and beasts should be standard fighting material by anyone who enters the specific realms (Gandalf fought the Balrog alone people!); The cheap attemp at following without following a storyline is the pretty major downfall of the whole Third Age experience. The graphics and gameplay experience is worth buying the game but be prepared to devote long hours and cutscenes stolen directly from all 3 Lord of the Rings movies. rent First, decide After.

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