Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #911 in Computer & Video Games
• Brand: Electronic Arts
• Released on: 2006-07-14
• Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
• Platform: Xbox 360
• Number of items: 1

Amazon.co.uk Review

In a nutshell:
Real-time strategy games are not normally the sort of thing you see on a console but EA have pulled out all the stops to make The Battle for Middle-Earth II work on the Xbox 360, with easy to learn controls and mountains of online options.

The lowdown:
Although most real-time strategy games are designed around using a PC keyboard and mouse they usually never get to appear on a console. With this game you’d never have guessed there was ever a problem with just a few button presses allowing you to direct vast armies and construct huge castles and encampments. Although the game is set during the same time period as the movies the action is focused elsewhere in Middle-Earth, although there’s still plenty of familiar faces. Although it benefits more than most from a HDTV screen the only real problem with the game is a slightly short single player campaign, but that shouldn’t be enough to put you off this rare console strategy treat.

Most exciting moment:
The best way to play the game is undoubtedly online, with five all new and very different game modes. The capture the flag mode works particularly well and ensures that multiplayer games never drag on too long or get too defensive.

Since you ask:
The success of this game will not only influence EA’s decision to bring Command & Conquer 3 to the Xbox 360 but THQ are also considering console versions of their real-time strategy games Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War and Company of Heroes.

The bottom line:
The first proper console based real-time strategy game for years.
HARRISON DENT

Manufacturer's Description
Command the epic battles of Middle-earthTM from your living room couch in The Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth II for the Xbox 360. The highly anticipated PC game will make its exclusive console debut when it ships in Summer 2006! To add to the intensity of the experience, The Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth II for the Xbox 360 is the first game in The Lord of the Rings series that will be playable over Xbox LIVE. Challenge friends online and engage in intense, action-packed real-time battles.

Based on the PC version of the same name, The Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth II for the Xbox 360 will bring players into the heart of Middle-earth to live the battles seen in the blockbuster New Line Cinema films and classic J.R.R. Tolkien literary fiction. The game boasts a new and intuitive console-specific control scheme that will allow novice players to enjoy the game's signature strategy gameplay while giving expert players the flexibility needed to engage in a deeply complex strategy experience. Directly control hundreds of units in an attempt to defeat enemy armies, conquer new lands, and seal the fate of Middle-earth.

Customer Reviews

An effective RTS on a console.
I really liked this game, the controls are effective and feel natural the missiopns are enjoyable never frustrating and the presentation is excellent. Much like command and conquer it is very familiar all round but the gameplay is not bogged down by annoying cut scenes and novelty missions.

Really hated this game
This game, to me, is boring, repetitive, and generally unfulfilling.
I hoped for this game to be one where the land of middle-earth could be used to build up an army and create a civilization and then go on to conquer more land. However, it is simply a mission-based bore-fest with a crap frame rate to top it off. The first moment you annialate an army is good, but from then onwards, i cared little.
If you're a LOTR fan, who prefers battle-top style wars, then this could be for you.
However, don't expect a sandbox style god-game. That would have been cool

awesome!
in a word, awesome, i have had this game for over a year and still dont stop playing it, online is wicked and keeps you amused but even the skirmish is a challenge. the heros is an ace touch and can turn a tide of any war. ive taken on an army of 1000 units with 8 heros and ruined them all. immense game and would recommend it to any command and conquer fan and lord of the rings fan. at the price it is definite value for money.