DESCRIPTION

Pandemic Studios applies the same formula it used in the popular Star Wars: Battlefront series to another cherished mythology in The Lord of the Rings: Conquest, this time letting players take either side of J.R.R. Tolkien's epic tale of good vs. evil and then battle through familiar locations from Peter Jackson's film adaptations. There are three playable classes, allowing gamers to wield swords in melee combat as a Warrior, fire arrows at enemies as an Archer, or employ magic to attack or heal as a Mage. Players can also make use of familiar creatures such as oliphaunts and trolls, use horses and wargs as mounts, and periodically take control of series heroes or villains, including Gandalf, Saruman, Aragorn, Sauron, Legolas, and even a Balrog.

The single-player campaign puts gamers in the role of "good" characters as they fight through familiar conflicts from the films, including the Battle of Helm's Deep and the Battle of Minas Tirith. However, a new Evil Campaign puts players on the other side of the same conflicts, and in supposing that Frodo was unsuccessful in his quest to destroy The One Ring, LOTR: Conquest also lets gamers join Sauron's dark army as it continues its march of destruction across all of Middle-earth. Players can also head online to wage wireless war with or without a friend. ~ Christopher Brown, All Game Guide