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Lord of the Rings: Return of the King Review |
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Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
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Considering that EA has a track record of creating poor licensed games, and that the first two games in the series were nothing special, I wasn't too excited when I came to play this game. Having played the game, I now see how wrong this was.
The game begins with a short tutorial style level where you play as Gandalf at Helms Deep. You recieve instructions on how to play the game as this level is playing, and it will allow you to get to grips with the controls. Combat is a fairly simple hack n' slash style, with quick and strong attacks, blocks, kicks and ranged attacks. As you gain experience by killing enemies, you gain levels and can use your experience points to purchase upgrades and new combos. By performing advanced combos and killing enemies in quick succession without being hit, you will fill up the skill meter which is used to calculate how many points you recieve for each kill and your overall mission ranking. By filling up the skill meter totally you will enter perfect mode, which causes your hits to inflict massive damage. This adds a bit more depth to the combat, which is fun but can be shallow at times. Each level can only be played once in single player to prevent people from reaching high levels and going straight through the rest of the game. This can be slightly annoying but it prevents the temptation to cheat.
Return of the King is far from easy - even on the easiest difficulty level it presents a challenge. The game consists of 15 levels, which isn't a huge number but it offers many unlockable features and has good replay value. Nine playable characters are available in total, each with different abilities, strengths and weaknesses. The levels are divided into 3 sections: The Path of the King, The Path of the Wizard and The Path of the Hobbits. Each section can only be played by it's corresponding characters, Gandalf for the Wizard's Path and Gimli, Aragorn and Legolas for the Path of the King. After completing the game, any level can be played with any character.
The levels are well designed and include many interactive objects like catapults, spears and barrels. Except for a few points, you are free to take your time throughout the levels, and some of them offer alternative paths. The levels are also action packed and will have you fighting dozens of enemies at one time.
Co-operative play is also included in the game. In this play mode, the checkpoints are removed and replaced with extra lives, usually one is allocated to each level. I find that in co-op mode, some levels are too hard, and some, expecially those which have no checkpoints in single player, are too easy. Also due to the amount of chaos that goes on, it is all too easy for a player to take health which they don't need, resulting in the other player dying and loosing the game, but it still presents a good challenge if you have someone to play with.
Considering that it is a multiplatform title, the graphics are truly impressive. The special effects are as good as most Xbox exclusive games, and even with 20 or more characters fighting on screen at any one time, there is absolutely no slowdown. The backgrounds and characters are nicely detailed, and my only concern is the occasional bad camera angle. The sound is also good, with speech from the actors in the film, music from the film, and dynamic audio effects. Also included in the game is footage from the film and interviews with the actors.
Return of the King exceeded all my expectations and turned out to be one of the best games I've played in a while. It is too short, but is very replayable and well polished. It is well worth renting, if not buying.
Review By: Flid_Merchant
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