LOTR Confrontation

by Fantasy Flight Games

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds
• ASIN: B00006JBPP
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #322,539 in Toys & Games (See Top 100 in Toys & Games)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)

Product Description

Editorial Review

The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, directed by Peter Jackson, gained acclaim for sweating the details. Every bit of costuming, set dressing, and dialogue was precise enough to satisfy notoriously picky Tolkein aficionados and also accessible enough to delight the general public. This two-player board game is nowhere near as intricate as other LOTR tie-in items, but the look is just as magical thanks in large part to illustrations by renowned Tolkein artist John Howe and a game design by Reiner Knizia. Players can either take the role of the hobbits traveling from the Shire all the way to Mordor or, because sometimes being evil is fun, assume the identity of Sauron himself on a mission to stop those pesky hobbits and reclaim the ring. The game takes about 30 minutes to play, considerably shorter than watching any of the films. --Charlie Williams

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Chesslike Action, LOTR Fun, December 16, 2002

By 

Jeremy Garber "urbanmenno" (Denver, CO United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Durability:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:4.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: LOTR Confrontation (Toy)

A clever little game easy enough for a kid but complex enough for a chessmaster, Confrontation pits the white side against the dark side. The Fellowship must bring Frodo to Moria, while the Dark Side must wipe out the light side or take over the Shire. Each piece has a combat rating (like Stratego) and a special power to navigate the simple board. Takes fifteen minutes to play but a lifetime to master - I still haven't beaten my five-year-old nephew. See if you can do better.

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Adult Game, December 2, 2003

By 

Manhattan Mom (NY) - See all my reviews

= Durability:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:4.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: LOTR Confrontation (Toy)

My husband and I (trust me, we are not teenagers) love this board game. It is very hard to find a good, competetive two person board game, but this is one of them. It is simple to learn, but there are many different ways one can try to win. It is similar to Stratego, but it's fun to see all the Lord of the Rings characters. ANd best of all, as parents of a toddler, the game does not take long to set up and to play.

Lots of fun!

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simple, Deep, and a Great LotR Game -- For All Ages, March 16, 2004

By 

R. A. Levien "Aldaron" (Lexington, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

= Durability:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: LOTR Confrontation (Toy)

At at time when many mass market games are overly complex, shallow, and little more than cynical marketing vehicles for the latest hit film, this game comes as a welcome surprise. Not only is this a clever interpretation of the Lord of the Rings theme (with artwork by long-time Middle Earth contributor John Howe and a "story line" that really resonates with the ringbearer's quest), but the game itself is superb.

The Confrontation comes out of the vibrant "German" (really also French, British, and Italian) school of "gamer's games". Most American gamers will be unfamiliar with this type of game, having grown up on Monopoly, Life, Clue, and Risk. Unlike these games, The Confrontation is very tightly balanced, so that only careful play can reliably win -- and careless play is always punished. Every move matters, so that play is always engaging; but the simple rules and engrossing theme keep the game from becoming sterile. Moreover, what makes this game really great is that it is accessible to all ages. Kids from 6 up can master it and win against adults. (And in a pinch, there are extra "powers" included -- like Shadowfax or Palantir-- that can be used as handicaps.)

In short: One of the best new two-player games available (by perhaps the best game designer ever, Reiner Knizia); fast, easy to learn, and attractive -- with a fun and well-delivered theme. What more could you ask for! A superb introduction to quality European-style games for all ages.