The Lord of the Rings The Third Age

by Electronic Arts

Product Features

• gameplay that expands all three films
• customize your hero or villain
• free-roaming gameplay; Explore, take on side quests, and uncover secret characters to join your party
• Innovative turn-based combat system as you ride horses or Wargs through massive armies
• Free-roaming adventure as you explore a beautiful and realistic game world

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0002IQD1U
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.2 x 0.5 inches ; 4 ounces
• Media: Video Game
• Release Date: August 12, 2004
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (103 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,248 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
  • #36 in Video Games > PlayStation 2 > Role-Playing

Product Description

Platform: PlayStation2

Experience the first console role-playing game set in J.R.R. Tolkien's fabled Middle-Earth universe with The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age. In it, players will be able to travel in the wake of the Fellowship with a unique structure that allows them to explore their own path while periodically intersecting with the major events of the films. Encounter the demonic Balrog in the mines of Moria, defend the fallen city of Osgiliath, or try to destroy Helm's Deep -- the choice is yours. Players can even customize their own hero or villain and upgrade them with an in-depth skill tree system that will increase their special abilities.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent LOTR RPG!, November 29, 2004

By 

Captain Lopes "Anakin" (Clifton Heights, PA USA) - See all my reviews

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: The Lord of the Rings The Third Age (Video Game)

I rented this game to check it out after reading reviews. I agree that the gameplay is very similar to Final Fantasy X (turn-based). The turn-based battle system I don't entirely prefer, but in this game it works well. This game may not take as long to beat than FFX, but I've played over 6 hours and only achieved 11% completion.

You get six characters to use, and if you play in co-op mode, player 1 plays the first, third, and fifth characters, and player 2 plays the second, fourth, and sixth characters. Each player can swap characters - player 1 can switch with a player 2 character and vice versa.

I don't like the fact that only player 1 can assign level-up points to attributes and equip armor, weapons, amulets, etc. Only player 1 can move around the landscape. The only time player 2 gets action is in the battles.

The graphics are incredible, just like FFX. The abilities, spirit powers, and focused skillsets (along with skillsets obtained by equiping certain items) are very well-suited for LOTR. These abilities also look very much different from "Fire" in FFX - instead there are "spirits". Elemental spirits are an original idea, and look fantastic! All abilities (other than regular attacks) have great animation sequences.

The landscapes in the game are very accurate recreations of the actual moviescapes. Moria looks like Moria (the huge underground city, the fire, the Balrog, goblins), Lothlorien looks like Lothlorien (the stairs round the tree trunks, trees themselves, elven architecture, lighting), the Fellowship's camp sites look like camp sites (burnt logs, flames, rocks), and Weathertop looks like Weathertop (the watchtower, stone altar).

Although this game could have used another 6 months or so in development to smooth out gameplay and character animations/movement, it's a revolutionary software title nonetheless!

MAJOR PROS:
* Excellent LOTR music
* Excellent LOTR sounds (lots of bass!)
* Excellent graphics
* The first co-op fantasy game like FFX!
* Excellent LOTR themes, textures, environments, characters

MINOR PROS:
* You control the strategy and speed of the battles
* Each piece of equipment changes a character's appearance
* First game to have Shadow - opposite of Light

MAJOR CON:
* $49.99 price tag

MINOR CONS:
* Turn-based battles (may have been better with Active system)
* The characters move stiffly and roughly
* Player 2 only gets action in the battles

Bottom-line: If you like Final Fantasy (X specifically), and LOTR, rent (or buy) this game and enjoy it!

34 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Final Fantasy came to Middle Earth, November 4, 2004

By 

Marco Cabrera-Geserick "Ah' Dzib" (Tempe, AZ USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: The Lord of the Rings The Third Age (Video Game)

That is just a way to put it. This RPG is a Final Fantasy game played with Tolkien carachters and story. Maybe you are not going to use any of the main carachters of the book, but you will have some encounters with them, and you are going to help them or receive help at certain moments. The game has excellent graphics, especially the environment and background. You decide how to use the experience you are earning in order to build the carachteristics of your carachters. You start playing Berethor, Captain of the Citadel of Minas Tirith you under orders is looking for Boromir. Soon, he ism joined by Idril, an elf woman with great powers under the orders of Lady Galadriel. Carachters you will use include a Dunedain, a Rohirrim warrior and a Rohirrim women warrior. Also, a dwarf is tossed to the mix. Fight orcs, trolls, Nazgul, etc. This game is great for Tolkien fans, reliving most of the issues of Middle Earth. But, if you are not a Tolkien, even better. The story is great, graphics are amazing, and action is awesome. Very easy to learn, especially for RPG players. The carachters have the same carachteristics as in Final Fantasy, minus the Eons. They even have the perfect points attack. You cannot become disappointed with this game.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Its an RPG for Goodness Sake!!!, December 19, 2004

A Kid's Review

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: The Lord of the Rings The Third Age (Video Game)

You people you critisize this game don't realize what an RPG game is! This game has you exploring more openly than Two Towers and Return of the King and the fighting system is turn-based. That is what an RPG game is all about. Third Age is a fun game and its very strategic as well. The spell powers your characters use are awesome! And you can even play on the dark side. Now thats cool! I highly recommend that you buy Lord of the Rings: Third Age!

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