Video Game Review
Surprising to me, i discovered this game was a RPG with a turn based fighting system mirroring that of the Final Fantasy games we all know and love <3. The game takes just a step behind the fellowship, where your group of haphazardly thrown together heros must complete a series of quests as they venture through Middle Earth to take down the evil emperor Sauron. Your motely crew includes: the Gondorian fighter, a Lothlorilen elf healer or sorts, a ranger, a dwarf, and a few others who really dont make much sense two throw in, seeing as the difference between each character isnt that much different and the battle system only allows three people on the field at a time (i just use the same three and neglect the rest. I am so bad).
The story starts out where Bernedor, the gondorian fighter, is trailing after Boromir for one reason or another (the reason isnt that good). He follows behind the fellowship, meeting 3 of the 5 people he is supposed to meet within the first hour of game play. You follow the fellowship right into Moria, where you gather some awesome armor and weapons, and actually join Gandalf and help his old wizard uber ass beat the shit out of the Balrog. One your fellowship finds out Boromir had died, they now can venture off and do whatever they damn well please.
The whole story is narrated by Gandalf. One point, after moria and Gandalf's "death", he just appears randomly like a drunken uncle you discovered fell asleep in your closet the day after your christmas party and says. "Yes, i am back... and there are orcs that way." and he disappears again. I was like "eh, whatever. he is Gandalf, he can do whatever he damn well pleases". After certain points in the game you get "orbs". There you can watch cut scenes from the movie that surprising work with your story line and they are narrated by the wonderful Ian McClellan. You dont HAVE to watch them but they add a nice backstory to the game. Which was nice, yet disappointing. I felt that there was WAY too much backstory and not enough story between the characters themselves.
The game is visually beautiful. However i feel they could have done better, they did not use the capacity the PS2 has, as we have seen it used in Final Fantasy X and X-2 and Ico and a lot of other games that were orgasmically stunning.
The battle system added a nice familiar touch to the game, seeing as it was closely related to the Final Fantasy system. It was turn based, you can change characters in battle, and each character has their own special set of moves that use up AP (action points). You learn new moves as you use old ones, you gain SP points, which after you gain certain amount, you get a new ability. This can be a pain in the ass sometimes, seeing as you only get SP when you actually land the move and you only get 1 sp point per use, no matter how much AP the move uses.
Cut scenes that are not actually scenes from the movie are few and far between. Which takes away from the overall story and relationship between the characters. There was one point where the elf and the gondorian man kiss. But it was never ellaborated on (as of yet) on the feelings between them. And because i love romance, i feel so bummed out that there isnt an details on it.
Every time you level up, you are allowed to add to the characters stats. Which gives you a sense of control. Which i liked, seeing as you are not just mindlessly making them attack things.
There is little variation in the enemies you fight. Which was a disappointment, but you cannot blame them. They had to stay accurrate to the movies, where they only had goblins, orcs, and urukai.
I have not yet finished the game. I have been playing for 5 hours and i have only completed 15% if the game. So if you like, long games, this is the one to play. I will add to this when i complete it.
You can make a difference.
Just by spreading the call for help.