Middle-earth RTS

Electronic Arts is bringing the much-heralded PC-centric genre of real-time strategy (RTS) to Xbox 360™ with The Lord of the Rings™, The Battle for Middle-earth™ II, and with it comes the promise that the console can not only handle the task, but add to the genre as well.

For those wondering about the control scheme, feel free to check out our feature covering the transition from PC to Xbox 360. For those curious about just what content and gameplay is offered, read on.

Let the epic battle begin.

RTS Explained
First, for those unfamiliar with the genre, a quick explanation is in order. Real-time strategy games put you in charge of virtual armies. You build bases, mine resources, recruit and upgrade troops, and wage tactical battle against your enemy, all in real time. For strategy fans, there is no more intense gameplay, especially when given the scope and depth of the Middle-earth world.

This game proves that a home console can not
only handle the RTS genre, but enrich it as well.

All of Tolkien
The Battle for Middle-earth II is inspired not just by the New Line Cinema movies, but by Tolkien's works at large. EA has been able to secure not only the movie rights, but also the rights to use content straight from Tolkien's literary works.

Fans of the novels will immediately understand the impact, as the sheer depth in Tolkien's writings are both intricate and enormous, providing a nearly endless well of content to draw from. The license could hardly come at a better time, either, as the RTS genre provides a perfect opportunity to take advantage of the new license.

Foundation
The game pits the forces of good (elves, dwarves, and humans) against the forces of evil (goblins, orcs, and other minions of the dark lord Sauron) and features both sides equally, as separate campaigns exist for both camps. These battles rage during the War of the Ring, but they focus primarily on lands to the north, a mostly virgin territory that EA Los Angeles plumbed thoroughly.

Cavalry wins the day.

There are six base factions you can play with. They are:

• Elves
• Dwarves
• Men of the West (Rohan and Gondor combined)
• Goblins
• Mordor (Sauron's forces)
• Isengard (Saruman's forces)

Unique to Middle-earth
Like all RTS games, the balance of building structures, adding and upgrading troops, and managing resources are the key strategic components, but Battle for Middle-earth II provides two extra elements to vary the experience and add to the depth.

Heroes
The legends and stories that surround Middle-earth focus on the heroes of the time, and Battle for Middle-earth II is no different. While they alone won't win conflicts, the heroes at your disposal can turn the tide in the midst of battle.

While you certainly run into some familiar names from the movies, you also encounter slightly lesser-known heroes more familiar to those that read the books. For example, early on in the good campaign, the elf lord Glorfindel and the legendary dwarf Gloin fight by your side.

In gameplay terms, the heroes are able to level up and gain access to more powerful abilities, making their judicious use throughout a mission vitally important.

Fortresses
Most RTS games offer a basic structure and leave it at that. You may be able to eventually upgrade them, but essentially they remain the same. However, Battle for Middle-earth II provides a much more customizable approach. You can build and add to fortresses as you see fit, adding bits and pieces while constructing nearly impenetrable walls around them for one-of-a-kind structures.

Let the fireballs fly.

HD Benefits
Visually, The Battle for Middle-earth II is stunning from the standard isometric view and even holds up well when zoomed in for in-game cinematics. Most impressive is the volume of intricate action carried out at one time, with explosions, spells, arrows, crumbling buildings, fiery catapults, and skirmishing armies all streaming across the screen with nary a hitch.

Most importantly, though, the detail that high-definition brings actually boosts the gameplay. Because RTS games offer so much simultaneous action, the ability to recognize different units and structures immediately is very important. It's here that high-definition resolutions ensure that mistakes aren't made mid-battle by accidentally confusing a platoon of archers for standard foot soldiers.

The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth IIproves that a home console can not only handle the RTS genre, but enrich it as well. With full-featured Xbox Live® support, a bevy of achievements to boost your gamerscore with, and opportunity for downloadable content via the always user-friendly Xbox Live Marketplace, there's a lot to love here for the hardcore or casual RTS fan.

Article by Ryan Treit

• The Battle for Middle-earth II official site.
• Electronic Arts official site.