Ahoy, squirts. Quint here... Now I know that you'd expect to find a review of a video game over at AICG, but I think that EA's upcoming LORD OF THE RINGS: RETURN OF THE KING game holds enough movie geek interest to warrant a review on AICN.
I'd also like to take this opportunity to apologize to all you readers out there for not being able to deliver my further RETURN OF THE KING set reports. Although I went through the proper channels, apparently some big wigs at New Line didn't like me reporting from the set, so after three months of talking to some very nice (and one or two not so nice) people over at New Line, trying to find a compromise, I was told that I can not write any further reports whatsoever.
I've been fighting the good fight, but this one just didn't happen. I feel bad for promising you folks something that I can now not deliver. Please accept my most sincere apologies.
Anyway, let's get to the game, shall we?
Who can you play?
The characters are thus: Gandalf the White, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, Sam and Frodo. There are also three unlockable characters that you get when you beat the game first time through.
What are you playing?
For those that don't know, RETURN OF THE KING features three separate playable storylines. You have the Path of the King, The Path of the Wizard and The Path of the Hobbits. The Wizard's path starts you playing Gandalf the White and hunting down Orcs in the trees outside of Orthanc, avoiding the stomping feet of the Ents as you go all the way to the courtyard of Minis Tirith. The King's Path sets you off on the Path of the Dead fighting with ghosties and sends you all the way to the Black Gate. The Hobbit's Path starts you in Osgiliath, dodging Ringwraiths and those damned Orcsies, then to Shelob's Lair and beyond... ending up in the Crack of Doom.
Through the game you fight trolls, orcs, Uruks, ghosties, Gollum, Shelob, The Mouth of Sauron (who looks badass... and I think this might be where the "Aragorn fights Sauron" rumors came from as MOUTH bears a striking resemblance to his master), the King of the Dead, Mumakils, Easterlings and Fell Beasts.
What about the movie footage? Is there anything new?
There's bits and pieces that haven't been seen in any of the trailers or presentations throughout the game, but unfortunately it's mostly just bits that we've already with a couple seconds added on. I was hoping for a bit of Howard Shore's ROTK score, but no luck there, either. That might be a big plus for those who don't want spoilers, but if you don't want to know anything about ROTK, then playing this game is not the thing for you to do.
How bad are the spoilers?
A good deal of the game takes place around TWO TOWERS, just like a good deal of EA's TWO TOWERS game had FELLOWSHIP levels. There are some huge spoilers, no less, especially in the last few levels. You do fight Shelob. You see what happens to Frodo at the end...
How's the gameplay?
Pretty damn good. I played on X-Box, though the game will be released for all platforms. The format is the same as it was in TWO TOWERS. You gain Experience Points (XP) and use them to buy combos and better quality weapons as you go. I never had any real trouble controlling the characters, but some of the Third Person camera angles really get in the way, blocking your view of what's around the next corner.
What about toughness? Is it too easy? Too hard?
The game features three settings. Easy, Normal and Hard. I played normal and was challenged, although I do admit that I'm not the world's foremost expert gamer. Some levels have me cursing up a storm, trying to get through them, so I imagine if you need to be challenged, you'll have a good time with the game.
What's great about the game?
The look and feel is the best part. With the actors from the film voicing their own characters and the fantastic design it really does feel like the LOTR universe. Also, they've added a Co-Op mode. It's always fun to play with your buddies.
What's not so great about the game?
What frustrated me the most is how unbalanced it is... For instance, you can't replay a level until you've damn near beaten the game. That means you can't go back and earn more XP to build up your combos. It forces you to go into certain huge levels unprepared. Sure, it was challenging, but I'm the kind of person that goes into a game wanting to have fun and for me, screaming at the TV and throwing the controller on the floor doesn't constitute a fun time. When you win, you're allowed to go back and play all the levels using whatever character you like... but then everything is just too easy. Fun... Helluva lot of fun, but incredibly simple. There was no in-between. Hard and Easy.
So, do you recommend the game?
Of course! Although I bitch about struggling through the latter levels, I still beat the game through once in Co-Op mode and once by my lonesome (and am damn proud of myself, thank you very much). In Co-Op, my buddy Kraken and I beat the game from start to finish in about 12 hours. It's taken me a little less time going through myself. I did have fun or else I wouldn't have kept playing. I don't know how serious gamers are going to take the game, though. It's harder than TWO TOWERS, but probably a piece of cake for most serious gamers. I enjoyed the hell out of it.
With ROTK and MARIO KART: DOUBLE DASH coming up, gamers are sure to have their hands full for awhile. I must admit... I've have been addicted to Mario Kart since I was a teenager playing it on SNES and I've heard DOUBLE DASH blows all the previous incarnations out of the water... It's something to help pass the time until HALO 2 comes out next Spring.
Oh, and when you beat the game it fades to black and then this fades up: THE LORD OF THE RINGS TRILOGY. COMING 2004. That has gotten me terribly excited. I hope EA's not just throwing TWO TOWERS game and RETURN OF THE KING game together, but revamping the entire story. Will be get Gandalf Vs. The Balrog? Everything else that happened outside of Balin's Tomb in the Mines of Moria? Ringwraith escape from Hobbiton? Can you play an Ent and tear down Isengard? What about having a level playing Gollum? The Scouring of the Shire? Ohhhhhh.... The possibilities are endless!
Before I take off, I'd like to announce that due to the positive feedback I got last year I'm planning on writing a CHRISTMAS SHOPPING FOR THE GEEK IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD column again this year, to be posted on Thanksgiving. Games, Toys, model kits... just plain cool geeky stuff... all fair game. If you have any suggestions on what should be covered, my email address is aicnquint@yahoo.com. If you make toys, video games or SIDESHOW WETA COLLECTIBLES (ahem) and want me to check them out, you can reach me at that address as well
I have a few goodies coming up for you, squirts. I have already seen one movie that opens next week and after Monday, I'll have seen the other BIG one. Both utilize the color GREEN to a large extent. 'Til that day this is Quint bidding you all a fond farewell and adieu.
-Quint
email: Email your Christmas wishes to Quint here! The raunchier the better!!!
