The Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth PC
  • Publisher: EA Games
  • Release Date: Dec 6, 2004
The Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth Image
See the trailer
Metascore
82 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 42 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.3 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 96 Ratings

Your Score
0 out of 10
Rate this:
  • Summary: The Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth is an unprecedented real-time strategy game that delivers the epic scope and depth of J.R.R. Tolkien's amazing world. You are in complete control of the epic battles as depicted in all three installments of the blockbuster The Lord of the Rings movie trilogy. From waging all-out combat among Middle-earth’s vast armies to controlling your favorite heroes while managing the resources of your side, the fate of a living, breathing Middle-earth is in your hands. Built upon the acclaimed "Command & Conquer Generals" 3D game engine, The Battle for Middle-earth allows you to command the forces of light or darkness in two separate campaigns. You'll have to choose your forces wisely, since each army has its own unique strengths and weaknesses. Complete with all of the epic music, actor voices, and other film assets seamlessly integrated into the game, The Battle for Middle-earth offers a truly memorable entertainment experience. Command the heroes and armies of Middle-earth in over 25 missions based on all three films. Control one of four unique sides, each with its own playing styles, resource management, and base-building techniques. [Electronic Arts]… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 37 out of 42
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 42
  3. Negative: 0 out of 42
  1. Detroit Free Press
    100
    Middle Earth isn't a strategy game for hardcore fans, but it's a well-thought-out, well-designed, well-animated entry. And the atmosphere, visuals and sounds from the movie trilogy definitely make that simplicity both welcome and worthwhile.
  2. PC Gamer
    86
    What it lacks in complexity, it more than makes up for with intense action and ease of lay that consistently draws you back for more. [Feb 2005, p.48]
    All this publication's reviews
  3. Gamers' Temple
    86
    If you take a step back and try to pull away the The Lord of the Rings veneer, you’ll find that BFME is a competent strategy game in its own right. Add top quality production values and you have a game that holds up to the ideals and excellence of its license.
  4. Games Radar
    73
    Beneath the flash, the sampled voices, orchestral score, magnificent landscapes and monstrous animation lies a mess of inexplicable design decisions, bizarre mechanics, Fisher Price strategy and a strange disregard for Tolkien's story... It doesn't love the source material as much as you or I. And that's the biggest frustration of all. [PC Gamer UK]

See all 42 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 35
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 35
  3. Negative: 6 out of 35
  1. Sesshomaru764
    10
    Battle For Middle-Earth is a really fun and enjoyable game it is very well made and has years upon years of gameplay and has stunning graphics for such an old game. This games campaign will drag you inside MIddle-Earth and allow you to follow in the footsteps of the movies. If you are a Lord Of The Rings fan this is a must get, I have been playing it for some time now and I enjoy it much more then any other game like StarCraft2. It has a few problems because if you have a large monitor for whatever reason doesn't let you start up the game but that can be fixed my going to the EA website and finding the solution to that problem. The people of EA LA are a great game developer and hopefully they will keep up the great job.… Expand
  2. Schlafanzug
    8
    This is a pretty good game. Playing the multiplayer is fun (even if the AI is stupid), and the Campaigns (Both good and evil) are fun. The only issues I saw were the lack of AI intelligence and that the game didn't go directly with the lore behind it...… Expand
  3. Bill
    6
    This game does a nice job of packing all the memorable characters and locations from the movies into a RTS package. That said, the game is long, repetitive and lacks any strategic depth. It is great fun to stampede infantry with cavalry, but that is all you need to know to beat the game. And after 30 levels of playing equine bulldozer, you will be bored to tears. My advice: skip the optional levels - the required story-driven levels (Helm's Deep, Gondor, etc.) are the best part of the game anyway. And don't bother with the "evil" campaign - your successes don't alter the basic storyline and you miss many of the games better moments.… Expand
  4. JamesK.
    2
    No AI, no strategy. What else is new with Westwood-engine-based games. Plays like a brainless piece of crap, but then again that never stopped most other RTS successes before.… Expand

See all 35 User Reviews

Trailers

Current PC Games

Full List »
  1. BioShock Infinite
    Metascore: 94
  2. The Walking Dead: A Telltale Games Series
    Metascore: 89
  3. Tomb Raider
    Metascore: 86
  4. Starcraft II: Heart of the Swarm
    Metascore: 86
  5. Monaco: What's Yours Is Mine
    Metascore: 84
  6. Antichamber
    Metascore: 82
  7. Metro: Last Light
    Metascore: 82
  8. Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon
    Metascore: 79
  9. Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition
    Metascore: 78
  10. Don't Starve
    Metascore: 76
  11. Resident Evil 6
    Metascore: 68
  12. Age of Empires II: HD Edition
    Metascore: 68
  13. Slender: The Arrival
    Metascore: 68
  14. SimCity
    Metascore: 64
  15. Defiance
    Metascore: 64
  16. Dead Island: Riptide
    Metascore: 63
  17. Mars: War Logs
    Metascore: 59
  18. God Mode
    Metascore: 59
  19. StarDrive
    Metascore: 57
  20. Star Trek The Video Game
    Metascore: 40
All Current Games »