• Publisher: EA Games
  • Release Date: Nov 5, 2003
  • Also On: PC
Metascore

Generally favorable reviews - based on 31 Critics What's this?

User Score

Generally favorable reviews- based on 56 Ratings

  • Summary: Return to Middle-earth in the only video game based on the epic final chapter of the highly-acclaimed The Lord of the Rings movie trilogy. Developed using the same digital assets as the films, The Return of the King re-creates in stunning detail the final events of the War of the Ring. Become the heroes who determine the fate of Middle-earth as you traverse the haunted Paths of the Dead, defend Minas Tirith from the onslaught of thousands of Sauron's minions, and even play co-op multiplayer with a friend as you march against the impenetrable Black Gates of Mordor. Eight playable characters, including Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, Sam, and Frodo with exclusive voice-over provided by the films’ actors. The fate of Middle-earth is in your hands. [Electronic Arts] Expand
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 28 out of 31
  2. Negative: 1 out of 31
  1. King is the best, most synergetic convergence of film and videogame I've ever seen. It turns Two Towers' wow factor into an emphatic "holy freaking crap!"
  2. The two-player cooperative mode is the real star of the show, overshadowing the online play that the PS2 version offers, and is the one critical feature the first game so desperately needed.
  3. Switch between the game’s three passages—the Paths of the King, Wizard, and Hobbit—to hack levels tailored to each character’s quirks. Or better yet, stick with one and build up his abilities—cutting through the Orc-etc.
  4. The combat system is extremely shallow, and Gamestyle can find little in depth to favourably commend it.

See all 31 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 25
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 25
  3. Negative: 3 out of 25
  1. ColeF.
    10
    Just a wonderful game and somtimes very hard to beat the ladder level.
  2. ManiacAlchomin
    10
    This is truly a very fun game. the best lotr rings game, and one of my favorites.
  3. This is one of my favorite games. The hack and slash combat is quite good, something which seems to have disappeared in recent times. It also has another feature not seen in quite some time, unlockable characters! (though not available at the time, nowadays it would be DLC) And the ability to go through completed levels with other characters. One of the best games to bear the LotR franchise and despite some minor flaws, is a quality game through and through. They don't make them like this anymore! Expand
  4. SunnyS.
    4
    "That was really good......if only I had rented it instead!!!!!!!!!!" }:¬# If you've played the Two Towers then don't be expecting too much from this game. EA rehash games not make them. Unless of course you want to experience an additional 2 characters (the hidden characters are a sham and are merely "reskinned" versions of the characters with the same moves etc) in the third movie. However if you're new to the lotr games then this is the best one yet, the gameplay is good if a little repetive but short lived which is its ultimate downfall. If you literally got 2 weekends to burn then you can easily squeeze this rental of a game in. Its a shame that EA didn't make one big lotr game but like Disney they have a motto "Sorry, But There's Profit To Be Had." Expand

See all 25 User Reviews