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Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, The
Generally favorable reviews
Based on 23 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 11 votes
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Game Info
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: EA Redwood Shores
Genre(s): Third-Person Action, Adventure
Players: 2
ESRB Rating: T (Teen)
Release Date: November 5, 2003
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]
Also On Metacritic
FILM: LOTR: The Fellowship of the Ring LOTR: The Return of the King LOTR: The Two Towers
GAMES: Lord of the Rings: The Third Age Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central GameSpot Guide
Also On The Web: EuroGamer Preview GameSpy Preview Official Website
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Play Magazine
Few games are as excitingly presented, as gorgeously constructed, as intensely visceral as the extraordinary The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. [Dec 2003, p.52]
1UP
The core of the game is based on this frenetic, nonstop action that propels you from one area to the next, and it is this same sense of mayhem-driven progress that can allow a non-fan like myself to have such a good time.
Read Full Review >Nintendo Power
The graphics are a wonder, but at times the graphics are so complex, it's difficult to make out your character from the others. [Jan 2004, p.158]
GameZone
The interactive battles are nothing short of being an astonishing work of art. They'll take your breath away, both in how the game is played and how it looks.
Read Full Review >GameSpy
It's one of the finest crossover titles I've ever played; mainstream gamers will enjoy it for its excellent use of the movie license, sharp visuals, and easy-to-pickup gameplay, but it also has enough challenge and variety for hardcore players to soak up.
Read Full Review >GMR Magazine
Takes everything The Two Towers did well and improves upon it in every way.
Read Full Review >GamePro
A nicely executed adventure worth fighting for, just be prepared to suffer inglorious defeats until you get used to the game cam.
Read Full Review >Ferrago
They have concentrated on distilling the best action they can out of Tolkein's, (or should that now be Jackson's) masterpiece and presenting it in a well executed package. Lord of the Ring fans could surely want for nothing more this Christmas.
Read Full Review >Just RPG
With lots and lots of unlockable specials in the game, including interviews with the cast, still shots, and three extra characters, Return of the King can keep players going for longer than a normal hack-n-slash.
Read Full Review >IGN
The hack-and-slash action game is still very much just that, a twitchy combo-fest derived from arcade sensibilities, but now it's surrounded by a superior level of production quality that cannot be mistaken, it's got co-op, and it's filled with interactive backgrounds and newly playable characters.
Read Full Review >My Gamer
The game doesn’t live up to the qualities resplendent in either the book or the movies, but it’s still a technically competent game and fun to play.
Read Full Review >Entertainment Weekly
Fans will find much to enjoy, but don't blame us if you're as haggard as Gollum by the time you actually finish the game. [19 Dec 2003, p.L2T 20]
Electronic Gaming Monthly
Does a fantastic job of putting you into the world of the movie through its graphically stunning reproductions of the film's war-torn sets, smooth transitions from thriling cinema clips, into exciting gameplay, [and] top-notch voice work. [Dec 2003, p.181]
GameCube Europe
Aside from seeing the film on big screen, this is the most intense Lord of the Rings experience available.
Read Full Review >GameSpot
It's still a relatively simple and short action game at heart, but a solid combat system, some extremely intense and cinematic levels, cool extras that fans of the movies will enjoy, and the option to play cooperatively with a friend all add up to make The Return of the King deserving of its name.
Read Full Review >Edge Magazine
If you take away the window dressing, the epic sounds and the preordained surprises this is a derivative, one-note and sometimes flawed game, but see it as a spectacular amusement ride and you can play and it's a distinguished achievement. [Christmas 2003, p.110]
Yahoo! Games
Rife with action and bursting at the seams with bonus content, the title will also go down in history as one of the most intense products ever created for hobbyists' consumption.
Read Full Review >Next Level Gaming
The presentation is just outstanding. It's just a shame that the gameplay was a little off, and that you couldn't skip the movie cutscenes.
Read Full Review >Weekly Famitsu
8 / 7 / 8 / 7 - 30 silver [Vol 786]
NintendoWorldReport
A fun and intense game at heart. If only its missions were more understandable, balanced, and streamlined.
Read Full Review >TotalGames.net
If though you're after more than eye catching cosmetic gloss and an ear stroking cinematic score, if, in short, you're after a brilliantly playable game based on one of the most celebrated, loved and epic fantasies in living memory, then sadly this isn't what you're looking for.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this game is 9.0 (out of 10) based on 11 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Ryan M. gave it a 9:
The lord of the rings series has always been about presentation, and this game has it. It has the great opening cinematic and it throws you into the action immediately. Not a great game, but it offers a whole new perspective to video games based on movies.
Danny E. gave it a 10:
It's incredible, and you could even play muti-player
Booger Snot gave it a 10:
I am a huge Lord of the Rings fan so I had to check out the game. First I have to do cons of the game. (Though there weren't that many.) The first and the one that bugs me the most is they don't really use all that many scenes from the third movie!! This is Return of the King after all! Not the Fellowship or the Two Towers! Then second con is not being able to use Frodo until after you complete the game! He is the Ring bearer he should be a wholly playable character! There are two more cons that are in Co-Op mode. One is there are no check points in the levels!!! You are allowed to die once for your two characters and then if your one step from the end Boom! You have to start all over again! That is annoying!! The final con is it is nearly impossible to toss Gollum even close to the side! If you knock him once he'll scream and kick your friend in the head!!! Now for the pros!! Many of them ^_^! They did put footage of the third movie! You get to play with more characters. (Yah! We get to play with the hobbits!) The Co-Op mode is fun (if you both have a lot of time on your hands.) A personal favorite is you get to torture Gollum in the last level and finally get rid of him! (I don't have nothing against Andy. I don't like Gollum.) Then there is unlockable film and game art, movie stills, interviews with the actors, cheats, and two extremly hard levels (if you didn't bother with memorizing the cheats.) I reccomend this for fans of the movie, book, video games, and one of the actors fans.
Annonymous Guy gave it a 9:
Both single and co-op modes have their pros and cons... Single player is a little boring/frustrating, and you can't play all the levels in co-op, but overall, this is a great game.
Starwarsspiderman gave it a 10:
This game is so much better than the first, better told, better graphics, better levels, and so much more to do! It totally makes up for The Two Towers game which also was extraordinary. The only criticism that I have for it is that it is extremely hard even when set to easy. The totally awesome thing in it though, is that there now is a co-op so you and your friend can both play as a team!
Chris M gave it a 4:
This game is just a poor attempt at capturing the great moments of the movie. Sadly it fails poorly. The camera angles provided often prove annoying and end up with you being attacked by a foe you cannot even see. Add to this the fact that this game is terribly short and you have one craptastic waste of money.
Justin S. gave it a 10:
It's just a awsome game with heaps of acition really. 10/10
