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Lord of the Rings: The Third Age, The
Mixed or average reviews
Based on 7 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 5 votes
Read user comments
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Game Info
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Griptonite Games
Genre(s): Role-Playing Game
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: T (Teen)
Release Date: November 2, 2004
Summary
The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age roleplaying game is an epic quest in which players take on the roles of new characters choosing their own path through Middle-earth while interacting with the heroes and villains of the trilogy. Based on New Line Cinema and Peter Jackson's acclaimed film adaptations of J.R.R. Tolkien's classic The Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Lord of the Rings, The Third Age videogame allows players to adventure through Middle-earth, building a party of heroes as they journey. Players battle on the side of the Fellowship, but can unlock additional encounters where they fight on the side of Sauron as they progress. In the game, players interact with the characters of the Fellowship in a unique structure, taking on individual quests while intersecting the major events of the film trilogy that drive the story forward. Parties traverse through both familiar and seldom-glimpsed locations, using an innovative turn-based battle system as they fight, encountering the demonic Balrog in the Mines of Moria, defending the fallen city of Osgiliath, or trying to destroy Helm's Deep. [Electronic Arts]
Also On Metacritic
FILM: LOTR: Fellowship of the Ring LOTR: The Return of the King LOTR: The Two Towers
GAMES: Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central
Also On The Web: 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...
GBA Central
Comparable in many ways to Fire Emblem, The Third Age betters it in many ways, offering a more in-depth character management system, deeper tactical options and a greater variety in mission objectives.
Read Full Review >Nintendo Power
The story is very engaging. [Jan 2005, p.140]
Game Informer
A pure strategy game, I loved the combat's flank system, where you receive a semi-random amount of command points to spend on actions per flank. [Feb 2005, p.125]
Nintendojo
If you are looking for a challenge and do not care that the game isn’t teeming with personality, then it is for you.
Read Full Review >IGN
It at least keeps with the theme and style of the LOTR videogame universe, and offers a different take from the past two LOTR games from Griptonite. But it's just not nearly as fun or polished as the team's "The Two Towers" and "Return of the King."
Read Full Review >GamePro
Merely an interesting take on The Lord of the Rings license instead of the great game it could have been. [Jan 2005, p.103]
Read Full Review >Cheat Code Central
It's challenging and there are strategic elements that rival that of Fire Emblem but it fails miserably to capture the essence of the Rings movies. Basically it's a generic turn-based strategy game using the Rings in the same way that kart racers attach to various franchises.
What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this game is 8.8 (out of 10) based on 5 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
lord ellephino gave it a10:
The only bad quality of this game is how it makes you choose form three awesome caharacters right from the start. I wish just wish I could use Gandalf and Aragorn in the same battle. Otherwise it's outstanding. Five stars.
Ben D. gave it a10:
Really a new kind of game for this system. There has never really been one like it out there. It still follows the guidlines of the movie so it really isn't that bad of a game.
Super Mothman gave it a 4:
Peter Jackson's ego really ruined this game. First it was his face appearing as a warrior of Rohan in the movie, now it's him as highly populated woodsmen. Ruined the experience for me, to see the face of the director of the movie. Totally destroyed the believability of the LOTR fantasy and game.
[Anonymous] gave it a 10:
There are far worse games on this console, that goes without saying. However there are few better games than this as well. That is surprising, since EA developed this nifty SRPG. This gives a unique vantage to this series, with a nice feel and a great musical score. Near perfection for LOTR fans and RPG folk as well. Plus, you can take it with you whenever and wherever you want.
