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Jumping from the big screen to the little screen, LOTR has became an instant classic in any home. EA Games' latest take on the series adds a bold new flavor to the already hit story. This time, instead of the action-adventure type game, we get a traditional RPG.
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At first, you will think The Third Age has stolen a chapter from Final Fantasy X. Not so. The game has very many unique aspects that the Final Fantasy series does not usually have (with the exception of Final Fantasy X-2), such as a familiar world, inhabited by characters we love and creatures we despise.
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The story, in general, focuses around a ragtag group of adventurers making their way across Middle-earth. Along the way, they fight in the series' most epic battles alongside Aragorn, Gandalf, Legolas and Gimli. However, the real story focuses on the battles behind the scenes that the Fellowship did not fight. This unique story adds a very different perspective on the events of Middle-earth. EA does a wonderful job adding to the already wonderful series. I would have to say this is the best LOTR game EA has put out thus far.
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As said before, The Third Age will seem a lot like Final Fantasy X. The battle system uses the character queue system we saw in FFX. Characters will wait for a turn (as will enemies), and will have to strategize which attacks to use, before the enemy can act. Allies also have enemies that they excel in attacking, just like in FFX. That said, The Third Age still has many unique traits.
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Thankfully, this game doesn't have that horrible sphere system. Characters build skill by using skill. Sound confusing? Simply put, characters have different skills they can use to attack, heal or support. Every time they use a skill, they gain a skill point (SP) that helps charcters learn new and better skills. So, it pays off using every skill in a fight. Also, at every level up, you can boost your stats a couple of points, just be wary of where you put your points. It won't help to have a strong character who can't hit the enemy.
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The combat system's biggest kick is the “Perfect Mode.” It is best described as a Limit Break... on steroids. These attacks do an insane amount of damage to any enemy. From raining arrows to Ents beating the living daylights out of enemies, Perfect Mode is definitely a big plus for players.
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Magic (or Spirit Powers) aids you in the fight against Sauron and Saruman. Just like skills, the more you use your Spirit Powers, the more you will receive in the long run. However, there are abilities that appear in every character, which makes characters seem like they are all the same. There are some skills that are very beneficial though for any fight. But, I won't ruin that for you. You need to unlock those to see for yourself!
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There is equipment to be found everywhere, especially after major battles. There isn't a place you can't find treasure, equipment and various key items. There are no shops, like in other traditional RPGs, so you carry every single piece of equipment with you, which leaves you scrolling through a list of collected swords at times, if you want to change swords. Thankfully, EA saves us by creating an option for newly acquired equipment, which lets you equip new items without scrolling through a list.
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There are few NPCs. They will just sit by and complain “Woe is me! Doom is at hand! Oh no!” and so forth. You will look most forward to the very brief conversations with Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli. They provide the most dramatic speeches in the game.
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There is a feature that I have not personally seen in any RPG before. There is Evil Mode. It is a mode in which you can play as the Sauron's baddies in a chance to collect excellent equipment not found in the game. Yes, you can play as Balrog and Grima Wormtongue. This is a very fun game to play, and you'll find yourself playing it again and again, even after you've collected the goods.
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The controls handle very well. There is almost full camera control, which is nice to have when you're lost in the long dark of Moria. The load times are very fast from screen to screen, which doesn't allow any of the action to be hampered. The only long load times are between different sectors of Middle-earth. This doesn't happen often, so do not panic!
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The graphics are superb, period. The Third Age switches between game scenes and scenes from the movies. This allows the player to feel like they are part of the story. These scenes are usually narrated by Gandalf, voiced by Ian McKellen. The art and texture of the landscape keeps the player in awe of the majesty of Middle-earth. The cutscenes are plentiful, but are short and add needed details to the game's story.
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The sound puts you right in the forest, with all the critters, or in the battle for Helm's Deep amongst clashing steel and destruction going on around you. Character voices are excellent, and definitely sound like they belong to the denizens of Middle-earth. Music in the game is taken from the movie's soundtrack, with symphonies and orchestras narrating the drama that threatens to take hold of Middle-earth.
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Average game time runs about 50 hours (that's with stopping to access weapons in Evil Mode). The game definitely has replay value. You'll want to go back and finish every mission, smite every foe and look for every treasure chest. Then there's co-op mode. This was a bad idea, in my opinion. Players can work together to help smite the foes of Middle-earth, but you can only control specific characters. Player 1 will control the first, third and fifth characters received in the game, and Player 2 will play as the second, fourth and sixth characters (I keep their names secret, so as not to spoil the game!).
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This game is worth the $50 you will spend. My general overall experience with the game was great. I loved it. This is definitely a game to get that LOTR fan in your family or community. With a familiar world to explore and many ways to do so, you play The Third Age over and over.
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