Battle For Middle Earth 1 and 2

[drunkymonkey]

I borrowed 1 from a friend, wary that it was just another RTS, as said in PC Gamer UK and a host of other game magazines/sites.
Anyways, that's just what it is, a traditional RTS, and that's why I hate it. There's some great stuff there that I really, really love (such as the powers and being able to spawn the army of the dead and stuff), but it just doesn't fit in with the traditional RTS. It's just so damn lazy. I got to admit that sometimes, it's excellent. For example, holding off Helm's Deepend from the orcs while they launched their vicious attack pwns, and every time Gandalf used his special abilities is a treat. It was excellent when the horn of Rohan blew and the reinforcements finally came and relieved me. Really, really good, in fact.
But the fact is, instances like that are criminally underused. Most of the time, the game is slow and tedious. It nowhere near matches the excellent combat of Dawn of War, but I like the setting of LOTR better and that's what's so irriating about it, the fact that brilliance shines through, but is overshadowed by mediocrity.
I played the sequel's demo, and there really isn't that much improvement. The graphics hardly changed, and neither did the gameplay elements (except that you can build your base anywhere now).
Oh, I dunno, anyone else feel the same?

 

[ktimekiller]

i thought it was pretty good, if only my computer ran it better.

 

[hungryduck]

I borrowed 1 from a friend, wary that it was just another RTS, as said in PC Gamer UK and a host of other game magazines/sites.
Anyways, that's just what it is, a traditional RTS, and that's why I hate it. There's some great stuff there that I really, really love (such as the powers and being able to spawn the army of the dead and stuff), but it just doesn't fit in with the traditional RTS. It's just so damn lazy. I got to admit that sometimes, it's excellent. For example, holding off Helm's Deepend from the orcs while they launched their vicious attack pwns, and every time Gandalf used his special abilities is a treat. It was excellent when the horn of Rohan blew and the reinforcements finally came and relieved me. Really, really good, in fact.
But the fact is, instances like that are criminally underused. Most of the time, the game is slow and tedious. It nowhere near matches the excellent combat of Dawn of War, but I like the setting of LOTR better and that's what's so irriating about it, the fact that brilliance shines through, but is overshadowed by mediocrity.
I played the sequel's demo, and there really isn't that much improvement. The graphics hardly changed, and neither did the gameplay elements (except that you can build your base anywhere now).
Oh, I dunno, anyone else feel the same?

Yea, thats what I thought...It lacked innovation...it just was polished nicely.
Good review by the way....

 

[Spoonoop]

I kinda know what your saying. I've always liked BFME 1 and 2. It would have to be my favorite RTS and I have my reasons. There is only one resoruce - gold! The battles are big! Creating an army is quick and easy, you can usually make a huge one 10 minutes into the game. You don't have to focus much on economy, the fighting is the main point. Fighting can sometimes be a constant thing. Things that I'm starting to dislike in RTS games are resource management and upgrading or advancing in technology. As much as I love games like Rise of Nations or Age of Empires III, the tech tree is huge! And there are many different resources that you must gather and manage. I guess I'm becomming lazy :smoking: . Even though battles are big in BFME, they can be a bit boring. I'm looking forward to the new RTS called Rise and Fall Civilizations at war. I played the demo, and it was actually pretty interesting.

 

[Javert]

I'm getting conflicting messages. You say it's boring and that you hate it, but at the same it rocks...

 

[drunkymonkey]

I'm getting conflicting messages. You say it's boring and that you hate it, but at the same it rocks...

There's parts of it that do rock, but most of it is just 'seen it all before' predictable fare.

I kinda know what your saying. I've always liked BFME 1 and 2. It would have to be my favorite RTS and I have my reasons. There is only one resoruce - gold! The battles are big! Creating an army is quick and easy, you can usually make a huge one 10 minutes into the game. You don't have to focus much on economy, the fighting is the main point. Fighting can sometimes be a constant thing. Things that I'm starting to dislike in RTS games are resource management and upgrading or advancing in technology. As much as I love games like Rise of Nations or Age of Empires III, the tech tree is huge! And there are many different resources that you must gather and manage. I guess I'm becomming lazy :smoking: . Even though battles are big in BFME, they can be a bit boring. I'm looking forward to the new RTS called Rise and Fall Civilizations at war. I played the demo, and it was actually pretty interesting.

Personally, Dawn of War is my favourite RTS, with a mix of excellent graphics, animation, pace, and just pure, unadultured gameplay. The resources are easy and simple to get, and the battles are not only huge but they aren't slow either. Seriously, some of the frunning looked like it was in slow motion.

 

[Jangle]

It's an alright game, but I'm thinking if it wasn't themed on LOTR it would fail.

 

[drunkymonkey]

It's an alright game, but I'm thinking if it wasn't themed on LOTR it would fail.

Bah! That's what I was trying to get across. The LOTringsy moments are truly awesome, but tey just seem small and constrained on a traditional (and not particularly accomplished) RTS.

 

[Lucid]

My only gripe is the movement speeds of units, they look like they're running when they're actually walking very slowly. :|

BFME2 sucks solely for the fact that units can't go on the walls anymore.

 

[drunkymonkey]

http://www.lotrtw.com/index.html

OMG MY LIFE IS FULFILLED.