The Lord of the Rings: Conquest
Encyclopedia
The Lord of the Rings: Conquest is an action game developed by Pandemic Studios
and published by Electronic Arts
. It is based on The Lord of the Rings
film trilogy, and borrows many gameplay mechanics from Pandemic's Star Wars: Battlefront
games. The game allows the player to play as both the forces of good and evil, but unlike The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth
, the latter option is based around Sauron
stopping the One Ring
from being destroyed and using it to regain his lost power. On December 23, 2008, the PlayStation 3 demo
was made available on the PlayStation Network while the Xbox 360 demo was released January 2, 2009.
Pandemic was aided by Weta Digital
in developing the game. They provided many of their digital models, including the fell beasts. Pandemic also used elements that were cut from the films, and have taken inspiration from J. R. R. Tolkien
's original
fantasy
novel, such as a level based loosely around Balin
's conquest of Moria
, in which Gimli
attempts to retake the dwarven
city from the orcs
. Some inspiration was less direct: the armies
of Rohan
and Gondor
decide not to attack Minas Morgul
in the novel, but a level in the game is based on what might possibly have happened if they had. The game uses Howard Shore
's score to the films as its soundtrack.
On March 16, 2010, the online multiplayer modes of The Lord of the Rings: Conquest were shut down for PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. On August 16, 2010 a group of fans launched the non-profit CNQReboot servers, allowing users of the PC version to play online using tunnelling
software that allows network play via the local area network
option.
" campaign
, containing eight levels, the player loosely follows the major battles of the films with some additions such as Moria and Minas Morgul. In the "Rise of Sauron" campaign, the player controls the forces of Sauron in a reworking of the storyline set over seven levels. In this alternative
sequence of events, Frodo Baggins
was corrupted by and failed to destroy the One Ring before being killed by the resurrected
Witch-king
, leading to Sauron subsequently conquering Middle-earth
. Both campaigns are narrated
by Hugo Weaving
, who played Elrond
in Peter Jackson
's film trilogy.
The game uses a class-based character system, similar to the system found in Pandemic's previous game, Star Wars: Battlefront II
. There are four playable classes, barring heroes:
The player can occasionally gain the opportunity to play as a Troll
or an Ent
, which are also used by non-player characters and, while far stronger than any normal class, are vulnerable to instantaneous kills by Warriors and Scouts through the use of Quick Time Event
s. Any class can ride a mount, horse
s for the Men of the West and wargs and Oliphaunts for Sauron and Saruman
’s forces). Mounts are useful for quickly traversing large areas, but are highly vulnerable and a single hit against one will result in the player being knocked off (with the exception of the oliphaunt, which has an enormous amount of health). The player wields a sword
when mounted
, regardless of their class, and is only allowed to use basic attacks. Mounts also have the power to trample enemies when riding at top speed.
In the Nintendo DS version, gameplay features are greatly reduced. The Scout class is unavailable and mounts are non-existent. In addition, the playing perspective is isometric and only 6 maps were shipped with the game. All classes start out relatively weak, but fallen enemies will drop orbs that allow the player to power-up
their current character’s attack power and speed, resetting after the player respawns
. After a level is over, a post-game statistics screen will appear to show the player’s performance and to award them in-game achievements for their accomplishments (not allowing allies to die, for instance).
villain" chasing the player while "you backtrack and shoot arrows into his face". Battles are criticised by many reviewers as being repetitive, becoming mere "hack slash scuffles". CVG also commented on the lack of difficulty in killing some of the larger enemies, such as trolls and Oliphaunts, slating the quick-time events that allow them to be killed with a single blow, making them lose all of their intimidation
potential when fighting against them and making them "frustrating" to control in multiplayer. Another common complaint is the "parody-style liberties" it takes with the Lord of the Rings licence that would have "Tolkien break dancing in his grave".
Other reviews were even more critical of the game, Games Radar stating that The Lord of the Rings: Conquest lacked even "one redeeming quality". A common complaint was graphics well below modern standards, Games Radar likening the troll and Ent models to "claymation
diarrhoea
" and IGN stating that "friend and foe alike blend into one messy brown blur". Most reviews cited poor characterisation and plot, most often in regards to Wormtongue's participation in the battle of Isengard
. Another common source of annoyance was the in-game announcer, who "bellows" objectives and hints to the player incessantly.
IGN criticised the "redundancy" of combat, stating that all four classes were essentially identical to play as, even between the two separate campaigns, and that heroes were merely "class characters on steroids
". They also complained about the combat system as a whole, in that the player can "[slam] buttons and [see] no result". Other reviews also mentioned combat as being unrealistic, one example being if the player falls from a high position they "won't so much as buckle at the knee" which gives a "weightless, videogamey feel" that contradicts the "grand scale... of the universe". IGN did, however, praise the game for its "easily recognisable" locations, though said that the plot for the Rise of Sauron campaign could have been "stronger", while Game Informer believing that there is no story of any kind "outside of clips stolen from the motion picture". IGN commended the game's musical score and claimed that "diehard fans of both online, class-based games and The Lord of the Rings" would enjoy the game, a view not shared by some other reviewers who believe that fans of the books would be the most likely to hate it. IGN also comments on the "universally bad" voice acting, specifically mentioning the impersonators for Aragorn
and Gandalf
.
The game's AI
is often cited as another weakness of the game, IGN listing two glitches, such as an enemy boss
walking off a cliff and "saving us the bother of having to defeat him in combat". Eurogamer stated that the player's allies are "AI-impoverished", stepping into the player's line of fire "before sauntering off unscathed
and oblivious", while Game Informer says that the AI appears to be "tripping
on acid as they stare blankly at walls and sunsets". The lack of mid-level saves
or a checkpoint system was also quoted as a weakness, forcing the player to restart a level if they fail to complete an objective.
Balance issues with the game are commented on by reviewers as needing work, IGN saying that the mage class is "clearly overpowered" and The A.V. Club
believing that, due to the mage's ability to heal himself, the class is "the correct choice 90 percent of the time". The A.V. Club also stated that the scout class is "a griefer
's dream" in multiplayer. The Official Xbox Magazine cites objectives where the player must hold a position for a certain length of time while being besieged
by enemy forces, a common problem being that, if the player is killed, by the time the player has respawned, the location has been overrun before they have a chance to fight back. Many reviewers also complained about the lack of enemies on screen, CVG saying that the "cardboard cut-outs in the background" are the most exciting part of a battle.
Multiplayer was regarded as a disappointment, the game's servers "plagued by connection problems and lag", even without the full sixteen players possible. They also cited a lack of bots
as a weakness, the "wide, open levels [feeling] sparse and under-populated" without them. The A.V. Club slated multiplayer as "glitchy", sometimes placing the player "in a one-on-one match of capture the flag".
In the DS version of the game, AI problems are again mentioned, the player's allies "[running] around like a Hobbit with its head cut off". The lack of checkpoints and sub-standard graphics were also raised, along with lag during multiplayer and combat being unsatisfying, the reviewer not getting "a sense that you are clashing swords and armour
with your opponents". The review also points out that the game seems much as though "the licence is really just skinned onto capture the flag".
-style battles with up to three friends. The maps themselves are merely broken down versions of levels in the campaigns, specifically sections of Osgiliath and Moria. OXM labelled the DLC as "another way to play a terrible game", stating that the combat was still fundamentally unbalanced, with ranged attacks still having an advantage and that the action was "even less dramatic when whittled down to four players".
A second pack of downloadable content was released February 26, 2009, on the same platforms which contained 3 new heroes (Boromir
, Arwen
and Gothmog
), 2 new maps (Amon Hen and Last Alliance) and 2 new Hero Arenas (Minas Tirith
and Weathertop
). OXM, however, complained about the price tag of 800 Microsoft Points
, stating that "the price rise is in sharp contrast to the free DLC EA trundled out" before.
Pandemic Studios
Pandemic Studios was founded as an independent developer in 1998, it became an Electronic Arts-owned developer from 2007 to 2009, when it was officially closed. It was an Australian and American video game developer with offices in Brisbane, Australia and Los Angeles, California...
and published by Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts, Inc. is a major American developer, marketer, publisher and distributor of video games. Founded and incorporated on May 28, 1982 by Trip Hawkins, the company was a pioneer of the early home computer games industry and was notable for promoting the designers and programmers...
. It is based on The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings film trilogy
The Lord of the Rings is an epic film trilogy consisting of three fantasy adventure films based on the three-volume book of the same name by English author J. R. R. Tolkien. The films are The Fellowship of the Ring , The Two Towers and The Return of the King .The films were directed by Peter...
film trilogy, and borrows many gameplay mechanics from Pandemic's Star Wars: Battlefront
Star Wars: Battlefront (series)
The Star Wars: Battlefront series is a series of first-person/third-person shooter video games based on the Star Wars films by George Lucas. The game-play is very similar to Digital Illusion's/EA's Battlefield series. The series has installments available on the PC, Macintosh, Xbox, PlayStation 2,...
games. The game allows the player to play as both the forces of good and evil, but unlike The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth
The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth
The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth is a PC real-time strategy game developed by EA Los Angeles. It is based on Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, in turn based on J. R. R. Tolkien's original novel. The game uses short video clips from the movies and a number of the...
, the latter option is based around Sauron
Sauron
Sauron is the primary antagonist and titular character of the epic fantasy novel The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien.In the same work, he is revealed to be the same character as "the Necromancer" from Tolkien's earlier novel The Hobbit...
stopping the One Ring
One Ring
The One Ring is a fictional artifact that appears as the central plot element in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth fantasy novels. It is described in an earlier story, The Hobbit , as a magic ring of invisibility. The sequel The Lord of the Rings describes its powers as being more encompassing than...
from being destroyed and using it to regain his lost power. On December 23, 2008, the PlayStation 3 demo
Game demo
A game demo is a freely distributed demonstration or preview of an upcoming or recently released video game. Demos are typically released by the game's publisher to help consumers get a feel of the game before deciding whether to buy the full version....
was made available on the PlayStation Network while the Xbox 360 demo was released January 2, 2009.
Pandemic was aided by Weta Digital
Weta Digital
Weta Digital is a digital visual effects company based in Wellington, New Zealand. It was founded by Peter Jackson, Richard Taylor, and Jamie Selkirk in 1993 to produce the digital special effects for Heavenly Creatures. In 2007 Weta Digital’s Senior Visual Effects Supervisor, Joe Letteri, was...
in developing the game. They provided many of their digital models, including the fell beasts. Pandemic also used elements that were cut from the films, and have taken inspiration from J. R. R. Tolkien
J. R. R. Tolkien
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, CBE was an English writer, poet, philologist, and university professor, best known as the author of the classic high fantasy works The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion.Tolkien was Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Pembroke College,...
's original
The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings is a high fantasy epic written by English philologist and University of Oxford professor J. R. R. Tolkien. The story began as a sequel to Tolkien's earlier, less complex children's fantasy novel The Hobbit , but eventually developed into a much larger work. It was written in...
fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
novel, such as a level based loosely around Balin
Balin (Middle-earth)
Balin is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium. He is an important supporting character in The Hobbit, and is mentioned in The Fellowship of the Ring.-In the books:...
's conquest of Moria
Moria (Middle-earth)
In the fiction of J. R. R. Tolkien, Moria was the name given by the Eldar to an enormous underground complex in north-western Middle-earth, comprising a vast network of tunnels, chambers, mines and huge halls or 'mansions', that ran under and ultimately through the Misty Mountains...
, in which Gimli
Gimli (Middle-earth)
Gimli is a fictional character from J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium, featured in The Lord of the Rings. A Dwarf warrior, he is the son of Glóin ....
attempts to retake the dwarven
Dwarf (Middle-earth)
In the fiction of J. R. R. Tolkien, the Dwarves are a race inhabiting the world of Arda, a fictional prehistoric Earth which includes the continent Middle-earth....
city from the orcs
Orc (Middle-earth)
In J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy writings, Orcs or Orks are a race of creatures who are used as soldiers and henchmen by both the greater and lesser villains of The Silmarillion and The Lord of the Rings — Morgoth, Sauron and Saruman...
. Some inspiration was less direct: the armies
Army
An army An army An army (from Latin arma "arms, weapons" via Old French armée, "armed" (feminine), in the broadest sense, is the land-based military of a nation or state. It may also include other branches of the military such as the air force via means of aviation corps...
of Rohan
Rohan
Rohan is a realm in J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy era of Middle-earth. It is a grassland which lies north of its ally Gondor and north-west of Mordor, the realm of Sauron, their enemy . It is inhabited by the Rohirrim, a people of herdsmen and farmers who are well-known for their horses and cavalry....
and Gondor
Gondor
Gondor is a fictional kingdom in J. R. R. Tolkien's writings, described as the greatest realm of Men in the west of Middle-earth by the end of the Third Age. The third volume of The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, is concerned with the events in Gondor during the War of the Ring and with...
decide not to attack Minas Morgul
Minas Morgul
Minas Morgul , also known by its earlier name of Minas Ithil , is a fictional fortified city in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth...
in the novel, but a level in the game is based on what might possibly have happened if they had. The game uses Howard Shore
Howard Shore
Howard Leslie Shore is a Canadian composer, notable for his film scores. He has composed the scores for over 80 films, most notably the scores for The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, for which he won three Academy Awards. He is also a consistent collaborator with director David Cronenberg,...
's score to the films as its soundtrack.
On March 16, 2010, the online multiplayer modes of The Lord of the Rings: Conquest were shut down for PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. On August 16, 2010 a group of fans launched the non-profit CNQReboot servers, allowing users of the PC version to play online using tunnelling
Virtual private network
A virtual private network is a network that uses primarily public telecommunication infrastructure, such as the Internet, to provide remote offices or traveling users access to a central organizational network....
software that allows network play via the local area network
Local area network
A local area network is a computer network that interconnects computers in a limited area such as a home, school, computer laboratory, or office building...
option.
Gameplay
In the "War of the RingWar of the Ring
In the fictional high fantasy-world of J. R. R. Tolkien, the War of the Ring was fought between Sauron and the free peoples of Middle-earth for control of the One Ring and dominion over the continent. The War of the Ring took place at the end of the Third Age. Together with the Quest of Mount Doom,...
" campaign
Campaign setting
A campaign setting is usually a fictional world which serves as a setting for a role-playing game or wargame campaign. A campaign is a series of individual adventures, and a campaign setting is the world in which such adventures and campaigns take place...
, containing eight levels, the player loosely follows the major battles of the films with some additions such as Moria and Minas Morgul. In the "Rise of Sauron" campaign, the player controls the forces of Sauron in a reworking of the storyline set over seven levels. In this alternative
Parallel universe (fiction)
A parallel universe or alternative reality is a hypothetical self-contained separate reality coexisting with one's own. A specific group of parallel universes is called a "multiverse", although this term can also be used to describe the possible parallel universes that constitute reality...
sequence of events, Frodo Baggins
Frodo Baggins
Frodo Baggins is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium.He is the main protagonist of Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. He was a hobbit of the Shire who inherited Sauron's Ring from Bilbo Baggins and undertook the quest to destroy it in the fires of Mount Doom...
was corrupted by and failed to destroy the One Ring before being killed by the resurrected
Resurrection
Resurrection refers to the literal coming back to life of the biologically dead. It is used both with respect to particular individuals or the belief in a General Resurrection of the dead at the end of the world. The General Resurrection is featured prominently in Jewish, Christian, and Muslim...
Witch-king
Witch-king of Angmar
The Witch-king of Angmar, also known as the Lord of the Nazgûl and the Black Captain among other names, is a fictional character and a major antagonist in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth fantasy writings. In Tolkien's novel The Lord of the Rings, he is the chief of the Nazgûl , the chief servants...
, leading to Sauron subsequently conquering Middle-earth
Middle-earth
Middle-earth is the fictional setting of the majority of author J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy writings. The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings take place entirely in Middle-earth, as does much of The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales....
. Both campaigns are narrated
Narrative
A narrative is a constructive format that describes a sequence of non-fictional or fictional events. The word derives from the Latin verb narrare, "to recount", and is related to the adjective gnarus, "knowing" or "skilled"...
by Hugo Weaving
Hugo Weaving
Hugo Wallace Weaving is a Nigerian born, English-Australian film actor and voice artist. He is best known for his roles as Agent Smith in the Matrix trilogy, Elrond in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, "V" in V for Vendetta, and performances in numerous Australian character dramas.-Early...
, who played Elrond
Elrond
Elrond Half-elven is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium. He is introduced in The Hobbit, and plays a supporting role in The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion.-Character overview:...
in Peter Jackson
Peter Jackson
Sir Peter Robert Jackson, KNZM is a New Zealand film director, producer, actor, and screenwriter, known for his The Lord of the Rings film trilogy , adapted from the novel by J. R. R...
's film trilogy.
The game uses a class-based character system, similar to the system found in Pandemic's previous game, Star Wars: Battlefront II
Star Wars: Battlefront II
Star Wars: Battlefront II is a first/third-person shooter video game developed by Pandemic Studios, and published by LucasArts. The game is the sequel to the successful Star Wars: Battlefront and features new vehicles, characters, game mechanics, maps, and missions...
. There are four playable classes, barring heroes:
- WarriorWarriorA warrior is a person skilled in combat or warfare, especially within the context of a tribal or clan-based society that recognizes a separate warrior class.-Warrior classes in tribal culture:...
: A meleeMêléeMelee , generally refers to disorganized close combat involving a group of fighters. A melee ensues when groups become locked together in combat with no regard to group tactics or fighting as an organized unit; each participant fights as an individual....
combat unit which uses swordsmanshipSwordsmanshipSwordsmanship refers to the skills of a swordsman, a person versed in the art of the sword. The term is modern, and as such was mainly used to refer to smallsword fencing, but by extension it can also be applied to any martial art involving the use of a sword...
. Unlike the other classes, whose special attacks recharge over time, warriors can only gain strengthManaMana is an indigenous Pacific islander concept of an impersonal force or quality that resides in people, animals, and inanimate objects. The word is a cognate in many Oceanic languages, including Melanesian, Polynesian, and Micronesian....
by defeating enemies, which allows them to unleash more powerful attacks with a flaming sword, such as spinning to hit every adjacent enemy. They are the only class that can blockParry (fencing)A parry is a fencing bladework manoeuvre intended to deflect or block an incoming attack.-Execution:To execute a parry, fencers strike the opponent's foible, or the area near the tip of the blade, with their forte, or the part of the blade near the handle of the sword...
or perform counterattackCounterattackA counterattack is a tactic used in response against an attack. The term originates in military strategy. The general objective is to negate or thwart the advantage gained by the enemy in attack and the specific objectives are usually to regain lost ground or to destroy attacking enemy units.It is...
s with special moves. The warrior also has a throwing axeThrowing axeA throwing axe is an axe that is used primarily as a missile weapon. Usually, they are thrown in an overhand motion in a manner that causes the axe to rotate as it travels through the air. Throwing axes have been used since prehistoric times and were developed into the Francisca by the Franks in...
as a secondary, medium ranged weapon. - ArcherArcheryArchery is the art, practice, or skill of propelling arrows with the use of a bow, from Latin arcus. Archery has historically been used for hunting and combat; in modern times, however, its main use is that of a recreational activity...
: A long ranged unit with a bowBow (weapon)The bow and arrow is a projectile weapon system that predates recorded history and is common to most cultures.-Description:A bow is a flexible arc that shoots aerodynamic projectiles by means of elastic energy. Essentially, the bow is a form of spring powered by a string or cord...
and arrowArrowAn arrow is a shafted projectile that is shot with a bow. It predates recorded history and is common to most cultures.An arrow usually consists of a shaft with an arrowhead attached to the front end, with fletchings and a nock at the other.- History:...
that plays like a third-person shooterThird-person shooterThird-person shooter is a genre of 3D action games in which the player character is visible on-screen, and the gameplay consists primarily of shooting.-Definition:...
. Different types of arrows can be equipped: fire arrowsFire ArrowFire arrows are an early form of gun powder rocket which were attached to a stick. The Chinese are credited with the first use of fire arrows in a military application, they may have developed fire arrows from their use of fireworks.- Design :...
, which can knock down enemies and deal explosive damage; poison arrows, which slow enemies down and do damage over time, and the ability to fire a volley of three normal arrows at multiple enemies at once. They also have a kick for use in close-quartersHand to hand combatHand-to-hand combat is a lethal or nonlethal physical confrontation between two or more persons at very short range that does not involve the use of firearms or other distance weapons...
, which knocks back the enemy. They can also hit stealthed Scouts with the multiple arrow skill. A headshot will allow the archer to kill most enemies in a single hit. - ScoutReconnaissanceReconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about enemy forces or features of the environment....
: A master in the art of moving unseen. The scout’s primary weapons are two daggers, and he has the ability to become temporarily invisibleInvisibilityInvisibility is the state of an object that cannot be seen. An object in this state is said to be invisible . The term is usually used as a fantasy/science fiction term, where objects are literally made unseeable by magical or technological means; however, its effects can also be seen in the real...
and assassinateAssassinationTo carry out an assassination is "to murder by a sudden and/or secret attack, often for political reasons." Alternatively, assassination may be defined as "the act of deliberately killing someone, especially a public figure, usually for hire or for political reasons."An assassination may be...
units instantly from behind with a sneak attackAmbushAn ambush is a long-established military tactic, in which the aggressors take advantage of concealment and the element of surprise to attack an unsuspecting enemy from concealed positions, such as among dense underbrush or behind hilltops...
. As a secondary attack, he carries satchel bombBombA bomb is any of a range of explosive weapons that only rely on the exothermic reaction of an explosive material to provide an extremely sudden and violent release of energy...
s filled with blasting powderGunpowderGunpowder, also known since in the late 19th century as black powder, was the first chemical explosive and the only one known until the mid 1800s. It is a mixture of sulfur, charcoal, and potassium nitrate - with the sulfur and charcoal acting as fuels, while the saltpeter works as an oxidizer...
as a ranged attack. The scout can also block melee attacks. - MageMagician (fantasy)A magician, mage, sorcerer, sorceress, wizard, enchanter, enchantress, thaumaturge or a person known under one of many other possible terms is someone who uses or practices magic that derives from supernatural or occult sources...
: A mage's primary attack is a bolt of lightning, which can be charged up for a more powerful attack that can also damage other enemies in close proximity to the target. He also wields a “firewall” attack, which creates an expanding circle of flames that will heavily damage if not kill enemies who are within the circle. For close range attacks, they have a shockwaveShock waveA shock wave is a type of propagating disturbance. Like an ordinary wave, it carries energy and can propagate through a medium or in some cases in the absence of a material medium, through a field such as the electromagnetic field...
attack, which knocks enemies back and allows the mage to finish them off with his staff. Mages can also healHealer (gaming)A healer is a type of character class in video gaming. When a game includes a health game mechanic and multiple classes, often one of the classes will be designed around the restoration of allies' health, known as healing, in order to delay or prevent their defeat. Such a class can be referred to...
allies. For defensive purposes, a mage can create a magical shieldShieldA shield is a type of personal armor, meant to intercept attacks, either by stopping projectiles such as arrows or redirecting a hit from a sword, mace or battle axe to the side of the shield-bearer....
around himself to protect anyone inside from ranged attacks of any sort, provided the attacker is outside of the shield, which allows people to walk through. While the shield ability is active, the mage is unable to do anything else and is therefore highly vulnerable to melee attacks.
The player can occasionally gain the opportunity to play as a Troll
Troll (Middle-earth)
In J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, Trolls are large humanoids of great strength and poor intellect.While in Norse mythology, the Troll was a magical creature with special skills, in Tolkien's writings they are portrayed as evil, stupid, with crude habits, although still intelligent enough to...
or an Ent
Ent
Ents are a race of beings in J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy world Middle-earth who closely resemble trees. They are similar to the talking trees in folklore around the world. Their name is derived from the Anglo-Saxon word for giant....
, which are also used by non-player characters and, while far stronger than any normal class, are vulnerable to instantaneous kills by Warriors and Scouts through the use of Quick Time Event
Quick Time Event
In video games, a Quick Time Event is a method of context-sensitive gameplay in which the player performs actions on the control device shortly after the appearance of an on-screen prompt. It allows for limited control of the game character during cut scenes or cinematic sequences in the game...
s. Any class can ride a mount, horse
Horse
The horse is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus, or the wild horse. It is a single-hooved mammal belonging to the taxonomic family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today...
s for the Men of the West and wargs and Oliphaunts for Sauron and Saruman
Saruman
Saruman the White is a fictional character and a major antagonist in J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy novel The Lord of the Rings. He is leader of the Istari, wizards sent to Middle-earth in human form by the godlike Valar to challenge Sauron, the main antagonist of the tale, but later on aims at gaining...
’s forces). Mounts are useful for quickly traversing large areas, but are highly vulnerable and a single hit against one will result in the player being knocked off (with the exception of the oliphaunt, which has an enormous amount of health). The player wields a sword
Sword
A sword is a bladed weapon used primarily for cutting or thrusting. The precise definition of the term varies with the historical epoch or the geographical region under consideration...
when mounted
Equestrianism
Equestrianism more often known as riding, horseback riding or horse riding refers to the skill of riding, driving, or vaulting with horses...
, regardless of their class, and is only allowed to use basic attacks. Mounts also have the power to trample enemies when riding at top speed.
In the Nintendo DS version, gameplay features are greatly reduced. The Scout class is unavailable and mounts are non-existent. In addition, the playing perspective is isometric and only 6 maps were shipped with the game. All classes start out relatively weak, but fallen enemies will drop orbs that allow the player to power-up
Power-up
In computer and video games, power-ups are objects that instantly benefit or add extra abilities to the game character as a game mechanic. This is in contrast to an item, which may or may not have a benefit and can be used at a time chosen by the player...
their current character’s attack power and speed, resetting after the player respawns
Spawning (computer gaming)
In video games, spawning is the live creation of a character or item. Respawning is the recreation of an entity after its death or destruction....
. After a level is over, a post-game statistics screen will appear to show the player’s performance and to award them in-game achievements for their accomplishments (not allowing allies to die, for instance).
Reception
Reception for The Lord of the Rings: Conquest has been mixed to poor. The majority of reviews claim that the game lacks any of the epic feel of the movies or novel, CVG commenting on Sauron's appearance in the War of the Last Alliance tutorial as akin to a "Scooby-DooScooby-Doo
Scooby-Doo is an American media franchise based around several animated television series and related works produced from 1969 to the present day. The original series, Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!, was created for Hanna-Barbera Productions by writers Joe Ruby and Ken Spears in 1969...
villain" chasing the player while "you backtrack and shoot arrows into his face". Battles are criticised by many reviewers as being repetitive, becoming mere "hack slash scuffles". CVG also commented on the lack of difficulty in killing some of the larger enemies, such as trolls and Oliphaunts, slating the quick-time events that allow them to be killed with a single blow, making them lose all of their intimidation
Intimidation
Intimidation is intentional behavior "which would cause a person of ordinary sensibilities" fear of injury or harm. It's not necessary to prove that the behavior was so violent as to cause terror or that the victim was actually frightened.Criminal threatening is the crime of intentionally or...
potential when fighting against them and making them "frustrating" to control in multiplayer. Another common complaint is the "parody-style liberties" it takes with the Lord of the Rings licence that would have "Tolkien break dancing in his grave".
Other reviews were even more critical of the game, Games Radar stating that The Lord of the Rings: Conquest lacked even "one redeeming quality". A common complaint was graphics well below modern standards, Games Radar likening the troll and Ent models to "claymation
Clay animation
Clay animation or claymation is one of many forms of stop motion animation. Each animated piece, either character or background, is "deformable"—made of a malleable substance, usually Plasticine clay....
diarrhoea
Diarrhea
Diarrhea , also spelled diarrhoea, is the condition of having three or more loose or liquid bowel movements per day. It is a common cause of death in developing countries and the second most common cause of infant deaths worldwide. The loss of fluids through diarrhea can cause dehydration and...
" and IGN stating that "friend and foe alike blend into one messy brown blur". Most reviews cited poor characterisation and plot, most often in regards to Wormtongue's participation in the battle of Isengard
Isengard
In J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional universe of Middle-earth, Isengard , a translation of the Sindarin Angrenost, was a large fortress. Both names mean "Iron fortress" In J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional universe of Middle-earth, Isengard , a translation of the Sindarin Angrenost, was a large fortress....
. Another common source of annoyance was the in-game announcer, who "bellows" objectives and hints to the player incessantly.
IGN criticised the "redundancy" of combat, stating that all four classes were essentially identical to play as, even between the two separate campaigns, and that heroes were merely "class characters on steroids
Anabolic steroid
Anabolic steroids, technically known as anabolic-androgen steroids or colloquially simply as "steroids", are drugs that mimic the effects of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone in the body. They increase protein synthesis within cells, which results in the buildup of cellular tissue ,...
". They also complained about the combat system as a whole, in that the player can "[slam] buttons and [see] no result". Other reviews also mentioned combat as being unrealistic, one example being if the player falls from a high position they "won't so much as buckle at the knee" which gives a "weightless, videogamey feel" that contradicts the "grand scale... of the universe". IGN did, however, praise the game for its "easily recognisable" locations, though said that the plot for the Rise of Sauron campaign could have been "stronger", while Game Informer believing that there is no story of any kind "outside of clips stolen from the motion picture". IGN commended the game's musical score and claimed that "diehard fans of both online, class-based games and The Lord of the Rings" would enjoy the game, a view not shared by some other reviewers who believe that fans of the books would be the most likely to hate it. IGN also comments on the "universally bad" voice acting, specifically mentioning the impersonators for Aragorn
Aragorn
Aragorn II is a fictional character from J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, one of the main protagonists of The Lord of the Rings. He is first introduced by the name Strider, which the hobbits continue to call him...
and Gandalf
Gandalf
Gandalf is a character in J. R. R. Tolkien's novels The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. In these stories, Gandalf appears as a wizard, member and later the head of the order known as the Istari, as well as leader of the Fellowship of the Ring and the army of the West...
.
The game's AI
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence is the intelligence of machines and the branch of computer science that aims to create it. AI textbooks define the field as "the study and design of intelligent agents" where an intelligent agent is a system that perceives its environment and takes actions that maximize its...
is often cited as another weakness of the game, IGN listing two glitches, such as an enemy boss
Boss (video games)
A boss is an enemy-based challenge which is found in video games. A fight with a boss character is commonly referred to as a boss battle or boss fight...
walking off a cliff and "saving us the bother of having to defeat him in combat". Eurogamer stated that the player's allies are "AI-impoverished", stepping into the player's line of fire "before sauntering off unscathed
Friendly fire
Friendly fire is inadvertent firing towards one's own or otherwise friendly forces while attempting to engage enemy forces, particularly where this results in injury or death. A death resulting from a negligent discharge is not considered friendly fire...
and oblivious", while Game Informer says that the AI appears to be "tripping
Psychedelic experience
The term "psychedelic experience" is vague – characterized by polyvalence or ambiguity due to its nature – however in modern psychopharmacological science as well as philosophical, psychological, neurological, spiritual-religious and most other ideological discourses it is understood as an altered...
on acid as they stare blankly at walls and sunsets". The lack of mid-level saves
Saved game
A saved game is a piece of digitally stored information about the progress of a player in a video game. This saved game can be reloaded later, so the player can continue where he or she had stopped...
or a checkpoint system was also quoted as a weakness, forcing the player to restart a level if they fail to complete an objective.
Balance issues with the game are commented on by reviewers as needing work, IGN saying that the mage class is "clearly overpowered" and The A.V. Club
The A.V. Club
The A.V. Club is an entertainment newspaper and website published by The Onion. Its features include reviews of new films, music, television, books, games and DVDs, as well as interviews and other regular offerings examining both new and classic media and other elements of pop culture. Unlike its...
believing that, due to the mage's ability to heal himself, the class is "the correct choice 90 percent of the time". The A.V. Club also stated that the scout class is "a griefer
Griefer
A griefer is a player in a multiplayer video game that deliberately irritates and harasses other players.-History:The term was applied to online, multiplayer computer games by the year 2000 or earlier, as illustrated by postings to the rec.games.computer.ultima.online USENET group.-Overview:A...
's dream" in multiplayer. The Official Xbox Magazine cites objectives where the player must hold a position for a certain length of time while being besieged
Siege
A siege is a military blockade of a city or fortress with the intent of conquering by attrition or assault. The term derives from sedere, Latin for "to sit". Generally speaking, siege warfare is a form of constant, low intensity conflict characterized by one party holding a strong, static...
by enemy forces, a common problem being that, if the player is killed, by the time the player has respawned, the location has been overrun before they have a chance to fight back. Many reviewers also complained about the lack of enemies on screen, CVG saying that the "cardboard cut-outs in the background" are the most exciting part of a battle.
Multiplayer was regarded as a disappointment, the game's servers "plagued by connection problems and lag", even without the full sixteen players possible. They also cited a lack of bots
Computer game bot
A bot, most prominently in the first-person shooter types , is a type of weak AI expert system software which for each instance of the program controls a player in deathmatch, team deathmatch and/or cooperative human player. Computer bots may play against other bots and/or human players in unison,...
as a weakness, the "wide, open levels [feeling] sparse and under-populated" without them. The A.V. Club slated multiplayer as "glitchy", sometimes placing the player "in a one-on-one match of capture the flag".
In the DS version of the game, AI problems are again mentioned, the player's allies "[running] around like a Hobbit with its head cut off". The lack of checkpoints and sub-standard graphics were also raised, along with lag during multiplayer and combat being unsatisfying, the reviewer not getting "a sense that you are clashing swords and armour
Armour
Armour or armor is protective covering used to prevent damage from being inflicted to an object, individual or a vehicle through use of direct contact weapons or projectiles, usually during combat, or from damage caused by a potentially dangerous environment or action...
with your opponents". The review also points out that the game seems much as though "the licence is really just skinned onto capture the flag".
Downloadable content
The first downloadable content was released on January 29, 2009, for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. It featured 2 maps for hero team deathmatch, which was not in the shipped game due to time constraints. This mode allows for arenaArena
An arena is an enclosed area, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theater, musical performances, or sporting events. It is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectators. The key feature of an arena is that the event space is the...
-style battles with up to three friends. The maps themselves are merely broken down versions of levels in the campaigns, specifically sections of Osgiliath and Moria. OXM labelled the DLC as "another way to play a terrible game", stating that the combat was still fundamentally unbalanced, with ranged attacks still having an advantage and that the action was "even less dramatic when whittled down to four players".
A second pack of downloadable content was released February 26, 2009, on the same platforms which contained 3 new heroes (Boromir
Boromir
Boromir is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium. He appears in the first two volumes of The Lord of the Rings , and is mentioned in the last volume, The Return of the King....
, Arwen
Arwen
Arwen Undómiel is a fictional character in J.R.R. Tolkien's legendarium. She appears in his novel, The Lord of the Rings, usually published in three volumes. Arwen is one of the Half-elven who lived during the Third Age.-Literature:...
and Gothmog
Gothmog (Third Age)
Gothmog is a fictional character from J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium. He appears briefly in The Return of the King, the third volume of The Lord of the Rings as originally printed....
), 2 new maps (Amon Hen and Last Alliance) and 2 new Hero Arenas (Minas Tirith
Minas Tirith
Minas Tirith , originally named Minas Anor, is a fictional city and castle in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth writings. It became the heavily fortified capital of Gondor in the second half of the Third Age...
and Weathertop
Weathertop
In the works of J. R. R. Tolkien, Weathertop is a hill in the Eriador region of Middle-earth, the southernmost and highest summit of the Weather Hills...
). OXM, however, complained about the price tag of 800 Microsoft Points
Microsoft Points
Microsoft Points are the currency of the Xbox Live Marketplace, Games for Windows - Live Marketplace, Windows Live Gallery, and Zune online stores. The points allow users to purchase content without a credit card and to reduce the number of small credit card transaction fees, which Microsoft would...
, stating that "the price rise is in sharp contrast to the free DLC EA trundled out" before.