Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle Earth II (Xbox 360)
Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle Earth II (Xbox 360)
In a nutshell:
Real-time strategy games are not normally the sort of thing you see on a console but EA have pulled out all the stops to make The Battle for Middle-Earth II work on the Xbox 360, with easy to learn controls and mountains of online options.
The lowdown:
Although most real-time strategy games are designed around using a PC keyboard and mouse they usually never get to appear on a console. With this game you’d never have guessed there was ever a problem with just a few button presses allowing you to direct vast armies and construct huge castles and encampments. Although the game is set during the same time period as the movies the action is focused elsewhere in Middle-Earth, although there’s still plenty of familiar faces. Although it benefits more than most from a HDTV screen the only real problem with the game is a slightly short single player campaign, but that shouldn’t be enough to put you off this rare console strategy treat.
Most exciting moment:
The best way to play the game is undoubtedly online, with five all new and very different game modes. The capture the flag mode works particularly well and ensures that multiplayer games never drag on too long or get too defensive.
Since you ask:
The success of this game will not only influence EA’s decision to bring Command & Conquer 3 to the Xbox 360 but THQ are also considering console versions of their real-time strategy games Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War and Company of Heroes.
The bottom line:
The first proper console based real-time strategy game for years.
HARRISON DENT
Customer Review: awesome!
in a word, awesome, i have had this game for over a year and still dont stop playing it, online is wicked and keeps you amused but even the skirmish is a challenge. the heros is an ace touch and can turn a tide of any war. ive taken on an army of 1000 units with 8 heros and ruined them all. immense game and would recommend it to any command and conquer fan and lord of the rings fan. at the price it is definite value for money.
Customer Review: finnaly a good rts for xbox 360
i havent really played any good rts’s for xbox but i then bought lotr:battle of middle earth 2. unlike many rts’s on consoles such as the xbox this one had finally sorted out the selection links on the controller so its just a quick pull on the right trigger and a small tap on the a button.
you can command many different factions and units.
elves gondor knights and dwarves are the factions under the good side.
and uroki orcs ad coasers of umber are the factions under the bad side.
you can follow the bad or good campaign battleing your way through middle eart with hundreds of men at your command.
like most other rts’s you have gain many resources before you master a massive army.buildings come under
resources,barracks,archery range,forge works,stables,blacksmith,tower,healing shrine, wall hub and castle.
you can build as many of these buildings as you want but only if you have got enough resources.
the graphics are pretty good for a rts and the amount of gameplay that comes with is good too.
with the powers tab on your palentier you can summon creatures,beings or buildings. note you can take to the skies with some beings.
seas can also be conquerd if you have a shipyard. you can build transporst,warships,beserkers and destroy ships in a shipyard.if a mission with buildings already placed on the map you can cpature them e.g watch towers and ship yards. this game is also xbox live enabled so you can take the fight to anyone around the globe. it also comes with the ability to download maps,pictures and themes obviously at a cost.
if you havent got xbox live and dont want to follow the campaign the go to skirmish and set up a small game agaisnt the computer.you can choose the difficulty of all 4 teams and what faction they are and what side their on e.g. all against all, 2 on 2 or 3 on 1.
overall this game is great but can become tedious!!!!!!!!
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Xbox 360 Console (Includes: Xbox 360, 20GB hard drive, wireless controller, ethernet cable, HD AV cable and headset) 
Xbox 360 represents a dramatic leap forward in high-definition gaming and entertainment experiences. Fusing powerful hardware, software, and services, Xbox 360 fully engages you in a gaming experience that is more expansive, dramatic, and lifelike, where the possibilities are limitless and your imagination knows no boundaries. The next generation is here. A merger of form and function, Xbox 360 wraps powerful technology in a sophisticated exterior. Two of the most innovative design firms in the world?San Francisco-based Astro Studios and Osaka, Japan-based Hers Experimental Design Laboratory Inc.?came together to craft a sleek, stylish system that conveys the very essence of Xbox 360. The Xbox Gamer Guide is an entertainment gateway that instantly connects you to your games, friends, music, movies, and downloadable content. Available at a touch of the Xbox Guide Button, the Xbox Gamer Guide gives you instant access to the experiences and content you want, from the gamer card of the player that just invited you to play online to new downloadable content for the game currently running. Xbox 360 lets you create your own unique system and experience. With interchangeable Xbox 360 Faces, it’s easy and fun to change the appearance of your console. Switch on your system and customize the look and feel of the Xbox Gamer Guide and Xbox System Guide with unique “skins.” From sleek and sophisticated to fun and funky, pick the Faces and skins that show your personality. Divided into four quadrants, the glowing Ring of Light and Xbox? Guide Button visually connect you to your games, digital media, and the world of Xbox Live?, the first global, unified online console games service. Featured on both the wireless and wired controllers, the Xbox Guide Button puts you in control of your experience. In addition to bringing up the Xbox Gamer Guide and the Xbox System Guide, the Xbox Guide Button lets you turn the system on and off without ever leaving the couch. Xbox Liv
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Received a 360 this Christmas and am very happy with it. Set up was very easy, plug into router and I was online no bother. Bought an HDMI cable from cable universe for a few quid (though I’m not sure if it gives a better picture than the included one), and it looks very nice on the Samsung telly. In terms of performance I’ve never had any trouble with it, my machine runs very quiet and stays cool. With the recent price cut it’s a great time to buy a 360, reliability issues seem sorted now and I know that if it were to ever breakdown Microsoft would repair it for me. Importantly compared to the PS3 there is a cracking list of games out for it.
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When the 360 first came out, I wasn’t blown away. It appeared that developers were struggling with it, as some of the games suffered from juddering framerates as the old Xbox did, such as when cornering in driving games. I was hanging on for a PS3, waiting for more games to come out. 18 months later though and that’s all changed. There’s scores of great games out, the developers are now creating fantastic visuals, and the PS3 hasn’t yet caught up in terms of the amount of good games available. I feel as if I’ve bought my 360 at exactly the right time (March 08) and I’m well happy with it.
Windows Vista?: Home Entertainment with Windows? Media Center and Xbox 360™: Home Entertainment with Windows Media Center and Xbox 360 (EPG-Other) 
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Xbox and Xbox 360 Soft Touch Wireless controller Soft touch textiled rubber, wireless mini Xbox controller. Featuring the latest generation 2.4 GHz radio frequency wireless technology with a lag-free range of up to 10 metres. Allows you to connect up to 4 wireless controllers to one game console at the same time. The auto frequency search function automatically links up with receivers that are plugged into the console. Other features include an off control for the vibration function and a holder on the receiver unit for two XBOX memory cards. Low battery consumption provides longer usage without battery change.
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