Final Fantasy: A First Look at Lord of the Rings: The Third Age

This preview is of the PS2 version of the game. The GBA version from the information we were given is more of a tactics game and does not have the RPG feel of the other 3. Hopefully as release gets a little closer we will be able to get a preview version and do a proper review of it also. For now we will be covering the RPG and the GBA version will remain a bit of a mystery.

The storyline runs in a parallel path with new player characters that had small npc parts in the movies. This allows you to be part of a brand new story while intertwining with the heroes of the other games. At times you will even be able to control these heroes as they cross you path and your story becomes theirs. Over all I was impressed with the detail that went into the new story and I am looking forward to playing the finished product just to see where it leads.

Unlike the others in the LOR series, The Third Age is turn based. The style of play is much like what you would find in Final Fantasy X. While I found the similarities between the two disturbing, it did allow me to get in the game quickly and understand all the rules of play. There is something to be said for not building a new and shiny system that is no better then one already in place on another game. Will the feel of the game and the UI look very much like a Final Fantasy game, EA has put enough new in the game to make it a very different game.

One of the new items I enjoyed was the leadership abilities. One of your player characters can actually use several special moves that assist the others. He can add strength, make all hit more, and even protect your weaker characters. This gives you more to think about during your turn. One thing I did not really enjoy was how slow combat seemed to be. Each move seemed to take forever and after the first few hundred times, you get a little bored with the effect graphics.

Speaking of graphics, they are amazing. From the backdrops to the hair on the characters, everything was perfect in my opinion. All you have to do is take a look at the "Making the Balrog Flame" video and you will know these guys have skills. The team that created the movies was also very helpful. This allowed the producers not only to use some of the computer generated cities to build on top of but also a feature that actually puts part of the movies into the game. This all makes for a graphically stunning game.

Overall this game has great potential. The graphics and story are strong enough to carry the game but after getting to talk to the developers, I think the rest will come along in the end. If you are a fan of turn based RPG's, Peter Jackson's vision of Lord of the Rings, or a person wanting a Japanese style RPG with more of an American feel you wont be disappointed. They have taken the best parts of several games and added their own innovative processes for a game that should stand the test of time. Hopefully this will be the first of many games based in Middle Earth.

You can find more information about this upcoming game at the Official Home Page and our own Game Profile .