‘My preeeeciouuusss’

Born in the fires of Mount Doom itself, come now and enter the ultimate fantasy massively multiplayer online (MMO) game. Hobbits everywhere rejoice because Turbine Games have conjured the mythos of JRR Tolkien's Middle-earth into an easily accessible and altogether wonderful gaming experience.

Lord of the Rings Online: Shadow of Angmar is majestic, gorgeous and dangerously addictive… Far more than just another ‘World of Warcraft’ wannabe, this is the real deal – and I’ve been doing little else since getting my pre-order access to this ‘other life’ arrived in the post. This week my evenings have been taken up being an Elf Champion, a Dwarf Guardian but mostly a Human Lore Master – taking on quests, meeting characters from books / movies and levelling up by laying waster to hundreds of enemies of all shapes and sizes. And despite my wife asking me if I could “possibly do anything more geeky?” I have persevered in order to bring you this review…

Even if you’ve never ventured into the geek-tastic realm of online role playing before, if you’ve even a passing interest in The Lord of the Rings this is an experience that you owe it to yourself to try. Graphically stunning, the Shadow of Angmar sets new standards for Windows based MMO games. Everything from the books has been evocatively brought to life; Middle-earth has been rendered in all its imagination stretching finery and is just waiting for you to explore every inch. You could spend your whole life wandering merrily around the famous Shire, trekking through the Misty Mountains or hacking into the undergrowth of the Old Forest. Towns offer a host of options including the chance to learn new skills, trades and crafts – in addition to the role playing staples of selling stuff you find and loot in order to purchase improved weapons, armour and sundries.

Choose your race from male or female Elf, Human, Dwarf, or Hobbit – tune them up via seven specialist classes including warriors, magicians, burglars and even minstrels (surely a must for those Xfactor lovers). Each race has different starting points and plot specific quests – each will get to meet and interact with famous Tolkien characters like Elrond, Gimli or a Black Rider or two right from the off. The game takes place during the War of the Ring, you get to take your stand in the battle for Middle-Earth and will have a rating as to your contribution to the war effort.

Everything works well with the controls nice and easily spread across the mouse / keyboard, combat is a joy not a pain and interaction with other ‘players’ is rewarding. Speaking of which it really encourages folks to adventure together – in true Fellowship of the Ring style – and you’ll have a even richer time online if you’re part of a team working through tougher quests.

There is more content promised to follow the already expansive starter locations so it looks like this is a game that has potential to be eating your free time for the foreseeable future!?

Verdict:

This really is the ‘One MMO to rule them all…’ You have been warned.

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