Cool, thanks for the info.

I actually didn't read much on this before picking it up (got it at GameRush when trading some stuff, for a really good price, back when they had the trade get new games for $29.99, and they did not have the Bard's Tale so I picked this up instead). Seems pretty good so far. The reviews I've read after picking it up made me think it would not be too good, and I was a little disappointed that it was entirely turn based, but I got over that right after the first fight.

The sad thing is I'm completely ignorant of all but the most basic details of the Lord of the Rings world, so the story will be new to me

I picked this game up yesterday and am enjoying it so far.

The graphics and audio are superb. I'm not too keen on all of the movie clips, but I do like the Ian McKellen voiceovers.

Gameplay is pretty simple. It's more of an adventure game with RPG stats thrown in. I like not having to hunt for gold to buy items.

I'm somewhere in Moria right now and about 3 hours in. It looks like there's plenty more to go through too.

yeah, I'm not really into all the movie clips either, especially sine I'm not really into LOTR, but the game is pretty cool so far. I'd agree with the reviews about the limited enemy types so far.

They didn't have much choice with enemy variety. EA only has rights to the movies, so they could only through in enemies that were in the movies. They couldn't pull anything from the books that wasn't in the movies, and it would be tough to make up anything to fit the world that wasn't mentioned in the books.

yeah, that's what I had read in the reviews.

Oh well, maybe I'll have to read the books... afterall I read the 3 Halo novels because of a game, guess I could wade into some "higher literature" due to the influence of another game

I kinda liked it at the start, but for some reason got addicted then beat it. I still do not like it as much as other RPGs.

Here are the problems that I had with it....

1. No Widescreen support
2. No 720p or 1080i support
3. Storyline was too linear
4. The third person camera was too close to the character so you couldn't get a feel for the world or scenery (goes back to no ws support also)
5. Final battle was lame

Its really weird, but despite these flaws, I got addicted to it. Looking back, I enjoyed it, but will not be playing it again.

Unlike Fable or Star Wars KOTOR, I do not find it re-playable at all.

1) Yeah, that's a bummer, but it doesn't look bad to me.
2) There aren't many games that do.
3) True, but it goes inline with the movies.
4) Did you ever move the camera back? I did and it looks fine.
5) Not there yet.

I found myself playing this game all weekend. I will probably finish it sometime this week at the rate I'm playing it.

I'd love to see this game with the Morrowind openess.

Yes, I moved the camera back, but it didn't go very far. Maybe I didn't do it correctly. Hmmph. Dont remember exactly.

As far as the linear story, I understand that it goes along with the movie, but many RPGs allow you to roam and go where you want. This one didn't really do that. I think it needs the openess that you are referring to (like Fable).

This game is more of an adventure-RPG like Baulder's Gate, but with an over-the-shoulder view.

If you think Fable is open-ended, try Morrowind. Fable was nice, but way too short.

Yeah, i tried morrowind and got a little bored. I beat Fable and am going through it again right now. I missed alot the first run!

It took me 12 hours the first time and this time, im taking my time and using tips from the net to get all the items/treasures/opt quests.

Morrowind is easily a 100+ hour game. It takes some time to really get into it.

Yeah, thats a bit much for me.

About a 10-25hr game is about all I can handle. I was a bit disappointed beating Fable in 12 hours, but I see now that I didn't take the proper time. I went way too fast on the main quests.

Can't wait for Star Wars KOTOR2!