Player Review: Lord of the Rings Online

In the End

The conclusion is this. If you're a player who is seeking something new to try without having to abandon some of the comfort zones of traditional MMORPG's, LotRO is waiting for you. Simply put there is a lot to see, a lot to do, and the freedom players seek in adventures.

The visuals are breath taking and bring you into the world of Middle-Earth. The scale, the atmosphere, the music all provide the player with a true to life Middle-Earth home.

While your character is not working the main story we've come to know and love, you're still left with a feeling that you're fighting against the evils of Mordor and stopping the darkness that is attempting to cover the lands.

A great blend of solo play and fellowship play will immerse the player into a wide range of adventure and experience. Combat feels intense, with a great mix of abilities for classes, and offers a strategy approach for your surroundings.

The Monster Play twist to PvP is a fantasic alternative to get involved in.

There are your typical downtimes for fixes and patches, but nothing out of the ordinary that we're not all used to already.

Users without DX10 may be missing out, and older systems will need to lower settings, but the world still looks fantastic.

If you seek that alternative in gaming, LotRO has become that hidden gem.

Scores

Graphics - 9/10: Some minor clipping issues, hiccups and glitches, but overall it's a beautiful game.
Music - 7/10: Over time, some areas can become redundant in the score, but overall the rich variations are wonderfully done.
Features: 9.5/10 : There's just lots to do here and plenty to take part in. From crafting, to music, to the social aspects. Turbine is trying to bring back the cooperative play to MMO's that seems to have lacked in recent times. They're succeeding.
Quests: 8/10 : Killing X and bringing back Y is a formula that is redundant and sometimes common here, but it's blended in with exploration and more in depth chains and processes.
Worth: 10/10: LotRO won't set you back any more than other competion. It's affordable and provides a good set of subscription levels to choose from. With the additional features such as my.lotro.com and available support, you're getting your money's worth.

Overall: 8.7/10 : Players wanted to be a part of the legend and Turbine has granted it. While it may not be what some expect, it is as close as we're going to get to be a part of the Lord of the Rings legacy.