Forth the Three Hunters!
I just couldn't wait for the DVD any longer, so I went ahead and picked up The Towers game. It stars Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli in a unique hack & slash adventure. While the plot follows that of the movie, there are a few more locations you will visit, and a few more enemies to face. This is one hard game, considering others of its sort. That doesn't deter you from having a great time though.
Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli all handle very differently. Aragorn is probably the best out of the three, with strong attacks, strong defense and a long range. Legolas is the weakest, but he is also the fastest and can shoot arrows the fastest. Gimli is the tank he is in the movie, he can dish it out as well as take it, but he can't move very fast so you're gonna have to take it more often than not.
The game feels like a concentrated and slightly more complex version of Dynasty Warriors. You won't get by just mashing the square button, you'll have to parry enemy attacks and form combos to dispatch them. If you really get on a roll, your weapon will light up blue and you'll be able to perform instant kills, resulting in a perfect death. At the end of the level, each type of kill is added up, perfect, excellent, good and fair. The player recieves points for these, which level up the characters stats and allows the player to purchase new combos, stronger bows and powerful moves.
The graphics are surprisingly good, and seem to mimic the movie very well. There are points where graphics fade away into real movie clips, and this is so well done it may startle you he first time it happens. The characters all look like their real-life counterparts, and the environments are amazing. The Hornburg is dark and rainy, as drops of water hit the screen. Amon Hen is full of shady trees and broken temples. The level that takes place at the Weathertop will really make you feel like you're in a movie.
The sound is very nicely done as well. The voices are the same from the movie, except Orlando Bloom seems to be missing. With actors like Ian McKellen heading up the VA department, you know you have some good voices. The sounds of battle are great as well, from the swords clanking, to the Orcs screaming. In the final Helm's Deep level, you'll even hear Gimli yelling "Khazad!" A nice little touch from the book that was absent from the movie.
If you don't know the story, then why are you playing this game? I'm serious, go read the book or watch the movie. This game isn't the best way to get acquainted with the massive story of Lord of the Rings. I suppose I could share some background information on the characters though. Aragorn is heir to the throne of Gondor, and now traveled with the Dunedan of the North before joining the Fellowship. Legolas is the Prince of Mirkwood, coming from his father Thranduil. Gimli is a proud dwarf, and will let nothing come between him and his opnion. He and Legolas have formed an unlikely friendship.
If you're a fan of the books or the movies, you have to get this game. The Battle for the Hornburg is so intense, and just wait until your blade glows blue and you begin to slaughter the enemy left and right. In fact, it reminded me of a passage in the book: "Anduril rose and fell, gleaming with white fire. A shout went up from the wall and tower: 'Anduril! Anduril goes to war. The Blade that was Broken shines again!'"