The Wargamer

Introduction

Licensing is a strange thing, and for proof look no further than the Lord of the Rings. Two game companies have secured the rights to produce games based on Tolkien's definitive fantasy trilogy. Sierra, a property of Vivendi Universal, has the right to produce games based on the novels, while Electronics Arts has the rights to the film portrayals of said books.

In terms of plot, settings, and characters, this doesn't make any significant difference. What it does mean, however, is that one has the distinct advantage of using imagery that has, for better or worse, been ingrained in the minds of Tolkien fans. The films' director, Peter Jackson, made the dark undertones of the story his main focus. Viewers have seen orcs, trolls, and other nasty creatures before, but not in the terrifying light of Jackson's vision.

This means that the games developed for Sierra have to set themselves apart while pleasing fans of both the movies and books. War of the Ring, developed by Liquid Entertainment, focuses on the more lighthearted elements of the story. In the process, it has become quite similar to another member of the genre, Warcraft 3.  Despite the similarities, War of the Ring is the first real-time strategy game (RTS) in the Lord of the Rings universe, so it should be of interest to those strategy fans who've always wanted to mix the genre with the Lord of the Rings universe.

Gameplay

The gameplay is pure RTS through and through, and so doesn't warrant any extensive explanation. Anyone that has played Liquid Entertainment's previous RTS game Battle Realms, or any RTS since then, will be instantly at home. The player collects resources, in this case ore and food, builds a base, and trains units. Thus the first problem rears its ugly head. War of the Ring's underlying game design can be a bit bland. There are few, if any, gameplay elements that experienced RTS gamers have not already encountered. It is evident from the start that this game is going to be judged on the basis of how well it delivers the atmosphere of its license.

Players can choose to play the good or evil side, and each has its own sampling of characters from the novels, as well as slightly different building requirements. The good side can train Gondor Swordsman, Rohan Riders, Hourns (better known as Ents, or big, angry trees) and Rangers, among others. The Evil side utilizes the slaves of Sauron such as Goblins, Orcs, and Giant Spiders. While the lineup is somewhat familiar, the designers have done an excellent job in giving each unit its own specialty and careful balance. Any effective army needs to have a good mix of units, since certain units will excel in siege, countering infantry or cavalry, or destroying magic users.

In addition, each side can train up to five heroes from the story and utilize their special abilities. These include Frodo, Gandalf, Gimli, Saruman, and other principal players in the tale. The heroes' special abilities range in effect from the purely offensive to powerful protective and healing spells. These can often help decide the outcome of a battle, and they increase in power as the hero gains levels through combat.