First impression: AWESOME !!!

Electronic Arts (EA) have known secured the film rights of the complete trilogy of The Lord of the Rings for some time and already delivered with "The Return of the King" a title in the 3D action genre. Now, the developer of the famous Command & use Conquer series this License for an implementation in a real-time strategy title.
With "Battle for Middle Earth" has set itself the goal that mass slaughter, as about Helm's Deep or Minas Tirith to implement as atmospheric as possible. In this case, EA comes to good, the one all the characters, buildings and costumes just like in the movies must show by Peter Jackson book licensee Vivendi -. the recent real-time strategy game in the Lord presented the Rings universe with War of the Ring - while on the other hand must also incorporate all known fictional characters in upcoming games, they may not see where the films similar but A clearer. So advantage for EA.
Features
- Enhanced "Command & Conquer: Generals" engine
- Dynamic lighting system
- Real physics effects
- Film license the complete trilogy "Lord of the Rings"
- Working closely with Peter Jackson and his crew
- Original props and Filmbauten
- Original voices of at least some actors
- Two different campaigns
- Tons of units
- Innovative building system
- Hero Aragorn and Gandalf system among others
- RPG-like Heroes' Ascent
- Special attacks the hero
- "Unit Emotion", a sense system for all units in the game
Planned multiplayer with cooperative mode -
System requirements: 1.8 GHz, 256 MB RAM, GeForce 3 or better

The "Rock, Scissors, Paper" system has always been the great advantage of C & C series. From this you will also in "Battle for Middle Earth" is not agreement, but this will improve once again. The Elvish archers about to have alone against an army of Uruk-Hai no chance. But if they are supported by Gondor Lancer quickly turns the tables and the Uruk-Hai are in no time history.
A special role of the hero comes to the fight. Just by their presence to increase the morale of nearby units. A troupe Gondor swordsman tried in vain to fight against a huge troll and falls after another. But we ordered added a hero such as Aragon, abruptly raised the morale of the troops and it does not take long and the Troll lies motionless on the ground.
Is particularly proud of EA to the "Unit Emotion", a sense system for all units in the game, which was previously seen in this form in anyone yet RTS Game. So panic, joy, fear or anger are just like in real life a have importance. Approximately when cheering troops before a battle against each other or cheer freudetaumelnd after a win. In this case, a being also combine several feelings. A Ent walking through the Wälderein and is set by orcs with fire arrows on fire. Fear and Panic do with him him wide and he runs right away to the nearby river to clear themselves and to protect them from further attacks. Then rising anger in him and he walks briskly straight to the orcs to take revenge.
The question of control of troops is not yet fully understood. Preferably, the variant of the players all units is individually again, as usual, may control, in the C & C series. But is experimented meanwhile also with a troop management similar to Medieval, can be commanded at the whole organizations.
For the mammoth project developers the 3D Sage engine of C & C Generals to drill lead designer Mark Staggs and Mike Verdu (Red Alert 2, C & C Generals) on vigorously. The biggest changes undergoes case these to illustrate the huge organic armies as real as possible. Here, up to 500 units, such as Orcs, Uruk-Hais, Olifanten, trolls or Ents, be seen in the elaborate mass slaughter. For a dramatic mood, the engine gets built a dynamic lighting system. This is the latest pixel shaders produce unique effects in the genre. Furthermore, it relies on real physics effects. For example, trees of Trolls can be rooted out and used as missiles. Zerbröseltes by catapults masonry falls to the ground and physically correct course draws upon impact surrounding units in arge affected. But let even with the buildings the developers anything to chance and went directly to the location to New Zealand to the original props and Filmbauten to examine and record the game. According to Mike Verdu thus is clear definitely, the future "Battle for Middle Earth" players a powerful CPU and a brisk Direct X-8/9-compatible 3D accelerators are required.
The first trailer made already a super impression! One can only hope that EA further moves the date (Dez.2004) nich ...
Source: sum.gamecaptain