The Lord of the Rings Online: Helm's Deep

 PC
User Score
3.2

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 61 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 61
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 61
  3. Negative: 42 out of 61

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. deboot
    Oct 15, 2014
    10
    All of these “End of LOTRO”, negative threads and the Helm’s Deep expansion getting smashed on Metacritic held me back from buying this expansion for almost a year. I ended up purchasing HD using TP that I received from my cash purchase of ROR when expansions were 50% off in the store. The truth is…. I would have rather kept my TP and paid real money for the expansion because I’m havingAll of these “End of LOTRO”, negative threads and the Helm’s Deep expansion getting smashed on Metacritic held me back from buying this expansion for almost a year. I ended up purchasing HD using TP that I received from my cash purchase of ROR when expansions were 50% off in the store. The truth is…. I would have rather kept my TP and paid real money for the expansion because I’m having just as much fun as I did in all past content.

    People seem to be upset the game is becoming a “Solo Players” game. They talk about boring fetch quests and a lack of innovation. They claim the F2P model was the beginning of the end. Some people don’t like the Big Battles; others are upset about the lack of Raids, and the traits revamp appears to have irked many; Along with housing not being revamped.

    Personally I have no problem with the new trait tree, housing seems sufficient to me, and gathering quests are the norm. What MMORPG doesn’t have gathering quests? I will admit that a single Big Battle doesn’t hold long term interest, but it was fun the first time through and this may improve in update 15.

    I used to Raid heavily in other MMORPG’s and got really burned out, along with a growing family and real world responsibilities I decided to give LOTRO a shot. I appreciated the ability to craft gear rather than having to Raid and grind for it. I appreciated a well written story. I appreciated great scenery. I simply had no need for an “End Game” and Raiding and that works for me. I appreciate a game where I can solo content and group when I can and still have the interaction of a Kinship and world chat.

    Additionally I really like the F2P model; I’ve spent relatively little money (outside of expansions) and like the fact that I don’t have to pay a monthly subscription to check in on my friends and Kinship. I may not play for a couple weeks at a time while I’m working on a large project in real life, but I usually have at least 10 minutes a day to login and talk to my Kinship. Along these lines, if LOTRO hadn’t gone free to play and become more solo friendly, I may not have purchased ANY expansions after Mirkwood. I only have so many monthly subscription dollars I can spend and I don’t exclusively play one MMORPG.

    For better or worse, I think my style of play has become that of many early adopters of MMO’s. As we’ve aged, gained more real world responsibilities and other online content has become readily available, we require the flexibility of solo content and a F2P model and for many of us we simply have no need for an “End Game” and Raiding. I think Turbine has picked up on this trend and I believe it’s the main reason they are still profitable and producing content.

    In summary, people like me are being out posted and out trolled on the forums, and discouraged from buying expansions…. however that does not mean LOTRO is not worth purchasing and playing. Simply put, I think LOTRO has become a solo friendly, F2P game, with great scenery and story that lacks PVP and Raids; and that suits me just fine.    … Expand
  2. Undertakerer
    Feb 25, 2014
    10
    (Okay, I'm giving this expansion 10 because this is what Lotro in general is worth.) So after a long steady stream of 80/100 and more, Lotro's helm's deep is barely able to score at 2/10 on metacritic (even though in general most critics liked the game), the reason being HD changes a lot (and I mean a lot) of Lotro's gameplay mechanics. It updated the class trait tree into a talent tree, a(Okay, I'm giving this expansion 10 because this is what Lotro in general is worth.) So after a long steady stream of 80/100 and more, Lotro's helm's deep is barely able to score at 2/10 on metacritic (even though in general most critics liked the game), the reason being HD changes a lot (and I mean a lot) of Lotro's gameplay mechanics. It updated the class trait tree into a talent tree, a change which has been hated by players whom are no longer able to do their hybridisation or quest grinding progression. I honestly don't like this change but being one of the big reasons behind all the flak aimed at this xpac I'm a bit disappointed in the community. Raids/Dungeons are being replaced by Epic Battles. They are played the same, they act the same, they feel the same, they just look different. This was a unnecessary change, but I don't see all the fuss. Apart from these two changes, it's another expansion. A new feature which is the epic battles (which are quite fun), slight graphic update. New quests. New area. And (for those who are upset about the constant xpacs) they are now going back to the Moria "We add updates on a regular basis" mindset according to sapience. All in all an xpac which is hated for updating the game.… Expand
  3. Fenster2244
    Dec 3, 2013
    9
    I love the expansion. The epic battles are fun, even solo. The talent trees needed to happen. A great many of the abilities that you think you lost are still there, but they are in the tree and need to be unlocked. Any time a new expansion or large patch comes out in an MMO, there are bugs. They aren't game breakers.

    The graphics are stellar even though the character models are still    I love the expansion. The epic battles are fun, even solo. The talent trees needed to happen. A great many of the abilities that you think you lost are still there, but they are in the tree and need to be unlocked. Any time a new expansion or large patch comes out in an MMO, there are bugs. They aren't game breakers.

    The graphics are stellar even though the character models are still the same and are good but not outstanding.

    The sound design is stellar as usual. Sound effects are crisp and the environmental sounds are great and very immersive.

    I love this game and have played it off and on for five years and I still love it.

    I hope they get through all of the story line so I can experience each corner of Middle Earth!    … Expand
  4. GamerGuy11
    Jan 20, 2014
    8
    LOTRO is one of my favorite games. This expansion was not quite as good as some in the past but the landscape, end of the story and phasing were breathtaking!

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
tbd

No score yet - based on 2 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 2
  3. Negative: 0 out of 2
  1. XGN
    Jan 6, 2014
    70
    Helm's Deep is an expansion pack purely meant for the fans of the books. It contains less action sequences compared to Peter Jackson's movies, but the newly added Big Battles make up for it. On the other hand is Rohan finally showed in all it's glory, which is a sight to behold.
    Read full review
  2. GameFront
    Dec 13, 2013
    64
    The problem with the big battles of Helm’s Deep is that it’s a story we all know, and it’s possible the concept could have been stronger if Turbine had included other battles from Middle Earth’s history for variety. All too quickly, the repetition grows tiring and the appeal wears thin, and that’s true of the questing content as well.
    Read full review