The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar

 PC
  • Publisher: Midway
  • Release Date: Apr 24, 2007
The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar Image
Metascore
86

Generally favorable reviews - based on 40 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 308 Ratings

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  • Summary: The only massively-multiplayer role-playing game set in J.R.R. Tokien's Middle-earth. Travel with your Fellowship in the fight against the forces of Sauron. Across the wide lands of Middle-earth, the Free Peoples must face the threatening Shadow growing in the East. All of Mordor is stirringThe only massively-multiplayer role-playing game set in J.R.R. Tokien's Middle-earth. Travel with your Fellowship in the fight against the forces of Sauron. Across the wide lands of Middle-earth, the Free Peoples must face the threatening Shadow growing in the East. All of Mordor is stirring as Sauron dispatches the Nazgûl to hunt for the Ring. The rumor of war brings forth many eager adventurers who will find their place among the great events of the Third Age. High deeds call to the willing, for their time is at hand. Hundreds of thousands of people will enter the perpetual world of Middle-earth for the very first time. Prepare yourself to choose a path amongst the likes of Elves, Dwarves, and Humans. Will you choose to fight for the things that bring peace to the land or will you add to the corruption of Middle-earth as the forces of Sauron move swiftly to extinguish all that is good? [Turbine]… Expand
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 39 out of 40
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 40
  3. Negative: 0 out of 40
  1. Worth Playing
    96
    Probably the biggest question about LotRO is, "Does LotRO have the potential to surpass World of Warcraft?" The answer is yes.
  2. GameWatcher
    90
    The deed system is so simple yet so great; it’s a real surprise it hasn’t been included much before.
  3. GameDaily
    90
    An innovative traits and title system, unique social-networking -- like an in-game music system and player-driven Wiki -- and the rich storylines and subplots that stay true to the source material easily make this name-brand role-player a hot contender for PC game of the year.
  4. PC Zone UK
    87
    Best Tolkien game, beyond a shadow of a doubt. [July 2007, p.66]
    All this publication's reviews
  5. Gamers' Temple
    85
    The online version of Middle-Earth is certainly worth a visit, especially if you count yourself among the legions of Tolkien fans out there.
  6. GameShark
    83
    The character models themselves are largely devoid of character. There’s not a ton of detail to faces and the models themselves often come off rigid and too similar to each other.
  7. PC Format
    72
    The most perverse thing though is that the most enjoyable moments have little to do with Tokien or his wonderfully overactive imagination; it's much more to do with Turbine's ability to knock out a compelling MMO experience. [June 2007, p.56]
    All this publication's reviews

See all 40 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 61 out of 94
  2. Mixed: 22 out of 94
  3. Negative: 11 out of 94
  1. TenionFCSM
    Jun 28, 2020
    10
    LOTRO, this is the same MMORPG, where it is much more interesting to read quests. The story that the developers show us goes in parallel withLOTRO, this is the same MMORPG, where it is much more interesting to read quests. The story that the developers show us goes in parallel with the main story of the Lord of the Rings novel and is no worse than the original!
    Once you plunge into this world and now you can stay in it for 11 years!    … Expand
  2. Chafas
    Nov 30, 2013
    10
    I really liked this game, well maybe i didn't like some mechanics but it was super fun overall. I think it's an mmo a lot of people can playI really liked this game, well maybe i didn't like some mechanics but it was super fun overall. I think it's an mmo a lot of people can play without being completely devoted to it.… Expand
  4. libno
    Sep 22, 2010
    10
    Lotro has the potential to surpass World of Warcraft in popularity, 'cause it's now free to play. When comes to quality, Lotro just barelyLotro has the potential to surpass World of Warcraft in popularity, 'cause it's now free to play. When comes to quality, Lotro just barely misses WoW. I have to say, I am hooked.However, I would like to criticize travel time. I keep finding myself annoyed by having to go here and there to get this and that, train this or that, or kill this and that. Then again, aren't they all like that?… Expand
  5. MartyW.
    May 18, 2007
    9
    Excellent Game! A must for Tolkien and MMO fans.
  6. ScottNewbury
    Apr 20, 2007
    8
    I have never actually purchased an MMORPG, but I have tested and downloaded several free trials. This game is a lot like World Of Warcraft,I have never actually purchased an MMORPG, but I have tested and downloaded several free trials. This game is a lot like World Of Warcraft, almost identical, actually. So, if WOW is the best, I guess it comes down to preference. Since I'm a big LOTR fan, I'd choose this one over WOW any day.… Expand
  7. WhiteTalpa
    Jul 27, 2014
    6
    LOTRO is at its core a WoW clone. However, unlike Rift it does not copy and perfect but instead just createa a cheap copy that doesn't feel asLOTRO is at its core a WoW clone. However, unlike Rift it does not copy and perfect but instead just createa a cheap copy that doesn't feel as good. This doesn't mean its a bad game however, and it does show real promise.

    PvP

    PvP in LOTRO is very basic, one big map, one game mode... that's it. Despite this simplicity however the PvP experience is a fairly solid one and one which keeps people coming back.

    PvE

    I found the PvE really enjoyable. It has a good balance and therefore doesn't feel too easy, a problem which a lot of MMOs are effected with. This balance helps too make questing a lot more fun.

    Quests

    The quests are overall disappointing, they're no where near as good has they should have been. A lot of quests will tell you to go somewhere and complete an objective, you get back after doing the task and it will tell you to go back and complete another objective in the same place, it leaves me thinking why didn't you just give me both quests at the same time, it is this bad quest design which really holds with game back. Another problem with quest is the large amount of group quests, these occur normally at the end of a story line, now there are a number of problems with this, 1. Not everyone has friends to play with all the time and not all zones have enough people playing to group up with someone else, 2. Due to the fact you can't complete the quest you're missing out on the end of the quest line and therefore the story, 3. these quests are also meant to take players to new quest hubs but because you can't complete them it leaves player lost wondering what to do next.

    Lore/ world design

    This is Tolkien's world and this is Tolkien's lore, and Turbine have done a good good at recreating it within an MMO.

    Combat

    Combat is a bit clucky but overall it is fairly descent just not as good as some other MMOs.

    Crafting

    The crafting system is below par for me, it's dull and just overall boring to engage with.

    Optimization

    It's very good considering the look of the game, this is one of the games strongest points.

    Graphics

    The landscapes are very good, the art style is nice however, the human architecture is just awful and you can also tell that the Turbine team were sticking to a budget.    … Expand
  8. MariusF.
    Apr 23, 2007
    0
    Recipe for an unbearable game? Take one over-saturated fantasy franchise and whisk it with staid MMORPG mechanics. Level treadmill for Recipe for an unbearable game? Take one over-saturated fantasy franchise and whisk it with staid MMORPG mechanics. Level treadmill for countless hours, and serve with liberal sprinklings of regret at having wasting your life on mind-rotting garbage like this.… Expand

See all 94 User Reviews

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Awards & Rankings

16
#16 Best PC Game of 2007
15
#15 Most Discussed PC Game of 2007
18
#18 Most Shared PC Game of 2007

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