The Lord of the Rings: War of the Ring

 PC
Metascore
67

Mixed or average reviews - based on 25 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 25
  2. Mixed: 18 out of 25
  3. Negative: 0 out of 25
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  1. Game Over Online
    83
    Being one of the first strategy titles based on Tolkien's locus classicus, War of the Ring should introduce a good many movie fans to the strategy genre -- and most likely, no greater percentage of Ring fans exists than amongst the gaming demographic -- but veteran real-time strategy players might want to look elsewhere if depth is what they're seeking.
  2. IGN
    79
    If you're just looking for a game with some Tolkein lore and units, then this isn't a bad choice at all. Just don't expect to find anything ground-breaking or extraordinarily amazing inside. War of the Ring is a decent game, not great, but certainly not bad.
  3. Armchair Empire
    79
    A solid if not original effort through the much trodden RTS genre. The short technology tree doesn’t offer the gamer a whole lot to look forward to, and the missions aren’t very challenging either.
  5. PC Gamer
    78
    While War of the Ring does little to revolutionize the RTS genre, it does serve Tolkien's Middle-Earth admirably while letting you control the actions of the majority of its most storied denizens. [Jan 2004, p.98]
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  6. PC Format
    77
    Ultimately, the licence both saves the game, by giving even the most basic of its scenarios a degree of weight, and hinders it by causing regular moments where you double take, realising something isn’t quite right.
  7. Electric Playground
    75
    It’s too bad that the gifts this game offers--and there are quite a few--are mired in repetitious, humdrum gameplay routines.
  8. GameSpy
    75
    While WotR is a good title that offers a lot of fun, it simply doesn't offer a game that's new or interesting enough to raise it from the pack of similar RTS titles available.

Awards & Rankings

82
#82 Most Discussed PC Game of 2003
55
#55 Most Shared PC Game of 2003

User Reviews

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User Score
6.9

Mixed or average reviews- based on 41 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 41
  2. Mixed: 19 out of 41
  3. Negative: 6 out of 41
  1. JamesB.
    Dec 8, 2003
    6
    Fun game through the eyes of a Tolkein fan. Wanders from the book but shows some insight to stage before the Council of Elrond. Gameplay is Fun game through the eyes of a Tolkein fan. Wanders from the book but shows some insight to stage before the Council of Elrond. Gameplay is simple and confusing. Can' wait to see what the next installment will be. Something to keep an eye on.… Full Review »
  2. Nordtonito
    Nov 19, 2020
    10
    Отличная игра!
    Буквально недавно вспомнил о ней – играл в годы ранней юности. Считаю, игра была в свое время явно недооценена, к сожалению.    Отличная игра!
    Буквально недавно вспомнил о ней – играл в годы ранней юности. Считаю, игра была в свое время явно недооценена, к сожалению. Несмотря на обвинения в копировании более известных стратегий, проект на деле достаточно самобытный, с отличной для своего времени графикой и, не побоюсь этого слова, физикой – во время игры ощущается взимодействие мира и персонажей, а не только изменение текстур и передвижение моделек. Даже в 2020 рекомендую к прохождению, в первую очередь ценителям контента по тематике Властелина колец.    … Full Review »
  3. Genek13
    Nov 18, 2019
    7
    As an alternative for EA's Battle For Middle Earth it was a good game, with a few flaws.
    Feels more like WarCraft III with population limit    As an alternative for EA's Battle For Middle Earth it was a good game, with a few flaws.
    Feels more like WarCraft III with population limit and lack of "epicness".    … Full Review »
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