The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

 PlayStation 2
User Score
8.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 204 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 173 out of 204
  2. Mixed: 21 out of 204
  3. Negative: 10 out of 204
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  1. Ps2-game
    Aug 22, 2014
    7
    This game is best played as co-op. It sticks very close to the movie with some extra boss battle thrown in. You can level up aragon, gimli, legolas, and a few others. Levels are at a great difficulty (not too hard but not too easy) and it actually takes strategy to kill bosses when playing co-op. The reason it gets a 7 is because the levels are hit or miss. You will either love a level orThis game is best played as co-op. It sticks very close to the movie with some extra boss battle thrown in. You can level up aragon, gimli, legolas, and a few others. Levels are at a great difficulty (not too hard but not too easy) and it actually takes strategy to kill bosses when playing co-op. The reason it gets a 7 is because the levels are hit or miss. You will either love a level or despise it.… Expand
  2. BenHazelden
    Jan 7, 2015
    7
    For it's time, pretty good, can't take much away from it. The upgrade system was good - spending xp for different moves. The unlockable characters were a cool addition, and the levels were pretty good (apart from Shelobs Lair). However, I did have issue with the cheats that are unlockable at the end of the game, and the interesting staged levels at the end were impossible.

    7/10 - Ben Hazelden
  3. AKthaBeast
    May 18, 2018
    7
    Better than the first so I wish I can give this a 7.5 but still as an actual video game this game is ok at best.
  4. lidwang
    Mar 1, 2019
    5
    Not the worst game ever made, but the controls are so clunky it feels they didn't reallty thought about them. And even though the envoiroments look good(minas tirith is beautiful) the levels structure are quite bad. Play this one if you are interested.
  5. Jonneeyy
    Sep 15, 2022
    6
    Dieses Spiel ist keine Lizenzgurke, aber ziemlich schlecht gealtert. Die Spielzeit wird durch völlig bekloppte Missionen gestreckt, die man quasi durch das Sterben auswendig lernen muss. Dennoch hat es für seine Zeit gute Grundideen und an und für sich ein interessantes Gameplay, dass Missionen und Bossfights mischt.

Awards & Rankings

31
#31 Best PS2 Game of 2003
29
#29 Most Discussed PS2 Game of 2003
23
#23 Most Shared PS2 Game of 2003

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
85

Generally favorable reviews - based on 31 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 28 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 31
  3. Negative: 1 out of 31
  1. GameNow
    100
    The graphics are first rate, and the action is intensely frenetic. Most important, ROTK turns up the LOTR authenticity full blast. [Jan 2004, p.55]
  2. GamePro
    90
    The controls for all versions do a masterful job of managing the fierce action. Even in battle so pitched that you literally lose sight of your character amid the multitudinous combatants, you still feel you’re the master of your fate.
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  3. eToychest
    90
    This is without a doubt the best game based on a book/movie that I have EVER played. You can really tell that EA went to great pains to ensure its authenticity, and they truly went beyond the call of duty this time.
    Read full review
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