The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

 Xbox
User Score
8.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 43 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 35 out of 43
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 43
  3. Negative: 4 out of 43
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  1. Mrgladiator
    Dec 1, 2003
    8
    What a cool game it outstrips lotr two towers by far now that was a amazin game this innproves completly on all the faults lotr two towers had what makes this game evn more amazin is the the level systemn you have to complete all three paths (argorn gimli legolas path gandalf path and sam and frodo paths) to actually completes the game anyway i give it a 8 out of 10.
  2. MichaelC.
    Feb 5, 2004
    9
    I haven't had this much fun playing a hack-n-slash game since Nintendo. This game is beautifully executed. It looks and sounds phenomenal, and is probably one of, if not the best movie-license game I've played in a very long time. If you're an LOTR fan, you need this game.
  3. NathanH.
    May 27, 2005
    7
    Similar in many ways to the Two Towers Game, I found Return of the King to be rather repetitive and boring. The graphics are beautiful and controls are responsive, but I did not enjoy the game.
  4. JustinD.
    Nov 19, 2003
    10
    Totally amazing twice as good as the Two Towers. non-stop hack and slash action through amazingly detailed levels with a great soundtrack.
  5. NormW.
    Dec 2, 2003
    10
    Awesome! In every respect, but its the co-op game play is what really puts it over the top. Funny, challenging and exhilarating.
  6. VictorP.
    Dec 6, 2003
    9
    This game is amazing but its one flaw is that they show scenes from the third movie. EA Sports should have released this game the day the movie was released.
  7. Mr.BT
    Jan 19, 2004
    9
    Absolutely fantastic move-tie-in game. Fun for single player or multi-player. As your characters progress, you're rewarded with greater combos and skills that make the heroes truly shine on the battlefield. An excellent game.
  8. AndrewH.
    Jan 27, 2004
    10
    Incredibly awesome single player adventure, and what's even better is you can play through it with a friend. Not to mention the awsome unlockable reviews and secret playable characters.
  9. Uter
    Jan 28, 2004
    8
    This is one of the best movie to game translations I've ever seen (usually they turn out terrible). I really like how movie clips are periodically weaved in with the gameplay.
  10. IamNlCK
    Jun 25, 2006
    7
    I give it up to EA for actually putting some effort into one of their movie licenses. Nice playing as the different classes, and well mapped out fighting system. Great job working in exclusive cast interviews, movie clips, artwork to reward you as you play. Can get a little intensely repetitive in some of the levels. Fighting off hundreds of orcs as a hobbit can become kind of I give it up to EA for actually putting some effort into one of their movie licenses. Nice playing as the different classes, and well mapped out fighting system. Great job working in exclusive cast interviews, movie clips, artwork to reward you as you play. Can get a little intensely repetitive in some of the levels. Fighting off hundreds of orcs as a hobbit can become kind of overwhelming. It would have been cool to have some rpgish elements, or choosing where you go...instead of just fighting your way from A to B. Overall, very fun, especially for LOTR fans.… Expand
  11. SteveZ.
    Nov 22, 2003
    10
    Absolutely fantastic! Funnest game out for any console at this time!
  12. SteveE.
    Nov 28, 2003
    9
    Just like the films this ooze`s class and is a significant improvement on the Two Towers game
  13. JamesH.
    Dec 31, 2003
    8
    First things first, this is not a complicated game. No serious thought is required to complete it and its not a very long game either... (most should complete this in a weekend) That all said, for some pure hack and slash fun this is a really enjoyable game - Once completed, the perfectionists (such as myself) will want to perfect every level (something that is possible once you master First things first, this is not a complicated game. No serious thought is required to complete it and its not a very long game either... (most should complete this in a weekend) That all said, for some pure hack and slash fun this is a really enjoyable game - Once completed, the perfectionists (such as myself) will want to perfect every level (something that is possible once you master the initially tricky 'bane' combos. Even after doing just that I still enjoy going back to this game for small doses of co-op or just to go throught the game to take every unlocked character to level 20. In short this game is not a epic masterpiece like the book or the film but it is nonetheless great fun and well worth a purchase for some non-cerebral fun. … Expand
  14. SeanJ.
    Sep 22, 2003
    10
    I am a big fan of the lord of the rings and i think this game will be a big hit in the game charts.
  15. BobL.
    Jan 22, 2004
    10
    It might be easy to beat but its a awesome game!!!!
  16. GamingSoldier
    Aug 22, 2013
    9
    Lord of the rings return of the king is with no doubt probably the best movie based game out there and heres why
    pros: gameplay, graphics are actually pretty good for an xbox game, audio, voice acting (gandalf is voiced by Ian Mckellen so you know its good once you hear) cooperative gameplay, recreations of awesome scenes from the movie, playing as characters from the movies like frodo    Lord of the rings return of the king is with no doubt probably the best movie based game out there and heres why
    pros: gameplay, graphics are actually pretty good for an xbox game, audio, voice acting (gandalf is voiced by Ian Mckellen so you know its good once you hear) cooperative gameplay, recreations of awesome scenes from the movie, playing as characters from the movies like frodo sam faramir and all the other guys but face it we all want to play as legolas gimli gandalf and aragorn
    cons: camera control, saving only after a mission is done, short length, why cant i play co op in the path of the hobbits theres Frodo AND Sam why isn't there co op there?!?    … Expand
  17. AllanPo27
    Jun 22, 2020
    10
    Just amazing...
    Must have a reboot!
    A pure and beautiful game for his Time!
  18. Rhinochimera
    Aug 6, 2021
    8
    A good game to one of the best Movies of all time, fighting through the levels alone or in co-op is a lot of fun.

Awards & Rankings

32
#32 Best Xbox Game of 2003
37
#37 Most Discussed Xbox Game of 2003
18
#18 Most Shared Xbox Game of 2003

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
84

Generally favorable reviews - based on 31 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 29 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 31
  3. Negative: 0 out of 31
  1. Xbox Nation Magazine
    90
    Basically an all-you-can-kill, hack-and-slash buffet from start to finish. [Dec/Jan 2004, p.82]
  2. GMR Magazine
    90
    Takes everything The Two Towers did well and improves upon it in every way.
    Read full review
  3. Edge Magazine
    80
    If you take away the window dressing, the epic sounds and the preordained surprises this is a derivative, one-note and sometimes flawed game, but see it as a spectacular amusement ride and you can play and it's a distinguished achievement. [Christmas 2003, p.110]
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