The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth 2 Preview

Fine-tuning many technical aspects is also important. EA doesn't want any slip ups this time, so, fortunately, they took the time to repair certain glitches from the previous game (like cavalry units getting massacred even if they attacked pikemen from the rear).

Welcome to the troll bowling alley.

Pick your vacation spot. I believe Mordor is wonderful this time of year.

The basic gameplay mechanics haven't changed that much. Therefore, we're assuming EA made a good move by sticking to certain points that were okay in the first game. Players who got used to the old interface don't have to worry about accommodating to a new one, cause the developers decided not to make too much alterations in that department.

At first glance, the visuals have remained the same as in the original. Still, several aspects are being polished even as we speak. For starters, if we take a look at some of the available screens, it's blatant that naval battles will be far more realistic than before, since the designers made an apparent effort to beef up the water effects. Every bit of the water's surface represents a simulation of actual deep ocean water that reflects anything in the environment, from lighting to the units that pass across it. Aside from that, every new region and unit model seems to be furnished with enough details to immerse players into the imaginative world of J.R.R. Tolkein once more. So, you could say that in many aspects the game stays true to the novels. But in order to relate to Peter Jackson's movies, EA asked talented actors, including big names like Hugo Wavering, to voice some of the characters in the game.

Fundamentally, the sequel won't be much different from its predecessor, but with several new elements that are being brought to the table, The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II just might make an exciting addition to the world of strategy games. It could also prepare the terrain for Lord of the Rings: The White Council - a title that's, supposedly, also in the works at EA. (So much for easing up on the milking. - Ed)