Free-to-play collectible RPG
The Lord of the Rings: Heroes of the Middle-earth is a free role-playing game from ELECTRONIC ARTS. This collectible game based on the classic franchise combines faithful storytelling, turn-based strategy and combat, and a wide roster of characters based on The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit—both the books and the film adaptation.
With top-tier graphics, cinematic cutscenes, and a unique art style, The Lord of the Rings: Heroes of the Middle-earth is a promising game for fans of the franchise. You might also want to check The Lord of the Rings: Rise to War.
A large-scale project
Perhaps the most outstanding aspect of The Lord of the Rings: Heroes of the Middle-earth is that it covers both stories. To put it in perspective, both The Hobbit and LotR each have their own trilogy of films. Together, the six films run for a little over 17 hours. The mobile game also faithfully covers the same scope, ensuring a complete and immersive experience for players.
The game has similarities with Marvel Contest of Champions. In both games, you build your own team with characters you unlock as you play. Each character has unique skills and move sets. It will be up to the player to build the ideal team—imagine Gandalf the White with Elrond and Tom Bombadil. Even the enemies from Middle-earth are given a certain variety, all lifted from the source materials.
For an ambitious project, expect that the game has a number of bugs in terms of character animation and game mechanics. There are instances where character movements and attacks don’t load properly, resulting in frame skipping. Also, players are looking at specific builds that allow them to cheese the game, calling for a balance update to keep the game fair and enjoyable.
A must-try for Tolkien-verse fans
Overall, The Lord of the Rings: Heroes of the Middle-earth is a promising game that will cater to fans of collectible RPGs or classic fantasy properties, particularly the content of the Tolkien-verse. Its rich story and wide roster of characters are enough to fill hours of immersive, challenging gameplay that combines action and strategy elements. This remains a must-try despite bugs and issues in its early phases.
