The story is told beautifully (and hilariously) through a Lego lens, which is sure to appeal to hardcore Rings fans. It helps the experience feel more like, say a Legend of Zelda game, than just a retread of the typical Lego formula. They've added role-playing game elements, like side-quests that can be started by talking to random townspeople, and the ability to craft new weapons and armor that can then be equipped by your characters. Plus you've got a complete vast map of Middle Earth to explore openly. Most appreciated is the ability to save within levels - some of which are very long.

Those games have always been good, but the developers have made some wonderful improvements. Lego Lord of the Rings should appeal to fans of both the game's source material and the previous Lego video games. My son is a plow-right-through sort of player, so I personally am looking forward to going back into free play mode and finding all of the many things we missed on the first run. They also temper some of the more gruesome scenes in the movie so as not to be too much for kids.įor example, in the movie where Boromir is killed by multiple arrows from the Uruk-Hai and Aragorn very gruesomely fights and kills the attacker is way too strong for my son right now.īut, in the game, while Boromir is still shot several times they lightened it up by having the Uruk-Hai shoot him first with an arrow, then some silly things like a banana and almost a live chicken. When it comes to playing with kids, I think my 9 year old son is right in the sweet spot age for the game - even a bit younger would be OK as long as there's some discussion about the fighting.

I do wish the puzzles were a bit more mentally taxing, rather than smash everything until you find what you need, but still great fun. There is terrific opportunity for exploration, and to work on team play and problem solving. But, the Lord of the Rings surpasses all of these in both graphics and breadth of play. I have played several of the Lego Wii games with my son, and like them all.

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