Game Description and Comments

Lord of the Rings Online is a highly-anticipated 3D MMORPG based on the vaunted Lord of the Rings universe. The anticipation centers around the fact that Lord of the Rings is the granddaddy of all fantasy franchises and fantasy is the dominant genre of MMOs. Yes science fiction has Star Wars but that game has been mishandled and science fiction is in the minority when it comes to MMOs. Lord of the Rings on the other hand is starting with a clean slate and will likely garner many casual gamers just on name recognition alone. Although the game is based on the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings books and not the movies the recent movies have brought great mainstream attention to the franchise. What fan of the movies or even the books would not want to experience the “magical” world of Middle-earth firsthand?

However just because the franchise is a homerun does not necessarily mean that the game will be. Turbine does not have the best track record in the world with Dungeons & Dragons Online being largely a disappointment despite also being a great fantasy franchise and the failure of Asheron’s Call 2. LOTRO also faces a similar problem that Star Wars faced. Like everybody can not be a Jedi Knight in Star Wars not everybody can be Gandalf in LOTRO. In fact there is no wizard class in the game. The Minstrel and the Lore-master are the closest “magic” classes in the game but there powers are based on songs and lore rather than lightning bolts and fireballs. That is correct LOTRO is a fantasy MMO with little magic.

Learning from the mistakes of D&D Online LOTRO will be more friendly to solo players right off the bat instead of waiting on updates. This element is extremely important for casual gamers because many gamers do not have the time or desire to look for a group every time they play the game. Combining the Lord of the Rings Universe with solo friendly game-play could make the game a mainstream success if it can make people forget about magic and minimize bugs.

Key Features

  • Based on the books of J.R.R. Tolkien not the movies.
  • Major focus is on storylines.
  • Can only be a race that was in the Fellowship: Hobbit Dwarf Elf or Human.
  • Can meet the famous characters like Gandalf.
  • Seven classes including Minstrel Captain Champion Hunter Burglar Lore-master and Guardian.
  • Very little magic due to the books.
  • Can take part in your own story alone or form a Fellowship with other players.
  • Fellowships can use group combo moves.
  • Watch movie-like sequences.

Select Reviews (Edited for Presentation)

Rating: 10
Author: Bohican
Comment: This game does not compare to any other game. For starters you don’t have to rely on gear and there are unique things such as instruments. Lord of the Rings online is its own game. People may say we couldn’t know what its like because its only in beta but beta is great I would quit almost every game I play and play this game 24/7 if I could. I personally guarantee that you will enjoy this game 100times more than WoW. Unless your a hardcore PVP player then this game may not be for you since you can only PvP once you hit 40. This game will be the beginning of the end for World of Roguecraft. World of Unbalancedcraft will no longer be the most popular game. Woot go LOTRO!

Rating: 2
Author: Trasta
Comment: Uninspiring shallow condescending and trivial; just some of the words that I would use to describe this game. Turbine have taken one of the richest worlds created and turned it into a kids fantasy theme park with as little imagination as possible. Prepared to be held by the hand as you “explore” the tiny and linear “world”. This game plays like a module from Neverwinter Nights 2 without all the features that make NWN2 fun. Unimaginative classes few classes practically zero character customization horrible animation and mind-numbingly boring combat. Harry Potter is deeper darker and more complex than this piece of drivel.

Rating: 10
Author: Mienja
Comment: This game is nothing like WoW. If you took a Minstrel the healing class in LOTRO and put him up against a WoW warrior with both in their skivvies the minstrel would beat the socks off the warrior. Why? Because in LOTRO your char stats are not mostly based on your stupid gear. LOTRO char stats are based on your character’s exploration usage of skills and completing accomplishments. The gear helps some but it is not the greed-based environment that WoW is. LOTRO is awesome and there is no comparison to be made between it and World of Greedcraft

Review Lords of the Rings Online

Pricing Model

Lord of the Rings Online is pay-to-play and charges a monthly fee.

Past Featured Online Games of the Week:

Gekkeiju Online
Free online RPG/MUD with 3D graphics and fun features such as player-owned houses and boats and marriages between players.

Boundless Planet
MMORTS with 3D graphics that offers a free trial.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R.
Long awaited first person shooter that boasts RPG elements and online play.

Martial Heroes
Free 3D martial arts MMORPG with an innovative guild system and combo system.

Ferion
Browser-based multiplayer strategy game where you try to build your own planetary empire.

TerraWorld
Online RPG with 2D graphics and an interesting bounty hunting system that is free to play.

Last Chaos
Free MMORPG with amazing 3D graphics and a personal dungeon system for solo players.

Corum
Free 3D MMORPG from the same company as Rappelz and FlyFF that combines instances with PvP.

GoonZu Online
Free MMORPG from Korea where stocks are traded and town officials are elected on each server.

Faldon
Old school multiplayer RPG with 2D graphics and player-owned housing.

Wurm Online
Community-based fantasy MMO with 3D graphics that is made in Java.

Vanguard: Saga of Heroes
Major fantasy MMORPG that tries to offer a much deeper MMO experience than World of Warcraft.

World of Warcraft: Burning Crusade
Highly anticipated expansion pack that makes the world’s most popular MMORPG even better.

Pirate King Online
Free MMORPG with cartoon graphics and large scale sea battles.

Graal Online
Former free online game that offers several different versions of the game and player-built worlds.

DragonFable
Animated browser-based RPG based on the Adventure Quest universe.

The Realm Online
One of the very first MMORPGs that is still running.

RAN Online
Free fantasy MMO with 3D graphics and a unique Japanese college theme.

KAL Online
Free 3D MMORPG based on oriental myth where you can transform into an ancient animal.

Neverwinter Nights 2
Online RPG with nearly unlimited replay value due to player-created modules.

Guild Wars Nightfall
Latest high-quality installment of one of the top MMORPGs in the genre.

World War II Online
Leading MMOFPS that drives realism into the World War II theme.

Legend of Ares
Free MMORPG with 3D graphics and a considerable focus on PvP combat.

Rappelz
Free 3D MMORPG from the makers of FlyFF.

Shattered Galaxy
Leading MMORTS where groups and teamwork are essential to victory.

Global MU Online
Hardcore action MMO that is very similar to Diablo and can be played for free up to level 60.

Eudemons Online
Free fantasy MMO with a great pet system that allows players to assemble their own special fighting forces.

Deicide Online
Free 3D MMORPG with a very innovative class system.

Archlord
Fantasy MMORPG where one player can rule over the entire game world.

Hero Online
Free martial arts MMORPG with a fighting system that can capture your imagination.

Ferentus – Canceled
Beautiful fantasy MMO where you can hire NPCs to fight along side you and that is currently in Open Beta.

Titan Quest
Beautiful action RPG that plays similar to Diablo and offers free online play.

Industry Player
Online business simulation game that allows you to match your business wits against thousands of other players.

Space Cowboy Online
Free 3D MMO with both MMORPG and MMOFPS elements that has large scale nation wars and upgradeable space ships.

Furcadia
Free MMOSG or massively multiplayer online social game driven by a wide range of player-created content.

Myth War Online
Free MMORPG with a huge variety of pets hand-painted graphics and a very different combat system.

War Rock
Free online tactical shooter with realistic weapons and vehicles.

Tibia
Free MMORPG with a huge player base and multiple player worlds with different playing modes.

Face of Mankind
Innovative MMO where role-playing is key and the players are in control Face of Mankind.

Dark Ages
Often overlooked pay-to-play MMO that offers a 10 day free trial.

Kingdom of Loathing
Free Online RPG where sarcasm and humor reign supreme.

Albatross 18
Innovative game that combines a free MMO with fantasy Golf.

Lands of Hope
Very deep MUD with thousands of graphics that offers free play up to Level 100.

Dark and Light
MMORPG that boasts over 15000 square-miles of land in its game world Dark and Light.

Wheel of Time MUD
Free text-based RPG/MUD based on one of the greatest fantasy novel series ever.

Trash
Online RTS game that supports up to 24 players at once and lets you play the human side of the human-mutant conflict for free.

Blood Clans
Free Online RPG with 3D graphics and a focus on playing in clans.

Navy Field
War strategy MMO with RPG elements that can be played for free until level 30.

Guild Wars Factions
Stand alone campaign with new PvP and guild features that also offers free online play.

Starport: Galactic Empires
Free graphical strategy game where you can either play on a persistent server or try to win a 2 week game period.

Rakion
Free 3D MMO with great graphics that offers plenty of PvP action.

Auto Assault
Action 3D MMORPG where you can blow nearly anything up.

Monster and Me
MMORPG intended primarily for younger audiences that is free to play and focuses on pets.

The Saga of Ryzom
Beautiful 3D MMORPG with an intriguing storyline and considerable character freedom.

GunBound
Innovative shooting game with cartoony graphics that lets you face other players in front of an audience.

Shadowbane
A PvP oriented MMO with both RPG and RTS elements.

Silkroad Online
A 3D MMORPG with both historic and fantasy worlds.

RF Online
A sci-fi MMORPG with anime graphics that focuses on PvP.

Renaissance Kingdoms
Very interactive free online RPG with great political and economic aspects.

Xiah
Free 3D MMORPG with a martial arts theme that gamers may want to avoid for the foreseeable future.

Endless Online
Small fantasy MMORPG that has anime graphics and is free to play.

Little Fighter 2
Arcade-style fighting with very colorful characters that can be played online.

Hobo Wars
Free Online RPG with heaping doses of originality and humor.

Neocron 2
Controversial MMO that offers both FPS and RPG elements.

Anarchy Online
Major sci-fi MMORPG with both a pay-to-play and a free version Anarchy Online.

Eve Online
Science-fiction MMO that gives you considerable freedom in space Eve Online.

Supreme Destiny
Free 3D MMORPG with both an English and a Korean version.

Guild Wars
Retail RPG with free online play that won GameOgre.com’s Best Gaming Value award for 2005.

Thang Online
Free 3D MMORPG with a huge focus on action and a unique monster system Thang Online.

ROSE Online
Cartoon-style MMORPG where you can have a major effect on the gaming world.

Conquer Online
A free MMORPG set in an ancient Chinese Kungfu world with nice anime-style graphics.

Rubies of Eventide
A free MMORPG that melds 3D graphics with incredibly deep gameplay.

Ragnarok Online
Popular MMO with cartoon graphics and several innovative features Ragnarock Online.

Ashen Empires
Medieval Fantasy MMORPG that was once known as Dransik.

Pardus
Free Massive Multiplayer Online Browser Game (MMOBG) where you can trade or pillage in space.

FlyFF: Fly For Fun
Check out a free MMORPG with colorful graphics and solid gameplay where players fly on boards and broomsticks.

Puzzle Pirates
Assume the role of a pirate on the high seas in this puzzling free MMORPG.

Maple Story
Take a look at a MMORPG with cartoon-style graphics that is free to download and play.

GunZ
A game that lets you live out your action movie fantasies online.

BattleMaster
A little-known free Online RPG with strong strategy elements.

Adventure Quest
Take a closer look at one of the more colorful free online RPGs.

Knight Online
Check out one of the best free 3D MMORPGs.

RuneScape
GameOgre.com takes a closer look at one of the more popular Free MMORPGs.

SHARE
Previous articleTales Runner
Next articleVanguard
ogreman
Editor and admin of GameOgre.com for over 10 years. Always willing to improve GameOgre.com and its game community. If you have any questions or business offers, please feel free to contact me.

LEAVE A REPLY