Quick Facts:

Publisher: Electronic Arts

Developer: Griptonite Games

Format - GBA

Players - 1/2

Price - TBA

Release Date: 08/11/02

The official blurb on this game is as follows:

"Experience the intense action of The Lord of the Rings™, The Two Towers™ movie in the video game coming this fall to PlayStation 2 and Game Boy Advance.

Continue your journey through the epic story of Middle-earth by fighting and battling your way against Orcs and other creatures in fully 3D interactive environments. As Aragorn, Legolas, Frodo and Gandalf, you'll be encouraged to balance and utilize each character's unique moves, skills, and weaponry in order to complete your quest."

This game is still in heavy development, however, from what we have seen so far, it looks to be a bit better than just "Gauntlet" set in Middle-Earth. Griptonite Games, the people who brought us the "Harry Potter" game, have developed what looks like an excellent isometric scrolling engine. Like its PS/2 big brother the game is, of course, seen from the third-person perspective.

Those of you who remember "Gauntlet" will know what to expect. This is not a role-playing game by any stretch of the imagination, though you do get to collect items and such, much like "Diablo," but not like "Baldur's Gate."

The game features six playable characters: Aragorn, Legolas, Frodo and Gandalf, and rather interestingly, Eowyn as well. In addition, there is a hidden sixth character, which beomes available when you beat the game with two other characters.

Each character has different attributes and strengths, allowing you to choose the one that best fits the way you like to play. The official licencing means that they will also quite resemble the characters from the movie, which could be a good or bad thing, depending on your outlook.

There will be plenty of levels, each intercut with full-motion footage from the movie. To further enhance play, unlike the PS/2 version, you and a friend can link up your systems for some manic two-player action.

The game is scheduled for release the same time as the PS/2 version, November, 2002.

We will bring you a full review once we get a chance to see the finished version of the game.

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