2006-07-14 17:09:38 Battle For Middle Earth Demo Discussion

Okay Since i already bought this game months ago for the pc i wasn't especially looking forward to this....

First off all the graphics:
overal the graphics are OK, nothing special but when compared to the pc version:
1 Word HORRIBLE, i got a crappy pc which i played the game on and it looked better on there...
The shadowing is CRAP, it looks like a 8 bit NES texture :S and was it me or did i get FPSLAG while doing the freaking Tutorial????

Control wise: Awesome, i think this is the first time a console RTS WORKS!, controls are superb...

Too bad i'm still used to pc controls and that some of the function you need to access if u want to micromanage your troops and become a hardcore player (and winner :P): Setting their stance, using powers, controling heroes is still a bit off compared to the PC game...

I really liked the demo, although i played it on the pc it's still a great game. Graphics are a bit worse than the pc version, controlls a bit lacking for the BFME pc fanatics, but it's a great console conversion
Funny thing was because i have played the PC thing for a very long time i went online and absolutly slaughtered 10 guys in a row in a 1v1 match :D

Still for a console this will do... :)

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"You're being arrested for drunk driving."
"Drunk definitely, I don't know if you could call it driving."

2006-07-14 18:24:05

Yeah the shadows suck but thes probably because its a pc port and they were to lazy to optimize for the 360. Anyway I like the controlls and i probably pick up the game cause I like RTS games and my computer is a peice of crap

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"Use Humlilty to make them Haughty"-Sun Tzu

2006-07-14 18:52:54

I haven't completed the download, it was taking ages yesterday, and my connection was just fine.

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Did you agree with me? Yes, No? Visit http://www.lebato.blogspot.com and see if we agree on something.

2006-07-14 19:29:24

I actually bought the game, just finished the GOOD Campain, so far im enjoying it, going to start the EVIL Campain, but like stated, the shadows are not the best, but it has got the dam nicest water iv ever seen in a RTS anyway, but to bad the frame issue from the PC version came along to the 360, on the final level of the GOOD campain there where so many units on the screen that sometimes it stood still for 1-2 sec before it continued.
But i still like it, and it nice to just sitt back in your living room and command the forces of middle earth through your wireless controller, and it's pretty fun playing on XB Live also, give it a 8/10 if i would to do that.

2006-07-14 21:25:45

I can't stop playing it :)

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Don't touch that Squirrels nuts! Fanboy=Ban boy.

2006-07-14 21:59:14

My demo is sitll downloading.. i thought it just f'ed up in a certain part because it wont download anymore.. Glad to see any demo on XBL though

2006-07-15 00:28:53

I thought it was terrible.

2006-07-15 02:29:07

I downloaded the demo and I think it is pretty good, but has some serious limitations.

For once, it's on a console, and no matter how good the controls are, they can't compare to a keyboard and mouse. The camera was also a problem, you can zoom in and out, but you can't zoom out enough. Many times I NEED to zoom out even more but can't, it gets really annoying. When compared to a more in-deph RTS like Rise of Nations, if falls really short of the greatness of Rise of Nations. One of the reasons is because this game focuses only on war, I myself prefer this kind of game to have something else. And as a war game only, I still prefer a game like Red Alert 2, or some of the high quality Command and Conquer games.

Another problem, the font size. I don't know if it is because my tv is not HD, or because it is too small, but it's basically impossible to pay attention to whatever its written on screen. I CAN read it, but I don't think it is worth the damage to my eyes! The "heroes" are always indistinguishable (sp?), who is who? Who knows, they are way too small and without any difference from one another which makes it really hard to make out.

The sound? What sound? I thought it was really weak. If there's any music I didn't notice, and everything else doesn't really impress me in any way.

As far as graphics, they are not bad, but considering the power of the 360, they could be WAY better. Again, a game like Rise of Nations is more detailed, and basically on par with this game in terms of graphics. RON came what? 2 years ago?

A lot of units can be on-screen, I'm thinking the max is one thousand units--again, not as many as in RON. BUT, when there's lots of units fighting, the framerate starts giving problems. Shadowing is not the best, it's good to see everything cast a shadow, but the shadows look "pixelated" if it can be called that, very jaggy.

And that's about it. The AI is not the brightest, sometimes when in a big fight, the units on the back stay there, on the back, when they could be surrounding the enemy and do some damage. By the way, I played with this guy online for about 2+ hours, there won't be a "quick" online session with this game, it takes a lot of time.

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Did you agree with me? Yes, No? Visit http://www.lebato.blogspot.com and see if we agree on something.

2006-07-15 03:39:05

Yeah the sound is weak, especially for an EA 360 game (which have had some of the best thumping sounds ever in a game IMO).

2006-07-15 11:12:21 In reply to LEBATO (2006-07-15 02:29:07)

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"You're being arrested for drunk driving."
"Drunk definitely, I don't know if you could call it driving."

2006-07-15 11:22:08

I have only played Warcraft 3 as a RTS game and I liked it, but it wasent really my cup of tea if you know what I mean. I didnt like RTS back then and I still dont now, not so much anyways. But Playing a RTS on a console made me like this game. Ilike the demo, and controls are very easy to learn, and its alot better sitting on the sofa and play a RTS game rather sit in a hard chair in hours and hours pasting you face against a small monitor.

I just wish that the demo didnt let us play as the elves or the human race, I dont like Saurons armies.

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*A NEW FORM OF CHANGE*

"Busy place, lots of security cameras.
How are we suppose to find our contact in this crowd?
Maybe the bartender have seen her." / Mass Effect

2006-07-15 12:03:01 In reply to Sath (2006-07-15 11:22:08)

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"You're being arrested for drunk driving."
"Drunk definitely, I don't know if you could call it driving."