Lord Of The Rings Online – Screenshots

Sorry it’s been a bit quiet round here lately, but we’ve been getting stuck into a few new MMOs. We’d decided to take a bit of a break from WoW so were looking around for a new MMO to try.

As D was already Beta testing Lord of the Rings Online, that seemed like a good choice, although i also wanted to try a non-sword n’ sorcery based game, so we also made a return to City of Heroes, a game we’d both played just after launch. Have to say, it’s got massively improved gameplay from those early days, and really worth a 2nd look. If you got bored with the grind CoH used to be, go back and have another look, really is shaping into a good MMO (issue 9 introduces crafting & auction houses, and is due very soon).

However, after sorting out a graphic card bug that was stopping me play, we’ve jumped on into the Lord of the Rings Online. Going to post a full review in a bit, but first some screenshots… Really is one of the prettiest MMOs i’ve seen in a long time.

This one was a set of shots taken on the hill near Bag End just as the sun was rising, and then stiched together in Photoshop:

And this is Bag End.

Some more shots of the Shire:

Additional Screenshots by D, taken around the Elven area, near Duillond

Lord Of The Rings Online! Beta Review

Well, the NDA (Non-disclosure Agreement) has been lifted on this MMORPG, and now I can reveal I am amongst the Beta testers.

This game, although unfinished is sensational! If you are a fan of the Tolkien world (and who isn’t!) then you will quickly become engrossed in this game.

Each playable race, be it Human, Elf, Dwarf or Hobbit starts the game in a unique stunning instance story-line, unlike most MMORPGs out there.

Without ruining the game for anyone, the story spans over many years, though it follows the books. Within playing only a few minutes I’d met Gimli, Gandalf, Thorin Oakenshield and more!

So, whats wrong with this game I hear you asking, there must be something, right? Well, I have only one fault with it at the moment, even though its soundtrack is good, I tend to lower it and blast out the Howard Shore OST from the film trilogy… but that is my personal taste.

The game focuses on one area of the lands of Middle Earth (Eriador), with the last section available without the future expansions being the mines of Moria.

The graphics are stunning, a lovely blend of Everquest II and WoW, really outstanding visuals. Alot of love and care has been placed into producing this game, and so it should be, its a world adored by countless millions.

This game is highly addictive, and I would suspect a very very strong contender to become the favourite MMORPG in the future. One particulary funny emote in the game is the option to /smoke, to draw your pipe and smoke a nice batch of your pipe weed, a hilarious past-time.

Below are several screen shots of the game, its expected release is the end of March 2007, with a standard edition and a collector’s edition being released.

Keep your elven eyes peeled, this one will be Precioussssss…..

The official site for the game is http://www.lotro-europe.com/ follow its progress there!

Daryl