Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

The Lord of the Rings: Conquest drops you straight into iconic battles, from the ramparts of Helm’s Deep to the fields before the Black Gate. Each confrontation feels expansive and alive, as you choose between the forces of good or evil and charge headlong into the fray. Objectives shift dynamically: one moment you’re defending a narrow pass, the next racing to capture a flag point in Conquest mode.

Character classes bring distinct playstyles to the battlefield. The Warrior thrives in the chaos of melee, chaining brutal combos to mow through foes, while the Mage supports allies with healing wards and devastating lightning strikes. Scouts lurk on the edges, turning invisible to land lethal backstabs or planting explosive devices. Archers rain down poison or fire-tipped arrows, holding chokepoints and suppressing enemy advances from afar.

Beyond individual combat, the game encourages strategic use of battlefield assets. Catapults and siege ladders become your temporary weapon, capable of pulverizing clustered enemies or breaching fortress walls. Mounting a warhorse offers lightning-fast charges that can rout entire squads, rewarding well-timed gallops across the open ground. This blend of personal skill and environmental tactics keeps skirmishes varied and exciting.

Campaign objectives vary by map and game mode. In single-player, scripted hero appearances—Gandalf in the Mines of Moria or the Balrog roaring to life—inject big-screen moments. Multiplayer campaigns, by contrast, let your top-performing player transform into a hero once your team nears victory, adding an unpredictable twist to prolonged battles. Up to four friends can coordinate strikes in co-op, working through either side’s campaign for a shared epic endeavor.

Three additional multiplayer modes extend the game’s longevity. Conquest has you seize control points in a set order, mirroring the tactical tug-of-war of battlefield shooters. Team Deathmatch delivers straightforward carnage: the team with the most kills wins. Find the Ring replaces the familiar flag with the One Ring itself, sparking frantic chases as teams vie to carry the precious artifact to their base while under assault.

Graphics

Visually, The Lord of the Rings: Conquest channels the sweeping vistas and dark, brooding fortresses of Middle-earth with commendable fidelity. Helm’s Deep’s soaring walls and the shadowy corridors of Minas Tirith feel both grand and oppressive, capturing the cinematic scale fans expect. Background elements—smoldering battlements, flickering torches, and distant silhouettes of charging armies—contribute to a constant sense of immersion.

Character models vary in detail according to class and faction. Warriors bristle with dented armor and battle scars, while Orcish foot soldiers hunch under rusted plates. Spell effects dazzle: lightning arcs crackle convincingly across the sky, and healing auras glow with a warm, reassuring light. Although textures can appear a bit muted compared to newer titles, motion and particle effects often compensate, delivering satisfying impacts and explosions.

Animations excel during hero moments, such as a charging Rohirrim cavalry or a towering Troll smashing its club. Basic footsoldiers sometimes suffer from repetitive walk cycles or sliding turns, but these quirks rarely detract from the overall spectacle. Environmental detail—fallen banners, barricades, and the occasional flaming debris—reinforces the chaos of war.

Performance on modern platforms remains surprisingly steady, with large-scale battles running smoothly on most current-generation consoles and PCs. Loading times between objectives are kept to a minimum, ensuring you stay in the action rather than staring at progress bars. Even during intense onslaughts, frame rates hold up well, making for an uninterrupted, cinematic battlefield experience.

Story

The narrative of Conquest weaves through two parallel campaigns: one for the Free Peoples, one for Sauron’s legions. While neither storyline ventures deep into character drama, the emphasis is on reliving pivotal battles from The Lord of the Rings lore. Whether you’re charging Osgiliath’s streets or assaulting the Black Gate, the game delivers that blockbuster, save-or-conquer Middle-earth sensation.

Playing as good or evil offers fresh vantage points on familiar events. Defending Helm’s Deep as a Rohirrim soldier feels heroically desperate, while leading Uruk-hai reinforcements provides a thrillingly ruthless perspective. The structure is straightforward—complete objectives in sequence—but cinematic cutscenes and voiceovers from key figures (Gandalf, Aragorn, Sauron, the Witch-king) help maintain narrative momentum.

Character development takes a backseat to spectacle, with most heroes serving as avatars of power rather than fully fleshed personalities. Fans seeking deeper story arcs may find the plot framework thin, but the game’s core appeal lies in its active reenactment of war, not in dialogue-heavy exposition. Each mission’s context is clearly explained, ensuring newcomers to Tolkien’s world understand what’s at stake.

Multiplayer co-op blurs narrative continuity but encourages replaying missions from both sides, offering varied objectives and the occasional surprise hero spawn. Though there’s no sprawling dramatic campaign like in traditional RPGs, the thrill of fighting through well-known environments and legendary conflicts provides a solid storytelling foundation wrapped in nonstop action.

Overall Experience

The Lord of the Rings: Conquest offers a brisk, battle-focused take on Tolkien’s epic saga. Its straightforward campaign structure and class-based combat system make it accessible to newcomers, while the layered objectives and use of siege equipment reward strategic play. Each skirmish feels meaningful, thanks to the shifting goals of capturing points, defending lines, or slaying hero units.

Multiplayer amplifies the fun, especially with friends coordinating class roles and battlefield tactics. Conquest mode brings a methodical tug-of-war that can last for half an hour or more, and “Find the Ring” introduces a playful twist on capture-the-flag. Though the game doesn’t push narrative boundaries, it succeeds at presenting iconic battles filled with visceral clashes and cinematic moments.

Graphically competent and mechanically solid, Conquest delivers on its promise: to plunge players into the heart of Middle-earth’s greatest wars. Minor repetitive elements fade into the background as you unleash devastating spells, charge on horseback, or rain arrows upon enemy lines. While purists craving deep RPG elements might look elsewhere, action fans and Tolkien enthusiasts will find plenty to celebrate.

Ultimately, this title stands as an engaging, replayable experience that captures the thrill of large-scale fantasy warfare. With its mix of solo missions, co-op campaigns, and varied multiplayer modes, it offers hours of adrenaline-fueled combat. If you’ve ever wanted to lead an orc assault on Helm’s Deep or defend Minas Tirith as a Gondorian soldier, Conquest delivers that dream in full cinematic glory.

Retro Replay Score

6.1/10