The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age

EA today officially confirms the development a long-speculated follow-up title to carry the heavyweight Lord of the Rings movie license.

Electronic Arts today officially confirmed the development a long-speculated follow-up title to carry the heavyweight Lord of the Rings movie license, further capitalising on the exclusive rights it's had from New Line Cinema since The Two Towers videogame hit shelves in 2002. It's currently in development at EA's Redwood Shores studio, the same studio behind the ROTK videogame.

The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age is scheduled for release in late 2004, which will co-incide with the release of the Special Extended DVD Edition of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.

The game, which is headed to all current home consoles, is described as an epic quest, in which players will take on the roles of new characters choosing their own path through Middle-earth, while interacting with the heroes and villains of the trilogy.

The Third Age allows players to adventure through Middle-earth, building a party of heroes as they journey. Players battle on the side of the Fellowship, but can unlock additional encounters where they fight on the side of Sauron as they progress. In the game, players will interact with the characters of the Fellowship in a unique structure, taking on individual quests while intersecting the major events of the film trilogy that drive the story forward.

Parties will traverse through both familiar and seldom-glimpsed locations, using a turn-based battle system as they fight, encountering the demonic Balrog in the Mines of Moria, defending the fallen city of Osgiliath, or trying to destroy Helm's Deep.

A real-time strategy game for the PC, The Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth, is also under development for release in late 2004.

Adam Doree
Director, Kikizo.com