THUGGEDOUT
July 10th, 2008, 12:43 PM
Some detailed and beautiful shots, you can view more screens HERE (http://uk.media.xbox360.ign.com/media/142/14226954/imgs_1.html)...
You begin Conquest on the side of good, battling in famed battles from all three LOTR movies plus a few un-filmed battles mentioned in the books. Each scenario has you taking on the role of different characters, all of whom fall into four basic types: warrior, archer, scout, and mage. You can choose any class you like. Each has a unique set of weapons, skills and powers. You can get through a level with any one character type, though there are missions where the scout's invisibility cloak is more helpful than the warrior's flaming sword attacks.
http://xbox360media.ign.com/xbox360/image/article/887/887617/the-lord-of-the-rings-conquest-20080709035542460.jpg
Pandemic showed off two sections from the third movie. I began in Pelennor Field as the allies of Sauron laid siege to Minas Tirith. As a scout, I was at the mercy of many a mounted enemy. Rather than taking on direct combat, it was best to use my invisibility cloak to sneak across the battlefield. If killed, you return to the start of the map, though the battle continues to rage on. In this fashion, you won't really be knocked out of a battle, but if you have to complete a task in a certain amount of time, death can be a major blow to you hopes of success.
http://xbox360media.ign.com/xbox360/image/article/887/887617/the-lord-of-the-rings-conquest-20080709035619708.jpg
The goal in Pelennor Field is to destroy the siege towers attacking Minas Tirith. A scout isn't expected to lay down a bunch of sword swipes to destroy a massive siege tower. Instead, you just need to get close enough to set off a flare near the tower. This tells others where to aim the catapults. Getting to the tower is a little tricky as each is guarded by a troll. A scout will get squished by these behemoths. But you can stand off to the side and draw the troll's attention. Then when he comes to smash you, go invisible and slip past him to the siege tower.
http://xbox360media.ign.com/xbox360/image/article/887/887617/the-lord-of-the-rings-conquest-20080709035622489.jpg
For the second section of the demo I took on the role of a warrior. Set inside the walls of Minas Tirith, you must defend against the siege as it breaks through the front gate. There is a large circle in the open hall and you shall not let anyone pass. Combat in Conquest is simple, button-mashing fun. It's the standard light and heavy attacks. Score some combos and you can unleash your true power in the form of fiery sword slashes.
http://xbox360media.ign.com/xbox360/image/article/887/887617/the-lord-of-the-rings-conquest-20080709035625114.jpg
Once the horde is held back, it's time to head upstairs and protect the outer wall. The battle is incredibly hectic. And that's just playing alone. Bring in some more friends either online or through four-player split-screen and things should get really chaotic on screen. Your goal is to destroy the siege ladders that are now allowing scores of orcs to flood into Minas Tirith. Burning the siege ladders is the easiest way to get rid of them. To do that, you need to power up your warrior and unleash a flaming sword attack. The fire spreads and the tower goes caput.
http://xbox360media.ign.com/xbox360/image/article/887/887617/the-lord-of-the-rings-conquest-20080709035627692.jpg
The heroic campaign of Lord of the Rings: Conquest should be fun. The gameplay mechanics are very simple, but enjoyable. And if Pandemic can smooth out the animations and snap the framerate into place, playing through the heroic campaign should be fun. But it's what comes after you complete the first campaign that really has me excited. Get Frodo to Mount Doom, save Middle Earth and your reward is unlocking the evil campaign.
http://xbox360media.ign.com/xbox360/image/article/887/887617/the-lord-of-the-rings-conquest-20080709035633145.jpg
The evil campaign imagines what would happen if Frodo failed and the ring fell into Sauron's hands. You get to play as the villains of Middle Earth. Sauron, Saruman, orcs and even ring wraiths become your tools to lay waste to the world. Ensure the one true king meets one grizzly death, then burn the Shire and eradicate hope from the world. It should be fun.
http://xbox360media.ign.com/xbox360/image/article/887/887617/the-lord-of-the-rings-conquest-20080709035639707.jpg
Along with the two campaigns, there will be a number of multiplayer modes. Pandemic isn't saying much about these yet, but expect the return of modes from the Battlefront games. There will also be a few new modes. One of them sounds pretty awesome. One player is Frodo and the rest play ring wraiths. The longer Frodo survives, the more points he earns.
SOURCE (http://uk.xbox360.ign.com/articles/887/887617p1.html)
You begin Conquest on the side of good, battling in famed battles from all three LOTR movies plus a few un-filmed battles mentioned in the books. Each scenario has you taking on the role of different characters, all of whom fall into four basic types: warrior, archer, scout, and mage. You can choose any class you like. Each has a unique set of weapons, skills and powers. You can get through a level with any one character type, though there are missions where the scout's invisibility cloak is more helpful than the warrior's flaming sword attacks.
http://xbox360media.ign.com/xbox360/image/article/887/887617/the-lord-of-the-rings-conquest-20080709035542460.jpg
Pandemic showed off two sections from the third movie. I began in Pelennor Field as the allies of Sauron laid siege to Minas Tirith. As a scout, I was at the mercy of many a mounted enemy. Rather than taking on direct combat, it was best to use my invisibility cloak to sneak across the battlefield. If killed, you return to the start of the map, though the battle continues to rage on. In this fashion, you won't really be knocked out of a battle, but if you have to complete a task in a certain amount of time, death can be a major blow to you hopes of success.
http://xbox360media.ign.com/xbox360/image/article/887/887617/the-lord-of-the-rings-conquest-20080709035619708.jpg
The goal in Pelennor Field is to destroy the siege towers attacking Minas Tirith. A scout isn't expected to lay down a bunch of sword swipes to destroy a massive siege tower. Instead, you just need to get close enough to set off a flare near the tower. This tells others where to aim the catapults. Getting to the tower is a little tricky as each is guarded by a troll. A scout will get squished by these behemoths. But you can stand off to the side and draw the troll's attention. Then when he comes to smash you, go invisible and slip past him to the siege tower.
http://xbox360media.ign.com/xbox360/image/article/887/887617/the-lord-of-the-rings-conquest-20080709035622489.jpg
For the second section of the demo I took on the role of a warrior. Set inside the walls of Minas Tirith, you must defend against the siege as it breaks through the front gate. There is a large circle in the open hall and you shall not let anyone pass. Combat in Conquest is simple, button-mashing fun. It's the standard light and heavy attacks. Score some combos and you can unleash your true power in the form of fiery sword slashes.
http://xbox360media.ign.com/xbox360/image/article/887/887617/the-lord-of-the-rings-conquest-20080709035625114.jpg
Once the horde is held back, it's time to head upstairs and protect the outer wall. The battle is incredibly hectic. And that's just playing alone. Bring in some more friends either online or through four-player split-screen and things should get really chaotic on screen. Your goal is to destroy the siege ladders that are now allowing scores of orcs to flood into Minas Tirith. Burning the siege ladders is the easiest way to get rid of them. To do that, you need to power up your warrior and unleash a flaming sword attack. The fire spreads and the tower goes caput.
http://xbox360media.ign.com/xbox360/image/article/887/887617/the-lord-of-the-rings-conquest-20080709035627692.jpg
The heroic campaign of Lord of the Rings: Conquest should be fun. The gameplay mechanics are very simple, but enjoyable. And if Pandemic can smooth out the animations and snap the framerate into place, playing through the heroic campaign should be fun. But it's what comes after you complete the first campaign that really has me excited. Get Frodo to Mount Doom, save Middle Earth and your reward is unlocking the evil campaign.
http://xbox360media.ign.com/xbox360/image/article/887/887617/the-lord-of-the-rings-conquest-20080709035633145.jpg
The evil campaign imagines what would happen if Frodo failed and the ring fell into Sauron's hands. You get to play as the villains of Middle Earth. Sauron, Saruman, orcs and even ring wraiths become your tools to lay waste to the world. Ensure the one true king meets one grizzly death, then burn the Shire and eradicate hope from the world. It should be fun.
http://xbox360media.ign.com/xbox360/image/article/887/887617/the-lord-of-the-rings-conquest-20080709035639707.jpg
Along with the two campaigns, there will be a number of multiplayer modes. Pandemic isn't saying much about these yet, but expect the return of modes from the Battlefront games. There will also be a few new modes. One of them sounds pretty awesome. One player is Frodo and the rest play ring wraiths. The longer Frodo survives, the more points he earns.
SOURCE (http://uk.xbox360.ign.com/articles/887/887617p1.html)