BFMEII is a real-time strategy game. Similar to The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth, the game requires that the player build a base with structures to produce units, gather resources, research upgrades, and provide defences. Units are used to attack the enemy and defend the player's base. Players win matches by eliminating all enemy units and structures. Unlike the first game, the player can build an unlimited number of structures anywhere on the map, allowing for more freedom in base building and unit production. Players can build fortresses to defend their base. They can also construct arrow and catapult towers on building plots around a fortress to provide defensive support, and build walls adjacent to fortresses in any direction and length to provide basic protection. The game's HUD, called the Palantír, shows the player's hero units and their abilities, a mini-map, and objectives.
Units are classified into one of several classes: infantry, ranged, pikemen, cavalry, or siege. Each unit class has unique strengths and weaknesses, emphasizing the importance of properly matching up units in battle to increase their effectiveness. Hero units are unique in that only one of each can be created; they consist of characters from the novel, such as Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, Saruman, Nazgûl, and Shelob, or are created via the game's Hero Creator. If the player kills Gollum, a non-player character, they are rewarded with the One Ring. The item can be used to summon one of two ring heroes, Galadriel and Sauron, depending on the player's faction. Ring heroes have extremely strong armor, making them among the game's most powerful units.
The newly introduced War of the Ring mode combines turn-based strategy elements with real-time skirmishes. Middle-earth is divided into territories; players can construct buildings to produce troops only in a claimed territory. During each turn, the player can move their armies into neutral and enemy territories to take control of them. While neutral territories are conquered by simply entering them, enemy territories must be wrested from the other player by defeating them in a skirmish. Troops can be garrisoned in conquered territories to defend against enemy attacks. When the player chooses to attack another territory, or one of their territories is being invaded by an enemy, they can either simulate the match and let the computer determine the outcome, or play the match by commanding the units in real time. The winner of the skirmish gains the territory, and all surviving units gain experience points. To win the game, players must either control the enemy's capital territory, or take over a given number of territories in Middle-earth.
BFMEII introduces three new factions with unique units and heroes: Goblins (of the Misty Mountains), Dwarves, and Elves. Rohan and Gondor are combined into one faction called Men of the West. Along with Mordor and Isengard from the first game, there are six playable factions. The troops of Gondor provide a solid offence and defence with standard infantry and archers, and the Rohirrim of Rohan act as elite cavalry. The Elven archers are effective at inflicting damage from a distance, and their support units, the Ents, can perform a combination of melee and siege attacks. Although slow and expensive, Dwarven infantry, pikemen, and axe-throwers are very powerful and well-armored. A collection of wild creatures and beasts of Middle-earth make up the Goblin faction, including Goblins, Trolls, spiders, and dragons, which are effective in large numbers. Isengard troops are highly-trained Uruk-hai under Saruman's command. Berserkers are used by Isengard as one-man armies that move extremely fast and deal significant damage. Additionally, Isengard is the only Evil faction that can build walls. Mordor forces are a mixture of Orcs, Men, Trolls, Mumakil, and Sauron's lieutenants. Similar to Goblins, Mordor Orcs have tough armor, making them useful for absorbing enemy damage while stronger units attack enemies. Trolls form the core of the Mordor forces, having strong melee attacks and the ability to throw boulders.
Subject: The Lords of the Rings: Battle for Middle Earth 2 
Fri May 06, 2011 8:26 pm
