The Lord of the Rings Aragorns Quest

In the world of fantasy, there are a few series that are massively popular, and The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn's Quest looks to capitalize on some of that success. Retelling the events of the popular film series but with a lighter perspective aimed at younger audiences, this spin-off puts the talented ranger Aragorn front and center. Playing as this skilled warrior, you'll travel across the wide world of Middle-Earth during one of the biggest wars in its history, defeating all manner of enemies throughout your adventure. If running through a familiar fantasy setting and slaying loads of bad guys sounds fun to you, then The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn's Quest should be a welcome surprise!

Main Game Features

• Fight through the Middle-Earth as Aragorn
• Explore the Shire as Frodo
• Supports one or two players

Story

The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn's Quest takes place fifteen years after the War of the Ring, a conflict that played out across the three major films in the movie franchise. Samwise Gamgee, now an adult with a family of his own, recounts the tale of the War of the Ring to his children. With the ranger Aragorn acting as the main character, the game flips between Aragorn's time during the war and present-day, where the Hobbits of the Shire prepare for a welcoming party. Thanks to this dual story, the plot never grows too bleak or serious, as the Hobbits always brighten things up. Across nine chapters, the story breezes through the events of the main Lord of the Rings trilogy, from its humble beginnings with the fellowship to the climactic end. As such, the game hits many of the same plot points as seen in other games like The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers and The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King. However, considering the story is being told to children, it is presented in a far less serious manner, with a large chunk of the violence and tension removed. Although it's a much thinner version of the story we all know and love, The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn's Quest is a digestible journey through Middle Earth.

Gameplay

There are two major gameplay sections in The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn's Quest, one being linear and the other being semi open-world. The game fully supports two-player cooperative play, so a friend can tag along the journey regardless of what section you're playing. Most of the gameplay revolves around Aragorn's travels during the War of the Ring, as he fights through regions like Rivendell, the Fangorn Forest, and even Helm's Deep. Accompanied by companion characters, you'll cut through enemies with a variety of sword attacks and combos, with power-ups available to strengthen your hero. If a second player joins in, they can control the wizard Gandalf, who uses his magic to hit enemies from afar and heal allies.

In the secondary section of the game, players control Sam's young son Frodo as he explores the open-ended home of the Hobbits, the Shire. As the Hobbits get ready for a big party with Aragorn as the guest of honor, you must run around the Shire completing side quests and unlocking new skills. These skills can also be learned by Aragorn later in his adventure, making your time in the Shire a good investment. Overall, the gameplay in The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn's Quest is perfect for action game newcomers, but more experienced players might find it to be too easy.

Conclusion

The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn's Quest takes a monumental tale of fantasy and action and neatly packs it into nine levels, complete with two-player cooperative fun. Jumping back and forth between the vicious War of the Ring and the lovely countryside Shire is a nice way to switch up the pace, while the controls are easy enough for anyone to play.

Pros

• Does a decent job summarizing the movies
• Good level design
• Glossy and bright graphics

Cons

• Very easy to beat
• Mundane combat
• Lots of motion blur