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Well, EA did it, thanks to help from the lads who helped define the genre (creator of C&C) they've actually made an RTS that plays damn fine on a console. 

For a pack of reviews, check here:

http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/931424.asp

Here are my favorite points:

·         Plays much like Dawn of War (except LoTR theme of course) i.e. Whole units are selected instead of individuals, units are upgraded individually, custom animated combat between different units, upgrades are shown directly on the units, units level up, Resource gathering in simplified, etc.

·         Formation movement:  This is wonderful, automatically forms the army in the direction you want with cav on the flanks, swords/pikes in front, and archers in rear.

·         Little details: you select a unit, they come to attention, you de-select they got at ease.  Also love that they cheer when enemies killed or heroes walk by.

·         Full mix of unit types: navy, air (eagles, dragons, wraiths on wings..oh my)

·         Six! Playable armies: Men of the West, Goblins, Mordor, Isenguard, Elves, Dwarves.  Men of the West is almost 2 armies in one, as it includes both Gondor and Rohan.

·         Fortifications, walls, and siege equipment is truly massive.  You can actually build and design massive castles and keeps with walls, towers, and build in defenses.  Attack said castles with thrown rocks (from Ents, Trolls, catapults, etc), battering rams, dwarven machinery, etc.

·         The controls work!  After about 10 games I can now say that the controller feels just as easy as mouse and keyboard for me.  I do miss the ability to quickly click on the mini-map to go someplace, but the way book marks have been implemented this is a minor quibble.

·         Voice chat with live play.  PC RTS?s don?t involve much communication, because who has time to type a message while trying to build your empire and manage your forces?  However, since all 360 owners have a headset, we can all chat and taunt each other while we do battle.  Makes the whole experience almost as social as table-top miniature war gaming.

·         The magic system: Allows you to bring in additional elements to the battle: Evil?  Summon a Balrog or a ?Watcher in the deep?.  Good?  How about Tom Bombadil or a flood of water.  ?Like the horses, that was my little touch.? ? Gandalf

·         Dude, it?s LoTR.  This game is a Tolkien fan?s dream, with the full license from the books and the movies.  It?s hard to find something that?s not in there.   Between the hero system and the spell system you can field just about everyone, Gandalf, Saruman, Gimli, Legolas, Elrond, Treebeard, Lurtz, The witch king & the nine, etc.  You can even get Galadriel and the Dark Lord himself on the table if you first capture golumn and get the one ring back to your base. 

4 of my local friends are ramping up to start playing regularly on live.  Want in?  Ask any questions about the game? I?ll answer what I can.

 

Russ: Voicechat is one thing I absolutely avoid in my gaming. For MMORPGs there
are teamspeak servers, Ventrillo, vent, the list goes on. But the last thing I want is
to hear the dwarf on the screen talking to me in a goofy gamer voice (roleplayed
or otherwise).

It sounds cool. Good thing I didn't buy a 360! (Looks at Protectorate of Menoth
army fondly)

Ah I have it for PC, its a great game. Does the 360 version let you custom build your own heroes?

No, the 360 version is missing two things from the PC version: Custom Heroes & "The War of the Ring" strategic map game.

However it does have a few things the PC version doesn't:

- Many, Many unlockable heroes (to compensate for the above)
- New Multi-player maps
- New Multi-player game modes: King of the Hill, Control, and Heroes only
- Voice chat via live while playing

It's not different enough to buy it if you already have the PC version, but its quite good if you don't, or if you've been longing to play an RTS via X-box live.

You know Russ, you're the first person I've seen with "ADMIN" in your name--are you the site creator?

You know Russ, you're the first person I've seen with "ADMIN" in your name--are you the site creator?

Eh well I didn't know who was behind the site. Thought you would have had more posts though.

I reset my post count from time to time when I experiment with things.

Yeah whenever Russ plays Xbox 360 over his bandwidth, Dakka takes a hit

Yeah whenever Russ plays Xbox 360 over his bandwidth, Dakka takes a hit

Hehe, believe me, if I tried to run the 360 over the same connection that hosted Dakka, it'd be the 360 taking the hit. Even in its new, leaner form, Dakka takes some serrious bandwidth.

So that's why you lag so much... You getting Prey and Chromehounds, Russ?

I'll try Prey and 'hounds via Gamefly. I bought BFMEII because so many of my local friends are getting into it. And I'm a sucker for RTS games.

Prey has a demo in marketplace, Russ. And Nick says it's awesome, so you know it is.

Prey's definitly on my list. I did enjoy the demo too! Could you post a short Prey review here?

SO glad I don't have one of these new fangled 360s.

Usually all it takes is for me to play on someone else's system for me to want one.