'The Lord of the Rings' movies lend itself perfectly towards multiplayer combat with the emphasis on the huge, hundred-man battles waged across Middle Earth. So it's no surprise that Pandemic, renowned for 'Star Wars: Battlefront', took the reins on this project.

The 'Battlefront' influence is felt in almost every nook and cranny of this game — except the graphics. The 'Battlefront' series pushed the PS2 to the limits with its large scale, but although 'Conquest' does a fair job graphically, it does have some sticky points.

Water effects look very last-generation, resembling liquid concrete. 'Conquest' also uses a lot of grey and brown (yet another game on the PS3 and Xbox 360 to use this drab combination). Enemies such as grunts share this uninspired combination as well.

'Conquest' stays true to the atmosphere of the movies, whether in terms of locations or the enemies you face in battle. This level of immersion was also present in the 'Battlefront' games, showing the level of dedication that Pandemic has to creating authentic game worlds.

The 'Battlefront' influence is felt in the gameplay too, with the class-based system and large locales. In 'Conquest' this system works well and you'll almost never stick to one class for the duration of any particular mission. With the different attacks and abilities available to you, you'll want to try out every character class.

Combat is satisfying, with attacks ranging from light and heavy strikes, all the way to ranged attacks such as crossbows and magic. It's simply executed, with button-bashing an easy way out of situations. Strategy is non-existent when it comes to facing off against grunts. Bosses are a different beast for the most part, with certain classes more suited for the job than others.

'Conquest' is hard and you'll find that perseverance is key. Enemies tend to swarm you, making way for the aforementioned button-bashing to come into play. You'll often find that you've been killed by a previously unseen archer — a seemingly cheap death.

Cheap deaths abound in 'Conquest' — from falling off a bridge while fighting a swarm, to dying repeatedly against a boss character, 'Conquest' can become an exercise in frustration.

This game is made for multiplayer, and it shows. The ability to play online over Xbox Live and split-screen is a big bonus for those tired of tackling the campaign. Difficulty is also drastically reduced in multiplayer mode, resulting in a less frustrating experience.

'Conquest' would have been a great game, worth your hard-earned money, if it wasn't for the cheap deaths and unforgiving difficulty. While 'Lord of the Rings' fans should no doubt get a copy, the wisest option would be to rent it first.

7.3/10

Buy this game: PS3 | Xbox 360 | PC | DS