Anyone that has a love of MMORPGs will have at least heard of Lord of The Rings Online at some point or another. The game currently boasts the largest gaming world in the MMORPG sphere and offers much of the magic that can only otherwise be found in Tolkien’s original works.
Originally developed by Turbine and then later taken over by Midway, LOTRO remains among the most prominent online games in the world at the moment. We’ve seen some decline in terms of numbers in many modern MMORPGs, but that doesn’t mean that people don’t love playing them. Additionally, these kinds of games offer hundreds of hours of great game play and are often still worth investigating for the curious gamer. Here we will make the case as to why we think LOTRO will always have a place in the MMORPG scene.
The Size Of The World
At almost 78000 km2, LOTRO is about as big as it gets. Technically games like Minecraft are bigger, the main difference is that LOTRO is not procedurally generated. Instead, each piece of land was stitched together by developers over the years to provide the most comprehensive and faithful recreation of Middle Earth.
The breadth of the project is breathtaking, giving players the chance to visit unique and memorable places that are directly inspired by the descriptions found in the books. There’s an authenticity to the game that really captures the essence of Tolkien’s creation, and it means that Lord Of The Rings fans will never grow bored. Combine this with plenty of things to do, and you’ve got an MMORPG that’s as close to perfect as you’re going to find right now.
The Game Play
LOTRO has evolved immensely over the years, and all of the classes are now highly refined. Game play is also fun, and players get to watch as their characters grow more powerful as they follow through with quests, battle enemies, and explore Middle Earth. There’s a lot of general crossover with the usual RPG elements, including repetitive daily tasks and other grinding – something that MMORPG, sports, and real money pokies players are usually happy with – but following the main storyline is a true joy for any Tolkien fan.
On top of that, more methods of transportation open up, and players are also able to purchase homes for themselves and fill them with trophies, furniture, decorations, and more. The LOTRO world is rich and vibrant and it lends itself well to players that love to immerse themselves as much as possible.
It’s Always Getting Improvements
Over the years, a lot of MMORPGs have stagnated. From loss of players to disinterest from developers, there are many reasons that a game might not do that well after a while. LOTRO Is exempt from this as it has received plenty of updates, bug fixes, and new content to keep things fresh. Expansion packs and other content is always available for purchase and will often unlock entirely new regions with dozens more hours of things to see and do.
New game content is always a reason to celebrate, and Midway is also busy putting new things in the game for players to enjoy.
It’s The Small Things
LOTRO was the first game to do a lot of things. One of these in particular is the environment that the player finds themselves in. A dynamic day and night cycle means that no place is ever quite the same, and it makes you feel like you’re really a part of Middle Earth. What also makes it special is that you get to follow along with the main story without formally being a part of it. It’s a unique way of telling the Lord Of The Rings story without imposing any unnecessary changes in order to accommodate the player as a main character. We follow as Frodo, Sam, Gandalf, and the other characters from the book work together to deliver the One Ring to Mount Doom in order to destroy it. It’s a compelling story that’s easy to follow and is quite faithful to the source material.
For people that grew up reading the original books and watching the movies, LOTRO is a must play. It’s the perfect gateway into all the best that Tolkien had to offer while also providing many hours of great entertainment. We see new content being added all the time, and the variety of classes means that there’s always a new way to tackle the game. Give LOTRO a try and it might just capture your heart.
