“One ring to rule them all, one ring to find them. One ring to bring them all, and in the darkness bind them.” This timeless masterpiece from J. R. R. Tolkien has long since captivated the imaginations of fans all over the world, and this time, you have the chance to nab the One Ring for yourself in The Lord of The Rings: Rise to War. NetEase’s geo-strategic war game has everything from popular heroes in the franchise to accurate representations of the map of Middle-earth, but what else can you expect from this officially licensed title?
Geo-strategic war: a different kind of gameplay
The Lord of The Rings: Rise to War boasts a one-of-a-kind geo-strategic gameplay that encourages players to expand and rethink how to handle conflicts against warring Factions. As opposed to other run-of-the-mill strategy games, players here will have to race to capture resource tiles with automatically generated supplies.
Total production is then ultimately determined by how many tiles you have conquered, as well as the level of these resource tiles, making for more geographically strategic expansion. Resource tiles are, of course, limited, which will prompt cutthroat battles as you try to capture not just your adjacent tiles but the neighboring tiles of Fellowship and Faction members as well.
Incredibly accurate map of Middle-earth, plus fan-fave characters
Explore a vivid Middle-earth in stunning 3D rendition as you confront 8 iconic Factions. All these are set in faithfully represented areas of Middle-earth, along with well-known Factions and characters from the franchise instead of random tribes. Commanders and armies will hail from Gondor, Rohan, Lothlórien, Erebor, Mordor, Isengard, Angmar, and Rhûn, letting you command legendary heroes and villains as you raise your banner on the road to Dol Guldur.
A treasure trove of weapons, buffs, and natural resources
Make use of a wealth of natural resources and a wide variety of weapons in your arsenal to keep your troops at the top of their game. Then, march out and secure tiles just ripe for the taking. Tiles not only provide valuable resources but also help unlock new unit types.
Other tiles such as harbors or tunnels provide players with easier movability across the map, letting troops access the other side of a tunnel once captured. Some tiles called “Control Points” are cities that enable your Faction to capture the whole region, effectively turning the tide of battle in your favour when warring against other players.
A highly interactive Seasonal social experience
Players can enjoy the multiplayer aspect of the game even more with the Seasonal System. Lasting about 2 to 3 months, each Season will end with tons of rewards for players depending on their performance and contributions to their Factions. Maps and conquered tiles will be reset, as well as city progression.
Players will, however, retain Commanders they have recruited along with equipment obtained. Everyone will start fresh with different stages and goals, allowing for a healthy rotation of players no matter which rank they’re on. This also encourages newbies to begin their journey for control of the One Ring with a clean slate.
Will you be lured to the power of the One Ring, and be the one to rule them all? The Lord of the Rings: Rise to War will be available to download as a free-to-play game with in-app purchases on the App Store, on the Google Play Store and also on the Galaxy Store.