Several attempts have been made to capture the scale and atmosphere of Tolkien's epic on PC, but few have come close. In The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle Earth, EA Games has combined relatively straightforward RTS gameplay with an outstanding look, impressive atmospherics and a remarkably accessible interface. Veterans may quibble over a few of the design decisions - and the odd plot inconsistency - but BME is a well polished title that does justice to the source material while offering fast-paced challenges in terrific environments. Two long campaigns (good and evil) lie at its heart, supported by a very basic skirmish mode and a solid multiplayer experience. A decent manual rounds things off and the uncluttered interface looks good and plays well.

BME takes players through a series of missions focussed on conquering provinces to gain resources, improving unit combat ratings or gaining special powers. Strategic decisions are made on a beautifully rendered Living World Map, incorporating all the key features and locations fans of the story will be acquainted with; while battles are fought in traditional RTS style. Units can be carried over throughout the campaign and things don't have to proceed exactly as they do in the books (although you will be channelled into certain actions at times). It's a simple system that works very well, so new players will have no difficulty coming to grips with the process. The strategy element is a bit thin, but it adds some interest and serves to hide the overly simplistic approach taken to some aspects of the game.

Resource gathering and construction both play a part in BME, but EA has simplified both to the point that players can concentrate on the combat for the most part. No peasants run around chopping trees and hunting deer, as resources are generally gained by building one or two farms or slaughterhouses, and buildings are limited to specific spots on the map. The building and unit construction interface is elegantly simple (some players will find it too basic), and the decision to produce groups (battalions) rather than individual troops was certainly the right way to go. Once created, units can be grouped and given a small number of standard commands, and controlling them on the battlefield is easy enough. Unfortunately, the generally average AI doesn't leave much room for innovative tactics and the combat model seems to ignore little details like fronts and flanks.

BME's small mix of units sticks closely to the story and all are presented in excellent detail. Rohan units include the famous Riders of Rohan and two types of archers; Gondor puts its faith in infantry, archers and Rangers; Isengard fights with Urak-hai, crossbowmen and Warg Riders; and Mordor relies on Orcs, Trolls and Oliphants. Experienced ranged units are too powerful in some situations, but the balance is about right for much of the game. The basic unit types are supported by Heroes that can be summoned at a cost, each of which adds morale to friendly units and brings special abilities. Gandalf, for example, brings multiple magic attacks; and the dreaded Nazgul can fly in and knock out whole battalions in a single strike. Keeping an eye on heroes can be tricky at times, and they can be surprisingly vulnerable, but it's important that they get combat experience to improve their powers.

BME relies more on its appearance and atmosphere than on any particularly innovative RTS ideas, but it does the basics very well and Tolkien fans are unlikely to be disappointed with the overall approach taken by EA. The production values do credit to the movies (helped along by the voices of many of the lead actors) and the strong multiplay component makes up for the less than brilliant AI. RTS-lite it may be, The Battle for Middle Earth brings reasonable depth through the story and the success it achieves in recreating Middle Earth. It's addictive and a lot of fun to play, and the scale and structure of the campaigns offer good value for money and solid replay opportunities.