The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age (GBA)

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The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age

Developer(s)	Griptonite Games
Publisher(s)	EA Games
Release date(s)	2004
Genre(s)	Turn-Based Strategy game
Mode(s)	Single player, Multiplayer
Rating(s)	ESRB: Teen (T)
Platform(s)	Game Boy Advance
Media	128 megabit cartridge

The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age is a turn-based strategy game for the Game Boy Advance. It was released in 2004 by EA Games. It should not be confused with the RPG of the same name, The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age, released at the same time for GameCube, PS2, and Xbox. Although it is much different from the console games of the same name, as it is a turn based strategy game similar to Fire Emblem.

The game allows players to choose either the good or evil campaign. Once the player has selected the campaign, they can choose one of three commanders. The good side commanders are Aragorn, Gandalf, and Elrond; and the evil commanders are the Witch-king, Saruman, and the Mouth of Sauron.

The campaign includes levels from all three movies, including battles only hinted at in the films such as Théodred's defeat at the Fords of Isen, the defense of one of Minas Tirith's beacons, and the Uruk-hai and wild men assaults on villages and outposts in Rohan. The scenarios must be beaten in order (Fellowship, Towers, King).

Good side units include the Gondor soldier (a tough rank-and-file soldier with no ranged attack), Ithilien Ranger (very powerful ranged attack but weak melee and low hitpoints), Elven archers (very long ranged bow attack and average melee), Elven swordsman (powerful melee attack and averaged ranged attack), Rohan warrior (weaker version of Gondor soldier with very weak ranged attack), Rohirrim cavalry (fast unit with powerful melee attack and large hitpoints but no ranged attacks), Ents (roll boulders for both melee and ranged attacks for massive damage and have very high hitpoints), peasants (extremely low melee attack and hitpoints, no ranged attacks), and woodsmen (average melee attack with axe but few hitpoints and no range).

Evil units include the Orc warrior (normal rank and file, lower attack and hitpoints than Gondor soldier but have ranged attack), Uruk-hai soldier (powerful melee and crossbow ranged attacks, many hitpoints), Moria Goblin (fast infantry with average melee attack and weak ranged but very few hitpoints), Cave Troll (slow unit with very strong attack and average hitpoints), Uruk-hai Berzerker (fast infantry with very high attack but few hitpoints), Warg-rider cavalry (fast cavalry with average melee attack and weak ranged, average hitpoints), Mordor Uruk-hai (more powerful versions of Uruk-hai without ranged attack), Haradrim (good ranged attack but weak melee and few hitpoints), Easterlings (very powerful melee and high hitpoints but no range), Mountain trolls (more powerful version of cave troll), Mûmakil (fast with extremely high hitpoints and attack with no ranged attack, makes nearby enemies run away and is considered to be the best unit in the game), Wild Men (weak melee, low hitpoints, and no range) Nazgûl (powerful melee and high hitpoints, no ranged attack), and Nazgûl riders (faster version of Nazgûl with more hitpoints).

During some battles, you may choose one or two subcommanders. Good heroes include Legolas, Gimli, Faramir, Boromir, Théoden, Éomer, and Éowyn. Evil heroes include Lurtz, Sharku, Wormtongue, Grishnákh, Gorbag, Uglúk, and Gothmog. In addition, each side has one more unlockable hero (Haldir for good, and Shagrat for evil). Also, new missions can be unlocked such as Balin's Tomb, The Last Alliance, Sauron Comes, Gap of Rohan, The Board is Set, and Outposts of Rohan {Link Cable only}.