It's amazing to consider Tolkien's history of mind-bending rings, omnipotent eyes of fire, and a king returned from exile sprung from one unassuming little scene. Who could have imagined Bilbo's enigmatic encounter with Gollum would begin the epic conflict of Lord of the Rings and bring an end to the whole Third Age (spoilers!)? After Peter Jackson's grandiose treatment of the battles in Lord of the Rings, Pandemic is ready to build on that legacy with a tactical action game reenacting many of the most famous conflicts from the trilogy. Conquest is a brawny take on class-based warfare and multiplayer components from Pandemic's Star Wars: Battlefront series, now mixed with the medieval fantasy regalia from Tolkien's world. For more on the game read Nate Ahearn's review of the Xbox 360, PS3, and PC versions of the game. Daemon Hatfield's review of the DS version can be found here.
So you're ready to take up arms and do battle for the one ring but aren't sure which console will deliver you the best experience? Keep reading to find out about all the key differences between the 360, PS3, PC, and DS versions to see which one will be right for you.
Price Point
Lord of the Rings: Conquest costs the regular $59.99 on PS3 and Xbox 360. The PC version can be had for $49.99. The DS version is the least expensive of the bunch at $29.99. There are no bonuses or special editions on any platform.
Content and Control
Conquest offers a respectable amount of options for both single player and multiplayer modes. In single-player you'll be able to decide whether to fight with the humans or Sauron's dark forces. You'll have to play through the human side of the campaign before you unlock the dark side, however, which might be a frustration for some. You can also play in split screen, going through campaign maps in co-op or competing against friends in multiplayer maps. The 360 version of the game supports up to 4 players in local play, while the PS3 and PC allow for only 2 players. There is no required installation on the PS3 version and it has to Trophy support to match the 360's Achievements. The PC version doesn't have achievements.
The online multiplayer component on the 360, PS3, and PC offers three modes supporting up to 16 players. There's Team Deathmatch, Conquest (capturing and holding control points), and Capture the Ring (players race to find and hold onto the ring). All three versions require players to go through EA's online service, meaning you'll have to sign up for an EA account to connect. In the PC version your EA account will be tied to your game disc and you won't be allowed to go online with any other EA account once you've signed in. The game performed stably across all platforms, with no drops or debilitating lag in any of the matches I played. The DS version supports 2 players for wireless multi-card multiplayer. You'll be able to play through the campaign cooperatively or compete in Conquest, the game's lone multiplayer mode.
The DS version offers two different control schemes as well. You can play with the d-pad and face buttons, or use the touchscreen to control your character's movement. Stylus swipes correspond to different attack types. Both control schemes work well. It should be noted that, while the DS version has a similar level progression and overarching story, the levels and enemy encounters are all custom made. The levels are much smaller and you'll only be fighting four or five enemies at a time, in contrast to the dozens that you'll face in the console versions. There are fewer special attacks, and it can be hard to tell who's who in the sea of washed out grays and browns.
Ultimately you'll be well-served with the 360, PS3 and PC versions of the game. While the PC offers a more flexible control scheme and a slightly less cumbersome interface for finding games online, it lacks achievements which actually add a good deal of replayability to the experience. All three versions have slight differences, but none offer the total package, making this a three-way tie. The DS version should be the last choice. It's a decently amusing game, but it's so simple compared the console versions that it should be a last resort.
Overall
1. Xbox 360, PS3, and PC
2. DS
Presentation
Conquest does a good job of recreating many of the settings from Jackson's films, but it's not quite a visual dazzler. It seems that Pandemic decided to emphasize framerate stability and ratchet up the number of enemies of screen, instead of shooting the moon with super glossy visuals. The PC version looks the best, with sharp textures, a smooth image, and fast loading times. There aren't a lot of extra effects in the PC version, it's really just a port of the console version with a nice bump in resolution and anti-aliasing, but it looks the best.
The PS3 and 360 versions look mostly the same but there are a few small differences that might tip the needle for you. The PS3 appears to be a bit jaggier than the 360. You'll have to look closely to see it, but it's there, especially when playing through HDMI where the 360 upscales the image to 1080p but the PS3 stays at 720p. The PS3 presents a brighter image in some of the game's darker levels (like the Moria section), but you can make up for this by tweaking your television's levels. The 360 also has faster loading times, taking you into a level in 15 seconds. On the PS3 loading times are around 20 seconds, and sometimes a bit longer. Framerate in both versions is equally stable. You'll see occasional dips when there are lots of enemies on screen, or when your mages are going hog wild with magic, but this happened in both versions in equal measure during my playtime.
The DS version does a decent job of trying to match the console experiences given the dramatically limited power of the handheld. It's got clips from the movies in between levels, but these are heavily compressed and full of hitches. The game runs in 3D, with a nice score that mirrors the symphonic drama of the movies. On the downside, the color palate is woefully limited to browns, grays, and blues, making it really tough to keep track of where you are in a map. Enemy models are also hard to tell apart, I even had trouble differentiating them from my own teammates in some instances. Conquest is a decent effort on the DS, but it doesn't come off nearly as well as its console counterparts. It might have been a mistake to try and jam that big game into the DS diminutive hardware.
The best choice in this category is the PC version, but it's not leagues ahead of the console versions, just sharper and smoother. The 360 versions edges out the PS3 version with more anti-aliasing and faster loading times. The DS version is again the last choice. It's a valiant attempt to translate the game to handheld, but the indistinct color palate, character models, and pixilated cutscenes take the wind out of its sails.
Overall
1. PC
2. Xbox 360
3. PS3
4. DS
The Verdict
Lord of the Rings: Conquest isn't a revolutionary game, but it's one that fans of the series should get a nostalgic kick out of. In choosing which version to play, you'll have to think about what factors matter most to you. The PC version is the best looking of the bunch. It's also got the most control options, and playing with mouse and keyboards work quite well. On the downside, there are no achievements or Games for Windows support, and you'll be locked to one EA Online account for your copy of the game, which some fans may not be too happy about.
The 360 loads just a little bit more quickly than the PS3 version, and the added bonus of 4 player splitscreen (instead of the PS3's 2 player) is an advantage. The 360 looks a little bit darker than the PS3, but a quick adjustment of your TV levels and you should be able to get an equivalent image. The games are nearly identical, but in Head-To-Head's the small differences count and the 360 beats out the PS3 by a hair overall.
If you're looking for a handheld version of the game, the DS is your only option. It's unfair to expect it to match the console versions, but even on its own terms as a simpler portable game it's not that satisfying. The visuals are indistinct, the color palate is limited, and the gameplay is simple and repetitive. It's a good attempt to bring some of the scope and core design over from the consoles but it should be your last choice.
Overall
1. PC
2. Xbox 360
3. PS3
4. DS