Guardians of Middle-earth (Game)

Guardians of Middle-earth

GAME » on December 4, 2012

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Guardians of Middle-earth is an action real-time strategy video game based around The Lord of the Rings franchise.

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Overview

Guardians of Middle-earth is a MOBA-style game developed by Monolith Productions, set in J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings universe. Players participate in online objective-based competitive multiplayer matches, with the ultimate goal being the destruction of the opposing teams base, or the highest score after time expires.

The game is a 5 vs 5 team-based effort played from an isometric point of view, with each team made up of a mix of good and evil characters from the LotR fiction. Players may choose a game mode that will auto-fill empty slots with AI bots if there are not enough players to start a match. Each player chooses a Guardian that has unique abilities and attacks, and players work together to move across the map to the other team's base to destroy it. There is also a Survival Mode (Concept) where up to five players take on waves of enemies trying to destroy their towers.

Versions

The game is available digitally via PSN or XBLM for $15, and at retail on PS3 for $30. The downloadable version excludes eight of the Guardians and the Survival Mode, which is all locked behind DLC (but available as a bundle with the season pass), while the retail copy includes this content in the package.

The Season Pass is available for $15, and includes 8 Guardians and 1 game mode:

Bilbo
Bert
Great Goblin
Thorin
Radagast
Gloin
Barrow-wight Lord
Snaga
Survival Game Mode

Gameplay

The game begins with each team starting in their base positioned in their half of the map. Various paths or "lanes" connect each base (there are 1-lane maps and 3-lane maps). The lanes are populated with towers, each protecting their corresponding teams half of the map. The player controlled "Guardians" move across the map eliminating towers and battling enemies with the ultimate goal of reaching and destroying the enemies base.

The Guardians are aided by smaller AI controlled warriors that spawn in waves from fortifications called Barracks located at the bases, positioned at the mouth of each lane. These warriors are much weaker than the Guardians, but will spawn endlessly and march down their respective lane, automatically attacking enemy towers and drawing fire. As the round progresses and players level up their Guardians, they are also able to upgrade their towers and barracks to make them stronger.

Loadouts

Selecting relics & gems in the loadout.

Players are given loadout slots which they select in the lobby after selecting a Guardian. Loadouts are not Guardian specific, rather they can be matched with any character of their choosing. Loadouts consist of a number of different customizable options:

Belt

Each loadout has a "belt" in which Relics can be placed. Relics grant the players certain boosts to their abilities, health, speed, etc. Relics hold Gems, and the specific Gems slotted in the Relics are what determines the exact value of these boosts.

Commands

Commands are very strong modifiers that have a temporary impact on a character's attributes, but have a much longer cooldown time, often 3-4 minutes or more. These commands can quickly save a player from death, or even deal a fatal blow during battle. When used properly, Commands can be a great asset to players.

Potions

Potions are single use buffs that players can use at any time. Potions can grant any number of boosts, such as health, resiliency, etc. Once used they are gone for good, and new ones must be purchased in between matches...but since they are single use they typically cost less coins to purchase.

Persistence

Although in-game Guardian levels reset before each match, the game does feature persistent leveling, awarding players XP and coins (and sometimes relics and gems) at the end of each match. As players level up, they unlock access to more commands, potions & loadout slots, all of which can be purchased using coins.

If a player reaches maximum rank, they are even given the option to Prestige (Concept).

Guardians

There are dozens of playable Guardians to choose from, but only a handful are immediately available to new players. Additional Guardians are unlocked via either in-game currency or paid DLC.

Each Guardian has one single basic attack, and four unique "Abilities," which can range from area of effect attacks, buffs for teammates, speed boosts, or other various effects. These Abilities all have cooldown timers, but they are fairly short. As players level up their Guardian by destroying towers and killing opposing units, they put upgrade points towards increasing the power of these abilities. These in-match levels are not persistent, and reset before each match.

Each Guardian belongs to one of five classes; Warrior, Enchanter, Defender, Striker, and Tactician. These classes give the player an idea what kind of abilities & play style they have. Defenders for example have more defensive attributes, such as healing & shielding teammates, where Warriors have more offensive abilities, such as attack power and shields. Enchanters have more magic based attacks, Tacticians typically have access to traps, and Strikers use speed and stealth to surprise their enemies.

Enchanters

Agandaur

Dark Assault - Teleport, Damaging and Rooting
Northern Bolt - Lightning attack with Ability Damage
Overcharge - Enhances other Abilities, increases Penetration
Shockwave - Area attack with Damage and Slowing

Barrow-wight Lord

Barrow's Torment - Damages Enemies initially and over time
Chilling Touch - Reduces Enemy Guardian or Creature Attack Speed while increasing own
Drain the Soul - Life Steals from a single target
Undeath - Passive death Immunity, Teleport and Damage an Enemy while undead

Gandalf

Narya's Power - Blinds and damages Enemies
Fireworks - Damages and Silences Enemies in an area
Flame of Anor - Creates Shield and reveals Enemies
Gandalf's Might - Damages and Stuns a single Enemy

Lugbol

Ashen Wolf - Summons a wolf that Damages and Taunts
Fiery Grasp - Inflicts Damage and Knockup
Snuff Them Out - Damages Enemies while restoring Health
Furious Flames - Line attack with True Damage and Blind

Ori

As It Is Written - Marks and Damages nearby Enemies
Ancient History - Creates Damage Shield
Last Word - Damages nearby Enemies
Dirge of Durin - Damages or Stuns nearby Enemies

Radagast

Vibrant Glade - Increased Attack Speed, Reduced Controlling Effects
Whispering Leaves - Deals Ability Damage, briefly Silences
Blackbird Song - Deals True Damage and Blinds Enemy Guardians and Creatures
Roots of Greenwood - Roots Enemies, slows and deals Ability Damage

Saruman

Focused Magic - Stuns Enemy Guardian, deals area Ability Damage
Spies of Saruman - Reveals, Slows and deals Ability Damage over Time
Burst Shield - Shield that detonates for area Ability Damage and Silence
Power of the White Wizard - Channeled Ability Damage over Time

Defenders

Eowyn

Shieldmaiden - Shields self and nearby Allies
Know My Fury - Roots nearby Enemies
Great Renown - Heals Allies at the cost of own Health
I Am No Man - Damages targets and stuns all enemies

Galadriel

Golden Gaze - Causes Damage and Fear to nearby Enemies
Lothlórien Grove - Damages Enemies, Heals Allies, all Stealth
Power of Nenya - Pulls, Stuns, and Slows close range Enemies
Evening Star - Restores Ally Health at the cost of own

Great Goblin

Dizzying Smash - Area attack that deals Damage and lowers Resistances
Ramming Oppression - Target area attack with Damage
Ancestral Will - Restore Health and become immune to Damage for a brief time
Goblin Insult - Leap attack with Knockup, Damage and Taunt

Mouth of Sauron

Dark Shout - Medium range attack with Damage and Fear
Will of Sauron - Roots Enemy Guardian at Medium Range while draining the victim's Health
Deceitful Ways - Lifesteals and gains temporary Invulnerability
Stream of Lies - Area attack with Silence, Slow, and Ability Damage

Witch King

Malice - Causes Damage in area and improves next attack
Despair - Slows a targeted Enemy and nearby Enemies
Darkness - Taunts an Enemy and Reflects Damage
Death - Causes Damage and reduces Enemy Healing

Wulfrun

Arcane Arts - Shields self and Allies, removes Controlling Effects
Wretched Vapors - Area effect that Damages and Knocks Enemies away
Defensive Chaos - Heals nearby Allies
Dark Forces - Reduce Ally Cooldowns, enhance own Abilities

Strikers

Bilbo

Attercop! Attercop! - Damages and Taunts an Enemy
Gaffer's Home Cider - Attack Speed and Critical Hit chance increases
Hobbit Sense - Enter Stealth for a brief time
Sting - Teleport, Damages an Enemy, Immune to Root

Frodo

Heavy Burden - Gains Stealth at the cost of his Health
Mithril Mail - Frodo briefly Shields himself and gains Resistances
Light of Eärendil - Blinds and Stuns nearby Enemies
Sting's Bite - Damages and Slows an enemy

Gollum

Throttle - Single target attack with Damage and Silence
We Are Starved - Roots an Enemy, causes Damage and Heals self
My Precious - Defeat an Enemy with Damage and Attack Speed
Coward - Removes Controlling Effects and increases Movement

Haldir

Forest Sprint - Movement and Attack Speed Increases
Sea of Arrows - Area attack that inflicts Damage and Roots Enemies
Tree Top Ambush - Teleports and Stuns on next attack
Wrath of the Elves - Ranged attack with high Damage

Kili

Wound - True Damage and Arrow that Stuns Guardians and Creatures
Flare - Blinds, then Reveals Stealthed or hidden Enemies in a small area
Scout - Tumbles and clears himself of Controlling Affects, Movement increase if enemy marked
Make it Count - True Damage and Slows Enemy Guardians

Legolas

Silvan Agility - Teleport, Invisibility, increases Move Speed
Woodland Shot - Range attack causing Ability Damage, Slow
Greenwood Blades - Damages, Roots, and Slows Enemies in close range
Elven Onslaught - Knockback, Ability Damage, reduces Resistances

Snaga

A Mouthful - Deals Damage and gains Health
Ravenous - Stuns a marked target
Famished - Extra Damage and Resistances, Weakness against marked Enemy Guardian
Salivate - Marks enemy Guardian and gains Movement and Attack Speed

Unglob

Stick - Damages, Blinds, and Pulls Enemies closer
Hunt - Increases own Movement Speed, clears Controlling Affects, and is briefly invulnerable
Drain - Persistent area that Slows and Damages
Bite - Lifesteal, Damages and Stuns Enemy

Tacticians

Bert

Bonfire - Fire that Damages Enemies and Towers
Spirits - Increase Movement Speed and Resistances
Mutton - Pull, Stun and Damage Enemy
Stumbling Rage - Area attack with Fear and Damage

Elrond

Call of Rivendell - Increases Movement and Attack Speeds, Damage
Take Refuge - Area effect increases Health and Resistances
Elven Grace - Damages Enemies and give Stealth to Allies
Honored Guard - Summons an archer to Damage and Slow Enemies

Felgrom

Lob! - Area ranged attack with Damage and Stun
Burn! - Trades Damage to Enemies for loss of Health
Trap! - Explosive trap with Damage and Knockup
Ka-boom! - Sacrifice self to destroy Enemies

Gothmog

Black Land Banner - Trap that draws Enemy fire
Grond's Blow - Rush attack with Knockup, Damage and Stun
War-machine - Trebuchet that fires at Enemies
Rain of Doom - Area attack that damages Enemy units and Structures

Hildifons

Dwarven-fire Flask - Deals Damage and reduces Resistance
Took's Wall - Trap that Damages and Blinds
Brandywine Barbs - Trap that Damages and Slows Enemies
Halfling's Trap - Timed trap deals True Damage and Knockback

Nori

Dwarven Onslaught - Increase Basic Damage of nearby Allies
Fortitude - Increases Allied Resistances, Slows Enemies
Man the Walls! - Nearby units and Structures gain Resistance
Swift Blow - Teleport then Damage Structures

Runsig

Catapult of Angmar - Catapult with increasing range, damage, Health
Unbending - Creates Shields for Allies and Structures
Forceful Call - Increases Movement Speed and Health for nearby Allies
March of the Northmen - Speed increases for Allies and Structures

Warriors

Arathorn

Staggering Shot - Ranged attack with Ability Damage and Stun
Chieftain's Focus - Damages Guardian or Creature, increases own Attack Speed
Dúnedain Blade - Area attack that Damages and Slows Enemies
Ranger's Strike - Damages and Slows Enemies, enter Stealth

Beregond

Guard of the Citadel - Area attack with Damage and Silence
Shield of Gondor - Shield that absorbs Damage and increases Movement Speed
Turning of the Tide - Deals Damage while removing Controlling Effects
Noble Sacrifice - Taunts Enemy Guardians and Creatures

Gloin

A Bit of Fire - Damages nearby Enemies and gives Glóin haste
Dwarven Stubborness - Increased Resistances and lights Enemies on fire that strike him
Durin's Line - Damages all Enemies in a Target Area
Mighty Axe - Medium range area attack with Damage and Stun

Mozgog

Berserker Rage - Increases own Movement and Attack Speeds, Health
Brutal Draught - Trades Health for increased Damage
Vile Taunt - Taunts Enemies and reflects damage
Bloodied Blade - Area attack with Damage and Fear

Sauron

Might of Barad-dûr - Target Area attack, Ability Damage, Knockback
Shadow Walk - Teleport and gain Stealth
Dark Lord's Reach - Damages and Roots a single Enemy
The Lidless Eye - Reveal, Damage, then inflict Fear

Thorin

Wrath - Increase Movement and Attack Speeds
Revenge - Melee attack causing Ability and True Damage, can deal a Critical Hit
Oakenshield - Creates a Shield and reduces Enemy Attack Speed
Heart of the Mountain - Increase Critical Hit chance

Thrain

Hammer Throw - Damages and Slows Enemies with ranged attack
Lethal Blow - Causes True Damage and Roots Enemies
Dwarven Valor - Reduces Controlling Effects and Damage
Durin’s Wrath - Reduce Resistances, Knocks Enemies into air

Ugluk

Charge of the Uruk-hai - Roots target and causes Fear on nearby Enemies
Orcish Medicine - Regain Health at the cost of Attack Speed
White Hand's Whip - Damages, Slows and Knocks Enemy into air
Fury of Isengard - Single target attack with Damage and Knockback

System Requirements

Minimum

OS: 32-bit: Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo, 2.4 GHz | AMD Athlon X2, 2.8 GHz or better
Memory: 2 GB RAM
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTS | AMD Radeon 3850 or better
DirectX: Version 10
Network: Broadband Internet connection
Hard Drive: 8 GB available space
Additional Notes: Windows XP and DirectX® 9.0c and below not supported

OS: 64-bit: Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8
Processor: Intel Core i5 750, 2.67 GHz | AMD Phenom II X4 965, 3.4GHz or better
Memory: 4 GB RAM
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 | AMD Radeon HD 6950 or better
DirectX: Version 11
Network: Broadband Internet connection
Hard Drive: 8 GB available space
Additional Notes: Windows XP and DirectX® 9.0c and below not supported

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