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WE TAKE A LOOK at an amazing new MMORPG based on the world of The Lord of the Rings and test our mettle against the forces of evil.

Based on J.R.R. Tolkien's books and drawing on some of the imagery from the movies, The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar (LOTRO) from Codemasters promises a vast amount of potential. It would be a safe bet the game will amass a huge and dedicated fan base - even prior to its release in late April.

Our time with the beta introduced us to some of the playable races including dwarfs, elves, humans - and of course halflings. From the character selection screen you can chose an array of character types including Hunter, Lore-master, Minstrel, Champion, Burglar, Captain and Guardian. You also have the ability to change the appearance of your character both in facial features and physique. This opens to the door to a wide variety of unique characters.

As you would expect, the early stages of the game introduce a lot of game concepts and controls; it also quickly enmeshes you in some very Tolkienesque plot lines. This is likely to be one of the main hooks for the game as everything seems familiar, while simultaneously giving you a sense of being part of a wider plot to an extent that we have not seen before in a fantasy online game. There are familiar faces to talk to and some of the plot lines could almost have been lifted from the books themselves.

The controls are easy to use; this and the combat system will be immediately familiar to any player of current popular MMORPGs. The action skill bars and bags etc. are all located at the bottom of the screen and these can be altered by dragging in more of your learned skills and talents as you progress. The animation while in combat is quite impressive and hints to a very very good looking game once everything is finalised. The beta world graphics were magnificent in places while other areas had a 'work in progress' feel about them. Spellcasting and effects were well detailed - even down to pulling out the reagents from your pouch before casting the spell.

Upon release the game will also sport a crafting system where players can forge their own weapons, armor and items or pursue more peaceful endeavours, including farming and cooking. With player versus player at a consensual level LOTRO will also be a haven for players who value a large slice of role playing in their game playing experience.

Our first impressions of LOTRO were extremely favourable; we liked its grounding in the Tolkien mythos and we particularly liked how it has taken the familiar gameplay elements and welded them into a very nice roleplaying package. It will be subscription-based, but at this point in time there is no confirmation as to monthly cost. Look out for The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar on 26th April.

Game features:

Experience Classic Tolkien: Meet famous characters like Gandalf and the Fellowship. Explore legendary locations like the Prancing Pony and Rivendell! Battle deadly enemies, including Nazgūl, Trolls, and Uruk-Hai!

Defeat the Shadows of Angmar: Join with the Fellowship and fight against the forces of Sauron. Confront the forces of the Nazgūl Witch-king in the North. Protect the Shire and root out evil on Weathertop.

Explore Ancient Lands: Journey through Middle-earth to collect valuable Tolkien lore, knowledge, and artifacts that bring your hero greater powers. Complete ambitious quests of courage and exploration that bestow compelling character traits.

Create a unique character: Adventure as a Man, Elf, Dwarf or Hobbit. After choosing where your character hails from, select region-appropriate color palettes for skin, hair, eye color, and more. Equip yourself with items like sturdy Dwarven armor, intricate Elven mail, or weapons created with the knowledge of past Ages. Choose one of seven classes: deal massive damage as a Champion, protect your fellowship as a Guardian, beguile your enemies as a Burglar, or try a Captain, Hunter, Minstrel, or Lore-master. .

Fight alone or with other players: With hundreds of hours of gameplay, there's plenty to do in LOTRO as a solo player or in a fellowship. Follow the storyline on your own or form a fellowship with other players for epic battles against creatures like Orcs, Wights, and even Balrogs. Coordinated fellowships can use group combo moves to do incredible damage, heal their fellowship, or restore their energy – how they harness the power of a combo is entirely up to them to decide!

Show me the screenshots!