The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

Tolkien's Two Towers is arguably the most Hollywood-friendly novel of the trilogy and will no doubt translate into another blockbuster hit for New Line Cinema. But with the arrival of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers for PS2 this fall, it's the gamers who get to take a piece of the film home with them.

With complete backstage access to all three of New Line's films, Stormfront Studios can literally transport players into moments they've seen on the big screen, i.e., the Ringwraiths encounter at Weathertop, the fall of Saruman, etc., so they may experience them first-hand. In fact, uber-geek director Peter Jackson has stuck close to the game's development since its inception and regularly tests it as it progresses. Word in the gossip columns says he's a "big gamer," so hopefully, he'll offer some sound advice.

Forty percent of the game is taken from Fellowship and 60 percent from Towers, so you'll have your hands full playing as Aragorn, Gimli or Legolas. To get a taste of what's in store, imagine yourself as Aragorn, desperately running to Legolas' side during the assault at Helm's Deep and valiantly swordfighting throngs of smelly ores pouring over on all sides. Or feel the ground rumble under your feet as the heavy steps of a cave troll precede a wave of goblins crashing into Balin's Tomb. If it's in the films, you can bet it's in the game.

Each character executes straight-from-the-movie melee and ranged attacks, alongside an unlockable arsenal of special moves requiring specific button combos. An experience-point system for upgrading abilities is also crucial in combat, as witnessed when a dual-axe-wielding goblin outsmarted and outlived EGM's Reviews Editor Jon Dudlak not once but twice. Be assured that if you fail to execute a final blow, that jerk will stab you from behind (the ore, that is).

No multiplay for TT, although it's screaming for some co-op action. But with another title to coincide with the Return of the King next year and a "trilogy" title to follow, who knows what's to come.