Lord of the Rings, The - The Third Age (USA, Europe)

The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age for GBA is a turn-based RPG that tells a parallel story to the main storyline of the movies. Instead of controlling Frodo and his companions, players lead a team of entirely new characters, yet closely connected to the events in the film. Their journey will run parallel to Frodo's, with its own battles and challenges.

Gameplay focuses on turn-based battles where you control a party of up to four characters. Each character has their own stats, weapon types, and spells. Party composition and strategy are crucial to victory. The battle system is relatively simple yet deep enough to require thoughtful consideration of each move. You'll need to leverage each character's strengths and exploit enemy weaknesses.

Beyond battles, the game features world exploration. The map is quite detailed, allowing players to freely move and explore different areas. During exploration, you'll find items, weapons, and new armor to upgrade your characters. There are many side quests alongside the main storyline, adding to the game's appeal and richness.

The character upgrade system is also quite diverse. Players can upgrade characters' strength, defense, and skills by accumulating experience. The choice of upgrades will affect a character's fighting style, allowing players to customize their party as they wish.

In summary, The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age on GBA is an engaging turn-based RPG with a captivating storyline, exciting battle system, and high customizability. It's a worthwhile game for fans of The Lord of the Rings and those who enjoy the RPG genre.