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Introduction

The Fellowship marches on! Our heroes have traveled to the bellows of the worlds depth and back, but the focus on The One Ring has become a daze. The Fellowship must rekindle their spirits, and carry on. The most fearsome battles are still yet to come. The world depends on their fate, and their devotion will be tested... and all of this weight comes down onto your shoulders.

But don't fear, Bilbo, because we here at IGN Guides have got your covered! The sections are here, just click on them and drool from amazement! If you love the 80's, you're here in the Introduction. For those looking for general tips on learning the game, check out the Basics. Are you looking for those wonderful tips to guide your way around the nasty stages and bosses? Get the Walkthrough. I bet you like to cheat, don't you? We have your Secrets, as well! Note that this walkthrough is written based on the Normal difficulty.

So relax, crazy puffin, the only ring you should fear is the wedding band.

Basics

Leveling Up In Groups

While it may seem as if it is a waste to level up an entire party with one certain attack, it will be very wise, and not to mention that it can save you quite a bit of Experience Points, if you buy the given attack for the entire party rather than just a single character. After all, if an attack is good enough to use with every character, buy in bulk! Your pocket change will last longer this way, even if the initial purchase is costly.

Destroying Shielded Enemies

One of the very common overlooked tips in the game is based around breaking the enforced shields of the basic enemy. Instead of pounding on them forever, you can simply use the Fierce Attack button to destroy the enemy's shield. After you have knocked their shield away, you can easily destroy the enemy as you normally would dispose of the enemies in the surrounding area.

Projectiles Love You, So Love Them Back

The projectiles in the game are amongst the most useful when you are low on health. Most enemies (as in "the ones without a shield") will easily be defeated by your projectile attacks, and if you are running on your last leg, you can easily stop from a long distance and take out those enemies that are perusing you.

Combos—-And Not The Bite Size Snacks, Either

Combos are the easiest way of getting yourself out of the worst of situations throughout the game. If you cannot defeat a certain enemy, or a certain boss, try buying new combos and mastering them along the way to your destination. A combo will take down 50% more health than your typical attacks, which makes them the key to succeeding in the toughest of battles.

Advanced Combos

Whenever you are going for the surefire kills in Return Of The King, you will want to make sure that the little circular meter is full near your experience point count. This will give you more Experience Points than simply killing an enemy with the meter empty, and it will lead to more Good to Perfect kills instead of the Fair kills that accompany the majority in the game.

(Steve) Parry

One of the most overlooked aspects in the game by newbies is the fact that you can Parry the attacks of others by pressing the Parry Button. This goes for practically every type of enemy, including the Archer's arrows. If you are in a rut, just remember to perform the Parry move to block the engaging enemy's attack.

Get Through The Sluggish Areas Fast

There are several areas with fog, or any other substance that will slow your character's movements down. A quick and easy solution to this is to turn around and use the Retreat Button to jump back very quickly. Of course, you will be advancing through the stage if you are turned around, and plus you will be less likely to get hit during the "slow" walking spots.

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Character Selection

All of the characters will have their given turns in individual stages, however, the list of playable characters in each stage do not differ completely. While selecting a different character may change how well you play, as all characters are different, the few available resemble one another to the point that the mission is fairly the same as it plays out. In other words, there are no major differences when choosing another character. For individual freedom, we here at IGN Guides suggest that you try different characters to suit your liking. All players are different, sort of like feet. Just keep on trying the shoes on until you say "Hey, that's a nice shoe." Figuratively speaking, of course.

Gandalf

Arguably the best character in the entire game, Gandalf is the powerful wizard amongst the Fellowship that can eliminate practically everything in his path. If you are big on using magic, Gandalf can use it to a limited degree, and his melee tactics are spectacular when you are trapped in sticky situations. Gandalf is highly recommended for all players.

Aragorn

Aragorn is the classic, standard, overall good character to choose in the game. His melee tactics are amongst the best in the game. Although his far range combat is lacking, his melee tricks more than make up for his follies on a grand scale. Aragorn is easy to handle for newbies to the series, and will work fantastically in groups of swarming enemies. Aragorn is highly recommended to the average player.

Gimli

Gimli is the ultimate battle-axe warrior. His attacks are slower than most characters, although they pack a serious punch once they connect. He is the equivalent of your basic tree-cutting dwarf from classic beat'em-ups, including the Golden Axe series. Gimli is a choice for moderate player.

Legolas

Legolas is a strong character in the game due to his defensive offense from afar with the bow and arrow tactics. Legolas is a perfect character to check out if you are an advanced gamer, as he's more than just a "Hack And Slash" type of warrior. This is the thinking man's offensive weapon.

Sam

Sam is the ideal fighter. While he is not the most powerful melee duelist, he is very good in the category, and while he is not the quickest character, he is very nimble with the sword for his size. A lot of players prefer Sam, and for a good reason. He is a good character that can be mastered with perfection, despite him being a mere companion on the quest.

Frodo

Our most dear hero of the Lord Of The Rings trilogy is only selectable for one mission, and one that barely showcases his excellence in the field of "whupping monster booty." Frodo is much like Sam, in that he does not provide anything too complicated, and is a simple swordsman that will pierce enemies very easily. A good to great character to use, much like Sam.