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The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King for PlayStation 2
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King for the PlayStation 2 is an action game covering the film trilogy’s final phase. After opening at Helm’s Deep, the adventure divides into different paths. You follow Gandalf, Aragorn with his companions and the hobbits heading towards Mordor, among others. Assignments take you through besieged cities, dangerous paths and battles determining the war’s end.
In combat you combine fast attacks, powerful strikes, parries and ranged weapons. You keep enemies at a distance, break through protection or make room for your next move. Objects and mechanisms in the surroundings can help during battles. Successful attack chains earn experience for buying moves and upgrades between levels. Your character gradually gains more ways to deal with enemy groups.
You can play alone or cooperate locally with two players. Sharing the same view means considering each other’s position and direction. One player can occupy enemies while the other reaches an objective or attacks from afar. Film footage, voices and music connect individual assignments with the story. Return of the King centres on direct combat and concrete objectives within a larger struggle.
Region and language
Our PlayStation 2 games are PAL editions and come with a Dutch or English box, unless stated otherwise. By default, you receive the version for the European market. We note it in the product details if the region is different or the box is in another language. In almost all cases, the game is playable at least in English, and often in the other five common European languages too.
Manual
The manual is missing from this copy of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King for PlayStation 2. That is why the product title says “No Manual”. You receive the game in its box, without the instruction booklet. This makes the contents clear before you order.
The original printed manual usually contains at least English and often around six European languages. The languages vary by edition; Dutch is not always included. This information describes the original booklet and does not mean that it comes with this copy. A copy with a manual is offered separately when available.
The history of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King was released for the PlayStation 2 in 2003. EA Redwood Shores developed it and Electronic Arts published it as the follow-up to The Two Towers. Its release preceded Peter Jackson’s third film. The story again connected film footage with playable events, allowing players to experience the final journey through Middle-earth before the cinema release.
EA collaborated closely with New Line Cinema and the film production. Images, designs and other production materials helped match locations and characters to the film world. Movements from the stunt team, recorded dialogue and Howard Shore’s music also contributed to development. The collaboration created an adaptation with direct visual and audible ties to the films, alongside its own situations requiring player action.
The sequel expanded the structure with different storylines and more playable heroes. Gandalf and the hobbits joined Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli. Cooperation also became an important addition, while the basis of attacks, parries and upgrades remained familiar. Within EA’s original film games, Return of the King marks the move from The Two Towers’ solo campaign to a broader adaptation where two players can tackle the same battles.
Similar games for PlayStation 2
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers is the direct predecessor, sharing attacks, parries and experience. It mainly follows Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli through the first two films. Return of the King adds other heroes, several paths and local cooperation, centring the trilogy’s conclusion.
The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age also travels through the film world of Middle-earth and meets familiar heroes. Its own party fights in turns using menu commands. Return of the King gives you direct movement and attacks as the film heroes. Similar surroundings therefore lead to very different combat choices.
Champions of Norrath combines real-time fantasy combat, developing your own hero and cooperative play. You collect many weapons and equipment while exploring. Return of the King uses established film characters, developing them mainly through new attacks. Both ask you to consider each other’s positions when fighting together.
Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance also offers local two-player cooperation and direct fantasy combat. It emphasises dungeons, loot and choosing equipment. Return of the King connects its assignments to film events and battles. Both share the screen, making coordinated movement part of the approach.
God of War shares direct controls, attack chains and varied enemy types. Kratos follows his own Greek-mythological story using chained weapons. Return of the King divides action among familiar heroes and offers cooperation. Recognising an opening between attacks matters in both when building a successful sequence of hits.
