20 More Cult Classics Trapped On Old Consoles

We all remember the first time we watched The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Quite a few of us also remember the Two Towers game, and even more of us fondly remember the Return of the King tie-in. 

Rather than loosely adapting the film, the 2003 EA-developed title closely followed its events with the use of actual film footage and voice performances from the cast. It represents a rarity for tie-in games, being a perfect accompaniment to the film, with gameplay that is also fantastic in its own right. Being able to play as multiple playable characters including Aragorn, Legolas, and Gandalf was a dream come true for many fans, and this alongside the ability to play out iconic battles like Minas Tirith and Pelennor Fields has cemented its cult classic status. 

It also represents a relatively rare win for licensed video games at the time, and is an example of what a lovingly crafted tie-in can play like compared to many comparatively soulless releases of the early 2000s. Many people still pine for a return to this world in video game form, with the recent The Lord of the Rings: Gollum and Tales of the Shire games falling way below par. Unfortunately, the PS2 and Gamecube are the only consoles able to provide this particular trip back to Middle-Earth, but with those aforementioned recent failures creating more of an appetite for a good Lord of the Rings game, perhaps we may yet see the return of this tie-in king.