When it comes to making PC games work using a console game pad, most PC gamers and developers would say it's just not possible. Some PC games can make an easy transition, but Real-Time Strategy titles are almost exclusively left to the PC. Up until now, that has been a wise decision, but with the release of The Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth II for Xbox 360, Electronic Arts has proved that it's not only possible, but relatively easy.

Perhaps easy isn't the word we should be using here, since it undoubtedly took a great deal of effort to make the controls work. However, after spending a good deal of time with the game, the control scheme is nearly perfect. Every action is readily available with a minimal amount of effort, and anything that you'll be using regularly can be bookmarked for even easier access. Most of the commands are initiated with the left or right triggers, giving you access to a rotating dial in the lower left corner of the screen. From here you can select your builders, heroes, bookmarks and just about everything else. The A button is your selecting button, while the B button cancels out a selection.

In a game like BFME2, controls are very important. Once you have the controls down, you'll be moving around your army, building your base and doing everything else with precision and ease. While the control scheme is listed in the manual and through the in-game pause menu, there's no tutorial mode. The control scheme works extremely well once you've adjusted to it, but the moment you pick up the game, you won't know what you're doing. A training mode of some sort (at least as an option) would've been nice for a game of this nature, but Xbox 360 owners should be adjusted to the control scheme by the second or third mission. (Correction: After publication of this article, it was brought to our attention that a tutorial mode is accessible from the main menu, but not at the start of the single player mode. This does not change the final score of this title. Our apologies for the misleading information.)

The single player mission structure in the game plays out just like it does on the PC. From the onset you can choose between the forces of good and the forces of evil. Each side has their own story, and while the story is fairly solid and entertaining, it's not really the focus of BFME2. You'll get a few nice cut-scenes before and after each mission to progress the story, but the battles are what really make this game, and even the very first mission throws you into the fray and leaves you begging for more.

Of course BFME2 won't appeal to all Xbox 360 owners. In order to successfully port the game to the Xbox 360, a good amount of the processing power went to simulating a full battle. This is something that couldn't be done on previous consoles, but the graphics have taken a slight hit. If you're accustomed to the graphic splendor of Ghost Recon or Oblivion, you may be a bit disappointed with BFME2. Strategy games are rarely known for their visual quality, and PC gamers have come to understand this. Xbox 360 owners may be a bit under whelmed by the slightly lower level of graphics in the game when compared to other titles on the 360.

Battle for Middle-earth II is not about the graphics, and hopefully Xbox 360 owners who are looking to pick this one up realize that. This is game that is all about depth and strategy. Playing against the computer will force you to stay on your toes and learn to use your resources quickly and wisely. It would be a good idea to play through at least five or six missions in the single player campaign before digging into what really makes or breaks BFME2: the online multiplayer.