 After playing the game , PC Gamer found little fault with it , calling it a very well @-@ balanced game overall . The magazine also was pleased that the game 's " production values [ were ] sky @-@ high " , with which GamesRadar agreed , explaining , " It 's not often you come across an RTS with production values this high ; every part seems to be polished till it shines . " When compared to its predecessor , The Lord of the Rings : The Battle for Middle @-@ earth , GamePro was convinced The Battle for Middle @-@ earth II had improved upon the original in several fundamental ways . GameSpot believed that The Battle for Middle @-@ earth II offered better gameplay and a much broader scope that encompassed more of Middle @-@ earth . 
