Veteran MMORPG developer Turbine (previously responsible for the likes of Asheron's Call and Dungeons & Dragons Online) has a new massively multiplayer game in town, and this one's a big licence. Translating such an epic tale must have been a daunting prospect, but fortunately Lord of the Rings Online manages to capture an enticing whiff of Middle Earth, and not just the smell of hobbits' feet.

The lush visuals certainly help to invoke a suitably Tolkien-esque atmosphere, with rolling green farmlands spilling into bustling towns packed with finely rendered buildings and hobbit-holes. Notch the graphics settings up and it all looks simply beautiful, although only a higher spec PC will be able to cope with the workload (particularly in the busier, player-packed cities).

It's not just the look of Lord of the Rings Online that impresses, but the references to Middle Earth lore which aid your immersion in the world, from the tales of hobbit traders to the Ring-wraith you catch a glimpse of in the very first quest. The quests are a definite highlight here, being crafted with a considerable attention to detail.

In another early outing, you've got to save some folk in a town that's being burned by pillaging bandits. This involves lots of running around chasing brigands and dousing flames. After the quest is over, the buildings actually become blackened husks, and the following quests that introduce you to the item crafting system refer to rebuilding and repairing this damage.

Yes, these are small touches of detail, but many of the missions you undertake boast immersive elements along with interesting plots and twists, far more so than your average MMORPG. That's not to say the standard "kill ten boars" tasks aren't here - because they are - but the quality of the quest scripting and design definitely stands out.

In terms of other MMORPGs, Lord of the Rings Online does bear influences from the juggernaut World of Warcraft: the interface here is largely identical, as was the case with the recently reviewed Vanguard. This is more a matter of convenience for established players than anything else, although parts of the interface do fall short. The hotbar icons don't look very polished, for example, and the loot buying and selling menus are unnecessarily clunky.

The combat system has also borrowed from ideas that EverQuest 2 originally championed, namely the special moves that can be instigated by groups in mid-fight. They're called fellowship manoeuvres here, and basically involve a sequence of button presses from each character in the party that pulls off some sort of very effective attack or group heal.

There's plenty of tactical scope in the combat mechanics, with the game's seven classes offering much in the way of interesting nuances in their abilities. Character customisation is facilitated by various "traits" which are earned by achieving certain goals, such as killing a number of monsters or completing a certain amount of quests. Every class has some scope for utility, so even the primary healer class (the minstrel) receives powers that allow them to buff, crowd control, and even melee to a slight extent. Also, every class can solo, although some do it more efficiently than others.

PvP (Player versus Player) combat fans have been catered for with the refreshingly different idea of having a zone where players can actually step into the shoes of monsters and battle other player's characters. This works well and provides a nice change of pace when you want a break from levelling your avatar.

The main criticism that can be levelled at Lord of the Rings Online is the standard MMORPG problem; at launch, the game isn't quite finished. The higher level abilities for some classes are lacking, and pets are somewhat broken (particularly the Loremaster's bear companion, who sometimes seems to wander off of his own accord, presumably to take a dump in the woods). The economy could also use some tweaking, as certain player crafting professions seem prohibitively expensive. Patches are due soon which will hopefully fix these and a number of other minor issues.

Despite some flaws in terms of unfinished content, which is admittedly par for the course in the MMORPG world, Lord of the Rings Online is an exciting gaming experience. The quests in particular shine, as do the well designed character classes and tactical combat, not to mention the novel approach to PvP. Only time will tell how the higher level game plays out, but for now, this is an excellent alternative for those getting tired of that other world (of Warcraft).