Gandalf versus Sauron? Legolas going against the Uruk-hai leader Ugluk? Sounds like the makings of a new Lord of the Rings role-playing game. But in fact, that’s just a small sampling of the more than 20 playable champions in Monolith’s risky but exciting foray into the Multiplayer Online Battle Arena genre.

The Lord of the Rings license helps those new to MOBAs quickly get a grasp of Guardians of Middle-earth’s concepts. You may not know what a Striker class is used for, but you can probably guess how the arrow-slinging Legolas probably handles in a game. In all, the 20-plus Guardians are placed into five categories for easier selection. There’s the offensive-minded Striker, the damage-absorbing Defender, the well-rounded Warrior, the supportive Tactician, and the ability-draining Enchanter

Outside of combat, there are large storefronts selling gems you add to your “belt” to provide buffs for your character and team, potions you can equip for quick boosts, and four tiers of slottable Commands, which are a set of epic abilities available to any Guardian provided they reach a high-enough level during a match. The most powerful Commands summon either a fiery Balrog or a towering Ent to the battlefield.

To keep the pacing fast and intense, prior to battle you’ll create a series of loadouts to determine how your Guardian upgrades as you level up during a match. However, there are a few upgrades you’ll select in the heat of battle. Along with a standard attack on the right trigger, each Guardian has four unique abilities activated with the face buttons. All of these are upgradable only while the match is running. Galadriel, for example, can create vines to “root” an opponent in place or sacrifice some of her own health to heal nearby allies.

You’ll also be able to improve the effectiveness of your defensive towers, determining its attack type or even having it cast a proximity-specific healing spell. And you can improve the class of A.I.-controlled soldiers spawned near your base. Giant spiders trump tiny, faceless humanoids any day in Middle-earth.

The conflicts are hectic and last about 20 minutes. Though there’s certainly plenty of hacking and slashing, there’s also a good deal of strategy. Do you rush the middle and try to push quickly to destroy enemy towers? Or do you and an ally go off the main path to claim one of the maps few shrines, which provide buffs for your entire team?

Teams who make smart use of the five character classes are certain to come out on top, and learning to counter your enemies can change the tide of battle. Nori has a potent charge-up attack that can nearly take down a tower on its own, making him a tough opponent. But if you select an Enchanter who casts a spell that silences the dwarf, you can cancel his efforts.

Guardians of Middle-Earth is something new, something exciting, and something daring for XBLA. For most 360 gamers, it’s unlike anything they’ve played before.

PUBLISHER: Warner Bros. • DEVELOPER: Monolith • MULTIPLAYER: 5-vs-5 via Xbox Live • RELEASE DATE: Fall 2012 • FOR FANS OF: Balrogs, dwarves, chaotic combat