The Lord of the Rings: War in the North

 PC
User Score
7.2

Mixed or average reviews- based on 362 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 201 out of 362
  2. Mixed: 106 out of 362
  3. Negative: 55 out of 362
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  1. SpectralAnubis
    Nov 1, 2011
    8
    Snowblind studios built it's name on console action RPG's. They haven't wandered from that path. They've left their mark on the gaming industry. Kudos to you Snowblind, this really is a nice gem. War in the North brings a 3 person co-op style of gameplay. The players have a choice between three different characters. Each with three skill trees and a multiple number of abilities. All threeSnowblind studios built it's name on console action RPG's. They haven't wandered from that path. They've left their mark on the gaming industry. Kudos to you Snowblind, this really is a nice gem. War in the North brings a 3 person co-op style of gameplay. The players have a choice between three different characters. Each with three skill trees and a multiple number of abilities. All three characters can either go melee or ranged during combat. Primarily there's two basic defensive moves, block and dodge. There's other abilities that can further defense. The games merits rely on the charming Tolkien lore which only enhances a unique and plausible storyline. Warner Brother's has really done a excellent job with expanding Tolkien's universe in various media outlets. Artwork is amazing, the plain fluid motion of the camera is flawless. Middle-Earth is painted with a darker brush, there's a gritty and grainy feel to the game. My only peeve with the game is that the two hardest difficulty settings aren't unlocked until completion of a play-through.

    Snowblind studios delivered easily a worthy pickup both on consoles and PC. 8/10    … Expand
  2. herkules-sama
    Aug 30, 2013
    7
    Far from fantastic, sadly. But it does provide a few hours of entertainment between each session you play. The world is beautiful along with the animations, although not much exploration options and sort of shorter than expected. Could probably prove a good challenge on harder difficult level with friends. All-in-all, it's a pretty decent, albeit linear hack-and-slash.
  3. Dutchboy
    Jan 27, 2013
    8
    This game deserves imo a higher rating. It is a beautiful game, with a great story (it differs from the Lord of the rings movies, in story and characters), so you don't feel like you're just playing out the movies.

    It is somewhat lineair: you can't leave the paths set for you, so okay it isn't as free as Skyrim, but it just doesn't feel restrictive. The path feels natural, not forced.    This game deserves imo a higher rating. It is a beautiful game, with a great story (it differs from the Lord of the rings movies, in story and characters), so you don't feel like you're just playing out the movies.

    It is somewhat lineair: you can't leave the paths set for you, so okay it isn't as free as Skyrim, but it just doesn't feel restrictive. The path feels natural, not forced.

    One negative I've read about, are the zombie like facial movements (or lack thereof) of some of the characters you meet in Rivendell, I have to agree with this, and it bothered me a little. Strangly I only felt like the facial animations lacked in Rivendell, in the rest of the world they were fine.

    I loved the amount of gear you could find, and that you really had a choice in equiping it: it differed enough to make it an interesting trade off, between for example damage and magical effects (of the item).

    I loved it, and will probably do another play through as a mage.    … Expand
  4. otakon17
    Nov 5, 2013
    7
    Snowblind Studios returns to the gaming community with what is essentially a fanfiction to the land of Middle-Earth. Everything is pretty well tied to the lore, beyond the game-y elements however. The story is typical "Save the world" as your heroes gain strength to stop the titular "War in the North". Dialogue is pretty well crafted and there are side quests to do that will give you extraSnowblind Studios returns to the gaming community with what is essentially a fanfiction to the land of Middle-Earth. Everything is pretty well tied to the lore, beyond the game-y elements however. The story is typical "Save the world" as your heroes gain strength to stop the titular "War in the North". Dialogue is pretty well crafted and there are side quests to do that will give you extra experience and money to spend. The combat is usually fast and frantic, with you and your allies able to lay out the pain but still able to lose if you don't keep your head. However, some enemies are just health sinks, taking minutes worth of combo's to down even with your most powerful techniques. They are thankfully few of these moments for the most part. The trolls however are the biggest perpetrators of this crime.

    The game has co-op and single play, with up to three selectable characters. The hardy Dwarf Warrior that can act as the parties tank or melee monster, a Dunedain Ranger that mostly is the ranged support but can also mix it up in melee just fine with the right skills and the Elven Loremaster who acts as the support caster and healer, with a few "nuke" like spells to help deal with crowds. However the game has a very odd way of handling character switching; everyone shares an inventory pool but do NOT give any items to your CPU allies, as it'll be lost forever. To that note, your CPU allies equip their own gear and it's separate for ever variation. If you play the Dwarf through, your Ranger and Loremaster will have their own gear. Switch over to the Ranger, and your Dwarf and Loremaster will have different gear depending on what they've found and the same if you play as the Loremaster.

    As for difficulty, it's fairly standard progressing onward to the final boss, but there are some parts that are downright impossible without human companions(a defense mission on the hardest difficulty comes to mind) but beyond that it's a fairly by the numbers hack and slash action RPG.

    In ending, if you have any love for the land of Middle-Earth and want to wander some of the more known environments of it in the shoes of the brave and bold warriors of the land, give this a shot.    … Expand
  5. DQT
    Nov 12, 2013
    6
    Pros:
    + Violent and gory, flying limbs are always good!
    + Executions and curbstomping + A combo system + Varied enemies + Great fun for co-op play! + Overall story is interesting enough + Longevity: took me 14 hours to beat, longer than most games these days + It's Lord of the Rings! Cons: - Dated graphics - Poorly optimized PC port - Uninspired voice acting - Cardboard    Pros:
    + Violent and gory, flying limbs are always good!
    + Executions and curbstomping
    + A combo system
    + Varied enemies
    + Great fun for co-op play!
    + Overall story is interesting enough
    + Longevity: took me 14 hours to beat, longer than most games these days
    + It's Lord of the Rings!

    Cons:
    - Dated graphics
    - Poorly optimized PC port
    - Uninspired voice acting
    - Cardboard characters with little personality
    - Generally poor plot progression and writing
    - Mediocre soundtrack and sound effects; sound design in general is poor

    Pro/Cons:
    +/- Bare Bones RPG system, though it is appreciated and adds much needed depth and progression
    +/- Fast paced, yet repetitive combat that is only satisfying during executions and some abilities
    +/- Online mode yet seems to be plagued with connection issues, the developer's effort is still appreciated
    +/- The difficulty is challenging, but at times frustrating. Your AI partners will often neglect coming to your aid, costing you your life. This doesn't become an issue until the latter half, with the majority of the game's first half being quite easy.

    Summary: A standard hack n' slash that is very contrived yet manages to be entertaining. Nothing about this game is unique, organic or original, it is very much a cookie cutter action rpg and not a very good one at that.

    Who should buy this game:
    *Hardcore Tolkien/Lord of the Rings fans
    *Those seeking a cooperative console game to play with friends
    *If it's on a bargain of 10$ or less, it's a steal, especially if you meet one of the two above criterias

    Who shouldn't buy this game:
    *PC gamers looking for a cooperative experience: online mode is buggy and local play is not available
    *Those looking to buy at full price, it's not worth it
    *Anyone who wants to play an above average action rpg

    6.5
    7.5 if playing co-op and 8 if playing co-op whilst drunk    … Expand
  6. killsimon
    Jan 12, 2013
    9
    The story is short and worthless, and there are very few levels. But the gameplay, fighting and all the other stuff is just amazing. They finally managed to make a lord of the rings game with some gore in it(you can chop off heads, arms, legs and there is lots of blood).
  7. Galather
    Sep 4, 2013
    10
    Fantastic hack & slash game with great graphics & good storyline. If you are looking for a game with intense combat with an over arching LOTR theme then this game is for you.
  8. OrangeHeadset
    Nov 11, 2013
    7
    I am a fan of the LOTR universe, so I liked this game even without playing it. When I actually aquired this game, I was a little disappointed. It seems to me as the developers haven't finished the game development yet. The graphics are a little outdate for the period this was released and it is like the developers were in a real hurry with this game, which really upsets me a lot. TheI am a fan of the LOTR universe, so I liked this game even without playing it. When I actually aquired this game, I was a little disappointed. It seems to me as the developers haven't finished the game development yet. The graphics are a little outdate for the period this was released and it is like the developers were in a real hurry with this game, which really upsets me a lot. The overall in-game menus, graphics, settings are just not that great. If you look past that, you will notice a really nice RPG.… Expand
  9. Matiben
    Jun 26, 2013
    9
    Lord of the Rings: War in the North is an excellent hack & slash game, themed with tales of the Middle-Earth. Snowblind Studios did an excellent work with the story, not using the classic "Take the ring to Mordor". Instead creating a new story in the cold north, filled with references to the lore of Lord of the Rings and also the Hobbit. Also with great voice actors, cutscenes, talentLord of the Rings: War in the North is an excellent hack & slash game, themed with tales of the Middle-Earth. Snowblind Studios did an excellent work with the story, not using the classic "Take the ring to Mordor". Instead creating a new story in the cold north, filled with references to the lore of Lord of the Rings and also the Hobbit. Also with great voice actors, cutscenes, talent trees combined with 3-player breathtaking combat and action. Slaughtering of the Armies of Sauron has never been more fun!
    But on the other hand, you should grab friends with you, because the AI companions aren't always the smartest or most useful. Overall: This is a great hack & slash with great story.    … Expand
  10. EdStephen
    Sep 6, 2013
    9
    I bought this game not expecting much due to the many mediocre reviews. From the start, I was pleasantly surprised. This is one of the best hack and slash RPGs I've found, and is definitely worth a play. If you enjoy RPGs where you can level up, or are a fan of the Lord of the Rings series, I would definitely recommend this game to you. The combat is complex and varied, the graphics areI bought this game not expecting much due to the many mediocre reviews. From the start, I was pleasantly surprised. This is one of the best hack and slash RPGs I've found, and is definitely worth a play. If you enjoy RPGs where you can level up, or are a fan of the Lord of the Rings series, I would definitely recommend this game to you. The combat is complex and varied, the graphics are great and the story line is very engaging.… Expand
  11. falmavar
    Feb 27, 2018
    10
    Very good game. It strongly recomended to the Tolkien fans. There is a big part of Middle-Earth story that was not opened if film. Nature and characters looks awesome.
  12. OneVoice
    Nov 26, 2011
    5
    I was really looking forward to this game. But the gameplay is just too similar to previous LOTR action adventure kinda games. I was really hoping for a truly epic story driven RPG set in the LOTR world, but this just doesn't meet it's potential, nowhere near. The gameplay is rather boring. The story is okay, but nothing of LOTR caliber. If you liked previous LOTR action adventure titles,I was really looking forward to this game. But the gameplay is just too similar to previous LOTR action adventure kinda games. I was really hoping for a truly epic story driven RPG set in the LOTR world, but this just doesn't meet it's potential, nowhere near. The gameplay is rather boring. The story is okay, but nothing of LOTR caliber. If you liked previous LOTR action adventure titles, you'll probably enjoy this game. If you weren't a big fan of what's already been done, there really isn't much more on offer here.… Expand
  13. Cell1e
    Dec 9, 2011
    7
    I have been playing this game for longer than I played Skyrim so there's a shocker for you.

    Whats good? The voice acting The storyline is cool. The characters are lovely and I enjoyed meeting and chatting to them all. The locations, graphics. The battles, I like the simple skills and the easy key mapping. I can manage my weapons well. I love the armours. I love the mirror you can    I have been playing this game for longer than I played Skyrim so there's a shocker for you.

    Whats good?
    The voice acting
    The storyline is cool.
    The characters are lovely and I enjoyed meeting and chatting to them all.
    The locations, graphics.
    The battles, I like the simple skills and the easy key mapping. I can manage my weapons well.
    I love the armours.
    I love the mirror you can change your hairstyle and face features etc whenver you like.
    Simple potion making and upgrading armours is nice.

    The Not so good
    The check point system, no way to load a previous save, ridiculous.
    The normal setting was way too hard for me, I was only ever able to play at easy level.
    Would prefer more inventory for potions and stones etc.

    It is a very linear game that closely follows the story, there are a few incidental side quests but for sure you will be caught up with the story, at least I was. I played all the other LOTR games and this is a great effort. Not up to Biowares standards but still a nice way to spend some time.
    But dont buy this game unless you can deal with the restrictions I mentioned and you dont mind a very linear game.

    The world itself is very pretty and pleasing. :)    … Expand
  14. rpm
    Apr 16, 2012
    9
    I have to say that I don't think some of these reviewers even played this game. To say that the graphics suck or that they look like PS2 or they are 5 years old?...that is ridiculous. I am about half way through this game and while there are aspects I am not crazy about I am having a very enjoyable time.

    1. Graphics - These are fantastic! In between battles I find myself just looking    I have to say that I don't think some of these reviewers even played this game. To say that the graphics suck or that they look like PS2 or they are 5 years old?...that is ridiculous. I am about half way through this game and while there are aspects I am not crazy about I am having a very enjoyable time.

    1. Graphics - These are fantastic! In between battles I find myself just looking around at the beautiful elven gardens, snowy crags of mountaintops, creepy forest tangles, or the many other gorgeous environments in this game. My wife is playing the new Star Wars online and her game looks like a cartoon compared to this game. 9/10

    2. Story - I find it very enjoyable to have the story and characters from LotR existing alongside and at times intertwining with this game's story. I don't really care to replay the books or the movies, so playing this "side story" is perfect. I feel like I am contributing in a major way to the fight against Sauron, but not replaying a known story. This gives it some gravity and some mystery at the same time. 8/10

    3. Gameplay/RPG Elements - While not as complex and thorough as many RPGs I've played, there is enough to do when leveling up to customize your player character. You add to the usual stats and then get to select between 3 skill areas. You also get to customize wearables with gems, and there is plenty of loot so you will frequently be upgrading your armor and weapons. 6/10

    4. Interface/Controls - This is perhaps where I'd make the most changes. Basically, you select one of the three main playable characters for a section of the game, then as you progress through the game there are points at which you can choose to remain as the same character or switch to one of the other two. At first I did not like this approach, but after a while I grew to enjoy playing three different character styles. It creates more varied play and encourages those of us who typically play RPGs as one character type to try new types. One thing I would add to the interface screen is a progress bar to the next "switch" site so I would know how close I am to being able to change characters. Also, I became aware that you must play as a character to level them up and swap wearables. 6/10

    5. Miscellaneous - Music, sound effects, and voice acting are superb. Art design is perfect for the story...a great mix of realism and fantasy. The game has gotten quite challenging here about half-way through, though I'd say the "boss" fights are (oddly) somewhat easier than the rest. One "glitch" I have found is that the two characters you are not controlling actually use more advanced skills than when you are playing as that character. For example, when playing as the ranger I noticed the dwarf shooting exploding bolts. When next I plated as the dwarf I saw that this was an advanced skill I had not been able to select yet.

    Summary - This game was a huge surprise, and a very enjoyable one. I actually prefer more detail and micro-managing in my RPGs, but this game is great for what it is. It is a bit linear and lacks the depth of some other traditional RPGs, but makes up for it with fantastic artwork, great story, and challenging battles.

    Overall Rating - 7.5    … Expand
  15. Quarri
    Jan 5, 2012
    5
    Get this game if you are planing on playing it with some casual gamers. do not get it if you are planning to play it with self defined 'hardcore gamers.' its not complicated, it looks terrible, combat is simple but entertaining.
  16. KyleShepard
    Dec 30, 2011
    7
    War in the North is a great experience but a repetitive one as well, so head straight to the review.
    Evaluation Method > Graphics, Gameplay, Story and Soundtrack & Effects.
    Graphics: Now while the graphics are very outdated they are enough to deliver a very immersive experience. The textures a bit blurred and badly polished but the overall art style makes up for it, the presentation is    War in the North is a great experience but a repetitive one as well, so head straight to the review.
    Evaluation Method > Graphics, Gameplay, Story and Soundtrack & Effects.

    Graphics: Now while the graphics are very outdated they are enough to deliver a very immersive experience. The textures a bit blurred and badly polished but the overall art style makes up for it, the presentation is just fantastic, recreating the world of Tolkien with a near perfect fidelity. Graphics Grade: 7/10
    Gameplay: Very repetitive, the game is not as violent as many expected, it just contains a bit of blood but nothing really spartacus-like. The problem is that the game will focus a lot on the xp your character has in order to defeat the enemies and the the player's skill. Gameplay Grade: 5/10
    Story: The Story is very well crafted because it goes parallel to the film's events and there are some mentions of those events but aren't really the focus. A good plot but not very strong overall. Story Grade: 7/10
    Soundtrack & Effects: The effects are well done but not as good as they could be. The Soundtrack is great and well placed, nothing revolutionary but very good nonetheless. Soundtrack & Effects Grade: 8/10

    LOTR: War in the North Final Grade: 6.75 which means 7/10.    … Expand
  17. axman151
    Nov 4, 2011
    10
    Everything an avid RPG fan would want in a game. With highly advanced co-op play, and an amazing combat system, mixed with decent, upgrade able characters and a good story-line, this game is a MUST play!
  18. Koo
    Nov 11, 2011
    8
    A great game that plays well on many PC configurations, I am pleasantly surprised by LOTR: WITN. As others have commented, the graphics are excellent and the gameplay is engaging. My one complaint is that the multiplayer is simply the singleplayer campaign with online play. No new maps or co-operative gameplay styles, as I was hoping. Also, the difficulty levels above Normal must beA great game that plays well on many PC configurations, I am pleasantly surprised by LOTR: WITN. As others have commented, the graphics are excellent and the gameplay is engaging. My one complaint is that the multiplayer is simply the singleplayer campaign with online play. No new maps or co-operative gameplay styles, as I was hoping. Also, the difficulty levels above Normal must be unlocked one at a time, but this disadvantage is also an advantage, in that it gives you a tangible reason to replay the game's single and multi-player adventures. All told, War in the North is a great game. It's light years ahead of most movie-based games, and is great fun to play. The only thing that would make it better in my books, is a more varied multiplayer experience. 8/10… Expand
  19. crimson40
    Nov 11, 2011
    8
    I am honestly enjoying it quite a bit. Co-op with my son is good fun. Maybe my expectations are too low, but I think it's well worth a playthrough. It doesn't have enough replayability for more than a playthrough or two.
  20. AragornTheGreat
    Nov 15, 2011
    10
    War in the North gives very enjoyable Co-Op good graphics and its yes LOTR.

    Co-Op is much more enjoyable then playing singeplayer as mostly is
  21. XiouxVincentres
    Feb 5, 2012
    6
    This is a pretty average RPG game, good graphics and good storyline, like the unwanted child of Diablo and Mass effect 2, but less exciting. It has some negative points though, like very limited character customization and when playing co-op, quests of a less advanced player are passed on to the more advanced player which makes for a do-over of quests in the advanced player's profile, evenThis is a pretty average RPG game, good graphics and good storyline, like the unwanted child of Diablo and Mass effect 2, but less exciting. It has some negative points though, like very limited character customization and when playing co-op, quests of a less advanced player are passed on to the more advanced player which makes for a do-over of quests in the advanced player's profile, even when you've already done them. The positive side of this game is that its addictive, if you are a LOTR fan, then you're gonna love this game, otherwise, you wont like it.… Expand
  22. exlibris
    Feb 13, 2012
    10
    Overall, a fun game to play - great graphics, great hack and slash battles, and a s somewhat interesting story if you are at all a Tolkien fan. And it was great seeing another person's view on Tolkien - that is another reason why I recommend this game: I think it is a very interesting and beautiful interpretation. So, if you get a kick out of ol' hack and slashes, with some RPG elementsOverall, a fun game to play - great graphics, great hack and slash battles, and a s somewhat interesting story if you are at all a Tolkien fan. And it was great seeing another person's view on Tolkien - that is another reason why I recommend this game: I think it is a very interesting and beautiful interpretation. So, if you get a kick out of ol' hack and slashes, with some RPG elements thrown in, I highly recommend this game. There's enough of an RPG element to keep things going, and I must say I am hooked. So much for homework...… Expand
  23. Dcy
    Apr 9, 2012
    9
    This is a really good game, i had a very good time when i played this game with 2 more people, the spells and abilities could be better, but the story is very good and you can enjoy playing with other people and exchanging items, etc
  24. theFunkyMan
    Nov 5, 2011
    2
    A console port, again. A hack and slash, again. Lord of the rings, again. Boring gameplay, weak story, mediocre controlling, ugly graphics. This game is weak, in every aspect. If I haven't know about the methods which publishers use to achieve high scores for their products, I would wonder how this p.o.s. could get so much high votes.
  25. Bronnen
    Nov 1, 2011
    8
    This game, while it is an Action RPG, focuses a lot more on the action aspect than the RPG. Sure there are RPG elements, cool weapons, cool armour, you can level up, sidequests and all those fun things, but at its core War in the North is an action game.

    The combat is smooth and simple, and while it is a little repetitive to start off, soon you unlock special attacks and moves that break    This game, while it is an Action RPG, focuses a lot more on the action aspect than the RPG. Sure there are RPG elements, cool weapons, cool armour, you can level up, sidequests and all those fun things, but at its core War in the North is an action game.

    The combat is smooth and simple, and while it is a little repetitive to start off, soon you unlock special attacks and moves that break up the simple button bashing.

    The graphics, while not incredibly, are pretty enough that you won't feel the need to criticize them.

    By biggest problem with this game is the AI.

    The AI does a decent job of working with you if you choose to play offline, but more often than not I found them off in the distance, ignoring the group of enemies wailing on me and beating one single enemy into submission.

    Thankfully the game has very few bugs and runs very smoothly on my middle-end pc. I highly recommend this game to Action fans and LOTR fans.    … Expand
  26. Madeline
    Nov 9, 2011
    9
    I didn't like that Snowblind showed a teaser way back when they announced this game, and the elf used the bow, yet when you get the final product - the elf is not using the bow. The community didn't like that either, and Snowblind didn't listen to the community or bother to read their own forums. Thus the Elf is the Loremaster. Still, to be honest, the most disappointing aspect of thisI didn't like that Snowblind showed a teaser way back when they announced this game, and the elf used the bow, yet when you get the final product - the elf is not using the bow. The community didn't like that either, and Snowblind didn't listen to the community or bother to read their own forums. Thus the Elf is the Loremaster. Still, to be honest, the most disappointing aspect of this game is that there is no character creator/deep customization at all, which would have really made the game go over well with the fans, even if the critics don't know what they are talking about. One can hope they do add some other player models or customization options with DLC, but with the lay-offs at Warner Brothers, thanks to horrible reviews this site compiles, from critics who only played up until they got to Rivendell, any hope of DLC is slim.

    You see, if you play the game past Rivendell, watch the characters grow in levels and abilities, it's one of the best games you'll play in a long time. Like Batman Arkham Asylum/City is the best game of the Batman franchise, so is War in The North for Lord of The Rings. Now compare it to Batman and it's not quite as good, but for a LoTR game, it's the best one you can play. Forget the LoTRO MMO, since the developers make huge group content, yet not many people actually play their game, so you can't get anything done. This game is how LoTR multiplayer should be, in terms of a 3 person fellowship. The gameplay at a glance can be repetitive but once you unlock skills and new abilities for your class/character, you will see a whole new game appear. The characters also are not flat at all, as some amateur critics have said at IGN. They all have personality, though I must say Andriel seems to have the most, voiced by the same lady that did BloodRayne, E'Lara in Hunted and other games, she really comes across as a great character, as do most all the NPCs you will encounter. I also like the conversations you can have with the NPCS, because you get to ask the obvious questions people had of the novels/movies, such as "why didn't the eagles just fly Frodo to Mordor?"

    I also have to say this game is alot better than the Dragon Age games, or anything Bioware does. I will never understand how they got acclaim, when their maps are just plugged in sections of other areas you've seen before. In War in The North, every section is new and detailed. You won't see the same looking areas all over your playthrough like Bioware games. Graphics, sound and story are amazing in this game. Gameplay is fast and precise. There are no invisible walls or hitbox issues like some critics has claimed. Maybe they were reviewing the inferior console versions, but the PC version does not suffer from any of these issues. Both this game and Hunted: The Demon's Forge were excellent games. I think the critics just don't play them deep enough to understand. While I will be buying Skyrim, I am sure that game won't have an epic tale that LOTR does or the same caliber of voice actors this game does, if it has any at all. It doesn't even have multiplayer, which in this game works flawless.    … Expand
  27. Chaozzak
    Nov 6, 2011
    4
    Its a port of console. What is terrifying is graphics. It looks like PS2 port with 7 years old engine. Thats horrible. Nevertheless, i played this game about 3 hours and gameplay is good, but missing better RPG elements. If they put a little bit more work on this game, it will be surely much better :-/
  28. SuperDoD
    Nov 8, 2011
    4
    The game has zero character customization, utter linear story, ugly graphics (the engine must be at least 5 years old), boring combat. Raping of the orcs and goblins heads was fun though, for a while at least. The story is boring, it does not motivates you to play through the game. The fellowship members can't fight, leaving the 95% of enemies for you to kill. It is not epic to see themThe game has zero character customization, utter linear story, ugly graphics (the engine must be at least 5 years old), boring combat. Raping of the orcs and goblins heads was fun though, for a while at least. The story is boring, it does not motivates you to play through the game. The fellowship members can't fight, leaving the 95% of enemies for you to kill. It is not epic to see them struggle with only one piece of goblin. All in all, I had hoped for a better game. There have not been any decent LoTR games recently, I hope that this will change in the near future.… Expand
  29. jkapp
    Nov 3, 2011
    9
    An unexpected gem in the array of very much anticipated games coming out this year. Buying this game will mean immersing yourself in one of the most imaginative, fantastical, majestic and magnificent realms of fantasy ever created. With full license to all of Tolkien's books, from The Silmarillion to The Lord of the Rings novel-turned-trilogy, as well as the movies, Snowblind Studios doesAn unexpected gem in the array of very much anticipated games coming out this year. Buying this game will mean immersing yourself in one of the most imaginative, fantastical, majestic and magnificent realms of fantasy ever created. With full license to all of Tolkien's books, from The Silmarillion to The Lord of the Rings novel-turned-trilogy, as well as the movies, Snowblind Studios does an excellent job of providing you with a deep narrative that runs simultaneous to Frodo's near impossible quest. In the process of doing so, the people at Snowblind also enrich your experience with Tolkien's world by providing deep lore and believable characters that the player may interact with (favorite among them for me is Radagast the Brown). Combat itself, the meat of any action game, is well done and provides enough entertainment that you will be more than happy to do multiple playthroughs (as I am doing now). While they could have added more variety in attack animations, such as left click (LC), LC, right click (RC) or LC, RC, RC, LC, the ways of customizing your characters from being a staff wielder or staff + sword wielder (Lore-master), 2-hander, duel wielder and/or bow + arrow shooter (Ranger) and 2-hander or sword + board and crossbowman (Champion), along with the loot system/reward system for quests, all provide enough interest to prevent the monotony that occurs with common action games. Indeed, the idea of integrating action with that RPG looting system is ingenious. But that is not the only RPG elements you may expect in this action-RPG. Character development is also a key component, and every class has different talent paths, assuring no one will be the same. For instance, on my first playthrough, I played the Elf Lore-master, a sort of semi-mage and/or support character. Generally I would have been expected to take the support route, but since at first I was soloing it, I instead chose to transform this "glass cannon" into a melee heavy, spell heavy killing machine. The result is that, while I could have had a skinny Elf throwing up "bubbles" to shield from ranged attacks and healing, or a puny Elf who flashes bolts of energy (?) from behind the roars of a Dwarf Champion, I instead became a knight-like Gandalf rolling and blasting her way into combat whilst hacking and smashing and severing limbs off with my sword and staff. The result in multiplayer was that my damage could compete with that of a Dwarf or Ranger.

    Of course, despite all the great things, a game can always be better. For War in the North, improvements could be in the looting system, where more magical items are more common. One disappointment is that even after spending five minutes fighting those massive trolls, the rewards were often mediocre and non-magical on normal difficulty. Instead, most of your equipment is white and has little effects on them. Additionally, in single player, the game is a one-person show, as the A.I. is useless outside of annoying the enemy and reviving you. As mentioned, more animations and variety could have been put into the melee, because the constant use of skills without drowning yourself in power potions does not open up until much later--and then only for those who have invested in the Will stat. But don't let these minor nuisances take away from this otherwise brilliant game. Instead, I recommend you find a buddy or two, each buy the game, and go have some great fun in arguably the greatest fantasy products of the imagination to exist.    … Expand
  30. Garnog
    Nov 5, 2011
    9
    I am going to amend my previous review and up it a point, due to some misunderstanding on my part. Concerning your AI teammates in single player, the AI takes care of its own so you don't need to micromanage them (though you CAN manually distribute level up points if you wish). The more I play this game the more I love it, though I must admit the first hour or two didn't impress me. ItI am going to amend my previous review and up it a point, due to some misunderstanding on my part. Concerning your AI teammates in single player, the AI takes care of its own so you don't need to micromanage them (though you CAN manually distribute level up points if you wish). The more I play this game the more I love it, though I must admit the first hour or two didn't impress me. It does get much better and Snowblind deserves better than some of the negative/mixed reviews I've seen. Keep in mind that this game is more oriented to action than classic RPG, though you can adjust stats and skills to customize your character. I can see now after having played for many hours that it would be so much more fun with human teammates rather than bots. Gonna try multiplayer in a week or so just to give the rest of the world a chance to catch up. For Tolkien fans , this is a must have.… Expand
  31. mattycakes13
    Nov 2, 2011
    8
    I've given this game a solid and unyielding score of 8/10 on one condition: you must have two friends to play with. The cooperative play of this game is undoubtedly what makes it worth playing and to pick this hoping for an engaging single player experience would be at best, a terrible idea. What drives a worthwhile single player rpg is a focused, well-developed narrative and a feelingI've given this game a solid and unyielding score of 8/10 on one condition: you must have two friends to play with. The cooperative play of this game is undoubtedly what makes it worth playing and to pick this hoping for an engaging single player experience would be at best, a terrible idea. What drives a worthwhile single player rpg is a focused, well-developed narrative and a feeling that your actions and decisions leave a discernible mark on the game's world - both are thing this games is lacking entirely.

    The cooperative play however allows you to abandon any pretense of narrative or impact and allows for some good old fashioned hack'n'slash goodness. The combat system, although sometimes repetitive, is continually freshened up with an abundance of weapons, decent leveling system, and an above-par fighting engine that rewards timing and delivers visceral battles complete with decapitations and plenty of blood. The three characters are extremely well balanced and you'll find that your trio will never feel as though one player has the advantage in battle. Teamwork is often essential to survival, especially in the later stages of the game as well as in the challenge levels. Needless to say, the combat is the game's driving impetus and coupled with a few friends makes for an exhilarating time.

    The level design is extremely linear but in a game where you and your friends will simply be itching to hit the next battle, the lack of exploration works to your advantage. The environments are well-realized and expand on the aesthetics realized by the films. Each location has a unique feel, offers plenty of loot and presents the player with new and exciting opponents. The game is marred, as mentioned, by a repetitiveness caused in part by a lack of customization and character abilities. It would be nice to see a broader range of upgrades, abilities and special moves in a game that focuses so much on combat. Other things that dampened my experience were the occasional glitch and troublesome always-on voice chat that could use a push-to talk option at the very least. All in all, I would definitely recommend War in the North to anyone looking for a solid, well realized and genuinely fun co-op experience to blast through before Skyrim hits next week.    … Expand
  32. deppard
    Jan 26, 2012
    3
    I will get straight to the point. I have frequently observed how things go awry when a console game is transformed into a pc game. LOTR- War in the North is no exception. Its just another example of how a game with high potential can be a let down of sorts, thanks to short-sightedness. This is an RPG game with fabulous graphics and the bells and whistles that go with such genre of gaming.I will get straight to the point. I have frequently observed how things go awry when a console game is transformed into a pc game. LOTR- War in the North is no exception. Its just another example of how a game with high potential can be a let down of sorts, thanks to short-sightedness. This is an RPG game with fabulous graphics and the bells and whistles that go with such genre of gaming. Unlike a Diablo or warcraft, the characters are visibilly bigger like a 3rd person shooter- something we often see in POTC and LOTR games. While the experience of game play is pleasant, the following issues sure are real turn offs- namely interface glitches and game play. Let's see how-

    *There are 3 charcacters. While U play one, the other two companions are controlled by AI & U have little control over what they do. Customization of characters is not too innovative either. Weapons not too fancy, skill tree not very inspiring. Not much combat, magic combo to build up. This is a let down.

    * Movement is a real pain and spoils your gameing experience. 'The back of your' head camera/view can often go awry. I wonder whay can't developers take a clue from the Max Payne game engine while designing characters.U can loose track of your character and his direction while playing. Especially during combat U often find yourself hacking in the wrong direction with your back to the enemy!!!! . or come up from a roll and you wish to turn around-- spite of pressing the buttons you are immobile for a few precious moments.

    * For some reason the interface/key board controls are not very response friendly- Not allowing you the desired action the very moment you need it. For example, Health potions may not activate immediately. Dodge, role, move forward buttons don't always give you the combo movement when pressed together. Your charcater is thus left to stand in the middle of a mele` for a coup degrace! how idiotic. walking over loot items has a pop up window asking if U wish to loot!! that too in the middel of combat surely lacks some fore-sight. * Fighting the bosses are way too unrealistic. Especially with sloppy controls. There are many who complain about fighting the first boss- Tharzog the chieftain- Your fingers will fall out of their sockets while clammering across the keyboard- U barely go 50% of the way before either U or both your sidekicks fall and the game is over..... As if the boss wasn't enough, his minnions just keep coming. It is extremely hard for a player to make way...Not realistic at all. The percentage of gamers who claim to have made it thru is very less! My own nephew tried in vein for some 39 days before he deleted the game!!! Says a lot! With no cheat options U R stuck in the rut. Now that's sad. * After a while the combat and enemies become very repetative and boring. * No save options. I wonder why this is becoming a trend. Let the gamer decide how long he wishes to play. Without these glitches, it could have been a much more enjoyable game.    … Expand
  33. Happymonk
    Jul 11, 2012
    8
    I don't understand the negative reviews this has got. It's better than Mass Effect! (but this might just be my fanboyism towards the Lord of the Rings). The Co-op isn't anything special, but it's a fun, good-looking game with a very good story that immersed me fully. The presentation in the game is superb, it really feels like you're taking part in the Lord of the Rings. But why haven't II don't understand the negative reviews this has got. It's better than Mass Effect! (but this might just be my fanboyism towards the Lord of the Rings). The Co-op isn't anything special, but it's a fun, good-looking game with a very good story that immersed me fully. The presentation in the game is superb, it really feels like you're taking part in the Lord of the Rings. But why haven't I given it a nine? it doesn't deserve it. It is buggy, repetitive and the finale is a bit of a letdown/ anticlimax. I really wish they make a sequel to improve on the first game, and I hope that it would end up on the Wii U!… Expand
  34. Rewo
    Dec 27, 2011
    7
    It's deffo not as bad as people say, just pretty average slasher/action RPG mix with outdated graphics. Simple story, simple combat, simple skill tree, everything in this game seems to be minimalistic and just copied over and over again. Yet it might still be enjoyable in coop for some lotr game thirsty fans who just got overexcited with the trailer of The Hobbit. Still better than SpaceIt's deffo not as bad as people say, just pretty average slasher/action RPG mix with outdated graphics. Simple story, simple combat, simple skill tree, everything in this game seems to be minimalistic and just copied over and over again. Yet it might still be enjoyable in coop for some lotr game thirsty fans who just got overexcited with the trailer of The Hobbit. Still better than Space Marine for me.… Expand
  35. Johnman
    Jan 31, 2012
    4
    This game is generic, bland and boring. Generic music, generic animations and generic writing. The graphics are OK, and it seems that's all that matters.

    This might be an all right game for casual console gaming with some friends, but as a single-player PC RPG it's simply ridiculously bad.

    The controls are broken.
  36. elgringo
    Dec 3, 2011
    0
    This game was horrible to play, literally all you do is mashing buttons on your mouse and keyboard, there is no tactics in this the artificial intelligence of your buddies is horrible. Tolkien would cry out if he knew what they did to his fantastic LOTR-lore. I won't buy a game from this company again, I feel ripped off.
  37. CursedKnight187
    Jul 18, 2012
    5
    An average game to say the least. I think I speak for the majority when I say we were expecting an open world RPG that would allow us to explore the unexplored areas of Middle-Earth. What we got instead a decent game with pretty graphics but simple and boring plot lines and characters accompanied by a button mashing combat system and average character development. The game is OK, but itAn average game to say the least. I think I speak for the majority when I say we were expecting an open world RPG that would allow us to explore the unexplored areas of Middle-Earth. What we got instead a decent game with pretty graphics but simple and boring plot lines and characters accompanied by a button mashing combat system and average character development. The game is OK, but it had the potential to be a whole lot better… Expand
  38. kilroycpu
    Jan 5, 2012
    9
    Combat is awesome, very fun with friends. Do not expect an MMO with this game, it is a basic 3rd Person hack and slash with an rpg front. It rocks, graphics are beautiful, and combat is very fast and a blast. Quite Frankly I have no clue why others dont like this game.
  39. tighra
    Nov 2, 2012
    3
    This game bores me so much. You haven't the control over your mates, just two commands (attack and defend). Tanking isn't possible because the damage is too high and thy healer won't heal you if you need some (because you just controll one party member). why they give us a group? when there isn't a group-play like in dragon-age. You cant even equip your mates just give them stuff that theyThis game bores me so much. You haven't the control over your mates, just two commands (attack and defend). Tanking isn't possible because the damage is too high and thy healer won't heal you if you need some (because you just controll one party member). why they give us a group? when there isn't a group-play like in dragon-age. You cant even equip your mates just give them stuff that they didn't equip. I'm glad i just paid 10bucks for it. If you like stupid hack&slay without tactic and if you a hugh LotR fan u can buy it, otherwise keep your hands off.… Expand
  40. Cpt_Crusader
    Apr 7, 2012
    10
    I am very happy with this game and the game play. The story line is good the game play is challenging. It's a multi player RPG. You need to work together in Co-Op mode to get through the game. Single player can get tough at times and may seem that it takes to much time to defeat the enemy, but thats what makes this game fun to play, if you are up for the fight. The weapon system withI am very happy with this game and the game play. The story line is good the game play is challenging. It's a multi player RPG. You need to work together in Co-Op mode to get through the game. Single player can get tough at times and may seem that it takes to much time to defeat the enemy, but thats what makes this game fun to play, if you are up for the fight. The weapon system with swords needing repair is kinda annoying. But that is my only complaint… Expand
  41. Adrian227178
    Mar 17, 2012
    1
    The reason I'm rating this game a 1. Is a half point for it being a Lord of the rings game and another half point because my girlfriend will play it. I'll leave all the other positive comments down on the bottom. I also own the hard copy (not downloaded) LOTR WITN and only play it on PS3 so I cannot vouch for any other consoles.... The 1st thing I do whenever I open up a brand new game isThe reason I'm rating this game a 1. Is a half point for it being a Lord of the rings game and another half point because my girlfriend will play it. I'll leave all the other positive comments down on the bottom. I also own the hard copy (not downloaded) LOTR WITN and only play it on PS3 so I cannot vouch for any other consoles.... The 1st thing I do whenever I open up a brand new game is pull out the user guide that comes inside of the game case to familiarize myself with new controls and game set-up. What I found was a 6 page booklet (most of it user agreements and epilepsy/seizure warnings) that didn't even have all the controls listed on it. With a Lore-Master voucher for free complete armour set and a weapon. (Possibly the worst set in the game) [-1 point] So I then popped the game disk in with my girlfriend to watch the "epic just put the game in intro movie" and... nothing happened. It just brought me to the start menu [-1 point]. So then we press start and choose our characters... except when my girlfriend was trying to choose a character she couldn't make her own saved data on my PlayStation profile. Wait a minute! you can't play and save data from only one playstation profile!! So I exited out of the game to make her own profile so she could play. We each choose our own characters and away we go. Once the game loads My very first thought was ``F*** this split-screen ``[-1point] and [another -1 point for not being able to change that] (when playing 2 player the screens are side by side instead of with every other multi-player split-screen, top and bottom [-1 point]). To make matters worse your character takes up the entire screen. So although you have can have a great view of a Dwarfs` ass [-1 point] Ã… Expand
  42. slick_trick
    Sep 3, 2012
    4
    Agonizingly dull combat. We are back at hammering one button for combat.... the other button is a 'critical attack'. NO combos to speak of. No utiilization of the light and heavy attacks together.. You have ONE light attack that you do over and over (and over.... and over... ad nauseum) It never changes. On top of that you get a ranged attack. Then you can do a 'heavyAgonizingly dull combat. We are back at hammering one button for combat.... the other button is a 'critical attack'. NO combos to speak of. No utiilization of the light and heavy attacks together.. You have ONE light attack that you do over and over (and over.... and over... ad nauseum) It never changes. On top of that you get a ranged attack. Then you can do a 'heavy attack' that breaks shields... that never changes. The entire game is based on combat and I cannot imagine a duller system than this. Yes each character has 3-4 'power moves' where you press 'shift' or whatever w/ the appropriate key. This game couldn't be worse. Graphics are decent with some nice 'bloomy' background effects. Some of the levels look nice. Utterly attrocious combat.. this is like an updated version of Return of the King from 2002 but Return of the King was literally like 10 times better...each of the 10 or so charcters had like 12 different unlockable combos...... you had light attack , heavy attack, grab, throw, 'finish'... and you could combine all of those to create combos... (i.e. L, L,L, H, H would create interesting ... NEW moves)... Whoever's idea it was to have you hammering one button over and over again was obviously a *****ing genius. This game is a total failure. Even the graphics of Return of the King from 2002 are almost as good as this.. 10 years later...… Expand
  43. drachehexe
    May 1, 2012
    4
    This game is just purely below average. A cheap and unsuccessful attempt to capitalize on the LOTR name. About the only redeeming quality of this game is the graphics, that is if the game didn't have a severe stuttering disorder no matter what hardware you have or whether graphical settings are maxed out set to minimal. Level design is linear, characters are shallow, dialogue isThis game is just purely below average. A cheap and unsuccessful attempt to capitalize on the LOTR name. About the only redeeming quality of this game is the graphics, that is if the game didn't have a severe stuttering disorder no matter what hardware you have or whether graphical settings are maxed out set to minimal. Level design is linear, characters are shallow, dialogue is somewhat grating on the nerves, and the side quest elements are a joke. Combat is generally boring with boss fights are a total mess. You'll spend more time being revived by your allies than damaging your enemies. Character and equipment management is sloppy and uncoordinated, character advancement is minimal and the control setup is unintuitive and muddled. And there are bugs galore. Quest people will disappear and reappear at random, moving a character from single player to multi-player and vice versa can cause losing your save games, and in single player your allies really do their best to block you path as you can't run through them, so you'll find yourself blocked from the action a lot as many combat areas are cramped. This game is just bad. It's not even an average hack-and-slasher. It's a terrible RPG. And it's down right abysmal for the LOTR brand.… Expand
  44. Morring
    Dec 4, 2013
    4
    if you get this game for cheap, it would almost be acceptable. Sure, there's much better out there, but it would still be a fun little game with some drawbacks from the console-friendly inventory. Too bad this game is also very unstable. I'm one of the lucky ones: got to play it with many crashes, while some people can't play at all. It still became unbearably frustrating, since the gameif you get this game for cheap, it would almost be acceptable. Sure, there's much better out there, but it would still be a fun little game with some drawbacks from the console-friendly inventory. Too bad this game is also very unstable. I'm one of the lucky ones: got to play it with many crashes, while some people can't play at all. It still became unbearably frustrating, since the game also not allow you to save your progress except for autosaves, which combined with all the stability issues can get you stuck at the same spot for a very long and frustrating time. Too bad, because I would have recommended it otherwise.… Expand
  45. Mercarcher
    Nov 8, 2013
    1
    This is an extremely poor console port, the graphics look like something from the late 90s or early 00s, the game play is overly simplistic, the settings customization is nonexistent, and multiplayer is unplayable due to really bad, unmuteable in game voice chat. This should have never been released on PC if they had no plans on doing anything with it.
  46. Alcapwn
    Nov 29, 2013
    4
    So I tried playing this single player. What a nightmare. Your ally AI is so horrible that any remotely difficult fight they will go down in a couple seconds and there is no way you're getting them back up without dying. There is a boss fight a couple of hours into the game that took almost 20 minutes of running and slashing to beat. If he didn't have unlimited minions it might have been aSo I tried playing this single player. What a nightmare. Your ally AI is so horrible that any remotely difficult fight they will go down in a couple seconds and there is no way you're getting them back up without dying. There is a boss fight a couple of hours into the game that took almost 20 minutes of running and slashing to beat. If he didn't have unlimited minions it might have been a bit better. After that it got easier for another 20 minutes and then another huge difficulty spike.
    The games combat is boring and repetitive. After about an hour you get tired of the crit kills and it just is the same over and over and over. I quit after reaching the midway point in the game and I felt like I had just wasted my time. I got stuck on a ridiculously hard boss and just eventually stopped retrying.

    Don't waste your time.    … Expand
  47. Janbo55
    Nov 29, 2013
    3
    This, has been a horrific experience for me. Especially because I've played it for 4 hours, and have got 3 blue screen of deaths. I've un-installed it, and will never install it again. But it's actually really sad, because it's a fun game, even though it's a very bad console port.
  48. enjoyablyC
    Jan 10, 2013
    5
    game is okay but the multiplayer is **** on PC. thats the main reason why a lot of people buy it and it doesn't even work. the game itself is standard hack and slash fare, with some modern twists such as a dialogue wheel and whatnot.
  49. kane148
    Dec 4, 2012
    5
    The best thing that I can say about this game is that it isn't terrible. It's mostly a tedious hack 'n slash with just enough RPG elements to drag down the action, but not to actually make it interesting. As with many obvious console ports, the controls are awkward and the menus are difficult. The graphics are decent but are not enough to distract you from the bad voice acting andThe best thing that I can say about this game is that it isn't terrible. It's mostly a tedious hack 'n slash with just enough RPG elements to drag down the action, but not to actually make it interesting. As with many obvious console ports, the controls are awkward and the menus are difficult. The graphics are decent but are not enough to distract you from the bad voice acting and poorly-scripted, dull story. I made myself suffer through several hours of this game, hoping that it would get better, but it didn't really. If you're a big LOTR fan then maybe you'll find this tolerable, but otherwise I'd recommend avoiding it.… Expand
  50. idohaker
    Dec 5, 2012
    3
    not a good game i was very disapointed because i thought that i will spent my money on a good game for my bad luck i didnt see the reviews but its still a little fun not so much after 3 hour you will whouldent to play the game so after all i think that the lord of the rings war in the north is suck dont buy it
  51. Michaelnz
    Aug 3, 2013
    1
    Game was fun to play for a while, then around the 3 hour mark you come to the realisation that you've already experienced the entire game repetitive, bland and boring. On top of which, I experienced lots of game crashes including a blue screen of death, something I have not seen in over a decade. Stay away from this 'game'.
  52. EndsBeginning
    Jul 21, 2013
    3
    It's a hack and slash Lord of the Rings game like so many others. I got bored with it in under an hour. Onto my issues with it.
    It has an in game voice chat that you can't turn off. There is very little customization,you have three chars and you can edit small details, but nothing much. They have a preset personality and then it's go and fight stuff. I found the combat less than    It's a hack and slash Lord of the Rings game like so many others. I got bored with it in under an hour. Onto my issues with it.
    It has an in game voice chat that you can't turn off. There is very little customization,you have three chars and you can edit small details, but nothing much. They have a preset personality and then it's go and fight stuff. I found the combat less than interesting. But really what bothered me is that it's a pure railroad story, there's one path, one way. If you're going to do that, then please just write a fan-fic and don't call it a game.    … Expand
  53. Grenodeur
    Dec 14, 2013
    1
    The game's plot is a separate story sometimes even complements your events Jackson trilogy Fashionable meet many characters from the movie only they are made crooked and not realistic.
    + You can play with friends or strangers from the internet Coop for three. Pluses on this end .
    - The combat system primitive zadalboivanie LMC and in the end the decisive blow on the right button     The game's plot is a separate story sometimes even complements your events Jackson trilogy Fashionable meet many characters from the movie only they are made crooked and not realistic.
    + You can play with friends or strangers from the internet Coop for three. Pluses on this end .
    - The combat system primitive zadalboivanie LMC and in the end the decisive blow on the right button it's all very pathetic just like in Gothic 4 Index finger will be sore after 2 3 hours of the game.
    - Miserable graphics, the game was released in November 2011 a week before the release of TES Skyrim. They do not even compare to the level of graphics as the earth and sky. The game looks like it was made in 2005, the doge with TES Oblivion does not compare it is pathetic .
    - Endless repetition, was a little gut map you fight killed all again all over again. Repetition of small bosses Trolls and other creatures all wildly angry.
    - Leveling no balance it is virtually useless. All to the disgrace of all 3 branches of skills with perks Magic, and generally ranged attacks are useless worthless and cause damage. Need to get into the head orc 9 times to kill him well, it's just awful But this is far from the enemy's attack is applied three times more damage than yours, even if the pump bow crossbow or staff at the seer .
    - Impassable moments because of a notorious enemy imbalance 12 hour pass threw the game.
    - Locations all done sloppy and ugly even though the game takes place in the world of LOTR, invisible walls everywhere sometimes just in the way and annoying.
    - Exceeding the opponent in an amount enough that they killed only after the 6-16 attacks so still a lot of them to the middle of the game simply unplayable and impassable You can probably pass with only an irreparable loss to the nerves or the trainer.
    - Magic spell damage and staves completely negligible at least in Elf and perhaps that is capable tickle opponents.
    1/10 Game frank vyser igroporoma how could all so nalazhali with RPG component I do not know, probably just have not tested the game did anyhow for 3 months and released cut the dough with the fans of the universe The only plus point games this scenario interesting conversations I am glad that the game did not buy the incentive. Can be traversed only if the trainer.    … Expand
  54. Nikolaskelset
    Sep 8, 2013
    9
    Probably one of the best action RPG so far I have ever played in 20 years of gaming.
    Never experienced connection issues. The combat system is very solid, satisfying to play and fun.
    The story is well written, co-op doesn't affect gameplay at all, actually it improves the overall experience. If you are looking for a good 3rd person hack and slash you should absolutely consider buying    Probably one of the best action RPG so far I have ever played in 20 years of gaming.
    Never experienced connection issues. The combat system is very solid, satisfying to play and fun.
    The story is well written, co-op doesn't affect gameplay at all, actually it improves the overall experience.
    If you are looking for a good 3rd person hack and slash you should absolutely consider buying this.
    It's like an old school golden axe experience, in Tolkien's world.

    It has flaws, but you'll pass over them after 1 hour of playing since they don't ruin the experience at all.    … Expand
  55. Matinski
    Nov 13, 2013
    1
    Oh my! This game is poor. If it had been released on the Megadrive I think I would have loved it... BUT, graphics have moved on, gameplay has moved on and expectations have moved on. Try and find a demo before buying and make up your own mind... but I would definitely say don't waste your money on this game.
  56. zombiepenguin
    Nov 7, 2013
    0
    this game is horrible. The fighting is boring and and it never does anything to make it fun. The story isn't good either. The characters are practically emotionless. The graphics look like plastic action figures you would play with as a kid. The frame rate is also bad. It was never over about 10-20 fps.
  57. F3L1XTV
    Nov 11, 2013
    0
    This game is complete ****
    No fun in the complete game. Fights are gay and boring and nothing makes sence. No hope for this game! DONT BUY IT!!!!swsasdawde
  58. AbeMC
    Feb 21, 2018
    1
    Couldn’t finish the game because it kept crashing at the same spot. War in the North does have a bad history with ATI / Radeon, but still, this is what I tried.
    - Verified the file cache
    - Tried various compatibility modes - Tried installing the Large Address Aware patch - Started a new game (twice) (in case the save was corrupted) Still resulted in repeated crashing in Chapter 2.    Couldn’t finish the game because it kept crashing at the same spot. War in the North does have a bad history with ATI / Radeon, but still, this is what I tried.
    - Verified the file cache
    - Tried various compatibility modes
    - Tried installing the Large Address Aware patch
    - Started a new game (twice) (in case the save was corrupted)
    Still resulted in repeated crashing in Chapter 2.

    Thoughts on the game before I reached the unplayable moment (I only played as a single-player):

    If you can get the game to work for you, it's a 5/10 game that isn't special, but isn't awful either.
    Total size on my hard-drive: 7.4 GB

    + Ran well until the crashing started. Maxed 1440p produced a solid 60fps on my RX 470.
    + Decent story from what I could tell. Begin in Bree at the Prancing Pony, where we briefly meet Aragorn (who has heard tell of some hobbits coming south carrying a precious burden). He lays out our task: there are agents of Sauron in the North who are also doing the evil lord’s wishes, and it is our duty to find them, expose them, distract them, and generally cause as much trouble as possible. The linear levels help keep the narrative focused.
    + Decent animations. Walk, run, combat, faces – all are of a very high level for a game from 2011. Good finishing moves, too.

    +/- Very linear levels.
    +/- Limited use of destructible environments. Nice when they appear, but it’s not often.
    +/- Graphics remind me of Dragon Age II’s. Simplistic but quite nice at times.
    +/- Stupidly simple combat. Played single-player, the game seems to be begging for a Dragon Age-style tactics menu to create a pattern of behavior for the others in the squad. But there simply isn’t enough depth in the combat to make use of such a system if it were there. Mash left-click, and when a small yellow triangle appears over the head of an enemy, right-click to get a critical hit (you can right-click at any time for a heavy attack, but it takes so long you’ll do the same damage just by mashing left-click). There are skill trees that seem to make some difference on combat, but I never got far enough for them to make much difference. Dodging is also sometimes required. Bosses are damage sponges.
    +/- The three characters all have unique combat styles. Though the half-elven mage is an obvious support class who mostly uses her staff to hit people with, not launch spells. Magic is generally disappointing. The Ranger archer fights best from a distance (obviously) who isn’t too quick to switch to the sword he carries. The dwarf soldier is the heavy hitter, and the one with the worst AI, so he is the best choice for a single-player experience.
    +/- A nice amount of loot. Travel back to hubs often to sell stuff.
    +/- Simplistic crafting to make potions and slottable gems. No tutorial for this. I stumbled across it because I noticed something that looked like a gem slot on a weapon.

    - Character customization is awful. Choose from presets. That’s it.
    - Playing single-player, you can only switch between characters at the end of a level. Or by quitting to the menu, selecting a different character, then loading the game.

    Not recommended because it kept crashing on me, but before I reached that point War in the North seemed like a well-executed, slightly boring hack ‘n slash whose primary appeal is to Lord of the Rings fans. Crashing aside, it's an average (5/10) game with nothing obviously incompetent about it, but nothing stands out either. A curiosity purchase, nothing more.    … Expand
  59. xboy1024
    Feb 19, 2023
    7
    It has many deficiencies, the graphics also doesn't aged well, but all in all it isn't so bad.
  60. JPoppaWUSC
    Dec 16, 2013
    9
    I ignored War in the North for over 2 years before picking it up on a Steam sale, and while the game is not without its faults, it has slowly risen to become one of my all-time favorite action-RPGs. First off, the game NEEDS to be played on a decent PC with a controller, as its console counterparts suffer from some ugly technical hiccups that ruin the experience, while the mouse andI ignored War in the North for over 2 years before picking it up on a Steam sale, and while the game is not without its faults, it has slowly risen to become one of my all-time favorite action-RPGs. First off, the game NEEDS to be played on a decent PC with a controller, as its console counterparts suffer from some ugly technical hiccups that ruin the experience, while the mouse and keyboard controls just aren't right for the third-person real-time combat. Also, it's very easy to dismiss the game in its first 3-4 hours, since you don't start to see the depth of its streamlined RPG design until you've leveled a bit. And lastly, the Lord of the Rings setting and characters are honestly just brand recognition and window dressing for what would have been a fine action-RPG under any other name. It's not like the concept of a male human, a female elf, and a male dwarf cutting down orcs and trolls is all that original in fantasy these days... and it doesn't need to be. Snowblind's games have always been this way; Dark Alliance and Champions of Norrath never really benefitted from or had a great impact on their respective D&D and EverQuest IPs, but they were good games nonetheless. In other words, don't play War in the North because it's Lord of the Rings. Play it if you like dark fantasy action-RPGs, as it handles its violent combat-driven mechanics very well. There are a few extras to be explored, from the occasional side quest and replayable areas laid out on a proper RPG map, to challenge quests and even Dragon Age-esque branching dialogue (though you're never really faced with consequences for those choices). The real fun is in unlocking skills that have a sizeable impact on your fighting style, and each of the three characters offer a fair amount of visual and stat-based customization. The only weirdness in customization is how your selected character reflects changes, while the other two auto-level and stick to preset builds when controlled by the AI. While they retain changes you've made whenever you actually play as them, they revert to the auto-builds whenever you switch. They don't lose your changes upon switching; they just don't use those changes when AI-controlled. That may seem confusing and odd to solo players, but it's obviously a design choice due to WitN's focus on co-op. It means that other players can easily drop in or out without messing with your saved builds, and it also means that you can sell any unusable equipment without having to hold onto it for another character. In the end, most solo players will stick to a single favored character anyway, so it doesn't matter that much. And on the flip-side of that point, WitN does offer an excellent cooperative experience for up to three players, if you've got friends willing to play it. The game also presents a fairly wide variety of locations and enemy types, drawing inspiration from Tolkien's lore even outside of the original novels or film adaptations. It's lengthy, too, as the game generally takes 20 hours or more for a story run (as long as you're not skipping the dialogue) and could easily eat up 60+ unlocking everything. And despite its length, the combat doesn't get old. In fact, it gets better the further you press on, and due to its moderately high challenge, it becomes quite rewarding. The ability to call on a great eagle for occasional air strikes or form a protective/restorative dome using the Sanctuary skill are particularly cool, and you'll often be left with a smile on your face after downing a massive wave of orcs. In the end, I have been pleasantly surprised by War in the North, and even if it shouldn't be placed in the same basket as Skyrim or Dark Souls, it serves as an enjoyable [and usually cheap] option for anyone looking for a solid action-RPG.… Expand
  61. Atech66
    Nov 9, 2013
    10
    This is a great coop game.. they made it more interesting by NOT following the main story and by showing us the struggles that took place behind what we saw.. and the other hero's that helped save middle earth.
    Game play is simple and that's a good thing.. when your mobbed with enemies and have 3 people fighting off everything from armored orcs to orcs with explosives strapped to their    This is a great coop game.. they made it more interesting by NOT following the main story and by showing us the struggles that took place behind what we saw.. and the other hero's that helped save middle earth.
    Game play is simple and that's a good thing.. when your mobbed with enemies and have 3 people fighting off everything from armored orcs to orcs with explosives strapped to their back and have to swap weapons quickly it doesn't need to be complicated. Graphics are beautiful and the story and side missions are interesting and all have the Tolken "feel" well worth playing. controls are very easy and many games have the same control set.. people are stupid. No customization? you might want to look around.. in the Prancing pony you can change face, hair, facial hair, eye color etc. your lack of intelligence doesn't mean something isn't there it means your too stupid to find it.    … Expand
  62. rev
    Apr 13, 2014
    8
    Pretty good action RPG ported from consoles. The story is nothing special but blends well into Tolkien't lore.

    + Good graphics, playable on puny AMD E-350 + Several hours of quality voice acting - Controls could be better, some actions require 3 keys to be pressed in order, it doesn't work in the heat of battle - Inventory management is somewhat clunky - Character swap is    Pretty good action RPG ported from consoles. The story is nothing special but blends well into Tolkien't lore.

    + Good graphics, playable on puny AMD E-350
    + Several hours of quality voice acting

    - Controls could be better, some actions require 3 keys to be pressed in order, it doesn't work in the heat of battle
    - Inventory management is somewhat clunky
    - Character swap is implausible due to inability to manage companions' inventories
    - Graphics glitches in chapter 8 part 4 lead to system crash on AMD systems    … Expand
  63. terbas
    Apr 5, 2013
    9
    In short, the low score given to this game is a shame. This game is so much fun with many upgrades and a lot of loot to be collected and used. The fighting system is nice and reminds me of Demon's Souls (block, attack, block and so on). But above all, this game immersed me quickly and I have difficulty in putting aside the controller once I start to play it. To hell with the graphics... IfIn short, the low score given to this game is a shame. This game is so much fun with many upgrades and a lot of loot to be collected and used. The fighting system is nice and reminds me of Demon's Souls (block, attack, block and so on). But above all, this game immersed me quickly and I have difficulty in putting aside the controller once I start to play it. To hell with the graphics... If it reminds people of PS2, so be it. I used to love that machine. This game deserves a solid 8 in my book. But I'll give it a 9 because of the people cursing at it. In the meantime I played the game with some randoms and saw that they didn't have an idea about what to do. And I think people giving low scores are "mostly" of that kind (I mean, noobs...)… Expand
  64. JimCorbett
    Jun 3, 2013
    7
    I was pleasantly surprised by War in the North, as I enjoyed this game quite a bit. The graphics and effects are well done, so is the voice acting and other sounds. There is gore and blood as well, which is cool. The RPG elements aren't very deep, so it won't be confusing at all. That is something I like, there are only 4 different attributes to put points into, and there are very simpleI was pleasantly surprised by War in the North, as I enjoyed this game quite a bit. The graphics and effects are well done, so is the voice acting and other sounds. There is gore and blood as well, which is cool. The RPG elements aren't very deep, so it won't be confusing at all. That is something I like, there are only 4 different attributes to put points into, and there are very simple skill trees that are easy to understand. The skills are varied enough to feel original and the 3 different characters all have their special abilities that are useful. It is a hack and slash, so you'll be spamming mouse1 more often than you'll be thinking tactically about the situation. Overall, though, I enjoyed it for my first couple playthroughs as the new game plus-esque mode kept me entertained. It did start to get a bit boring though as the story is a bit short and the combat is a little repetitive. If you are a fan of the LotR universe you'll most likely end up enjoying this game, too.… Expand
  65. I_Am_Turok
    Oct 28, 2014
    7
    For LOTR fans, a 7/10 score for a solid, enjoyable game. Hacking at Orcs, single or with friends, will never lose its appeal. The story is nice, simple. Its also nice moving around the world. And the game being rather short is fine with me, as its fairly light anyways. For everyone else, its probably a 5/10 score. As stated, the story is light and none too involving. The graphics are cleanFor LOTR fans, a 7/10 score for a solid, enjoyable game. Hacking at Orcs, single or with friends, will never lose its appeal. The story is nice, simple. Its also nice moving around the world. And the game being rather short is fine with me, as its fairly light anyways. For everyone else, its probably a 5/10 score. As stated, the story is light and none too involving. The graphics are clean but lack any real imagination, which is probably its biggest downfall. I barely remember the nondescript music. The levels are extremely linear, offering no discovery. It lacks any deep RPG elements, I auto-levelled-up without even needing to think about which traits are better. And there's no real replay value. Overall though, there's enough enjoyment to be had here from a bit of orc hack-and-slash for a few hours, diverting easy fun. Don't expect anything deep or involving.… Expand
  66. Dazaras
    Nov 24, 2013
    8
    Got this with some friends with the last Humble Bundle, and I played it for 3 hours today with a friend. I don't really see why this game has such low reviews. It's graphics are decent and I quite like the level design. It's storyline is simplistic, and mostly seems like an excuse to slaughter waves of goblins, but is in no way outright bad. It's music is actually pretty good. TheGot this with some friends with the last Humble Bundle, and I played it for 3 hours today with a friend. I don't really see why this game has such low reviews. It's graphics are decent and I quite like the level design. It's storyline is simplistic, and mostly seems like an excuse to slaughter waves of goblins, but is in no way outright bad. It's music is actually pretty good. The game mechanics seem pretty good, and I had a lot of fun trying different weapons and fighting styles while smacking goblins around with my sword or bow. My friend had a blast playing the elf mage, so I suspect the mechanical abilities are solid for all three characters.… Expand
  67. Timeraider
    Sep 4, 2013
    9
    No clue what these guys are playing. The graphics are nice (not crysis 3, but still), the hack-and-slash is fun, the storyline is avarage and i havent found a single bug or problem so....
  68. MeritCoba
    Oct 1, 2015
    6
    Throwing rings into volcanoes is one thing, preventing nasty hordes of monsters from intervening with such activities is another. Intro music for our band of stalwart heroes, a human ranger, a dwarf fighter and an elven wizard(the only woman of course), who set out from the Prancing Pony at Bree, a place cursed with being drenched in perpetual rainy nights, after receiving instructionsThrowing rings into volcanoes is one thing, preventing nasty hordes of monsters from intervening with such activities is another. Intro music for our band of stalwart heroes, a human ranger, a dwarf fighter and an elven wizard(the only woman of course), who set out from the Prancing Pony at Bree, a place cursed with being drenched in perpetual rainy nights, after receiving instructions from non other than stapper, which is the Dutch translation for the nickname for Aragorn, who in this game looks remarkably like an actor called Viggo Mortensen.

    The going is pretty unidirectional from the start. Stop the main bad guy Agandaûr from intervening with the rest of the world by killing him dead until he is. Easy enough. In between Bree and Agandaûr's grave you meet some critters that are in the way, but that is how this game should be. They consists of nasty orcs and goblins, undead, biggers orcs, very big trolls, a huge giant even, humans in all shapes and sizes, spiders small, large and very large and that is about it really.
    At various moments you get helped by token people you can do well without. At least they don't die on you most of the time, which saves you from that headache. The coolest thing around is however the giant eagle friend your team gains, which gives a nice air asset that you can throw against some of the bigger nasties, provided they are in the open and you didn't waste your limited supply of airstrikes on something smaller.

    Somewhere in between you make a stopover at Rivendell where you are briefed by someone who looks remarkably like the actor Hugo Weaving. Incidently Hugo doesn't even hush up the fact that Frodo has a powerful ring that needs to be destroyed. So far for secrecy.
    You get to speak to other actors too, like Orlando Bloom, Ian Holm, John Rhys-Davies, Elijah Wood and Liv Tyler and yes by now you know the game takes its cues from the Peter Jackson movies. It isn't bad but it isn't very original either.

    And that might be the overall theme of this game. It isn't really bad, but it isn't really good either.. It is okayies. A word I just invented for this purpose. For instance; to lengthen your game experience they threw in a truckload of containers for you to plunder. You have to loot them all cause that is the only way to get neat new gear and what you find is pretty random. So there you are, hero of the war of the north, defeater of many a container...for you destroy or open more caskets, caches, barrels and other containers than you ever want too, because you will not only need to find loot for your own character, but also for your ai buddies, who might have no use at all for that stuff as far as can be told, but maybe they do or at least you can sell the stuff so you buy better stuff for you own, but most of all because this game is meant to be a co-op and can't quite figure out that you play it as a single player or as a co-op.

    Your ai buddies require some hand-holding for them not to be killed and if you are the elven maiden wizard it is doubly up to you to make sure that your ai buddies don't get killed, for the wizard biggest task is preventing the other two from turning into pin cushions.

    The overwhelming sensation you get when proceeding through this game is: if they just had.. If they just had added some more variety. If they just had added some more ways to do the quests.. If they just had added some more options in character development. If they just had added some interesting side quests. If they had just added some meaning full conversations.

    The biggest surprise is at the end when you discover that after all is said and done and the dead are buried and the living celebrate, you still are only halfway developed. And why? Cause you can then redo the whole game again on a higher difficulty level and gain more levels. Oh wow..

    War in the North is amusing enough to do once, but it totally lacks the charm to play once more, even as a different character. It is after all only okayies.    … Expand
  69. dougal83
    Mar 20, 2014
    10
    As enjoyable as KOTOR but in Lord of the rings universe. Very enjoyable to play COOP with up to 3 players. I would almost say it's like a 50 hour MMO without any boring grind. Hero mode oddly feels very heroic.

    10/10 Because there are terrible games out there and this is not one of them!
  70. gerszom
    Sep 6, 2013
    7
    It is strong middle game. If You are a fan of LotR You should add one point to the final score. Plot is really nice and I had fun when i had met some characters from books and films. Game is good, but it could be much better. It is quite long surprising plus. Gameplay is eatable. Sometimes minor mistakes can make You angry. Invisible walls are also annoying. Playing online with friends isIt is strong middle game. If You are a fan of LotR You should add one point to the final score. Plot is really nice and I had fun when i had met some characters from books and films. Game is good, but it could be much better. It is quite long surprising plus. Gameplay is eatable. Sometimes minor mistakes can make You angry. Invisible walls are also annoying. Playing online with friends is much better. Final conclusion I love rpg, love LotR and like hack and slash so..i had fun with this game.… Expand
  71. Widgetmibob
    Apr 17, 2013
    10
    My wife and I really enjoyed playing this game, the combat is fun, the graphics look great, the skill trees are rewarding, and I am really enjoying the story. The combat feels like a blend of the best of Skyrim and Warcraft. The only legitimate thing that could be said against it are the inventory system could be a bit more polished, the story could be longer and there could be more scopeMy wife and I really enjoyed playing this game, the combat is fun, the graphics look great, the skill trees are rewarding, and I am really enjoying the story. The combat feels like a blend of the best of Skyrim and Warcraft. The only legitimate thing that could be said against it are the inventory system could be a bit more polished, the story could be longer and there could be more scope for exploration. These things are easily forgotten as you play through the game hacking the heads off orcs, eagerly awaiting your next level. I have had no connection issues. I thoroughly recommend the game as one of the finest co-op action rpgs out there..… Expand
  72. Beldarak
    Feb 5, 2014
    8
    One of my favourite coop games. the gameplay is fun and solid, the ambiance is gorgeous and their's a lot of RPG elements in it.

    It doesn't try to do too much and succeed in everything it does.

    Don't hesitate.
  73. Estus
    Apr 22, 2013
    10
    The game has nice graphics and a setting rich in detail, but the fighting mechanics and physics of the player characters are unconvincing. Has a reasonable backstory, but at least consistent with Tolkien's world, with important characters (such as Elrond and Bilbo) making appearances on every corner. It's a fun game, but that was not to be overestimated.
  74. Echo508
    Jul 29, 2013
    7
    This game is great for RPG'ers that love getting into the nitty-gritty when it comes to learning about other characters and lore of the game. Accurate and interesting LOTR lore is what kept me wanting to play. Any Tolkien fan will be happy with this. That being said, the story is very linear, and the same should be said about the levels. Equipment management is pretty lacking, with aThis game is great for RPG'ers that love getting into the nitty-gritty when it comes to learning about other characters and lore of the game. Accurate and interesting LOTR lore is what kept me wanting to play. Any Tolkien fan will be happy with this. That being said, the story is very linear, and the same should be said about the levels. Equipment management is pretty lacking, with a rather unfriendly equipment interface.The game play is a classic hack&slash with little variation. The three playable characters have different play styles which can accommodate most players; But it's still just a hack&slash. I actually found some of the voice acting pretty lame at times, but it was average on the whole, I suppose. I had no issues with bugs like some of the other guys. I payed $20 for the game, and I feel like I got what I payed for out of it, but no more. A solid 7.5. This game will please LOTR fans, but unfortunately it will not make any new LOTR fans. It's too mediocre.… Expand
  75. temp24202
    Aug 11, 2013
    8
    It was a good game overall. Had some clipping issues, sometimes a monster would get stuck and had to kill with the eagles. Character development was on the short side, but still interesting. Liked the setting and the missions. Was pretty short but worth the time and with a lot of action. Beat the first time in about 17 hours. Now I may attempt multiplayer or heroic mode in theIt was a good game overall. Had some clipping issues, sometimes a monster would get stuck and had to kill with the eagles. Character development was on the short side, but still interesting. Liked the setting and the missions. Was pretty short but worth the time and with a lot of action. Beat the first time in about 17 hours. Now I may attempt multiplayer or heroic mode in the future.. has a little replay value.… Expand
  76. Twodecadesgamer
    Dec 7, 2013
    7
    This game is a real treat for us Lord of the Rings fans, and if you are a LOTRO player, or one that recently quit LOTRO in a blind rage, this is a very satisfying helping of Tolkien. The storyline is original but very true to the established lore. The graphics are superb- I'm playing on a 660Ti and they are fluid, detailed, and gorgeous. The combat system is simple but very fun and IThis game is a real treat for us Lord of the Rings fans, and if you are a LOTRO player, or one that recently quit LOTRO in a blind rage, this is a very satisfying helping of Tolkien. The storyline is original but very true to the established lore. The graphics are superb- I'm playing on a 660Ti and they are fluid, detailed, and gorgeous. The combat system is simple but very fun and I found the combat animations excellent.
    On the negative side- give us more! It's too linear and feels too much like a console hack n slash. If players had more flexibility with character creation and if it were a larger, open world this would have been a much better game. I'm imagining this game with the scale and depth of Skyrim-now THAT would have been a game to talk about.
    I'm playing mostly multi-player with a partner which is very fun, but kind of poorly integrated with some buggy moments mostly related to simply getting two (or three) people into the same game at the same place.
    In summary, this is a very fun game- but not an "alpha" game. I blame that on the industry's ill-conceived focus on console gaming and disposable games.    … Expand
  77. mossa1251
    Nov 17, 2013
    10
    Really enjoyable, entertaining storyline, good gameplay. A great buy. The graphics are really good, and it gives you some background knowledge on the series. Good co-op and single player.
  78. gfcastronovo
    Dec 3, 2013
    10
    I'm giving this game a 10 just because of those people giving 0 just because they think for some reason the graphics are horrible. In fact the graphics looks pretty goof even now in 2013 and if you've a decent hardware the frame rate is realy fluid even with everything at max. This guy "drachehexe" says "You'll spend more time being revived by your allies than damaging your enemies." ifI'm giving this game a 10 just because of those people giving 0 just because they think for some reason the graphics are horrible. In fact the graphics looks pretty goof even now in 2013 and if you've a decent hardware the frame rate is realy fluid even with everything at max. This guy "drachehexe" says "You'll spend more time being revived by your allies than damaging your enemies." if you don't know how to play then probably yes but according to Steam I was playing 6 hours until now and I was revived one time only. He also says "your allies really do their best to block you path as you can't run through them, so you'll find yourself blocked." that's not 100% true, I mean yes they will block you sometimes and you can't run through them but the issue is so simple as hit the "space" key and you will do a roll that it will go through them so it's not really a problem.

    The game is not perfect of course (and I would agree that LOTR deserves a better game in the line of Skyrim), if you want an rpg in TES style this is not what you should look for but still it's an enjoyable game.    … Expand
  79. Jason312
    Feb 23, 2014
    10
    I think this game will appeal to fans of the hack and slash genre. More so if you have a passion for the works of Professor Tolkien. The game focuses on events in the Northern part of MIddle Earth and the gameplay is set at the same time as Frodo and the Fellowship of the Ring are travelling south towards Mordor and Mount Doom.
  80. xtrmsnpr
    Jan 5, 2015
    4
    Worst RPG experience ever.and one of the worst LOTR.
    A big disappointment for me
    1)Long boring ass QUESTS,with no meaning of traveling all these distance.. It reminds more than an OLD style MMORPG than an rpg(coop too game). 2)Long boring GAMEPLAY,with slow moves,and stupid animations,that cant focuses in 360 degrees. 3)The MOBS,are stupid as **** around without trying to avoid    Worst RPG experience ever.and one of the worst LOTR.
    A big disappointment for me

    1)Long boring ass QUESTS,with no meaning of traveling all these distance..
    It reminds more than an OLD style MMORPG than an rpg(coop too game).
    2)Long boring GAMEPLAY,with slow moves,and stupid animations,that cant focuses in 360 degrees.
    3)The MOBS,are stupid as **** around without trying to avoid you.The bosses are also stupid AI,and the best is that you cant avoid all the attacks of them.
    4)The music has no place in the game at any point.
    5)The EFFECTS are ridiculous awful.
    6)The story it self sucks,a fictional **** that has no place in the universe of the LOTR or soever.
    7)The characters are fictional too,with no life to know or characteristics to remember..
    8)The player customization are ****,few choices and lame changes.
    9)The inventory is nothing much special as the skill tree too.

    At the end,if you want to loose time from your life,go on,this is the perfect game for it,besides, 2659 USERS agrees with it.

    4.5/10    … Expand
  81. MR_TRILBY
    Jan 5, 2014
    8
    For any avid Tolkein fan this game is defiantly one to play, in terms of experiencing more of Tolkeins world, Warner Bros have certainly delivered. Players venture far to the north, fighting the dark forces of Sauron that don't featured in Peter Jacksons feature films or many other adaptations but for any true LOTR fans these are figures you should and will recognise. From the aspect thatFor any avid Tolkein fan this game is defiantly one to play, in terms of experiencing more of Tolkeins world, Warner Bros have certainly delivered. Players venture far to the north, fighting the dark forces of Sauron that don't featured in Peter Jacksons feature films or many other adaptations but for any true LOTR fans these are figures you should and will recognise. From the aspect that The War In The North adds to the brilliant depth and detail of Middle Earth, I beg any fan to play it!

    Now, in terms of game play, theres nothing special here. It isn't ground breaking. But then again, whilst playing I felt a humble sense of nostalgia for the level based game's of my child hood. In this day and age games get slated unless they are breath taking and ground breaking which personally, I don't think is right. You should play games for your love of them, and, as a Lord Of The Rings fan, I love this game... so will you.    … Expand
  82. namzio
    Jan 6, 2014
    6
    Could be better. Controlling is very simple however every battle is different, my fav game to play with a partner so far, a lot of fun in 2 players mode. The soundtrack and sound effects are somewhat annoying and too repetitive. There are no alternative paths, so it's all the same no matter which character you choose. The AI of your computer companions is very poor, still the game isCould be better. Controlling is very simple however every battle is different, my fav game to play with a partner so far, a lot of fun in 2 players mode. The soundtrack and sound effects are somewhat annoying and too repetitive. There are no alternative paths, so it's all the same no matter which character you choose. The AI of your computer companions is very poor, still the game is pretty easy and not demanding.… Expand
  83. Johannes
    Jul 9, 2014
    8
    So , I started playing without expecting too much as the studio is relatively unknown and small. I was really pleasantly surprised though as this turned out to be quite a gem. The in-game menus and GUI elements aren't great and look really outdated but the core functionality of them is excellent , incredibly simple and handy inventory , stats , skills system which I loved. The movement andSo , I started playing without expecting too much as the studio is relatively unknown and small. I was really pleasantly surprised though as this turned out to be quite a gem. The in-game menus and GUI elements aren't great and look really outdated but the core functionality of them is excellent , incredibly simple and handy inventory , stats , skills system which I loved. The movement and general feel is decent but can sometimes feel a bit bulky. Decent though. The real pleasure in the experience is in the combat , it feels sturdy and swinging a frosty two handed broadsword has never felt better. Chopping of limbs of orcs and goblins is incredibly satisfying. The co-op dynamics is really well conceived aswell and the player to player system feels great. Graphically my opinion varies. The modeling is extremely well done and the displacement and normal mapping is great with large textures, yet runs really well. However , some things like nature and lighting feels unfinished and rushed. At times there are 2D trees randomly looming in the background and the skyboxes are really awful - minor things. If your in the market for an RPG that feels like Dragon age and plays like Skyrim you cant go wrong here. Enough said.… Expand
  84. navin257999
    Sep 5, 2014
    10
    it is a very good game one of the best rpg games. the story is good, the characters the graphics game play the interactivity are good finished the game in both pc and ps3
  85. reconplayer9037
    Oct 9, 2014
    8
    I would give this game a 10 for it's fun gameplay,story and graphics. (Not to mention the loot system!)
    However, this game is buggy. From messing up your saves to freeze ups, glitches can ruin your game.
    I would've given it a 10, but dat glitches though....
    8
  86. alanmacd
    Nov 19, 2014
    8
    First things first. This is not a role playing game in the traditional sense of the word. Your choices matter naught - the game goes to the same place regardless and is rigidly scripted. Also, on higher levels, there is little challenge to the battles once your character has completely leveled up. Some of the abilities are ludicrously over powered - exploding crossbow shot anyone?

    BUT,    First things first. This is not a role playing game in the traditional sense of the word. Your choices matter naught - the game goes to the same place regardless and is rigidly scripted. Also, on higher levels, there is little challenge to the battles once your character has completely leveled up. Some of the abilities are ludicrously over powered - exploding crossbow shot anyone?

    BUT, it is, without a doubt, some of the finest co-op game play I have ever experienced. Battles feel wonderfully fun and realistic. Graphics are sensational. The music and voice work is top-notch. And you FEEL like you are in Middle Earth. For all it's flaws, the game is a hell of a lot of fun.    … Expand
  87. Taram
    Dec 20, 2014
    8
    Nice story.... the game really delivers on the feel of Middle Earth... doing a great job at pulling details from both the books and the movies. I was originally concerned with the plot line as they are basically adding new content to Middle Earth but it was very well done and felt very much in the spirit of Tolkien's work. The game is fun and enjoyable while staying fairly simple toNice story.... the game really delivers on the feel of Middle Earth... doing a great job at pulling details from both the books and the movies. I was originally concerned with the plot line as they are basically adding new content to Middle Earth but it was very well done and felt very much in the spirit of Tolkien's work. The game is fun and enjoyable while staying fairly simple to play. Even my two sons (10 and 12) enjoyed it greatly.

    About the only "flaw" I found was that we were able to burn through the story relatively quickly..... I think there are about 10-12 hours of play for one full run through. After that it's just rinse-repeat with no real difference in the content.    … Expand
  88. russiangamer
    Dec 30, 2016
    6
    Если бы не кооператив, то игра бы вообще осталась практически не замеченой.
    Геймлей однообразен, иди да жми 2 кнопки всю игру. Сюжет неинтересный, четверть кат-сцен мы с другом просто пропускали, ведь они скучны, а когда начинались диалоги, то начиналось уныние. Вначале вроде бы и интересно, но уже к диалогу 3-му - нет. Локации серые и не запоминающиеся. И куча... КУЧА багов, от дёрганных    Если бы не кооператив, то игра бы вообще осталась практически не замеченой.
    Геймлей однообразен, иди да жми 2 кнопки всю игру. Сюжет неинтересный, четверть кат-сцен мы с другом просто пропускали, ведь они скучны, а когда начинались диалоги, то начиналось уныние. Вначале вроде бы и интересно, но уже к диалогу 3-му - нет. Локации серые и не запоминающиеся. И куча... КУЧА багов, от дёрганных тел уже после их смерти, до просто каких-то невидимых объектов, через которые может пройти мой друг, но не могу пройти я.
    Вообщем, если бы я играл один, то думаю оценка была бы 5.5/10, но если у вас есть друг, то разок пройти можно.
    Итоговая оценка ЗА КО-ОП РЕЖИМ - 6/10.    … Expand
  89. aadityamudhar
    Apr 17, 2016
    7
    Far from fantastic, sadly. But it does provide a few hours of entertainment between each session you play. The world is beautiful along with the animations, although not much exploration options and sort of shorter than expected. Could probably prove a good challenge on harder difficult level with friends. All-in-all, it's a pretty decent, albeit linear hack-and-slash.
  90. Dco326
    Jan 17, 2023
    7
    Zanimljiva igrica nista wow realno, mnoge stvari su mogle da se poprave pogotovo ai ali postane repetativna isti napadi non stop itd. sve u svemu okej da se predje jedared :)
  91. Mezmer
    Oct 27, 2016
    5
    Growing up, I was a huge Lord of the Rings fan. My dad got me any and all the Lord of the Rings video games out there, and let me tell you, I loved all of em. But, I was very disappointed with this game. It started off strong, with great graphics and good combat. But thats all this game has. The voice acting is very, very poor. The english characters of the franchise are voiced by AmericanGrowing up, I was a huge Lord of the Rings fan. My dad got me any and all the Lord of the Rings video games out there, and let me tell you, I loved all of em. But, I was very disappointed with this game. It started off strong, with great graphics and good combat. But thats all this game has. The voice acting is very, very poor. The english characters of the franchise are voiced by American voice actors, which I find to be unacceptable. There is no character development (there doesn't need to be, but in this case, it couldn't hurt), barely any unique story, and the coding is sub par. Instead of placing visible barriers, you will constantly hit invisible walls when playing. Its also incredibly inconsistent. It goes from easy, to insanely hard, to easy. Its just not a very good game, and I cannot recommend you buy it. Save your money, buy something better. If it wasn't for the game's graphics, combat and connection to the Lord of the Rings franchise, I would've given it a failing score.… Expand
  92. Armitas
    Sep 30, 2017
    8
    DO NOT buy if you have AMD!!! It will crash and freeze at 60fps. There are no fixes for this even in 2017. No Joke the fixes online tell you to run windows 95 compatibility and lower your driver version to before you card was even manufactured. None of it works. This game is permabroken for AMD and Warner Brothers doesn't care to fix it. Buy it on Xbox or Playstation if you have an AMD.DO NOT buy if you have AMD!!! It will crash and freeze at 60fps. There are no fixes for this even in 2017. No Joke the fixes online tell you to run windows 95 compatibility and lower your driver version to before you card was even manufactured. None of it works. This game is permabroken for AMD and Warner Brothers doesn't care to fix it. Buy it on Xbox or Playstation if you have an AMD.

    I could only play to chapter 2 because of the game breaking AMD bugs. However what I did get to play was a lot of fun. There are towns where you can pick up quests, but there are only a few people in each town so you never feel overwhelmed with tasks and dialogue when what you really want to do is get back to the action. There is a lot of loot and it drops plentifully but gives you the option to sell it remotely. There are set items you can combine and augmentation slots. There were not a lot of skills in totality, 4-5 I think, but there are 27 places to put skill points. Combat was fun and fluid (minus the stuttering from AMD). I played by myself but if I had a friend or brother to play with I'd probably give it a 8.5. For what I did play they nailed the feel of middle earth.    … Expand
  93. rezo_21
    Sep 18, 2021
    6
    ====================IIIIIIIIII GAME SCORE : 64 IIIIIIIIII====================
  94. clem666
    Nov 20, 2021
    7
    I'm really torn here. I mean I have many reasons to love and praise this game. The story is great, the arrangement with the events of the films is terrific, the lore is respected. The class system (even if very basic) is cool. Cinematics are okay, music is awesome, the environment is gorgeous, opponents are quite varied. Skills, and by extension skills trees, are inspired, intuitive andI'm really torn here. I mean I have many reasons to love and praise this game. The story is great, the arrangement with the events of the films is terrific, the lore is respected. The class system (even if very basic) is cool. Cinematics are okay, music is awesome, the environment is gorgeous, opponents are quite varied. Skills, and by extension skills trees, are inspired, intuitive and bring some depth to the gameplay. The coop system is cool. Well it benefits from the main pros of every great RPG game. The game is paved with epic scenes. Some boss fights are incredible.

    However I can't deny the fact that many features got me triggered and made me... well... Hate this game too. This game is way too easy on easy mode and way too hard in hard mode: there is absolutely no balance in here ! Add this to the terrible automatic checkpoint system and you'll soon be stuck with broken equipment and over-powered enemies. And believe me, running from them make fights desperately as laughable as ridiculous. The UI is ugly. The inventory is a pain in the eyes and navigate through it is awfully laborious. 'The Lord of the Rings: War in the North' also gathers the cons of Hack'n'slash games : it is repetitive and if you don't like killing orcs and trolls you just have to pass your way. Snowblind Studios tried to make us believe we can make some powerful decisions but just no in fact: the dialogue wheel is ridiculous and the whole game is a narrow corridor. There are many collision and some texture bugs.
    Buy and play it only if you consider yourself a LOTR and/or RPG die-hard fan.    … Expand
  95. FlippinSnip3r
    Nov 13, 2019
    10
    So many great memories i had with this game , the gameplay was so satisfying,i don't know if it's just because of nostalgia but i grew so fond of this game
  96. mndk9881
    Aug 22, 2022
    10
    به نظر من یکی از بهترین بازی های است که از روی سرزمین میانه درست کردن و کم لطفی هم خیلی به این بازی شده
  97. Genek13
    Nov 18, 2019
    7
    Game is very playable with friends in co-op mode (online).
    Fun to play with unique mechanics and style.
  98. JackalLGC
    Aug 8, 2020
    0
    Why i gave it 8?I am lotr fan boy.This game had so much potential.The game graphics were very good for a 2011 game,nice rpg elements,nice looting system and nice combat style.The bad things were that it gets repetitive (same enemy encounters again and again) and you can exploit some features to be unstoppable.Story was good but side quests were dull.One more bad thing was the reviveWhy i gave it 8?I am lotr fan boy.This game had so much potential.The game graphics were very good for a 2011 game,nice rpg elements,nice looting system and nice combat style.The bad things were that it gets repetitive (same enemy encounters again and again) and you can exploit some features to be unstoppable.Story was good but side quests were dull.One more bad thing was the revive system,not because the idea was bad but the AI of your allies (farin and andriel).The game design was good and level design even better.I would like it more difficult maybe.… Expand
  99. Frocyn
    Oct 8, 2020
    8
    In my opinion a very underrated game. It's fun and addictive. I hope someday it will get a remaster.
  100. KevLooney
    Apr 29, 2022
    6
    6/10. I found myself getting lost and not knowing where to go. A game where I get stuck is a game that is boring.
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Awards & Rankings

55
#55 Most Discussed PC Game of 2011
14
#14 Most Shared PC Game of 2011

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
66

Mixed or average reviews - based on 21 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 21
  3. Negative: 1 out of 21
  1. Computer Games Online RO
    Jan 30, 2012
    68
    War in the North is a hack and slash with some RPG elements and co-op, all assembled around one of the most beloved media licenses today, but with all this going for it, it simply doesn't manage to stand out. Sadly, it's just another product that tries to blend some popular elements, but with no true support or personal identity.
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  2. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Jan 19, 2012
    70
    Attractive world of Tolkien's imagination brings "forgotten" adventure of three heroes aside from the main story – the true magic of the game is hidden in the 3-people cooperative play. [Christmas 2011]
  3. Games Master UK
    Jan 12, 2012
    70
    Not without issues, but as The Lord of the Rings games go this is much better than most. [Feb 2012, p.84]
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