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
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Awards & Rankings

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

Critic Reviews

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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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