The Lord of the Rings: War in the North

 PlayStation 3
User Score
7.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 130 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 64 out of 130
  2. Mixed: 49 out of 130
  3. Negative: 17 out of 130
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  1. GrumpyReviewer
    Nov 11, 2011
    8
    For some reviewers, this game is worse than "Conquest". C'mon. By the end of the day, this is one of the best LOTR games I've ever played (and I've played many of them). The graphics are not the best in this generation - but by all means are they bad - the gameplay is fun, the side-story is interesting and the game becomes quickly quite addictive. I just could not put it down. Playing soloFor some reviewers, this game is worse than "Conquest". C'mon. By the end of the day, this is one of the best LOTR games I've ever played (and I've played many of them). The graphics are not the best in this generation - but by all means are they bad - the gameplay is fun, the side-story is interesting and the game becomes quickly quite addictive. I just could not put it down. Playing solo is nice, couch-co-op is great and there's also tons of fun to be had online. I think some people expect the same magic of every release. Not all games will be like Uncharted, God of War, Gears of War, Batman Arkham, Red Ded Redepemtion and so on. Those are examples of the finest pieces of gaming this industry is capable of. We should not give up on the smaller releases. This is a stupid mistake. We need to widen our minds and learn that games - like any type of art - must be appreciated in different ways and levels.… Expand
  2. Singh
    Dec 3, 2011
    10
    You don't have to play Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance to fully enjoy this game, or watch the Fellowship of the Ring, or even read the Return of the King. All you have to do is enjoy ripping people apart, why are people pissed? Because of repetitive gameplay in a RPG, well just look at Mario. The thing is, this game is solid, it takes the Dark Alliance Engine back tot he basics of thatYou don't have to play Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance to fully enjoy this game, or watch the Fellowship of the Ring, or even read the Return of the King. All you have to do is enjoy ripping people apart, why are people pissed? Because of repetitive gameplay in a RPG, well just look at Mario. The thing is, this game is solid, it takes the Dark Alliance Engine back tot he basics of that toolset and redefines everything. Finally giving us a game worthy of using the DA Engine, worthy enough to be on the same tier as Dark Alliance, and worthy enough for people to enjoy a sequel in a different animated world.… Expand
  3. th0rn
    Dec 10, 2012
    9
    LOTR:WITN is a great action rpg set in the LOTR universe. Think of it as Skyrim if you always fast travelled to the next story quest location, but when you get there the combat is much better, and it's co-op. This game is one of my all time favourites, and would have been an easy 10 if not for some interface annoyances with the inventory and upgrade systems. A definite BUY and a good gameLOTR:WITN is a great action rpg set in the LOTR universe. Think of it as Skyrim if you always fast travelled to the next story quest location, but when you get there the combat is much better, and it's co-op. This game is one of my all time favourites, and would have been an easy 10 if not for some interface annoyances with the inventory and upgrade systems. A definite BUY and a good game to come back to again and again!… Expand
  4. terbas
    Apr 6, 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
  5. Offvader
    Nov 12, 2011
    8
    Epic adventure with a few shortfalls.

    I almost put the game away for good after playing a couple hours but I am glad I persevered. This game is beautiful and challenging, although a little linear, but that is to be expected as the game was designed to follow Tolkien's story. The combat system is a little limited and tedious until you level up and acquire new skills. But then the combat    Epic adventure with a few shortfalls.

    I almost put the game away for good after playing a couple hours but I am glad I persevered. This game is beautiful and challenging, although a little linear, but that is to be expected as the game was designed to follow Tolkien's story.

    The combat system is a little limited and tedious until you level up and acquire new skills. But then the combat dynamics and group synergies begin to play a much bigger part vs. the dark hordes, mini-bosses and bosses. I have heard some people complain about dying over and over vs. the bosses, and yes they are challenging, and that to me and many others is a good thing. The game really forces you to work together as a team, utilizing all your characters individual skills dynamic synergies to triumph over the dark forces.

    The games art design is beautiful and even though you are kept on a rail through the landscape it still feels wide open and expansive. There are even secret routes that only your character can spot if you are paying attention.

    The storyline overall is good, the voice acting is above average, sadly the main three characters get very little development and are a little weak, and I don't think we gamers really come to feel any connection to them.

    In summary, I think the developers set their goals very high for what could be achieved on current console games and they came very close but may have been forced to cut a few corners to get it all to fit. It is still a great game and I recommend it to every fan of console rpgs, just keep in mind the game doesn't really start to reveal it's potential until a few hours in. Also be prepared to use your brain as well as fighting skills to overcome increasing and varied challenges.

    8/10    … Expand
  6. ThePeople
    Nov 23, 2011
    10
    the lord of the rings also known as one of the best movies ever made. war in the north does not interfere with whats happening in the movies it focuses on three characters if your thinking argon, leglasis and gilmi it's not them. the graphics could be improved the gameplay is better than previous games but it needs to be tweaked. overall it a good game if you are a lord of the rings fan
  7. DefPedro
    Jan 26, 2012
    10
    This game purchase really pleased me. I completed this game several times and I plan on doing it again. I convinced a friend of mine to buy it and now we play together. I actually platinumed it months ago but I still love the game. Hopefully there will be add-ons coming soon.
  8. Sly101
    Mar 19, 2012
    8
    Third best LOTR game ever before the two excellent games on the PS2. 9 is too generous for its flaws and 7 is to mean for its triumphs. This game looks beautiful and plays smoothly. Some combat gets repetitive but that improves as you level up your character. The usage of the lore is the best aspect of this game. It uses pre-established LOTR lore that's in the books to its advantage, soThird best LOTR game ever before the two excellent games on the PS2. 9 is too generous for its flaws and 7 is to mean for its triumphs. This game looks beautiful and plays smoothly. Some combat gets repetitive but that improves as you level up your character. The usage of the lore is the best aspect of this game. It uses pre-established LOTR lore that's in the books to its advantage, so Snowblind used it's books perfectly. Music is stunning and I like the long drawn out conversation, very LOTR! No it isn't the best game ever but it does pretty good with what its got. 8/10 from me.… Expand
  9. LonliZombi
    Nov 2, 2011
    8
    Solid. That's exactly what lotr: war in the north is. It does nothing extraordinary, but what it does is solid, and a blast. Smacking an orc in the face with a battleaxe should never get old, and while this may not be a masterpiece as far as story goes, its a dam good time.
  10. atomicmrcoffee
    Nov 3, 2011
    10
    First off, one reviewer said that you can not customize your character. Actually you can, you need to find a mirror in a town, when you stand in front of it you can change your appearance on several fronts. Second this is at it's core a co op game, the story line is straight forward and simple, wreck as much havoc to Sourons forces as possible. In my case I am playing with my son. IFirst off, one reviewer said that you can not customize your character. Actually you can, you need to find a mirror in a town, when you stand in front of it you can change your appearance on several fronts. Second this is at it's core a co op game, the story line is straight forward and simple, wreck as much havoc to Sourons forces as possible. In my case I am playing with my son. I do not play consul games to often and he is the hard core-est of gamers but we are having fun playing it together. The controls are simple enough for me not to get confused and the battles hard enough for him to feel challenged, and he loves the fight scene graphics. The game is beautifully balanced. It is truly a three player game and is set up so that people can jump in and out with ease. It is kind of like the return of the ring/castle crashers/dragon age. Most of all it stays true to the lord of the rings mythos. the settings look great and are places I always wanted to see from the books. It is just a simple fun game especially with other people, one of the best co op games ever. This game does what it sets out to do beautifully and if you want a little variety in the types of games and types out there support the game.… Expand
  11. ArnesonR
    Nov 4, 2011
    9
    High expectations seem to have been the demise of many of the ratings found here. I think the users who are seeking a good hack and slash to enjoy with friends will be pleased with this game. Although in my opinion not quite up to par with Baldurs Gate and Champions of Norrath, the game is still quite fun and immersive. Plenty of loot for the taking.
  12. POEIII
    Jan 24, 2013
    9
    I have been waiting for some time now for a good dungeon crawling RPG that i could play with friends for some time. This game has the feel of a newer Baulder's Gate Dark Alliance but set in Middle-Earth and for that I give it a high rank. I have played almost all action RPGs on the PS3 and can say that this is one of the better ones. The story is intriguing and the characters fun. thereI have been waiting for some time now for a good dungeon crawling RPG that i could play with friends for some time. This game has the feel of a newer Baulder's Gate Dark Alliance but set in Middle-Earth and for that I give it a high rank. I have played almost all action RPGs on the PS3 and can say that this is one of the better ones. The story is intriguing and the characters fun. there were times when I felt that the three classes from Baulder's Gate Dark Alliance were re-used for the characters of this game. The fact that it is a LOTR game is an added bonus. I do like the feel of Baulder's Gate Dark Alliance but I wish they had more classes to chose from. If it was a bit more original in its selection of characters I may have given this game a perfect score.… Expand
  13. andoarias
    May 12, 2014
    8
    TLOTR: War in the North has been certainly a nice surprise of PS Plus. I wasn't expecting to enjoy it since I'm no fan of Tolkien's books but I have to say this game is really worth your attention.
    Its gameplay it's fantastic and it's best enjoyed when co-played with up-to 3 friends. Graphically, the game lacks more pollishment and detail and some more charismatic charachters would have    TLOTR: War in the North has been certainly a nice surprise of PS Plus. I wasn't expecting to enjoy it since I'm no fan of Tolkien's books but I have to say this game is really worth your attention.
    Its gameplay it's fantastic and it's best enjoyed when co-played with up-to 3 friends. Graphically, the game lacks more pollishment and detail and some more charismatic charachters would have helped the game reach higher scores.    … Expand
  14. GregRog
    Aug 7, 2014
    10
    I have never had so much multiplayer fun in a long time! I love the graphic style and gameplay, and it really has that Lord of the Rings feel to it. Plus a lot of different skills, equipment that changes with difficulty level, and you can even customize your appearance a bit! What else could you possibly want from a game? A Strong 10/10 from me.
  15. Kai82
    Jul 14, 2021
    8
    Another rare example of a good licensed videogame. It is an action RPG set in the Lord of the Rings realm during the war of the ring. It tells a new story and is only slightly connected to the story of the books / movies. It reminds me a bit of elements Double Dragon or Streets of Rage set in Middle Earth and I will explain that down below. Story: It tells the story of 3 heroes whichAnother rare example of a good licensed videogame. It is an action RPG set in the Lord of the Rings realm during the war of the ring. It tells a new story and is only slightly connected to the story of the books / movies. It reminds me a bit of elements Double Dragon or Streets of Rage set in Middle Earth and I will explain that down below. Story: It tells the story of 3 heroes which prevented a huge disaster in the north which would had otherwise a hugely negative impact in the war of the ring. When the Nazgul were on their way to the Shire at the beginning of the war of the ring they broke through a defense of the Dunedain. Because there was more to it than it seems the ranger Eradan, the dwarven champion Farin and elven loremaster Andriel are on a quest to find answers to this and seek out the advice of the famous ranger Strider (Yes that one;-). With this the adventure begins. I praise the decision to try something different and even more if it works well. They don't rely on the war of the rings and do a new story. Of cause you will meet some familiar persons. While it does not reinvent the wheel the story works well enough and is also satisfying enough to keep me going. Gameplay: It is an action RPG or hack and slash RPG. You can play one of the 3 mentioned characters (you can change during the game). Eradan as ranger is adapted to many melee weapons. Of cause he can use a bow as he would be no ranger without it. Farin is more of the tank of the party and has access to powerful abilities. He can mine for gems outside of battles. Andriel is a melee fighter / healer and can make useful potions out of herbs (Some are incredibly useful). All characters can learn new abilities at level up and this can change the game play or roles. For example Andriel can be quite a good mage dealing lots of damage. The gameplay is action RPG standard. Attack and dont get hit ;-). You have special skills, can block or use a doge roll. Each enemy defeated gives experience points (more with a finishing move) and when you level up you get an ability point and can increase your stats to improve your characters. Of cause there is loot like better weapons and equipment in different rarities, set bonuses and usable potions. Sidequests often have amazing rewards. Now to my Double Dragon reference. Both games have the similarity that you must finish all enemies on a screen / location before you can move any further ;-). The controls work well and I had no problems in the game. They try to introduce a few elements in later stages to keep the experience fresh and I appreciate this. Characters: I like the 3 heroes that work well enough here. They won me over and are enjoyable. Expect however no huge character developments in the game as it is more a buddy road-movie (I know it is a bad pun but somehow fitting). My favorite character is Beleram which I wont spoil. Other than him I praise Urgost and Saenathra ;-). Of cause there are familiar characters that made an appearance too. Presentation: Well the graphics did not look that good back then and even less good today. They did however put efforts into the locations, characters and enemies which I praise. The soundtrack is fitting. Negatives: I found a few negatives. They recycled the locations inside a level a lot (I recognized it not immediately and the first levels do it less or not notable). Often the AI characters blocked my path which was a little bit annoying (The evasive roll helps here). Very few times the AI characters don't kept up with me and I faced dire battles without support. In total I don't see these as mayor enough to decrease my ratings. Overall this is a fun game to play. Not one of the highest level but definitely worth my time. I think an 8/10 is a fair rating.… Expand
  16. borealsquirrel
    Jun 29, 2017
    10
    Couch Co-Op at its best. Campaign may be too short, and plot lack luster, but the combat and gameplay more than makes up for it. Unfortunately split screen action RPG couch co-ops are about as as rare as...well, a very rare thing. I imagine it would be less enjoyable solo, but where this game shines is in the co-op and being able to play an action RPG with someone in the same room. TheCouch Co-Op at its best. Campaign may be too short, and plot lack luster, but the combat and gameplay more than makes up for it. Unfortunately split screen action RPG couch co-ops are about as as rare as...well, a very rare thing. I imagine it would be less enjoyable solo, but where this game shines is in the co-op and being able to play an action RPG with someone in the same room. The combat is very well done and impactful, and the loot endlessly rewarding, it pays to explore every nook and cranny. With the gaming industry focusing so much on online multiplayer, this is a rare gem. Grab a buddy and a remote and go slice some orcs to bits; together =) Here's to dreaming of the next game to succeed this one.… Expand
  17. mxnu54
    Oct 17, 2021
    10
    Very underrated, if you are a fan of LOTR then you have to dust off your PS3 and play this. Youll have 12 hours of fun gameplay, it should be at least an 85 Score. The whole Eagle story is so nice.
  18. JoKeR_AlexS
    Nov 21, 2020
    9
    Este comentário é universal nas minhas reviews. Apenas quero dar nota aos jogos e caso queiram saber mais alguma coisa sobre o jogo, aconselho a ver outras reviews ou até mesmo a experimentar o jogo.
  19. Blasthunter5
    Nov 16, 2020
    10
    The gameplay is good, what else can be said save that it is a fun to play game, and I shall never not cherish the times I had playing it with friends and bisecting green people.
  20. Realbreather
    Apr 7, 2022
    10
    As far as hack and slash RPG's go, this is up there with the best of them. Brilliant class mechanics, VERY addictive gameplay, Excellent set pieces and expertly executed RPGisms, this one is an absolute MUST for fans of the book, this game will have you visit many locations mentioned only in the RotK novel.

Awards & Rankings

50
#50 Most Discussed PS3 Game of 2011
41
#41 Most Shared PS3 Game of 2011

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
63

Mixed or average reviews - based on 33 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 33
  2. Mixed: 17 out of 33
  3. Negative: 4 out of 33
  1. DarkStation
    Jan 27, 2012
    60
    In many ways, War in the North is a Gears of War version of Lord of the Rings. In fact, the game introduces an enemy type that looks and functions identically to the Ticker and there are wave-based Horde modes to play through. Like Gears of War, however, the game's saving grace is the three player co-op because it is much more fun to slay Orcs with friends.
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  2. Play UK
    Jan 9, 2012
    42
    A derivative hack-and-slasher which offers nothing new and does nothing old particularly well. [Issue#213, p.89]
  3. Eurogamer Portugal
    Jan 3, 2012
    50
    War in North is a rushed game. The Gameplay is simple and it doesn't take any risks, and the story had potential but fails to stand out.
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