Lord Of The Rings – War in the North Review

Many a fan of the Lord of the Rings books and films will be tempted to grab The Lord of the Rings – War in the North. The game is part of a series, in which it is the very first to receive an M rating. One of the biggest challenges that this Snowblind Studio title may face is living up to the name Lord of the Rings. Many hardcore fans of the series will surely expect a lot from the game. War in the North, however, follows a different story. The events that occur in this game somewhat happen alongside Frodo’s main quest involving the ring. This should at least be clear to potential players.

The Good News About The Lord of the Rings – War in the North

The Lord of the Rings – War in the North follows a different premise from the trilogy of books or films. This means that it offers a fresh look at the fantastical world of Middle Earth. It is always a challenge to go another way when a popular one has already been established. You won’t be seeing Frodo and Aragorn take their lead here. The game aims to put the spotlight on new characters such as Andriel of Rivendell, Eradan of the Dunedain rangers and Farin, champion of Erebor. There are also Middle Earth characters from the books but not included in the movie who have been given a chance to shine a little in this game.

As with most fantastical games, War in the North is about quest and discovery. Because of this, the process of starting with basic abilities and then finally levelling up can be simply rewarding. New weapons and gear can also be collected as you go along the way and into the game. The game is fairly enjoyable with its great-looking visuals and the fierce combat that may have earned it its M rating. You actually get most of your enjoyment from the combat.

Screenshot of Lord of the Rings - War In the North (Credit: Publisher)

The Bad News About The Lord of the Rings – War in the North

While the combat may be intense, it can get repetitive. Battle scenarios are similar to each other that you keep on getting a sense of déjà vu. You don’t really want to move on from one section of the game only to be met with an identical one. But that is what is happening here. Thankfully, the game is backed up by a multiplayer mode or the game can be boring overall. Yes, the single player gameplay can be bland. The characters are also not as well-defined as you may want your heroes to be, especially those who have come from beloved Middle Earth. Forget boring. One of the most frustrating elements of the game is not being able to save manually or at will. You have to keep on relying on the automatic save.

The Bottom Line

In the end, War in the North is a game with lots of potential. It has already taken a big risk by basing a game on a fantastical series that millions adore. The game provides great combat action and a unique but simple take on Middle Earth. It does have to contend with repetitiveness and the autosave problem. War in the North can be an enjoyable game but cannot go against other fantastical RPGs. We will have to see if any forthcoming DLC will add anything to the gameplay.