![]() Multiply that effort times the game's three characters, and it's clear that War in the North offers a vast amount of gameplay. Character stats and equipment carry over to ever-harder difficulty levels, offering an incentive to re-play the game's quest again and again. The Lord of the Rings: War in the North is not designed to be played once and set aside. It would be remiss not to remark on the game's longevity. Meanwhile, all manner of hidden goodies litter the corners of the world, making careful exploration necessary, and rewarding. Areas do not repeat, and backtracking is unnecessary. The game is long, and appreciation for Snowblind Studios' skillful world creation only grows over the course of the experience. From the opening in rain-swept Bree, through the forests of Mirkwood and on to the final battle at Carn Dum, each of War in the North's landscapes are wholly unique. The Lord of the Rings: War in the North, right at the outset, is a handsome game. Thankfully, the care taken with War in the North's presentation helps keep things fresh. Combat alone isn't quite enough to support the weight of the whole game. ![]() Still, despite the thrill of becoming ever more powerful as the game progresses, battle fatigue creeps in. Melee attacks favor sharp timing over button mashing, and War in the North's brutal combat echoes the mechanics found in Batman: Arkham City, also published by Warner Bros. Mowing down near endless waves of goblins, orcs, trolls, spiders, and the undead occupies much of the game's playtime. As with character abilities, each new piece of weaponry and armor has a tangible effect on the battlefield.ĭespite a few portions of the game that are given over to conversation trees and storytelling (often in settings straight from the films, such as Rivendale and The Prancing Pony), the balance of War in the North takes place on the battlefield. Even better, the vast quantities of weapons and armor that players collect each boast unique, highly detailed designs that effortlessly recreate the style of the films, and look fantastic on our heroes. Upgraded abilities always pack a punch, whether they merely increase melee damage for a particular kind of weapon, or unlock totally new, devastating attacks. Thanks to the game's extensive, useful skill-trees, players have complete control over how characters develop. Fortunately, War in the North makes sticking with one character a joy. ![]() Furthermore, there is no way for a second player to simply join a single player game, despite the constant presence of all three party members.īy allowing character switching only between levels, the game encourages players to focus on a single hero. Want to play a stage further along in the adventure with a higher level player? You're welcome to, but War in the North won't save your progress. On the other hand, the game is unnecessarily punitive when it comes to players of differing skill levels. As a result, the rush of victory when taking down a tough enemy - say, a giant troll clad in armor and wielding a flaming club - is immensely satisfying. The game's many battles must be approached cautiously, and teamwork is an absolute must. The bad news is that a restrictive set of rules for multiple human players occasionally puts a damper on the fun.įor players who sit down together and work their way through the adventure, War in the North's co-op is as good as it gets. The good news is that War in the North's computer-controlled characters do a fine job of keeping up with the player, and perform their primary task - reviving fallen characters - reliably. Remaining party members can be controlled either by the computer or other players, as War in the North supports both two-player split-screen and (up to) three-player online co-op. Regardless of which character players select, The Fellowship always stays together. Completionists beware: to uncover every secret in any of the game's large levels means either combing through them with like-minded players, or separate play-throughs for each character. Beyond that, each character is privy to unique hidden areas throughout the game, and specific in-level pick-ups (Andriel, for instance, spends a fair amount of time looking for plants). Eradan offers an accessible mix of close combat and ranged attacks, Andriel specializes in magic, and Farin is all about melee. ![]() Naturally, each of the three characters possess differing skills and abilities. Recruited by Aragorn in Bree, three warriors - Eradan, a Dunedain Ranger, Andriel, Loremaster of Rivendell, and Farin, Champion of Erebor - join together as the Fellowship of Three. While Frodo's Fellowship works its way toward Mount Doom, a second, smaller group of allies begins the journey North to confront Agandaur, a powerful ally of Sauron. The Lord of the Rings: War in the North tells a new tale set during the final days of the War of the Ring. ![]()
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