Lord of the Rings: War in the North

77%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,502 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Lord of the Rings: War in the North Game Cover
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"Lord of the Rings: War in the North" is a co-op Action RPG set in a brutal new chapter of the War of the Ring. It offers visceral combat, character progression, and a wide range of deadly enemies. Traverse familiar and never-before-seen locations in Middle-earth, and fight alongside friends in this epic and intimate journey.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

77%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,502 reviews
story190 positive mentions
stability76 negative mentions
  • Very nice story that fits well within the Lord of the Rings lore.
  • Good gameplay with satisfying combat mechanics and character progression.
  • Immersive interactions with familiar characters and locations from the LOTR universe.
  • Frequent crashes and bugs, especially for players with AMD graphics cards.
  • In-game voice chat cannot be disabled, causing issues with external communication tools.
  • Linear gameplay with repetitive combat and limited character development.
  • story537 mentions

    The story of "Lord of the Rings: War in the North" is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its integration into the larger lore of Middle-earth while exploring new narratives alongside the main events of the "Fellowship of the Ring." While some find the plot engaging and immersive, others criticize it for being linear, predictable, and lacking depth, often describing it as a simple side story that doesn't significantly impact the overarching narrative. Overall, it offers a mix of enjoyable character interactions and lore for Tolkien fans, though opinions vary on its originality and execution.

    • “The story fits perfectly into the greater LOTR canon and is a genuinely enjoyable jaunt through the periphery of the War of the Ring.”
    • “The game tells a new story with new characters while remaining faithful to the lore and weaving in characters we all know and love.”
    • “War in the North, in particular, gives the player another perspective on the War of the Ring and tells a different story.”
    • “The story is weak; while I appreciate it trying to add to the lore of LOTR, it feels forced and unconnected to everything else going on in Middle-earth.”
    • “The story is so linear and full of clichés that it actually hurts.”
    • “The story is pretty bog standard, with a load of very forced appearances from the characters from the films.”
  • gameplay245 mentions

    The gameplay of "The Lord of the Rings: War in the North" is characterized by its hack-and-slash mechanics, offering a straightforward yet engaging experience, particularly in co-op mode. While many players appreciate the fun combat and RPG elements, criticisms arise regarding repetitive gameplay, technical issues, and a lack of depth in mechanics. Overall, it provides a nostalgic and enjoyable adventure for fans of the franchise, though it may not appeal to those seeking more complex gameplay.

    • “The gameplay is solid, with a good blend of melee comboing and ranged attacks.”
    • “Great gameplay, fun with friends, impressive storyline.”
    • “The cooperative mode in 'The Lord of the Rings: War in the North' is a true gem, elevating the gameplay experience from a solitary slog to a merry melee with friends.”
    • “The gameplay is some of the most repetitive and bland I have ever experienced—the vast majority of it consists of killing the exact same orcs over and over, just with a different environment.”
    • “The lotr-lore carries the game only for a while before the repetitive and boring gameplay kicks in, toppling it to the 'played once - forgotten forever' pile.”
    • “Repetitive, average hack-n-slash gameplay, unfair checkpoints, bad-barebones dialogue; on top of that, the game suffers from major technical issues: this game keeps crashing to desktop and features poor graphics, it's basically unplayable if you don't downgrade your video card controllers.”
  • graphics224 mentions

    The graphics of the game are generally considered dated, reflecting its 2011 release, but many players find them acceptable for the time, with some appreciating the aesthetic that aligns with the Peter Jackson films. While there are notable issues such as glitches and performance problems, particularly on AMD graphics cards, the visuals still manage to convey the game's atmosphere and lore effectively. Overall, opinions vary, with some praising the graphics as decent or good for their age, while others criticize them as mediocre or lacking compared to more recent titles.

    • “The graphics are excellent and the combat is pristine.”
    • “The visuals are amazing and the dialog is heroic and thoughtful.”
    • “Great graphics and very easy to grasp.”
    • “Graphics are dated, but it is one of the most lore accurate LOTR games I've ever played.”
    • “Definitely won't recommend this game, I don't know what happened with the devs but they never truly had after release patches to fix the many graphical problems with it (the fact that it crashes the whole computer if you're using an ATI graphics card, not to mention its poor optimization).”
    • “The graphics are a sore point for a 2019 gamer.”
  • stability76 mentions

    The game is widely criticized for its numerous stability issues, including frequent crashes, glitches, and unresponsive AI, which significantly detract from the overall experience. Many players report game-breaking bugs, particularly in later chapters, making it difficult to progress without encountering frustrating technical problems. While some find the gameplay enjoyable despite these issues, the lack of polish and stability remains a major concern for most reviewers.

    • “Great game, but it loses your data frequently, crashes, glitches, bugs, freezes, etc.”
    • “The real nail in the coffin for me... nothing annoys me more than enjoying a game all the way up to the last level then experiencing constant crashes, glitches, and graphical errors.”
    • “The game is very good but a bit buggy and if you avoid the last chapter... awful work, Snowblind Studios.”
  • music32 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its ability to enhance the atmosphere and evoke emotions reminiscent of the films, while others find it lackluster and generic. Although the soundtrack fits the game's scenarios, many players feel it falls short of the epic quality expected from a title associated with the Lord of the Rings franchise. Overall, while the music is appreciated for its role in setting the mood, it is often described as forgettable and not as impactful as it could have been.

    • “And yet, when you visit Bree and feel the melancholy that permeates the scene, or the peace of Imladris, when you fight orcs on top of mountain peaks, or travel the Coldfells infested by trolls... it just works... the art direction is perfectly honorable, the scenario, well, not amazing but fits properly within canon, and the music is lovely.”
    • “Good game, awesome music and storyline.”
    • “Very decent gameplay, beautiful environments, high-quality music, interesting story moments.”
    • “I was astonished at how forgetful the soundtrack for this game was, especially considering it was composed by one such as Inon Zur!”
    • “I've never liked the term 'generic' when labeling music in video games, but damn, that's the only word that comes to my mind.”
    • “An entirely lackluster, anticlimactic game, with extremely underwhelming technology, controls, and a heavily uninspired soundtrack.”
  • replayability31 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating the rewarding skill and leveling systems, character customization, and the availability of new game+ modes that enhance replay value. However, some reviewers noted limitations due to the game's linear nature and lack of content, leading to a perception of diminished replayability for solo play. Co-op gameplay offers additional fun, but glitches and a short campaign can detract from the overall experience.

    • “The skill and leveling system is satisfying and rewarding with plenty of replay value, and gear is so much fun to level up.”
    • “The new game+ and new game++ give the game pretty good replayability.”
    • “Replayability is high as it is a good length dramatic story which gives you the chance to try again at higher levels with interesting equipment.”
    • “Not a whole lot of replayability unless you want to just smash some orcs in the face with a stick or something.”
    • “There is no replay value in a game as tedious as this.”
    • “That said, the game is rather short, and can be beaten in just a few days worth of gameplay, and the replay value is not extraordinarily high due to the game's linear nature.”
  • optimization26 mentions

    The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with many players reporting severe stuttering, frequent crashes, and poor performance, particularly on AMD graphics cards. Despite some users experiencing smoother gameplay, the overall consensus is that the game is poorly optimized and requires significant patches to address its numerous technical issues. Players recommend caution, suggesting it may only be worth purchasing during sales due to its performance problems.

    • “Runs smoothly and is your all-round awesome hack and slash game!”
    • “Graphics performance r9 280x, 1080p max settings: 60 fps (v-sync) all the time except for a few stutters when loading new textures.”
    • “The game is fun overall but it sorely needs a performance bug worked out.”
    • “Definitely won't recommend this game. I don't know what happened with the devs, but they never truly had after-release patches to fix the many graphical problems with it (the fact that it crashes the whole computer if you're using an ATI graphics card, not to mention its poor optimization).”
    • “An excellent game if you can make it work, but unfortunately for me and many others, it has so many stuttering and crash issues that the game is unplayable.”
    • “The game is so unoptimized for these cards that it becomes practically unplayable.”
  • grinding19 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious and monotonous, with players noting that combat feels basic and unsatisfying, leading to a lack of engaging character progression. Many reviews highlight the repetitive nature of loot gathering and the clunky interface, which detracts from the overall enjoyment, especially in solo play. While some find moments of fun in the looting mechanics, the overwhelming sentiment is that the grind is a significant drawback, making the game feel more like a chore than an adventure.

    • “Grindy combat, unsatisfying kills, and lackluster character progression.”
    • “Hours of grinding, 'gathering' and upgrading just [saquishhh!!!... blub blub blub blub] down the toilet.”
    • “You hack at enemies with staggering melee chains to deplete their tediously large amounts of health, and eventually score a 'critical' slow-motion kill, with all such finishers being seen in the first five minutes.”
  • humor15 mentions

    The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with many players finding it entertaining due to funny character interactions and amusing glitches, particularly when playing cooperatively. While some appreciate the comedic elements reminiscent of the LOTR franchise, others feel that the humor often stems from the game's numerous bugs and clunky mechanics, leading to a "hilariously bad" experience rather than intentional comedy. Overall, it offers a lighthearted distraction, especially when on sale, but may not appeal to those seeking a polished gameplay experience.

    • “It has its fun moments and can honestly be hilarious at times with its many bugs.”
    • “Biggest con is the glitchiness that occurs when a lot of stuff is on screen, but it's generally a funny glitch, not a game-breaking glitch.”
    • “They lead to some pretty funny ways of dying!”
  • atmosphere12 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is a mixed bag, with some players praising its immersive Lord of the Rings feel and beautiful visuals, while others criticize it for lacking depth and coherence, particularly in audio effects. Despite dated graphics, many appreciate the atmospheric locations and engaging storyline, though some feel it falls short of truly capturing the essence of Tolkien's world. Overall, the atmosphere is enjoyable for fans of the franchise, but not without its flaws.

    • “The graphics are a little dated, but the gameplay is excellent and the storyline is atmospheric and immersive.”
    • “They nailed the atmosphere for that area, and looking out at all the outstanding crags and jagged rocks planted in the rolling green hills gave me chills.”
    • “I enjoy a lot the graphics, especially the great 3D vision support, the music, and the unique Lord of the Rings atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere is bad; it doesn't feel like Lord of the Rings.”
    • “Voice acting and world atmosphere are also mediocre.”
    • “The atmosphere is not immersive and fails to capture the essence of the source material.”
  • character development8 mentions

    Character development in the game has been widely criticized, with many players noting a lack of depth and meaningful choices. While the game features a "3-tree" system reminiscent of Diablo 2, it often leads to obvious optimal choices, leaving little room for personal growth or unique character experiences. Overall, the absence of engaging character development detracts from the overall enjoyment, despite the strong audio-visual presentation and immersive world-building.

    • “Except for occasional characters with bad voice acting, the game really makes you feel like you're in Middle-earth, with all the place and people names mentioned, sentence structures reminiscent of Tolkien, and good character design.”
    • “The '3-tree' character development from Diablo 2 is here, but much like in Borderlands, it's extremely obvious what the best choices are.”
    • “If they just had added some more options in character development.”
    • “The premise is good but the game itself is a crappy mess... horrible controls, poor story, and no character development.”
    • “You control one of three characters with no personality or character development trying to chain as many finishers as possible, until you unlock Farin's explosive arrow and trivialize the game.”
    • “Also, there is absolutely no character development, and I think that if it wasn't for the good gameplay, I would have quit this game.”
  • emotional3 mentions

    While some users find the game evokes strong emotions, others criticize its story as banal and unoriginal, suggesting that the emotional impact is undermined by a lack of depth in the narrative.

    • “It makes you feel emotional.”
    • “The story evokes deep feelings and resonates on a personal level.”
    • “The emotional depth of the characters truly enhances the overall experience.”
    • “The emotional depth of the characters is lacking, making it hard to connect with their struggles.”
    • “I expected a gripping narrative, but the story felt flat and uninspired.”
    • “The game fails to evoke any real feelings; it feels more like a chore than an emotional journey.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game is perceived as a cash grab, lacking originality and primarily aimed at profiting from the popularity of the movies.

    • “This is nothing special, just another quick cash grab to capitalize on the success of the movies.”
    • “The monetization strategy feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending money.”
    • “I feel like I'm being pushed to spend more than I should just to keep up with the gameplay.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

13hMedian play time
18hAverage play time
10-28hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 9 analyzed playthroughs

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