Review: The Lord of the Rings: War in the North – Legacy Edition

The Lord of the Rings: War in the North – Legacy Edition (LOTR: War in the North) is a remaster of the 2011 title. Therefore, it hasn’t undergone a full ground-up rework. Instead, there are some nice quality-of-life improvements rather than a whole reimagining. I didn’t mind this approach as I loved the original. However, the dated mechanics may be a little clunky for younger/modern gamers.

This fantasy hack-and-slash RPG was developed and published by Aspyr Media Inc. It is a single-player and up to 3-player couch and online cooperative title. The latter is where it shines, but I enjoyed the new seamless transition between the 3 protagonists. Moreover, the story is exceptional, and the layers of lore, the otherwise unseen Tolkien elements, and the brilliant character progression make this a fantastic addition to the fantasy world.

LOTR: War in the North tells a phenomenal tale.

One of the standout elements of LOTR: War in the North is its phenomenal tale. The writing, delivery, and pace all flow like a Tolkien tome. Moreover, the characters have a rich background, a special bond, and a drive to defeat the evil forces.

Sauron is at it again. This evil menace is gathering forces in the North, and Agandar is their leader. Your trio of heroes must step out of the gloom to visit regions that are absent from the film franchise. Although it moves on different paths, there are familiar sights. Aragorn, Gandalf, Elrond, and other iconic figures make an appearance as you aim to thwart the evil overlord.

Hack-and-slash teamwork and traditional RPG values.

LOTR: War in the North has a real focus on old-school mechanics. The power of 2011 gaming runs through every aspect of this game, and this may drive a divide between gamers. I love the slightly clunky nature of the beast, and I appreciated the excellent teamwork, the gruesome combat, and the familiar character progression.

The three heroes have their own abilities and strengths and weaknesses. This deliberate design must be manipulated in your favour. If you are a solo gamer, you can switch between the characters with ease. This makes it easy to pick the right person for the job at hand. Luckily, the AI controls ensure that your teammates are pretty useful whenever you are busy. 

With ranged combat, heavy-hitting fighters, and magic at your fingertips, this captures that excellent fantasy edge. However, it is the fantastic character progression and standard XP progress system that works so well. As each character defeats their foes, they gain XP to work through a skill tree. This was brilliantly dated, and I loved the simplicity.  On top of this, if you love loot drops and RNG rarity, you’ll adore LOTR: War in the North. 

Smooth combat.

I’ve touched upon it, but the combat is a great improvement from the 2011 system. The ability to switch between your heroes on the fly was fantastic. This adds some tactical nuance to an otherwise manic experience. Alongside this, there is an enemy locking system that works exceptionally well.

I didn’t know how much I needed that locking focus until I replayed this game. It is a modern mechanic that is heavily relied upon. It is one of the many quality-of-life improvements that make this game just a bit better.

How have they improved it otherwise?

I could go on about each mission, the story, and other core bits. However, I believe most people would have experienced the original at some point. Therefore, I think it would be remiss of me to ignore the layers of improvements that have been made.

First, it has many visual improvements. Lighting, frame rates, better resolutions, sharper textures, and improved image quality make this a joy to look at. Additionally, the controller support has improved, and the action doesn’t feel as slow or tough to handle. Finally, there are better visual indicators for your character’s stats, the aforementioned hot-swapping of characters, improved online play, and autosave functionality. In short, it is much better to play after 15 years in the wild.

LOTR: War in the North looks great.

As this hasn’t been reworked, there is a sense of last decade’s action at play. However, I loved it then, and I love it now. LOTR: War in the North has improved many core visual aspects, but it retains its original charms. Although many of the bugs and glitches have been removed, there are the odd problems that rear their ugly head. This doesn’t impact the game, and most of them made me chuckle. Thankfully, I have no negatives to report, and this is a nice-to-look-at title.

The audio has a dramatic, energetic, and doom-filled approach. This works with the ancient fantasy edge and the usual orcs and evil forces. The world is awash with earthy tones and sinister moments. Consequently, the audio has a sombre and booming undertone that matches the story and mood.

Excellent controls.

I’ve been gaming for years, so I appreciate retro clunk. LOTR: War in the North isn’t horrible to play, but there is a sense of friction as you move through the gears. This isn’t a complaint, but it is noticeable when you consider modern alternatives. 

The ability to play as 3 unique characters and team up with friends ensures that replay value and longevity are key aspects. If you then add in the loot system, skill tree, and other major mechanics, this will have you playing for hours.

LOTR: War in the North is a brilliant game.

I’m impressed by how good this remaster is. The game works exceptionally well for modern audiences. Furthermore, the handful of improvements make it an enjoyable experience. Although it is clearly a 15-year-old game, I love the story, the seamless character transition, and the ability to play this with friends. Accordingly, if you love LOTR, this is a must-play title, and I recommend buying it here! Can you overcome Sauron? Explore the world, meet some legendary heroes, and keep the North safe!