As War in the North would have it, the exploits of its heroes were just as critical. After all, without the Fellowship, Frodo never would have made it to Mount Doom at all. Working together even awards experience bonuses.Īnd maybe it's only appropriate that The Lord of the Rings: War in the North is at its best when played with friends. Human players are naturally more effective than AI partners, and many issues – damage absorbing orcs included – are alleviated with coordination. The whole affair is eminently more enjoyable when playing cooperatively either online or on the couch. When I activated Hero Mode, for example, huge hammer-wielding orcs unflinchingly withstood the damage of my heaviest attacks and spells that knock most enemies to the ground (including my favorite ability, the mage's "You shall not pass" combo). The more difficult enemies, rather than being craftier, simply ignore most hits and retaliate with unblockable attacks of their own. This is partially because enemy variety thins out as the adventure moves forward, with wild men serving the same function (and using the same animations, if I'm not mistaken) as the orcs that preceded them. The combat area is closed off – either by a physical gate or an artificial barrier – and players deal with a gaggle of melee attackers while archers and mages take potshots from a distance. For instance, nearly every enemy encounter shares the same precise setup. It sounds like a winning formula, especially given the dungeon-crawling pedigree of developer Snowblind Studios, but it wears thin after a while. Landing critical hits also has the added bonus of occasionally severing limbs and delivering a lethal blow with slow motion gusto.Īs the story progresses, players battle increasingly difficult foes, gain new skills and gather improved equipment. So long as you aren't struck by an enemy, Hero Mode starts a combo counter that multiplies experience, increases damage and generally gives your attacks more oomph. By landing successive strikes against an opponent, eventually you can activate a critical hit, which activates Hero Mode. The basic thrust of combat revolves around the Hero Mode. Each also has a different set of skills, though many share similar qualities (area attack, explosive ranged attack, etc). Each fits into the expected archetype, namely that of melee combatant, mage and all-purpose warrior. At the outset, players choose one of three warriors, the dwarven Champion, elven Lore-Master and human Ranger. Of course, most of the environments primarily serve as backdrops for War in the North's main focus: Combat. Walls are etched with intricate patterns, and arches have organic flourishes, evoking the well-crafted locations of the Peter Jackson films. Locations are lovingly detailed, particularly the elven haven of Rivendell and the dwarven fortress Nordinbad. I confess that it was no small thrill to wander in the darkness of Mirkwood, or to battle liches in the fog-shrouded Barrow Downs. Together they visit many locations and characters that were unexplored (or nonexistent) in Tolkien's mythology.ĭelving into the environments is one of the highlights of War in the North. Along the way, the companions meet many fantastic monsters and creatures, including the great eagle Belleram, who is easily the best written and most interesting character in the story. As the Fellowship of the Ring travels to the south to destroy Isildur's Bane, another fellowship is formed – an unlikely trio composed of man, dwarf and elf – to trek to the north and ultimately dismantle the Dark Lord Sauron's machinations there. War in the North is styled as a companion piece to the story of Frodo's now famous journey. Unlike the Ring, however, it begins to tarnish after a few hours. Fortunately, like the One Ring itself, War in the North possesses some surprising qualities. To put it bluntly, wedging a non-canonical story into the most well-known piece of fantasy fiction of all time is no small task turning said story into a video game perhaps doubly so. Tolkien and The Lord of the Rings, which makes it difficult to approach The Lord of the Rings: War in the North with anything less than trepidation. Downstairs on the bookshelf sits a hardbound edition of The Lord of the Rings (fashioned itself after the Red Book of Westmarch). As I type this, sitting behind me on a shelf, right next to Master Chief, there is a Ringwraith action figure.
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