The Good
- Great Nostalgia shadow drop
- Aspyr dedicated to remaster multiple LOTR games
- Single and multiplayer co-op
- Get to play further than when you were a kid as you got stuck
The Bad
- Sometimes you can find weapon caches that are bugged by the developers testing, not something to remove a point for honestly
*We have received a review copy for this game through Aspyr Media. While we played the game via a gifted key, this does not affect our ratings.
Everyone was surprised with the secret drop, and we all got gifted a huge throwback to nostalgia with all of the Lord of the Rings games we grew up with back in the PS2 days. I remember having to start over Twin Towers with my friends at home because we didn’t have enough money to buy memory cards back in the day; it’s always crazy to think about what gaming was and how well games were put together.
Well, good news, because Aspyr Media has announced it will bring multiple other games back for remasters, or what they call “Legacy Editions.”
The 5/5 score is not only because of the nostalgia, but also because the Legacy Edition actually runs very smooth on both PC and on the Steam Deck (with the Steam Deck only having a minor FPS hiccup here and there due to settings), which is amazing to accomplish.
The game has always been fun, and as far as I’ve seen, nothing was replaced, just improved, so if you are looking to jump back into some nostalgia and get back together with your childhood friends, be sure to pick it up (for another 12 days with a launch discount of 10%) over at Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2523770/The_Lord_of_the_Rings_War_in_the_North__Legacy_Edition/
War in the North was the game known for using Beleram as a tactical summon. Archers on the rooftops? Just collect the feathers throughout the loot-rich levels and summon him in.
Very helpful, but not always necessary with your 3 companions that all have both melee and ranged skills and attacks.
My pick has been and will always be Eradan, but in the game you are able to switch between characters within the missions. If you are not playing co-op, you can do different runs with only 1 character, or you can switch it up when needed.
The story takes place before the hobbits reach the Prancing Pony, and you do get to meet characters from the actual lore that are also portrayed in the movies and other games.
Next to the main missions and RPG elements, you are able to upgrade your gear, find hidden guild chests, and take on a plethora of side missions, your first ones available in Bree.
You’ll find items that are related to quests, and overall it just makes you want to explore the full level just like the old days, where Easter eggs were unknown and you had to find stuff yourself.
The main missions take place in different places and the game is not open world, but it does give you a great enclosed level with places you can find secrets in.
Don’t forget the Boss Fights as well; you’ll encounter more elite enemies along the way, such as the Troll early on.
Overall I’m happy that this got rereleased and it is getting positive responses, even from my friends when I mentioned this came out. Let’s hope Aspyr will be focusing on some great LOTR next!
- Build a Fellowship in Co-Op: Play in a group of up to three players online or two players in local split-screen, working together with your friends as you fight for the survival of your fellowship and all of Middle-earth!
- Deep RPG Progression: Customize your hero and party members with unique skills, abilities, and gear to complement your playstyle. Collect powerful weapons and armor, and even command the mighty Great Eagle Beleram to strike from the sky and turn the tide of battle.
- A Darker Middle-earth Full of Peril: Experience a mature story featuring brutal warfare and blood-soaked battlefields in a world gnawed by ruthless Orcs, deadly Wargs, spectral Barrow-wights, and the dark sorcery of Agandaûr’s forces.
- Included 46 Steam Achievements.
- Additions & Enhancements for Modern Consoles: Enjoy modernizations like 60 FPS support, Triggering Secrets (see other characters' secrets, like hidden supply caches, no matter who you’re playing as), the ability to lock-on enemies, and UI/UX optimizations such as visible Health, Mana and EXP bars, autosaves and additional save slots, and gyro/motion sensor support on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, along with bug fixes.
