The Lord of the Rings: War in the North - Legacy Edition


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Critic Reviews for The Lord of the Rings: War in the North - Legacy Edition
Has Aspyr managed to turned a mediocre title into a must-buy, or should the studio have focused its efforts on a different Lord of the Rings title?
The Lord of the Rings: War in the North may hold a niche legacy as a middling-to-decent multiplayer action RPG that serves Tolkien diehards above all else, but I can't help feeling like it deserves a more spirited revival than this.As it stands, this Legacy Edition is a (largely) functional way to play the game on modern hardware that includes some nice yet non-revolutionary tweaks and additions. That holds merit in itself, but once you've spent time revisiting the repetitive gameplay loop or chafing up against the unpleasant bugs present in this re-release, you may find yourself wondering if this particular title was better off staying a pleasant memory from a simpler era of gaming history.
The Lord of the Rings: War in the North remasters the 2011 classic with improved resolution, textures, UI, and some quality of life improvements. Instant hot-swapping between the three characters is much appreciated, and the game is far more enjoyable to play as a result. It still suffers from the same issues that the original game had, including some bizarre enemy placements and a slow beginning, but this is still an incredibly entertaining action RPG that does both the books and the films proud.
The Lord of the Rings: War in the North is back with a new Legacy Edition that has come out of left field, but should service fans nicely.
It’s not a bad game. It’s just a competent one. In today’s crowded gaming marketplace, where gamers have higher expectations, War In The North is a tough sell. It will appeal to Lord of the Rings fans and those who have some nostalgia attached to the original game.
Sure it's more than a bit janky, the combat is a touch simplistic and the visuals, despite Aspyr's generous sprinkling of 4K resolution and 60 frames per second goodness upon them, still feel rather dated. Yet despite all of that, Lord of the Rings: War in the North feels oddly refreshing with its straightforward sensibilities and design resulting in an action RPG that remains good, solid fun - especially with friends and represents good value at its budget, sub $20 price point. Overall, it's just nice to have a decent Lord of the Rings game doing the rounds again, don't you think?
Even for the most avid Tolkien fans, War in the North is only worth playing for a short jaunt with friends.
Return to Middle-earth in The Lord of the Rings: War in the North – Legacy Edition. After 15 years, this action RPG gets another chance to shine with improved features, co-op gameplay, and a story that explores a different side of Tolkien’s world.