The War in the North is Worth Waging: A Review of Middle-Earth's Best Hidden Gem
Lord of the Rings: War in the North Legacy Edition gave me the Middle-Earth experience I’ve been craving for years. It’s one thing to watch the movies, to witness beloved characters' adventures in Tolkien’s masterpiece fantasy world, but it’s a whole other thing to live them yourself. As Andriel, Eradan, and Farin, you battle a great shadow that has risen far in the North. As the events of the Fellowship of the Ring unfold around us, our party is tasked with defeating Agandaur, a Black Numenorean and servant of Sauron who has amassed an army in icy Fornost.
With a powerful narrative at the core of the game alongside an incredibly fun co-op experience, War in the North shines like gold.
What I loved:
Storyline and Immersion
The setting felt fully authentic to Tolkien's world (and Peter Jackson's film aesthetic, for that matter). Agandaur is a worthy opponent: dark, mysterious, and wielding the kind of black sorcery you expect from Sauron's inner circle. This is the unsung tale happening off-screen while Frodo carries the One Ring toward Mordor. While the Fellowship fights their battles, our party is defending their flank and taking down a necromancer lurking in the snowy mountaintops half a continent away. Next time I rewatch the movies, I will definitely be thinking about these characters fighting in the background.
The Co-Op Experience
Playing as a Dunadain while my partner played as an elf mage is quite literally a dream come true. I loved being able to stand side by side with him and go on this journey together. We strategized together, pointed out orc archers in the shadows, managed group heals, and cheered every time we snagged a co-op kill for some extra experience.
Linear Intentionality
In an era of bloated open-world slogs that take 150+ hours to finish, this game's focused direction was incredibly refreshing. We were never wandering around wondering where to go or feeling overwhelmed by endless map icons. There were still plenty of crates to smash, hidden chests to loot, and secrets to discover. The campaign maintains great momentum from start to finish.
What could have been better:
Loot and Gear Variety: I really wanted more equipment, weapons, and armor drops throughout the journey. After making a major purchase in Rivendell for a high-tier armor set, I ended up wearing it for the entire final third of the game. I would have loved to continuously find new gear to slot into my character sheet right up to the final boss. That said, my ranger looked exceptionally cool, so no hard feelings at the end of the day.
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