The Lord of the Rings: War in the North

Let’s be honest – the Lord of the Rings universe has become a bit boring. In recent years, we have been bombarded with an endless stream of fan fiction, reissues of J. R. R. Tolkien’s classics in all sorts of covers, and endless cosplayers of Frodo, Gandalf, and Sauron. By the time The Return of the King came out, it felt like the magic of Middle-earth was already beginning to dissipate. However, video game developers seem to be confident that adding the word “ring” to a title is a surefire way to go. Apparently, the creators of The Lord of the Rings: War in the North have decided to play on this effect as well.

The Lord of the Rings: War in the North Free Steam Account

Once we were immersed in Dragon Age: Origins with admiration, now we are enthusiastically exploring the expanses of the recently released Skyrim. Of course, it is difficult not to respect the universe created by Tolkien. But with things did not work out: all attempts to make a worthy project were, to put it mildly, unsuccessful. And suddenly Snowblind Studios decided to break this pattern and release not just another game, but a truly worthwhile adventure in the Middle-earth universe.

The developers approached the task with enviable zeal. They did not just come up with their own story, but wove it into the events of the cult film trilogy. Yes, many of the locations that the plot of War in the North will take us through were not featured in the films, but the characters look as if they stepped straight out of the screen. Frodo, Elrond, Gandalf and others are all recreated with maximum accuracy.

While the Fellowship of the Ring makes its way to Mount Doom, another trinity — a human, an elf, and a dwarf — fights hordes of monsters on the northern borders balances movie. There is a familiar class division: the dwarf takes on the role of a “tank” and distracts enemies, the human masterfully wields both bows and swords, and the elf supports the squad, heals allies, and fights well at long and close range.

However, in battles, everything is not so simple. Although the class system is present, it does not drive the heroes into strict limits. The elf can easily pick up a staff and rush into close combat, and the dwarf can not only chop down opponents with an axe, but also shoot back with a crossbow. The most important thing is coordination of actions and the ability to correctly distribute forces in battle. So here much more depends on the tactics and interaction between the characters than on their conventional role affiliation.

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War in the North Co-op: Is It Worth Playing Together?

As already mentioned, when fighting armored skeletons or all sorts of nasty creatures, it is the well-coordinated work of the team that comes to the fore. And here is the time to talk about one of the key elements of War in the North – the cooperative mode. It is integrated into the game so organically that at no stage does it feel like cooperative playthrough is superfluous. Everything works according to a scheme reminiscent of Left 4 Dead: you open the campaign, allowing random players to join, and already during the gameplay, allies can come to you. In the same way, you can fit into someone else’s game and help another squad.

The real magic happens in cooperative play. Only with live partners do battles become as dynamic and spectacular as the developers intended. Artificial intelligence, of course, tries: it will help you get back on your feet after a knockdown, use magic in time and even take a hit if the situation is critical. But don’t expect well-thought-out tactical decisions from it.

That’s why playing in co-op is much more interesting:

• Partners act consciously and support each other in battle.
• You can distribute roles wisely – one takes damage, another deals blows, the third heals.
• At critical moments, allies will really help, and will not mindlessly swing swords.
• Tactical interaction allows you to deal with dangerous opponents faster.

A perfect example is a fight with a particularly tenacious monster. Ideally, three players would pounce on it together to quickly deal with the threat, but NPCs don’t think that way. They’re more about individual feats. As a result, you have to decide for yourself how to distribute your forces. And some enemies are so tough that without proper cooperation, they simply cannot be defeated.

War in the North: Monotony in the World of Middle-earth

War in the North is nominally an action RPG, but in reality it is more of an action game than an RPG. Character development plays a role, but mainly for the mage – after all, he is the main “first aid” here. On normal difficulty, you will quickly notice that you did just fine without magic, even in the final chapters. Of the skills that are really useful for all classes, only passive ones are worth highlighting – they simply make you stronger in handling your favorite weapon. But the fights here are really good. The heroes effectively swing their blades, slow motion emphasizes the spectacular finishing moves (for which they also give a bonus to experience), and battle cries sound on the entire screen. The animations good console slasher – and for Snowblind Studios this is already a compliment.

But here’s the paradox: the more you play, the more obvious it becomes that the main advantage of War in the North – its combat system – eventually turns into its main disadvantage. The game’s creators promised a close connection with Peter Jackson’s film trilogy, but in reality the plot is presented in such modest portions that it seems as if Snowblind’s scriptwriters simply collected the remains of scenes that Frances Walsh rejected. There are few dialogues here, but there are more than enough fights. And they quickly become predictable: the same enemies, the same process – hit, kill, run a couple of meters, again a crowd, again a fight. At some point, the game begins to tire: gray locations, similar fights, repeating bosses. If only the camera were raised higher – and this would already be a real hack’n’slash.

Over time, literally every little thing brings joy:

• “Oh, a huge bird started talking – cool!”
• “A new character? Someone to chat with! Hooray!”
• “Finally, that stubborn boss I’ve killed five times in three hours has finally died!”

Such monotony makes you wonder: was everything really that dull in Tolkien’s works? No, Snowblind just clearly lacked imagination. The good news is that the game is completed quickly. Not only will you remember the endless battles and the same type of enemies, but also the pleasant encounters with familiar characters, new details in the story, and the opportunity to look at events from a different perspective. And, of course, co-op is probably one of the main advantages of War in the North.

Should Lord of the Rings fans play War in the North?

The Lord of the Rings: War in the North is hardly the pinnacle of Tolkien-themed gaming adaptations. However, if you’ve rewatched Peter Jackson’s trilogy until you’ve had enough and remember every detail of Frodo’s journey, this game will definitely give you a few enjoyable hours. It doesn’t ruin the main chronology of events, but on the contrary, it helps refresh your memory of key moments in the legendary story and heats up your interest before the release of The Hobbit. The film’s premiere is still a long way off, so you have a chance to remind yourself why the world of Middle-earth is so cool.

What I liked:

• Spectacular battles
• Simple mechanics that are easy to get into

What I didn’t like:

• Monotonous locations that you have to run around for hours
• Repeating bosses
• Co-op that doesn’t offer any special surprises
• The plot is presented in too small pieces and doesn’t leave a strong impression

The Lord of the Rings: War in the North System Requirements

How to play The Lord of the Rings: War in the North for free on Steam via VpeSports

Are you ready to travel to the very heart of the northern lands of Middle-earth? In The Lord of the Rings: War in the North, you will find not just a game, but a real test – a harsh world where allies become the key to survival, and enemies do not give you a minute of respite. Fight hordes of Sauron’s minions, explore the ruins of ancient fortresses and become part of an epic confrontation. And the best part is that you can go on this exciting journey absolutely free! All you need is to register on our website and log in. Access to the game is already waiting for you in the free steam account section, and step-by-step instructions will help you quickly understand all the nuances.

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