With the two-part film adaptation of The Hobbit not due in theaters for another year, the chances of getting a quality The Lord of the Rings game before that seemed slim to say the least. So imagine my surprise when an M-rated title that pulls from both the films as well as the expanded universe materializes from the vapor. The team at Snowblind Studios are no strangers to loot-heavy hack-and-slash, with the solid Champions of Norrath and Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance both under their belt. And with The Lord of the Rings: War in the North, they’ve used their past experiences to forge a fun, although flawed, fantasy experience.
At a recent preview event, the developers stressed how this game was built around the concept of the Fellowship. Instead of following the events of the films verbatim, the game places you in control of a trio of warriors — a human Ranger, an elven Loremaster, and a dwarven Champion — with a journey that runs concurrent with Frodo’s. Your party of three can be filled with any combination of A.I. and human partners — the latter of which can be provided via splitscreen or online.
