Anyone who knows me knows I love a good shadow drop, and not only did Aspyr surprise us all recently with a big one, but they were nice enough to hook me up with a review copy of The Lord of the Rings: War in the North -Legacy Edition on PlayStation 5.
Now, for those of you who missed the series of Lord of the Rings games that came out in the same time period- this one was 2011, for example the concept of this hack-and-slash multiplayer adventure is simple. While the hobbits were off on their walk, screwing around, what was everyone else doing in the world? Surely other people did things that were noteworthy, right?
You can play as one of three characters: an elf magic user, a dwarf melee user, or a human ranger who will also use a melee weapon way more often than his bow that you would spend a fortune on arrows trying to use strictly as an archer. Each character is better at certain things, and even the special armor and such you get from this edition strongly push you to upgrade certain stats.
The story is admittedly pretty much what you would expect. You are essentially providing a distraction and keeping the enemy occupied while the Fellowship tosses some jewelry into a volcano. Unlike them, however, you get the help of an eagle. Seriously, quite early in the game, you save one and get to summon him when you need him in combat. It is a pretty sweet mechanic and very helpful if you use him right in combat.
Now, it is worth mentioning that at times the game does feel its age. While they have upgraded everything from graphics to the controls, they can still feel a bit stiff at times, and the map by today’s standards is possibly a crime against humanity. It is practically useless, really. The combat, however, is a ton of fun; leveling always feels rewarding, and at no point did I ever feel like dying was anything but my fault. Having played the original, this feels like a nice upgrade without feeling like a different game. It is an 8/10 game that is worth the money. Also, don’t worry if this isn’t the Lord of the Rings remaster you were hoping for; Aspyr has confirmed this is simply the first, and more of them are coming. Which ones they have not confirmed, but there are more, and i have to assume Return of the King and The Third Age are on the list. Best wishes, and may the gaming gods bring you glory.
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Savior Gaming 