Overview
The Lord of the Rings: War in the North is an action role-playing game developed by Snowblind Studios and published by WB Games for multiple platforms.
Background
The Lord of the Rings: War in the North features unseen lands in J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle Earth and authentic plot elements coinciding with the War of the Ring. It also features characters not featured in the books or films, a concept reminiscent of The Third Age.
The game features stronger graphic violence than previous Lord of the Rings games and was the first game in the series to receive an M rating from the ESRB.
Gameplay
The Lord of the Rings: War in the North is an average third-person combat-focused action role-playing game. Featuring upgradeable and customizable weapons and abilities that advance alongside the characters, the player may choose from one of three races, the Race of Man, Dwarves, and Elves. In a departure from the license, the game will feature a mature campaign featuring copious amounts of black blood blanketing your character while hacking and slashing enemies. Players can also hack off limbs and appendages, leaving enemies crippled and writhing in pain. Cooperative play and other unique online systems have also been promised.
Loot!
Like other action RPGs, War in the North promises large amounts of randomly generated loot to covet, collect, and deck out your character with.
Cooperative Multiplayer
War in the North will support three-player "interdependent" cooperative play.
The co-op can be played via local split-screen, LAN, or online. Drop-in/out is featured for players, and there is always one of each race to create a balanced play and use the strengths of each. AI takes over if there are only one or two players to create the fellowship of 3.
Announcement
The Lord of the Rings: War in the North was announced on March 17th, 2010 with a half-minute concept trailer, and a target release date of 2011 (quarter/date unspecified). The announcement coincided with a Playstation Magazine exclusive cover story.
It has since been officially announced as a release in NA for 1st November 2011, EU 4th November 2011, and Aus 2nd November 2011.
Character Abilities
Eradan: Ranger of the North
| Stealth | Combat | Ranged |
|---|
- Evasion: Grants temporary invisibility
| - Ranger Strike: A fast attack to a single enemy for extra damage
| - Heavy Shot: Does more damage then a regular arrow
|
- Onslaught: A surprise attack while stealth
- Critical Wound: Increase critical hit damage
| - Dual Wield: Allows Eradan to equip two 1-handed weapons
- Combat Training: Increases Ranger strike damage
- Heavy Weapons: Increases damage of 2-Handed swords
| - Bow Mastery: Increases damage and reload speed of the Bow
- Unknown
|
- In the Flow: Regenerate health and power while Evasion is active
- Smoke and Flame: Upgrades Evasion to stun enemies when Eradan disappears
| - Dual Strike: Attacks multiple enemies - requires Dual Wield
- Cunning: Increased damage if Eradan attacks from behind
- Cleave: A sweeping attack that hits multiple targets - Requires a 2-handed sword
| - Mark Target: Stuns and enemy and allows for a critical hit
- Unknown
|
| | |
Andriel: Loremaster of Rivendell
| Support | Magic | Combat |
|---|
- Sanctuary: A shield that protects against ranged attacks
| - Word of Force: A blast that knocks back enemies in all directions
| - Charge Staff: Fires multiple projectiles
|
- Unknown
- Wisdom Aura: Increase the experience gained by the fellowship
| - Staff and Steel: Allows for dual wielding of a 1-handed weapon and a staff
- Loremaster's Reach: Upgrades the range of Word of Force and Tempest abilities
- Tempest: A blast of elemental energy
| - Staff Master: Increase damage done by staffs
- Amplify Staff: Increase staffs rate of fire and the damage done by charged shots
|
- Focused Mind: Regenerate power more quickly
- Shield of Elbereth: A temporary armor increase
| - Impact: High damage to a single target with the chance to chain to other enemies at higher ranks
- Quickminded: Reduces active abilities cool-down time
- Nature's Blessing: Increases primary attributes
| - Elemental Affinity: Increases elemental damage
- Wrath of the Eldar: The energy of Sanctuary is discharged damaging the enemies around Andriel.
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| | |
Ferin: Warrior of Erebor
| Defense | Combat | Ranged |
|---|
| - Sweeping Strike: An attack that can damage multiple enemies over a large area
| |
- Unknown
- Shield Bash: Stuns target - Also increase armor gain from shields
| - Mighty Reach: Range is increased for Sweeping Strike, Ground Pound, and Whirlwind abilities
- Fortitude: When War-Cry is active the fellowship gain health regeneration
- Unknown
| |
 Ferin's Focus Skill- Unknown
- Focus: Reduces active abilities cool-down time
| - Whirlwind: Ferin releases a fury of attacks - Replaces Sweeping Strike - Requires a sword
- Conditioning: Health regeneration is increased
- Earthshaker: A mighty area attack lays waste to all around Ferin - Replaces Sweeping Strike - Requires a Hammer, Axe, or Mace
| - Crossbow Adept: Increases bolt capacity of the crossbow
- Heavy Bolt: A high damage shot to a single target
|
| | |
Collector's Edition
There will be a collector's edition available of The Lord of the Rings: War in the North, which will have an MSRP value of $129.99. It will include the following:
Collector's Edition- War in the North art book
- Inside Look: The music of War in the North mini-documentary
- Ranger of the north Quiver Case
- Digital Content (360: Avatar Items, PS3: XMB Wallpapers and Icons)
The European collector's edition features similar items, with:
- Snow Troll figure (instead of the Quiver Case)
- War in the North art book
- Inside Look: The music of War in the North mini-documentary
- DLC code for the Lothlorien challenge map
PC System Requirements
| Minimum | Recommended |
|---|
- OS: Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7
- Processor: Intel Core2 Duo 2.4 GHz or AMD 64 X2 4400
- Memory: 2 GB RAM
- Graphics: 2006 or later GeForce 8600 or Radeon HD 2600
- DirectX®: dx9.0c
- Hard Drive: 10 GB HD space
- Sound: 100% DirectX 9 compatible Audio Device
| - Processor: Intel Core2 Duo 3 GHz or AMD X2 5000 or AMD Phenom X4 9600
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Graphics: GeForce 2xx Series or Radeon HD 6xxx series or greater
- DirectX®: dx9.0c
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