Lord of the Rings: War in the North Legacy Edition is now available across five platforms. The surprise release covers PS5, Xbox Series, Switch 2, Switch, and PC.
On PS5, the Legacy Edition is priced at $19.99 / £18.99, while PS Plus subscribers can claim a 10% launch discount. The release brings back the 2011 PS3 action RPG and is described as optimized for solo play.
Originally, War in the North was a linear hack-and-slash dungeon crawler set in Middle-earth. Its campaign supported up to three players through online multiplayer or split-screen co-op, and the Legacy Edition brings that co-op option to its current release.
Three heroes lead the co-op campaign
Players follow an untold story about Agandaûr, a Black Númenórean serving Sauron who has gathered a formidable force in the ruins of Fornost. While Frodo and Samwise begin their journey to Mount Doom, a new Fellowship sets out to defend the North.
Players can switch between three Orc-Banes, with each hero built around a different role and combat style:
- Eradan is a Dúnedain Ranger who relies on stealth, bows, and precise sword strikes.
- Andriel is an Elven Loremaster who supports the party with healing and area-of-effect magic.
- Farin is a Dwarven Champion with heavy defenses and strong melee attacks.
Hero customization lets players adjust skills, abilities, gear, and the weapons they find during the campaign, influencing how each character handles combat. Parties can also summon the Great Eagle, Belaram, to attack enemies from above.
Familiar faces and Middle-earth locations return
Alongside the new Fellowship, the adventure includes cameos from Aragorn, Gandalf, and Elrond. The journey also visits the Elven sanctuaries of Rivendell and Lórien, the Lonely Mountain, and Mirkwood.
A trailer accompanies the release:
The PS3 release holds a 61 Metacritic score. Reviews generally praised how well it captured the atmosphere of The Lord of the Rings, while criticizing repetitive gameplay, dull level design, uninteresting characters, and a collection of bugs.
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The Lord of the Rings: War in the North
Developed by Snowblind Studios
The Lord of the Rings: War in the North is a co-op Action RPG that immerses you and your friends in a brutal new chapter in the War of the Ring. Snowblind Studios is in the unique position of drawing inspiration from both the literary and film rights to world of Middle-earth, allowing players to bloody their axes on a wide range of deadly enemies and traverse both established and never-before-seen locations. The result is a journey that is both epic and intimate, familiar yet unexpected.
- Genre Role-playing (RPG), Strategy, Hack and slash/Beat 'em up, Adventure
- Platforms PlayStation 3, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Xbox 360
- Perspective Third person
- Modes Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative
- Release November 1, 2011
- Publisher WB Games
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Age Rating
