..The Lord of the Rings: War in the North..

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At first glance, The Lord of the Rings: War in the North might appear to be just another LOTR game in the series. However, this one actually has something to do with the original books and movies of the same name. In the books, Gandalf the White states “With his far reaching rich hand Sauron might have done great evil in the North. Yet all that has been averted because a handful of heroes stood in his path.” This statement is important because War in the North is based on characters not detailed in the LOTR trilogy who helped turn the tide of the battle against Sauron so that Frodo could destroy the ring and save Middle-earth. While the story itself is original, it is one that coincides with that of Frodo, Sam, Aragorn, and the rest of the Lord of the Rings.

- Wait... wait!!-

The game will offer three characters to choose from: an elf, a dwarf, and a human. Since Warner Bros. owns the rights, developer Snowblind Studios can use people, places, and things from both the movies and the books for this game. Some of the places that will appear in The Lord of the Rings: War in the North are Rivendell, Ettenmoors, Mirkwood, and the Barrow-downs - this last one is a place mentioned in the books but not the movies, and it's inhabited by Barrow-wights (will Tom Bombadill make an appearance?). Undead, trolls, spiders, and other nasties await those brave enough to venture out.  

The official website is listing the game as an action RPG with co-op being a main aspect, so it sounds like it'll be a fun offering to enjoy with others.  The Lord of the Rings: War in the North will also have a darker feel than previous games. In fact, it is the first Tolkien game to have an “M” rating due to the violence and gore Snowblind Studios is promising. Combat will allow players to rip apart enemies, sever limbs, and have blood spew when a critical strike is made.

- Hey! I don't know you! -

The game's release date hasn't been confirmed yet, but information is slowly starting to come out. The Lord of the Rings: War in the North may end up being for fans of the saga only, but it sure sounds promising. Knowing that the game is based on little-known areas should make for a nice new adventure.

Diane Brunner   Followdianebrunner I have been gaming since I was in high school, before it was acceptable for a girl to do it. I have been a writer for even longer. It's only natural the two would combine. I prefer RPGs, action/adventure, and strategy games, but I also play dancing, sports titles, and shooters.

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