Epically RPG.

LOTR’s latest offering is different than previous adaptions that we have seen so far from a seemingly untouchable franchise.

To get straight into it, you begin with being able to select one of three main characters; a Ranger called Eradan, Farin the dwarf and a female Elven; Andriel.

Keeping itself in line with your usual run of the mill RPG-ness, each character has their differing abilities, for example the Dwarf is capable of mining gems and is excellent at close melee combat, Eradan is the most adaptable and is able to wield dual weapons or weapon and defence. Whereas Andriel prefers to use magic.

Obviously gamplay will differ to the type of character that you use.

All characters are able to upskill (Level Up), and will of course have unique items that each will need to progress through.

Throughout play you will talk with other characters that you meet along the way, pick up side quests and collect rewards and items for your Inventory(s).

Whilst you may find yourself busy doing errands for village folk at times there is an overlying story, albeit a bit bland and well, an exhausted LOTR theme, but you are the lost hope for Middle Earth as Sauron’s forces  encroach into the far North.

A war has begun and you’re gearing up to be in the thick of it.

Many options are available during the dialogue scenes and it is really upto you as to exactly how much details you want, how deep into the story you want to go.

Stunning graphics, brilliant even, and gameplay is fairly easy enough to pick up from the get go.

Areas that you will visit within the LOTR’s world have not been featured on either Movies or other games to date, including Mount Gundabad, Fornost, Mirkwood and more.

Classic areas are explorable; Rivendell and Bree.

The most known characters also feature and throughout play you will interact with them; Aragon, Gandalf, Frodo, Bilbo, Legolas and so on.

LOTR – War in the North was designed to be a massive multiplayer (co-op) game, and it works well in this, either online or console link.

As LOTR fans begin gearing up and count down for the release of the Hobbit film, this is quite possibly a good interim to keep those diehard fans satisfied until they can ogle the story on the big screen.

LOTR – War in the North

PS3/360

4 out of 5