A war running alongside the Ring's journey
The Lord of the Rings: War in the North™ - Legacy Edition is a third-person action RPG set in Middle-earth while Frodo and Samwise head for Mount Doom. Your fight happens in the North, where Agandaûr, a Black Númenórean and servant of Sauron, has gathered a large force in the ruins of Fornost. You travel through places like Rivendell, Lórien, The Lonely Mountain and the paths of Mirkwood, and you meet figures such as Aragorn, Gandalf and Elrond along the way. Combat is direct and physical: swords, bows, magic, and enemies that include Orcs, Trolls, Wargs, Barrow-wights, Fell Beasts and Creatures of Shadow. The tone is harsher than a typical Tolkien adventure, with blood-soaked battlefields and a story built around the desperate defence of the North.
Building your fellowship
You pick from three heroes and can switch between them as the situation demands. Eradan is a Dúnedain Ranger who works with bows and swords, favouring stealth and precision. Andriel is an Elven Loremaster who supports the group with healing and area-of-effect spells. Farin is a Dwarven Champion who absorbs punishment and hits hard in melee. Each hero levels up independently, with skills, abilities and gear to collect, so weapons and armour you find shape how that character plays. Beleram, a Great Eagle, can be called in to strike from the sky when a battle turns against you.
Playing together
The game supports online co-op for up to two friends alongside you, and split-screen play for people sharing a couch. Remote Play Together is also available, so one person can host and others join in. The design pushes the three heroes to cover each other: the ranger picks off threats, the loremaster keeps everyone standing, and the dwarf holds the line. Going in with a plan for who handles what tends to work better than everyone charging the same target.
Before you start
Expect a mature, violent take on the setting rather than a gentle tour of the Shire. The world is dense with enemies and the difficulty comes from being outnumbered, so spending time on gear and skills between fights matters. If you plan to play with friends, decide early whether you are going online or sharing a screen, since that shapes how you set up. Playing solo still works, with the option to swap characters on the fly to cover gaps in your lineup.