REVIEW | The Lord of the Rings: War in the North – Legacy Edition

I still remember playing The Lord of the Rings: War in the North back on the Xbox 360. At the time, it felt like one of those games that quietly slipped under the radar, despite being set in one of the most recognisable fantasy worlds ever created. It never drew the same attention as other Lord of the Rings titles, but I always had a soft spot for it, a co‑op adventure that explored the battles happening far from Frodo’s journey in the harsher northern reaches of Middle‑earth.

Now, around fifteen years later, The Lord of the Rings: War in the North returns with the Legacy Edition on Xbox Series X. It’s a chance to revisit a game I remember fondly, but also to see whether those memories hold up after all these years.

So, does War in the North still carry the same charm I remember from the Xbox 360 days, or has time been less kind to this overlooked journey through Middle‑earth? Let’s head back to the North and find out.

Things I liked!

• Gameplay | At its core, War in the North is a straightforward action RPG, and that simplicity is part of its charm. You choose between three characters: Eradan the Ranger, Farin the Dwarf, and Andriel the Elf, each offering their own playstyle and abilities.
  
  For most of my time with War in the North, I played solo, with the AI controlling the other members of the party. When needed, I could instantly switch between characters to make use of their unique skills. I also joined other players’ games in online co‑op, though matchmaking often placed me in chapters I had already completed. Combat felt noticeably tougher online, with enemies dealing more damage and taking longer to defeat. It may be the result of balance adjustments or scaling changes in the Legacy Edition, but the added difficulty didn’t necessarily make the experience more rewarding.
  
  Combat is fast‑paced and satisfying, with plenty of enemies to hack, slash, and shoot your way through. There is also plenty of loot to collect, although I quickly found myself becoming over‑encumbered. Thankfully, shops appear throughout the world as bright white lights, where you can sell unwanted gear and stock up on valuable potions.
  
  The gameplay shows its age in places, but there is still something enjoyable about exploring Middle‑earth, upgrading your character, and battling through hordes of enemies. As someone who played the original on Xbox 360, it was surprisingly easy to slip back into that familiar rhythm.
  
  Playable Characters and Abilities | One thing I really enjoyed was learning how each character’s abilities worked. Eradan focuses on ranged combat with his bow but can also use stealth to slip behind enemies and deal heavy damage. Learning when to keep my distance and when to dive into close combat made him fun to play.
  
  Andriel is more focused on magic and support. She can cast offensive spells while helping the party with healing and defensive abilities. I liked having to think about when to use her powers rather than simply attacking everything in front of me.
  
  Farin is the more traditional warrior of the group. He thrives in close combat and can take more punishment than the others. His abilities make him feel powerful when fighting groups of enemies, especially when surrounded and needing to clear space.
  
  When playing solo, you can switch between characters at any time, and it’s up to you to equip each one with new gear and weapons, as well as choose new abilities when they level up. What I enjoyed most was discovering which skills worked best against different enemies. It gives the combat more depth than just swinging your weapon or firing arrows, and once you get comfortable with each character’s strengths, the tougher fights become much more manageable.

• Sound and Audio | The sound in War in the North really helps bring Middle‑earth to life. The music gives the adventure a sweeping, sometimes dark feeling that fits perfectly during exploration and larger battles.
  
  Combat sound effects are satisfying, with swords clashing, arrows whistling, and enemies reacting to hits, making each fight feel intense and grounded. Environmental sounds also add immersion, from forests to caves and ruins, helping the world feel alive.
  
  The voice actors do a great job, and many sound remarkably close to their movie counterparts. When you meet Gandalf or Arwen, their voices feel instantly familiar, tying the game nicely to the films.
  
  Beleram’s arrival is another highlight. His powerful cry and the rush of wind from his wings make each appearance feel dramatic and commanding, while his deep, steady voice carries authority yet feels comforting when he speaks nearby.
  
  

Mixed & disliked!

• Visuals | Visually, I have mixed feelings about War in the North. Some of the character models look particularly rough, with facial features and animations often reminding you that this was originally released back in 2011. At times, the characters can look surprisingly poor, though as you advance through the campaign, their visuals do improve noticeably.
  
  The environments, however, are much more impressive. Background scenery carries a good amount of detail, and there are moments where Middle‑earth genuinely feels atmospheric. Water effects stand out too, often looking more realistic than expected for a remaster of this age.
  
  One element that truly stands out is Beleram, the giant eagle who appears throughout the adventure. His feathers and facial expressions look consistently impressive every time he appears, capturing a real sense of majesty and scale. You can even call upon him as one of your most powerful abilities, though only a limited number of times. Each time he descends from the skies, the scene feels cinematic, his wings cutting through the air as he swoops into battle and adds a dramatic sense of power that contrasts beautifully with the rougher character models below.
  
  Overall, the visuals are a mixed bag. Some areas have aged noticeably, while others still manage to hold up surprisingly well, giving the Legacy Edition a slightly uneven but occasionally striking presentation.
  
  Story | The story in War in the North is enjoyable, but it is fairly simple. The plot follows a separate group who are trying to stop Agandaur, a powerful servant of Sauron who is building an army in the northern regions of Middle‑earth. I liked seeing this different side of the world while the main events of the films take place elsewhere, and the idea of dealing with a second threat running parallel to the Fellowship’s journey kept me interested. Meeting familiar characters helps the world feel connected, but the overall plot stays straightforward and never becomes very deep. It moves the adventure along well enough without taking too much focus away from the gameplay.
  
  Repetitiveness | After a while, the hack‑and‑slash gameplay can start to feel repetitive. Many encounters follow a similar pattern, and some areas begin to blend together as you progress. It’s still fun to jump into combat, but the lack of variety means certain sections can feel a bit samey during longer play sessions.
  
  Challenge and Checkpoints | The checkpoints in War in the North can be brutal. You often fight through waves of smaller enemies and some huge trolls that can kill you in just a few hits, all while archers and other powerful foes attack from a distance. Health potions disappear fast, leaving little room for error.
  
  I played as Andriel for most of my playthrough. Her healing dome is useful, restoring health to anyone inside it, but the AI teammates don’t walk into it even when their health is low. Since they always follow you, you have to lead them toward it yourself. I often wished there were command keys to tell them where to go.
  
  When you lose all your health, your character falls to the ground and must wait for a teammate to revive you. The AI companions always try to save you, which helps during tough fights, but if all three characters fall, it’s straight back to the last checkpoint. When you’ve just bought new gear and found a few secrets, then die and have to keep repeating the same section until you finally progress, it becomes especially disheartening.
  
  Playing solo makes these moments tougher. You can join random games, but getting others to join your own session isn’t easy. Having extra players would make these sections far more manageable.
  
  When checkpoints work in your favour, the game feels rewarding. When they don’t, it quickly turns into a slog. The difficulty itself isn’t the problem. It’s having to repeat large sections after dying that takes away much of the fun.
  
  
• Bugs and Glitches | While playing War in the North, I encountered a few frustrating issues. At one point, after defeating two trolls with very little health and magic left, I couldn’t progress because one of my fallen AI teammates had become stuck in the scenery. My other companion simply stood nearby, unmoving, and even switching control between them didn’t help. I was forced to reload the last checkpoint to continue.
  
  Other bugs include enemies whose bodies remain frozen in place after being defeated, and occasional instances where enemies appear to float slightly above the ground.
  
  While none of these issues completely break the experience, they do remind you that this is still an older game beneath the Legacy Edition polish.

• How long did I play the review before publishing? 14 Hours
• How long to beat the story? 10+ Hours
• How many Achievements did I earn before publishing? 28/46 OR 470/1000G
• How long to get 100%? | 35 Hours +
• You’ll love this game if you like these | Middle-earth: Shadow of War and Kingdoms of Amalur Re-Reckoning

Score: 72/100

War in the North still delivers a fun Middle‑earth adventure, even if its age shows.

The Legacy Edition brings the game to modern hardware with smoother performance that helps the combat feel more responsive, but it does not change the core strengths or weaknesses. The hack and slash action remains enjoyable, the characters are great to play and the world still has plenty of atmosphere. However, dated visuals, repetitive encounters and a checkpoint system that can send you back long stretches of progress stop it from feeling fully modern. It is a solid return for fans of Middle‑earth, just not a transformative one.