The Lord of the Rings: War in the North

So, new Lot R game. By Snowblind, no less. Warner Bros is backing it, which is important since they currently hold the film rights and the book rights, which means no stupid dichotomy between the two.

Basically, you play as a Dunedain Ranger, Dwarf warrior or Elven spellcaster in an assassination mission against one of Sauron's baddest dudes. While the races and classes are limited, apparently the skill customisation options are fairly open.

Seems like this is going to be a less restricted, more badass version of the tie-in action games for the films. Suits me just fine, as I had a blast playing those.

I'm certainly interested. I wonder how it'll turn out, especially with Michael De Plater in design there since my only experience with his work is End War which was unfortunately disappointing, though a different kind of game entirely to this (though I think he also worked on Rome Total War, which I've never played).

I'm looking forward to this as well, but the only things i know are what i read in a game informer feature two years ago. When does it come out, and for what systems?

Part of the reason i'm looking forward to this is that the wizard is not made of glass. The rest of it - its LOTR, an rpg, you get to kick butt - has *nothing* to do with it... >.>

I think it's coming out in August. PS 3/X Box 360. Standard multiplatform setup.

To my great disappointment, it will not have the music from the Lot R films.

Why? Who gives a shit about that derivative score?

Played it, tho, at E3 and PAX. It's great.

Wait, what?! How in heaven's name do they, and not the Tolkien estate, hold the book rights?

Wait, what? I didnt notice that on my first readthrough. How does wb hold the book rights, and not the tolkien estate?

I for one would like the movie score in the game. For me it has become closely associated withLotR, much like Star Wars games wouldnt be the same without music from the movies. It wont make or break this game, but its still disappointing.

Mr. Falcon, i notice you are often at events like E3 and beta/preview playings. Are you in the industry, or just a very lucky enthusiast?

^^^

Troll? Yes, the Lot R soundtrack is derivative in the sense that it lifted its approach from Celtic, Germanic and English folk music. I don't see how it's derivative in any other sense, and its strong enough to both support three films and stand on its own. It's critically celebrated, even by film detractors.

In any case, I'd rather have music derivative of Celtic, Germanic and English folk music than more Ominous Latin Chanting, which is what this game seems to dish up.

^^

The Tolkien Estate has sold a license to Warner Bros, I believe. This isn't Warner Bros. owning the books, it's Warner Bros. having the rights to use them.

edited 11th May '11 5:24:05 AM by MadassAlex

^^ Yeah, he's writing at GameStooge...

The game is able to make its own story from a single reference from Gandalf mentioning that if it wasn't for the efforts of a few brave heroes in the north — even with Frodo's success in getting the ring into Mount Doom — everything would've been lost.

One would suspect Tolkein of planning a new novel. ;)

Actually, im a big fan of ominous latin chanting. Several of my fave pieces are that, including, the battle music from the first narnia movie, the queens theme from enchanted, o fortuna, duel of the fates, and the end of all things from return of the king.

Note that there is ominous latin chanting in the movie scores of lotr.

There's choral music, but I wouldn't call it Ominous Latin Chanting.

If they're going to make a break from the movies' assets and write fanfic off incredibly tenuous references anyway, why not make a game off something else like The Silmarillion instead? It really Needs More Love.

Probably because of a smaller consumer base.

I guess it'd also feel less 'relevant', as The Lord Of The Rings was fairly personal compared to the biblical style of The Silmarillion.

Covering the whole thing would be almost impossible, short of something like a 4X or MMORPG. I meant taking a tiny slice (Beren's quest, for instance) and expanding on it, with guidance from whatever materials and drafts outside the Silmarillion, like what was done with The Children of Hurin.

I'd love a game based on Beren and Luthien's story. love love love.

I'd love a game that climaxed with the Siege of Gondolin. Even if it has a Downer Ending.

The reason for War in the North is that they don't have to worry about canon. Gandalf's line was extremely open ended.

And doing The Silmarillion would be like doing The Phantom Menace.

edited 15th May '11 1:45:00 PM by JAF1970

The Silmarillion itself IS like The Phantom Menace… Except if Lucas' kids did it… And he'd been dead for several years… And it was still totally awesome. So, still sounds like a better idea than this.

This is also the first M-rated Tolkein game. Expect some brutality and graphic dismemberment. On the gore rating, it's higher than Ninja Gaiden and Dragon Age but lower than Mortal Kombat.

Huh.

I thought they were going with 'realistic', but if it oversteps Dragon Age, it's gone right into 'ridiculous'.

I just got The Children Of Hurin, and now I've fallen in love with the Legendarium. I've always liked it, but it was nothing special to me until I started reading up on the fluff.

That was indeed a great book, if very depressing.

"I thought they were going with 'realistic', but if it oversteps Dragon Age, it's gone right into 'ridiculous'."

It is realistic. That's what makes it gorier.

Then you and I may be working on different definitions. By the time Dragon Age 2 rolled around, enemies were exploding from the impact of melee attacks in addition to the ridiculous blood splatter.

Ultraviolence past that level strikes me as silly.