 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
The Lord of the Rings: War in the North
- Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Windows
- Price: $59.99
- Genre: Role Playing
Common Sense Media says
Simple fantasy RPG with frequent and bloody melee combat.
Parents say
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that The Lord of the Rings: War in the North is a violent and gory action/role-playing game based on lesser known events referenced in J.R.R. Tolkien’s popular books. Players play the role of a hero fighting Orcs and other fantasy creatures with blades, bows, and magic, with inky blood gushing with nearly every hit. While the game centers on glorified and brutal combat, it provides non-violent role-playing activities as well, many of which involve doing good deeds for civilians. Parents should note that this game supports online play with open voice communication, a feature Common Sense Media does not recommend for pre-teens.
What's it about?
Set concurrently but away from the more famous events featured in The Lord of the Rings films, THE LORD OF THE RINGS: WAR IN THE NORTH begins with Aragorn counseling a ranger, an elf, and a dwarf on how to fight Sauron’s growing forces in the northern lands. Players take control of one of these three characters in this action-laden role-playing game, growing their skills and upgrading their armor as they undertake dangerous, Orc-filled missions through ruined cities and scenic country. They can also chat with civilians to undertake small side missions, like helping to arm a small village worried that they may be attacked by dark forces, and hook up with other players to adventure cooperatively, either in the same room or online.
Is it any good?
The Lord of the Rings: War in the North is a moderately fun adventure that explores events assumed to be taking place in the background of Peter Jackson’s films’ narrative. It offers several side missions as well as a conversation system reminiscent of those found in more complicated role-playing games, but maintains a linear narrative and level design. This may disappoint fans looking for a deeper RPG, but it keeps the experience straightforward and accessible for casual players.
The bloody, visceral combat is fairly simple as well, and should have most players feeling like battlefield champions midway through their first quest. Longer fighting sequences can begin to feel repetitive, but the animations and character choreography remains, for the most part, interesting. It’s not the sort of epic, nearly endless fantasy RPG experience found in, say, an Elder Scrolls game, but casual gamers who count themselves fans of the Lord of the Rings franchise will have some fun.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about violence in games. What markers do you look for to determine whether a game is too violent for your kids? Do your kids understand why violent games may be inappropriate for their age?
Families can also discuss online safety. What should you watch out for when playing online? What would you do if you encountered someone who was rude or, worse, seemed potentially dangerous?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
The lord of the rings: War in the north
Frequent violent combat only thing here that could be considered bad. Players take on roles of band of heroes saving middle earth from a minion of Sauron's. Great representation of good v. evil with good winning in the end. Also informs gamers about Tolkiens great book series, which incidentally also provides good role models. Great game for mature 15+ kids.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
1 thing....
I will say one thing and one thing only: Limbs DO NOT stop flying around the screen in slow motion.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
war in the goreth
good game but extremely violent not for kids over 9000!
Was this review useful?
|
|
Kid, 12 years old
April 10, 2012
AGE
What Parents Need to Know
Ok ... this is almost as gory as Left 4 Dead 2, and they both have the same option in the settings GRAPHIC CONTENT TURNOFF, making this a Teen game.
This game is the best Lord of the Rings game of all time, great graphics, great gameplay and finding new loot never gets old, but minor glitches can cause this to be a not very fun game but overall pretty good.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Great game!!! (with the filter)...
one thing people should definitely be aware of is that there is an optional gore filter in the options menu. without it, this game is not appropriate for kids of any age. (i only got it because of the filter). there is excessive gory decapitations and limb removals with equally excessive black blood that stains the ground and your clothes. with the filter on, there is not a speck of blood to be seen. decapitations are gone as well. even the cutscenes have been filtered. I am a huge lotr fan and was disappointed to hear of the m rating and the gore. when i heard that there was a filter, i had to try it out. i'm glad i did!! sure the game could use a little work (like maybe fleshing out the main characters a little more and having more moral choices/ consequences) but overall it is a great Lord of the Rings rpg that makes you enjoy being in middle earth again!
Was this review useful?
|
|
| Topics: | magic and fantasy |
| Platforms: | Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Windows |
| Available online? | Not available online |
| Genre: | Role Playing |
| Developer: | Warner Bros. Games |
| Release date: | November 1, 2011 |
| Price: | $59.99 |
| ESRB rating: | M for Violence and Gore |
Review It
Screenshots
1 of 3
2 of 3
3 of 3
Register now to save reviews and advice articles to your personal lists!
Great alternatives handpicked by our editors
Already played it? What do you think?
More from Common Sense Media
Top advice and articles
