2011 marks just over 55 years since Lord of the Rings' first complete publication – not to mention ten years since the first movie in the live-action trilogy launched – so it's about damn time someone asked what Middle-Earth would be like if it were all grim 'n' gritty and Dragon's Age-esque. Thankfully, Snowblind Studios – known for Baldur's Gate spinoff Dark Alliance and Everquest spinoff Champions of Norrath – has its Rings spinoff, War in the North, ready for a November release. Publisher Warner Bros. Interactive promises the title will “embrace the gritty and brutal reality of Middle-Earth.”
Focusing on events not covered in-depth by the books or movies, War in the North's three-player co-op takes place on the same timeline as the quest to destroy the One Ring but focuses on events in the northern reaches of Middle Earth (which, um, you probably got from the title). The game runs on an updated version of Snowblind's Dark Alliance engine; you'll be able to get a look at it in action if you're attending Gamescom or 2011. Otherwise, the title launches in regular and Special Editions on Nov 1 in North America, with international releases following over the next three days.
Aug 2, 2011
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