Beware the All Seeing Eye!  Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment have given the world a first glimpse of The Lord Of The Rings: War in the North.  Developed by Seattle-based Snowblind Studios, this will be the first LOTR game to target a mature rating.

LOTR: War in the North is the game Snowblind Studios was destined to make.  With a resume that includes Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance and both Champions Of Norrath games, Snowblind practically invented the modern console action-RPG.

For those who missed them, Baldur's Gate and Champions of Norrath both featured satisfying character progression/customization, buckets of loot to discover, and sublimely addictive co-op game play.  The Norrath games hit PS2 shortly after Peter Jackson's Rings trilogy completed its theatrical run.  Even then, it was hard not to wonder what Snowblind would do with the LOTR license.  Six years later, we're finally getting a chance to find out.  From the Product Announcement:

Exploring unseen lands, story elements and characters from Middle-earth as well as  elements familiar from past feature films, gamers will experience extensive character customization and development, expansive co-op gameplay options and upgradeable weapons, skills and special abilities.

With that in mind, check out the Lord Of The Rings: War in the North trailer:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqFXYJs1MDs

I have exactly two concerns about War of The North.  One: the Product Announcement makes a point of promoting online co-op.  It would be a shame if the game didn't include single system co-op as well.  Two: the game isn't due out until 2011.  How am I gonna wait that long?

I'd argue there hasn't been a truly great co-op action-RPG on consoles since the second Champions Of Norrath game (though Marvel Ultimate Alliance was pretty good).  I could hardly be more excited for The Lord of the Rings: War in the North.  But what about you? Are you looking forward to War in the North?  What do you hope the game includes?

The Lord of the Rings: War in the North is due for PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 in 2011.

Source: IGN, Kotaku, Official War in the North Site