Just finished the game solo at level 21 as Eradan. Probably took around 10 hours to complete. Probably won't jump into a new game plus right now since I'm busy with other things, but I am planning to run through a new game with a friend in local co-op.
I really liked the combat in this game. Starting out, it seems a little simple: mash X until you get a stagger and finish with Y. However, enemies do get tougher and start carrying shields and armor that make it harder to stagger them. Also, the dodge is essential to surviving some of the hard-hitting enemies who can knock you back and take out a huge chunk of life. If I had to compare the combat system to another game, it feels most similar to Batman: Arkham Aslyum which is a good thing since I enjoyed AA's combat. The combo system is neat. Higher combos net you higher damage bonuses, and the feedback from the controller vibration on the 360 really helped emphasize your increasing damage.
There are times when the combat did feel a little clunky. Your allies are prone to get caught in between you and the enemy, which is just enough distance for you to miss all your melee attacks. Later in the game, I started encountering enemies who I could apparently walk right through, which makes attacking awkward when after two or three hits I would emerge from the other side of them and start missing my attacks. I'd then have to take a few seconds and re-orient myself. Another problem I had was with enemies that spawn from the ground. You can attack them while they are spawning and see damage numbers, but once they are completely spawned they will teleport a few feet behind you. Luckily, I only encountered this on one level. Finally, there are turret sequences in the game. Most of them go on for way too long, and there are quite a few of them. Not enough to ruin the entire experience, but I do wish there were one or two less and that they were each 1/3 shorter in length.
As for enemy variety, it's alright. You'll be fighting orcs, goblins, spiders, and evil men, each requiring somewhat different strategies to take down. Lowly goblins can be dropped with simple combos, but duel-wielding men will try to catch you in a combo and if they are blocked, will try to get around behind you. Each enemy's attack patterns does get a little predictable though, but it stays varied enough to be enjoyable. The game also loves to throw hordes of enemies at you constantly, and although I did enjoy the many opportunities to slash and decapitate enemies, it might get a little tiring for others.
In one play-through, I'm not too sure how I feel about the loot. It's very satisfying seeing loot fly out of a troll, but not so when you see that your equipment from 3 chapters ago is still better. I bought an armor set from Rivendell early on and stuck with it through the entire game. Hopefully I'll be able to net some better armor in new game plus. The loot in this game also does change the way your character looks; it's cool to see the progression from dingy leather armor in the beginning of the game to elaborately designed iron hauberks towards the end of the game. I do wish there were more variety in appearances though; maybe I haven't gotten enough loot yet but most of the same-tiered armor look very similar to each other.
Overall, I really enjoyed my time in the War in the North. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a fun hack-and-slash loot game to play.
