Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor

 PC
User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 2369 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,686 out of 2369
  2. Mixed: 489 out of 2369
  3. Negative: 194 out of 2369
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  1. DangoFett
    Oct 9, 2014
    8
    Shadow of Mordor is a really good game when you take it for what it is. Sure, it totally butchers Tolkien's work in terms or lore yet most people don't seem to realise that the game is a spin-off and isn't supposed to be considered canon. You wouldn't criticize something like Metal Gear Acid for this, so why SoM? Also, despite the story in SoM being pretty straightforward andShadow of Mordor is a really good game when you take it for what it is. Sure, it totally butchers Tolkien's work in terms or lore yet most people don't seem to realise that the game is a spin-off and isn't supposed to be considered canon. You wouldn't criticize something like Metal Gear Acid for this, so why SoM? Also, despite the story in SoM being pretty straightforward and uninteresting, as well as the main quests being boring and tedious (especially when compared to the side quests which were for the most part very enjoyable) it doesn't cause the game overall to suffer too badly. Does it stop it from being a great game? Yes. Does it make it a bad game? No, certainly not. The combat is fun, free-flowing and satisfying without being too easy (especially when fighting captains and warchiefs) which is something that its supposed parent games, Assassin's Creed and Batman Arkham, are often criticized for. The nemesis system is unique and a great fresh new concept which I hope to see used more in new and diverse ways. One of the things that I love about SoM which I can't stress enough are the captains and warchiefs. The encounters are incredibly tense and exciting, especially when you come across a revenge target. The voice acting and dialogue are topnotch and only add to the tension of the encounters. I was also surprised by the variety of the Uruk/Orc lines that there are in the game. It was very rare that during my 25+ hour playthrough of the game that I heard the same thing twice and I genuinely felt as though I was facing a new captain/warchief for the first time whenever I encountered one, and not just a mashup of random cosmetics and voices. It truly felt as though every Uruk/Orc was unique. Overall, I would definitely recommend the game to anyone looking for a satisfying action game with no strings attached.… Expand
  2. Mind_Killer
    Oct 11, 2014
    9
    Optimization is great !

    Yes this looks like AC & Batman and I like it :)

    Story is short but you can expand your game play time by killing & control orcs.
  3. SAMCR0_
    Oct 7, 2014
    9
    When I first encountered this game on the front page of Steam, I scrolled past it like some of the other generic titles on offer, but returned when I heard from a friend about its unique combination of other games. Since buying the game, I am 10 hours in, and moving at my own pace, completing challenges, laughing at the orcs random conversations and collecting artifacts, and doing the oddWhen I first encountered this game on the front page of Steam, I scrolled past it like some of the other generic titles on offer, but returned when I heard from a friend about its unique combination of other games. Since buying the game, I am 10 hours in, and moving at my own pace, completing challenges, laughing at the orcs random conversations and collecting artifacts, and doing the odd main mission to progress through the game slowly, whilst not neglecting the myriad of side quests on offer.

    The games combat system is solid and free flowing, using the directional-strike-anywhere mechanics from Arkham coupled with the brutal execution moves, really adds a punch to the fights, and adding the shadow strike and spirit capability moves introduces an interesting element to an already accomplished fighting system.

    The climbing and stealth elements we are all used to in Assassins Creed have also been mixed in here, which makes for even more freedom and fun, running across ruins and rooftops whilst orcs throw axes and whatever they can get their hands on to knock you off, whilst shouting obcenities at you, really makes this a different and enjoyable experience. This coupled with the fighting really makes you feel you have more control than ever over the character, which in turn makes the game much more enjoyable and pleasurable to play.

    The third, and probably most noteworthy feature is Saurons army and the Orcs. Each one is created with random parameters, so they all look different, and all have different goals and aims in their lives, as well as varying personalities, strengths, weaknesses and fears, some even come back after you if you don't cut their head off, I've had one wanting revenge for scarring his face when I took him out.

    The graphics and audio score are also top notch, the level design is a little weak, most areas looking the same with ruins and bonfires around, although this does give you the feel of dark Mordor, along with Orcs standing with torch in hand supervising all the slaves working hard to set the scene. All of these things contribute to making you think the world is revolving without you, everything is living and does what it pleases.

    One of the only remarks I have regarding negatives, is the narrow focus on the inhabitants of Middle Earth, only two species seem to have been documented in the game, humans and orcs, more scope with races of people would add yet more life to the game, but doesn't affect your enjoyment if you don't contemplate it.

    By the time the nemesis system gets stale, players will have gotten their money out of the game, and its treasure trove of laughs, gore and violence.

    Finally, I have a question for the 1's and 0's here: Do you actually like any games ? It just seems to me that you're too busy being pedantic about every game, you don't actually enjoy playing them. This game really doesn't warrant "Grinding through hordes of generic orcs" and "medicocre graphics", I don't care what your opinion is, this game offers new and unique features, so I'm sorry, you're wrong, and its plain to see.

    Play it for more than 5 minutes, and stop rating the game because you're rubbish at it, give it the score it deserves.    … Expand
  4. SoxValkar
    Oct 7, 2014
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This game is fantastic. Absolutely. The lore within the game is rich, although it involves a lot of reading. But so be it. Lord of the Rings isn't exactly a childrens novel anyways.
    The "diplomacy" system within the game where you can execute high ranking orcs and have your own mind-controlled orcs take power instead is innovative and fun. I've spent a lot of time trying to advance my orcs in power to take higher ranks.
    The quests are also a lot of fun. A bit too much walking around, but fun nonetheless.
    A really fun feature of the game is that when you die the orc killing you remembers this, and will taunt you the next time you meet him. If you die a few times to the same orc, he will become a real nemesis. Not only within the game, but also in your mind. This game really makes you personally invest in the game.
    I've completed the game in 33 hours according to steam, and I miss only a few collectibles. So there is loads of gameplay for the money spent. I recommend this game.

    However, there is one caveat. And a big one. The final boss is a quicktime event. That is SO disappointing.

    However, the rest of the game is a solid 10/10, and only the final encounter has anything negative.    … Expand
  5. aciphex
    Oct 7, 2014
    9
    Immediately you notice this studios similarities between the games batman and SOM...the combat system is silky smooth albeit almost identical to arkham city...also, runes and weapon upgrades in my experience are almost useless leaving only upgrading skills and a decent story as a carrot to keep you going..however as an overall package ive been playing for 3 days and I'm still lookingImmediately you notice this studios similarities between the games batman and SOM...the combat system is silky smooth albeit almost identical to arkham city...also, runes and weapon upgrades in my experience are almost useless leaving only upgrading skills and a decent story as a carrot to keep you going..however as an overall package ive been playing for 3 days and I'm still looking forward to going back in… Expand
  6. NubyYuby
    Oct 1, 2014
    10
    Absolutely fenomenal !! Benn playing for 10 hours straight - haven't found a thing that would turn me off. Very happy i pre ordered it. After playing it i went straight and bought the Season Pass DLC boundle.

    I play using the Logitech F710 gamepad and i would advise any PC gamer getting this to also play using a gamepad.

    To sum up worth getting - hope they make a franchise out of it !
  7. Seroneth
    Oct 1, 2014
    9
    A great game overall! I spend 7 hours straight playing...which is something I have not done with a game in a long time! It plays a lot like Assassin's Creed with some extra's thrown in. I've really enjoyed the NEMESIS system. I have also enjoyed the upgrade and talent system...it's indepth and you can tell it makes a difference with your play style.

    It can seem a bit easy sometimes, but    A great game overall! I spend 7 hours straight playing...which is something I have not done with a game in a long time! It plays a lot like Assassin's Creed with some extra's thrown in. I've really enjoyed the NEMESIS system. I have also enjoyed the upgrade and talent system...it's indepth and you can tell it makes a difference with your play style.

    It can seem a bit easy sometimes, but then all of a sudden you'll find yourself facing about 30 mobs and a few Captains.... that's when the adrenaline hits ...

    Great game!! Def worth the purchase.    … Expand
  8. loadedzen
    Oct 2, 2014
    9
    This is how you port a game to pc, no shortcuts have been taken with this game and it runs very well on my computer. For the actual game, it's incredibly entertaining, satisfying and implements a very cool nemesis system which isn't half arsed either. Sure it does take elements from assassins creed and the batman games, but this is for the better of the experience and when your combat isThis is how you port a game to pc, no shortcuts have been taken with this game and it runs very well on my computer. For the actual game, it's incredibly entertaining, satisfying and implements a very cool nemesis system which isn't half arsed either. Sure it does take elements from assassins creed and the batman games, but this is for the better of the experience and when your combat is this fluid you won't be disappointed. This was definitely worth the money on steam.… Expand
  9. DrStrange
    Oct 8, 2014
    10
    I went into this game wearing boots and wool socks but the awesomness shot them off my feet and through the wall, which doesn't sound as impressive until you find out i live inside a tree. Its also helped my dating life as women find my score and orc killing abilities sexy.
  10. scoobers
    Oct 15, 2014
    10
    Killing orcs never felt better. This game is like a better version of assassins creed. I look forward to actually spending a lot more time on this title especially if they do more story DLC.
  11. scb29
    Oct 3, 2014
    9
    A very beautiful game with epics fighting, nice story, graphics and sounds.
    Enemy system is funny. It's a good mix of RPG, Hack'd slash, action and infiltration.
  12. WillpowerGames
    Oct 6, 2014
    10
    The Nemisis system blows me away, I love it. I hope more games in the future adopt this feature and tweak it further. The game looks great, plays great, and has such a great vibe going for it.

    The story is a good setup, I found it interesting. The weapon upgrade system, and skill system is typical for what you might find in a modern RPG, but I enjoyed it. What is great is you can    The Nemisis system blows me away, I love it. I hope more games in the future adopt this feature and tweak it further. The game looks great, plays great, and has such a great vibe going for it.

    The story is a good setup, I found it interesting. The weapon upgrade system, and skill system is typical for what you might find in a modern RPG, but I enjoyed it. What is great is you can follow the story or write your own with the nemisis system. I find myself just having a blast hunting down captains I took a special hatred for, or who killed me hours earlier and got promoted to legendary status.

    I can't remember a game that made me smile when I failed at something. But I found myself chuckling and smiling over a lone archer that got a lucky shot, some random Uruk that had no name until he sniped me in the back with an arrow, and his promotion to Captain as a result of my death. I go forth to get my own revenge on him later.

    I look forward to the [inevitable] sequels. I really am enjoying this game and it's open world feel.    … Expand
  13. gipsy83
    Oct 12, 2014
    9
    One of the best games I've played in last years! 9/10!
    If you are not sure, don't hesitate and buy it.
    It could seems to be a clone of Assassin's Creed and Batman but it's not, it's MORE :)
  14. Viothon
    Oct 13, 2014
    10
    So there are people out there who hate Chess, I love Chess but it is not for everybody; ok fine. Some people do not like Shadows of Mordor and again I say ok fine, but unfortunately with this game the hype is true, this game is like Chess in that it will have a following and its mechanics are easy to start off with and then get into strategically with the nemeses system over time. ThereSo there are people out there who hate Chess, I love Chess but it is not for everybody; ok fine. Some people do not like Shadows of Mordor and again I say ok fine, but unfortunately with this game the hype is true, this game is like Chess in that it will have a following and its mechanics are easy to start off with and then get into strategically with the nemeses system over time. There are things about the Uruk AI that I am still in awe of even after a week of play. I start throwing darts at an Uruk and he will start dodging them, they give me some times the feeling of should I give this one a chance, let him grow in rank and then go after him, I almost feel like an evil god setting my children up to take me down only to cut their heads off.… Expand
  15. Shogun2013
    Oct 2, 2014
    8
    The game is more of a mix of fable as far as the free roaming capabilities and assassin's Creed fighting it's npcs is where the game gets so good the way they can remember you and actively run away in a fight if need be but the game does get redundant at times with the go here kill here missions they should have a more (for lack of better term) meaningful story. I don't know maybe if theyThe game is more of a mix of fable as far as the free roaming capabilities and assassin's Creed fighting it's npcs is where the game gets so good the way they can remember you and actively run away in a fight if need be but the game does get redundant at times with the go here kill here missions they should have a more (for lack of better term) meaningful story. I don't know maybe if they had missions that made you feel that you really had to do them and quick just to see what's next it would've been better for me at least. One thing I could not stress enough is how refreshing it is to have enemies remember you when they kill you that is personally one of the best features regarding the game overall it's a decent game to pass time I give it 8.5 out of 10… Expand
  16. Grutzy
    Oct 2, 2014
    9
    Shadow of Mordor is the best example of what "emergent gameplay" should be that I've seen yet. The combat is smooth, the story surfacing is smart, and the variety is refreshing. I find myself thoroughly enthralled with this title and can't wait to devour more of it. The loss of one point is due to the somewhat sticky camera when in the thick of things or when gameplay camera is reallyShadow of Mordor is the best example of what "emergent gameplay" should be that I've seen yet. The combat is smooth, the story surfacing is smart, and the variety is refreshing. I find myself thoroughly enthralled with this title and can't wait to devour more of it. The loss of one point is due to the somewhat sticky camera when in the thick of things or when gameplay camera is really zoomed in. Other than that, nothing overly frustrating or annoying here. I definitely feel it's worth the money and time for any open world RPG fan, and it's got a lot to offer those new to the genre.… Expand
  17. gerszom
    Oct 10, 2014
    9
    Best action game in Middle Earth. Ubisoft should learn from them how to make an assassin game. Really enjoyable. Map maybe not so big, but it is fully staffed with actions. Gameplay isn't boring. If You like climate of LOTR this is the game You waited for.
  18. farney308
    Oct 6, 2014
    10
    Its good to see that studios like this still feel the need to take a risk and innovate.. What we all figured would be some sort of gimmick is actually an incredible system that works behind the scenes even when you think it isn't.. Follow the in game story yes, but make your own story using the nemesis system and your suddenly in a whole new world!! Graphics are what you expect nowadaysIts good to see that studios like this still feel the need to take a risk and innovate.. What we all figured would be some sort of gimmick is actually an incredible system that works behind the scenes even when you think it isn't.. Follow the in game story yes, but make your own story using the nemesis system and your suddenly in a whole new world!! Graphics are what you expect nowadays from a AAA title along with the sound.. The gameplay has the best elements with almost assassins creed style assassination manoeuvres :)… Expand
  19. Ghostbuster15
    Oct 8, 2014
    9
    After playing this game for about 10 hours i have to say thaat im impressed. Despite the story being mediocare EVERYTHING else is interesting. I have to admit that the game borrows a lot of mechanics from other games. Its has the feeling of an AC with the fighting mechanic of Batman AC and some time it reminds me of the LEGENDARY The Last Of Us. The Nemesis System is AMAZING. It gives aAfter playing this game for about 10 hours i have to say thaat im impressed. Despite the story being mediocare EVERYTHING else is interesting. I have to admit that the game borrows a lot of mechanics from other games. Its has the feeling of an AC with the fighting mechanic of Batman AC and some time it reminds me of the LEGENDARY The Last Of Us. The Nemesis System is AMAZING. It gives a lot of replayability to the game and also creates the best dynamic moments/battles in a videogame yet( HELLO NEXT GEN). However with the whole game based on this system i thing it can get a little repetitive after some time. The soundrack helps you emerce more into this fanatastic and familiar word that JRR Tolkien created. I Absulutely recommend this game to everyone. If you are a LOTR fan u should have already bought the game. To everyone else this game is a good first look at next gen gaming… Expand
  20. shakamaiden
    Oct 7, 2014
    10
    A truly remarkable game! It combines much of Assassins Creed good parts, with the Arkham franchise type of fights! The Nemesis system brings a whole new dynamic to the game, and dying, really, really matters!
  21. NikosGr
    Oct 10, 2014
    10
    I am not a big lotr fan,i have seen the movies and liked them but never been extremely into it.but this game is really great,not only because its based on mordor and it has tons of lore,it just feels fluid has nice graphics and to me it is the best attempt at copying batman/ac combat .The nemesis system rocks!!!I was shouting on my pc when the buffed guy that i ran away from last time toldI am not a big lotr fan,i have seen the movies and liked them but never been extremely into it.but this game is really great,not only because its based on mordor and it has tons of lore,it just feels fluid has nice graphics and to me it is the best attempt at copying batman/ac combat .The nemesis system rocks!!!I was shouting on my pc when the buffed guy that i ran away from last time told me he would cut my leggs off,when i put him down,man it felt so right!!! :D.Havent complete the story,i love the side missions can keep you really busy and also the mounts are freaking cool.This game is something different that at first glance you would think is nothing special,try it !!!!… Expand
  22. AWetJedi
    Oct 12, 2014
    9
    Having seen this years games get hyped up massively then fail time and time again it was refreshing to find a game that lives up or even surpasses the hype it was given.

    Personally I was worried about the nemesis system and thought it could either work well or simply become a novelty within the game that had no real use however it has proven to be the first of the two. To begin with I    Having seen this years games get hyped up massively then fail time and time again it was refreshing to find a game that lives up or even surpasses the hype it was given.

    Personally I was worried about the nemesis system and thought it could either work well or simply become a novelty within the game that had no real use however it has proven to be the first of the two. To begin with I was disappointed with it because of the lack of certain features that were shown in the previews but these actually became available later in the game which continued to impress me and again backed up my love for this game not being a disappointment like so many other titles this year.

    However I have had a few problems with the game and there are still bugs that need to be fixed but when you compare it to battlefield 4 on release, which has only this month had a major patch to fix most of these issues, it shines brightly.

    Overall I would recommend this game strongly! Even if you don't enjoy the LOTR films or other games then it is still an enjoyable experience and most importantly it's fun. Obviously there are a few character crossovers and the story mimics the timeline of the films but even with very little prior knowledge of the universe It will still be a great experience and hopefully will spur on a love for the films too.    … Expand
  23. dallaen
    Oct 8, 2014
    9
    Hey Navlasop: If you actually did reviews for other games you would know advance copies given for review always come attached with those kinds of stipulations. Nothing new to be found in that article you link to.

    The game itself though is beautiful and plays very well. As a fan of AC and the Arkham series this is a great mix of the two and I hope they continue and expand it into the    Hey Navlasop: If you actually did reviews for other games you would know advance copies given for review always come attached with those kinds of stipulations. Nothing new to be found in that article you link to.

    The game itself though is beautiful and plays very well. As a fan of AC and the Arkham series this is a great mix of the two and I hope they continue and expand it into the future.

    I'm still a bit perplexed by those that say the game is to short or small in scope and they "Finished" it in 10-15 hours. At 10-15 hours I was 18% done with the game. I guess if you want to rush the story and get to the ending asap you could do it that fast but then you miss everything else in the game that makes this one a gem.    … Expand
  24. DonJuan
    Oct 4, 2014
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This is a great game. Simple as that. Yes, some of the fighting is somewhat repetetive, just as AC and Batman games. But, in this game - its partly your own fault if you let it happen. Start using your bow in battles, start using ALL your skills in battle and it will be alot more challenging.

    Story is good, not great. Also like that some of the story is told at certain points in the game (after ress) where it isnt disturbing gameplay.

    Enemy system is great, even though I might get fed up with it in the future if more games start picking this up...    … Expand
  25. fusrodah
    Oct 6, 2014
    10
    A must have for the fans of the LOTR series who also happen to love both Assassin's Creed & Batman: Arkham series. Well, if you like neither of them, don't even bother.
  26. Erazor
    Oct 16, 2014
    9
    What's not to like? Batman, good. Assassin's Creed, good. Lord of the Rings, Guuuuud.

    Good use of side missions & collectables, as in they actually have a purpose, still a little tad grindy, (the artifacts & wall symbols were still somewhat boring and tedious to do) Controls were good but a lot of combos left me mixing up some keys and doing hilarious things, like throwing    What's not to like? Batman, good. Assassin's Creed, good. Lord of the Rings, Guuuuud.

    Good use of side missions & collectables, as in they actually have a purpose, still a little tad grindy, (the artifacts & wall symbols were still somewhat boring and tedious to do)

    Controls were good but a lot of combos left me mixing up some keys and doing hilarious things, like throwing information orcs off the edge of a building... opssss

    9/10    … Expand
  27. ayon13
    Oct 6, 2014
    9
    The game is great. Graphics awesome.Storyline,combat,stealth,skills are okay but the there should be more main missions and those have to be more interesting and more difficult.
  28. NightAssassin89
    Oct 4, 2014
    10
    Truly an awesome masterpiece, that delves enough into middle earth. The gameplay is addicting, the nemesis system should be incorporated into more games. I can't get enough of it. Anybody who doesn't like it must have some issues.
  29. c6h12o6free
    Oct 6, 2014
    10
    Every once in a while, a game comes along that is so beautiful, so enthralling, and so much fun that it makes me question why I ever wanted to leave the house. Shadow of Mordor is like that.

    I found myself caught up in the power struggles, branding and dominating every captain I could find, and playing it like it was my own personal revenge quest. It plays a lot like the WB    Every once in a while, a game comes along that is so beautiful, so enthralling, and so much fun that it makes me question why I ever wanted to leave the house. Shadow of Mordor is like that.

    I found myself caught up in the power struggles, branding and dominating every captain I could find, and playing it like it was my own personal revenge quest.

    It plays a lot like the WB Batman:Arkham games, and that is an excellent thing. The combat is fun and challenging once you've got a little time in, and the story is top notch. The stealth mechanics, gameplay, and graphics are unbelievably good.

    The Nemesis system is the best innovation I have seen in recent years for an open world action/adventure/RPG. Brilliant.,    … Expand
  30. PeregrineOmega
    Sep 30, 2014
    10
    Shadow of Mordor plays like a cross between Assassin's Creed and Arkham City and that's not at all a bad thing. The combat is inspired yet refined. The Nemesis System is a unique addition to any game which actually sparks emotion from the player and challenges you to punish your enemies.

    Additionally, the game is f**king beautiful. Every year WB publishes a game that seems to push the    Shadow of Mordor plays like a cross between Assassin's Creed and Arkham City and that's not at all a bad thing. The combat is inspired yet refined. The Nemesis System is a unique addition to any game which actually sparks emotion from the player and challenges you to punish your enemies.

    Additionally, the game is f**king beautiful. Every year WB publishes a game that seems to push the limits of what to expect visually and aurally from games and Shadow of Mordor continues the trend.

    Great combat, rewarding gameplay, compelling story and unbelievable visuals. What's not to like?    … Expand
  31. Jhango1
    Oct 1, 2014
    10
    This game is awesome. Takes the best things from other games and combine it into a unique and brutal experience. The nemesis system is awesome and the game is not at all repetitive. I spent 7 hours in the games just messing with orc leaders. A must play!
  32. EL1TE
    Oct 15, 2014
    10
    For the record my rating is: i like (10) and i don't like (0), not saying 10 is a perfect game, my ratings don't work like that, simply i either like, or i don't.

    This game sets a new standard for what Assassin's Creed combat should be, fast timed actions with an immense amount of animations made me love this game and understand that AC needs an urgent change to combat, my taste if fast    For the record my rating is: i like (10) and i don't like (0), not saying 10 is a perfect game, my ratings don't work like that, simply i either like, or i don't.

    This game sets a new standard for what Assassin's Creed combat should be, fast timed actions with an immense amount of animations made me love this game and understand that AC needs an urgent change to combat, my taste if fast paced action, had too much of turn based and slow combat i can't stand it anymore, however i'm not saying Ac combat is bad, it's not, i just prefer this game's combat over AC one (why am i comparing both games, stealth-like combat, climbing, story with family involved, list goes on).

    However i don't like the variety of monsters in the game, the Orcs might have a ton of skin variety but that's it, i wish the base game had a whole lot more but i guess that'll be coming with a DLC. =/    … Expand
  33. FrodoBaggins
    Oct 10, 2014
    10
    Lord of the rings ended 11 years ago.
    we have not seen a new battle on Middle-Earth since then, and now! We can adventure where two Hobbits change the fate of time; of course it is however set before Lord of the rings, so there are still hoards of Uruk-hai and Orcs trying to kill you, but since you were banished from death, you have a good few years to sort them out.
    From taking on    Lord of the rings ended 11 years ago.
    we have not seen a new battle on Middle-Earth since then, and now! We can adventure where two Hobbits change the fate of time; of course it is however set before Lord of the rings, so there are still hoards of Uruk-hai and Orcs trying to kill you, but since you were banished from death, you have a good few years to sort them out.
    From taking on measly soldiers, to Saurons head guard, you will sure feel like you have done Middle-Earth justice once you enter, The Shadow Of Mordor.    … Expand
  34. Vixremento
    Oct 25, 2014
    10
    I enjoyed this quite a bit. I got frustrated, I died (which is why I got frustrated), I smiled and I just had a pretty good time playing through Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor.

    Does it have similarities to Assassin's Creed and the Batman Arkham games? Sure it does. Does this make it a bad thing? Not in my opinion. The combat, while familiar, was more challenging than in the Assassin's    I enjoyed this quite a bit. I got frustrated, I died (which is why I got frustrated), I smiled and I just had a pretty good time playing through Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor.

    Does it have similarities to Assassin's Creed and the Batman Arkham games? Sure it does. Does this make it a bad thing? Not in my opinion. The combat, while familiar, was more challenging than in the Assassin's Creed games. You gain runes, you gain points and power that allow you to gain and upgrade various abilities that make it more fun to keep playing on all while getting that same enjoyable feeling of kicking Orc butt along the way. The story missions were varied enough to keep me playing through together with a few side bits that allowed my Ranger to get stronger and for me to test my skills while doing so between the main story missions.

    Overall I was impressed and I would recommend this to anyone that enjoys a bit of fun however I also know that not everyone will enjoy the combat system like many of us do (just as we may not enjoy some of the things that make your favourite games fun to play) so make sure it's your cup of tea and if it is you're most likely going to have the same fun playing through this as I did.    … Expand
  35. Terminal-Rex
    Oct 15, 2014
    8
    I found this game thoroughly enjoyable, don't get me wrong if you are looking for something that stays fresh and doesn't become repetitive you are barking up the wrong tree, however I can't help feeling that the combat system mixed with the graphics keep this game entertaining throughout. It's a relaxing game, not something I would play for months non-stop but when I want to have a causalI found this game thoroughly enjoyable, don't get me wrong if you are looking for something that stays fresh and doesn't become repetitive you are barking up the wrong tree, however I can't help feeling that the combat system mixed with the graphics keep this game entertaining throughout. It's a relaxing game, not something I would play for months non-stop but when I want to have a causal session for a couple of hours, this is a great hack and slash that looks beautiful.… Expand
  36. AthanasiosT
    Dec 12, 2014
    9
    Stealth, assassinations, character progressing, weapon improvement, epic weapons, cool moves, Lord of the Rings environment and Uruk blood, heads and hierarchy !!! What more can you ask ? Lotr in it's finest and coolest moments.
  37. Hardcard
    Oct 12, 2014
    8
    Take Assassin's Creed, combine it with Batman's Arkham saga and place the resulting mix in Middle Earth... congrats, you just created Shadow of Mordor.

    The game gets old in a day (you get to know pretty much everything the game has to offer in the first couple of hours), it's considerably less challenging than any Arkham game, in fact, the combat is as easy as in the last Assassin's    Take Assassin's Creed, combine it with Batman's Arkham saga and place the resulting mix in Middle Earth... congrats, you just created Shadow of Mordor.

    The game gets old in a day (you get to know pretty much everything the game has to offer in the first couple of hours), it's considerably less challenging than any Arkham game, in fact, the combat is as easy as in the last Assassin's Creed games (it's Batman's combat system with the difficulty level of Assassin's Creed III-IV).

    Graphics are great, the best of the game by far, they exceed the graphics of Witcher 2 and Assassin's Creed IV, that's not nothing. Great DirectX11 effects, high poly models, high res textures, characters are well animated, clipping isn't noticeable, you can expect the graphics quality of the last Batman/AC games, even better.

    Performance is good (60+fps everywhere with ultra settings at 1080p) and the game is pretty much bug free (at least it seems that way so far). I'm running on i7 2600k (oc 4,3 GHz) with R9 290 Tri-X OC 4GB.

    The story kicks in right away, just like in the Batman games. It has a promising start, but I'm afraid this will be another miscarriage, it seems like the plot loses most of the appeal before it has the chance to develop. I can't confirm this, since I haven't advanced enough in the game to reach this conclusion...it just feels like this is going to be the case... I hope I'm wrong...

    This is a left clicking hack and slash with auto aim, just like the Batman games, the difference is that you carry a sword, a bow and a dagger and instead of killing thugs, you kill orcs.
    As in Batman games, there are different kinds of opponents (normal orcs, orcs with shields, crossbows, javelins, spears, etc..), combat movements and animations are pretty good, there is plenty of blood, beheadings, stabbing, etc.
    A curious feature in Shadow of Mordor is the orc army system. All orcs in Mordor are organized in several bands under the command of different captains, the funny thing is that captains are constantly fighting each other, the winner gets promoted and the loser...well...the loser dies and a new orc captain takes his place. If you get killed by an orc, he'll be promoted to captain immediately and perhaps he'll start moving up the orc ranks, who knows?
    There are also beasts that you can mount and/or set loose, so they can anihilate entire orc garrisons, also, if you kill enough orcs, the remaining ones will tend to flee, granting you the chance to be cruel, LOL.

    The ability progression/weapon upgrade system is pretty simple. Weapons can be equipped with a limited number of runes that enable different effects, there are several runes that you can unlock throughout the game. Ability slots are unlocked as the game progresses and also as your character gains experience and "money", but it's a pretty straightforward ability tree, and a short one at that.

    I fear this will be the main problem of the game, it appears to be short and repetitive... again, I haven't played enough to tell for sure, it just looks that way.
    Other than that you have the chance to go around killing endless numbers of orcs in a brutal way, this is always fun.    … Expand
  38. Patrick94
    Nov 20, 2014
    8
    Great game. I'm about a third into the story missions I think and I've just been going around killing war chiefs, doing side-missions etc. It can be slightly difficult at times when you're outnumbered, especially if it's a mixture of guys with ranged attacks, shields, etc. but overall it's a pretty easy game to get through. The story is done really well, especially Gollum, you've got toGreat game. I'm about a third into the story missions I think and I've just been going around killing war chiefs, doing side-missions etc. It can be slightly difficult at times when you're outnumbered, especially if it's a mixture of guys with ranged attacks, shields, etc. but overall it's a pretty easy game to get through. The story is done really well, especially Gollum, you've got to love the little dude and the guy that voices him in the game is brilliant. And how Talion's story connects with the Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. Celebrimbor's flashbacks are done really well and give a very cinematic feel to the whole thing.… Expand
  39. Squeezit
    Oct 19, 2014
    8
    Posted my review on the wrong page:
    Admittedly a perfect score is something I would probably never give any game because I can always find something that needs improvement. Shadow of Mordor is no exception to that rule. However Shadows of Mordor, while it had a slow start for me, was a fantastic game.
    Story 7/10 Graphics 9/10 gameplay 8/10 Overall, I absolutely loved the game and    Posted my review on the wrong page:
    Admittedly a perfect score is something I would probably never give any game because I can always find something that needs improvement. Shadow of Mordor is no exception to that rule. However Shadows of Mordor, while it had a slow start for me, was a fantastic game.
    Story 7/10
    Graphics 9/10
    gameplay 8/10

    Overall, I absolutely loved the game and really hope for a sequel.

    I'm not sure I understand why people are calling it an Assassins creed clone, unless they also call the batman games assassin creed clones. The only similarity I find between this and Assassins creed is the climbing, which personally I find a bit better in Shadow of Mordor (in some area's you can get stuck from time to time though).
    I have experienced no bugs/glitches aside from the current one where killed enemies come back to life. But that one wasn't really a big deal to me, since Orcs would take their place anyways.
    All in all, this is a Batman Arkham clone. And that is perfectly ok, because Batman clone with a LOTR setup was surprisingly fantastic. I was skeptical at first, but I'd say it was money well spent. Good job WB, please make me another one.

    Or how about doing a similar game with the Game of Thrones world? ;)    … Expand
  40. Kelphy
    Feb 15, 2015
    8
    A great game with great story, great gameplay and wonderful characters loses a little bit of it's greatness from the lack of lore. It feels that sometimes the writers of this game did not read any of Tolkiens notes nor did they read the LOTR books.

    This game was good, but adding the lore would have made it incredible.
  41. Jodeth
    Jan 1, 2015
    9
    I never payed any attention to the hype and I find this game very entertaining. I have a little experience with RPG elements and didn't find it hard to understand the system. There's not much I can say about the gameplay that hasn't been said yet. The graphics are pretty good. Unfortunately it takes a crazy amount of VRAM to get the highest quality. Before I bought it, I was afraid my PCI never payed any attention to the hype and I find this game very entertaining. I have a little experience with RPG elements and didn't find it hard to understand the system. There's not much I can say about the gameplay that hasn't been said yet. The graphics are pretty good. Unfortunately it takes a crazy amount of VRAM to get the highest quality. Before I bought it, I was afraid my PC (made up of parts from 2009-2012) would struggle to reach the console standard 30fps, but to my surprise it averages about 40fps on medium-high settings at 1080p. Occasionally there are freezes that can last up to 5 seconds when I'm sprinting around the map or fighting, though, my PC's memory may be the cause. My only complaint with the game is that the option for FXAA / Motion Blur is broken. Other than that, Shadow of Mordor is very optimized and quite fun to play. I like its combat system, stealth, wall climbing, orc leveling-up system, fluent animations, voice acting, variety of characters, skill upgrades and other stuff. I much look forward to upgrading my PC so that the game will run more smoothly.… Expand
  42. AcidCasualty
    Oct 19, 2014
    9
    Repost of my Steam review:

    I absolutely love this game. A mashup of the best parts of the Assassin's Creed and Arkham games, it's one of the most exciting and engaging titles I've experienced in years. Believe me, I haven't done all-night play sessions in a very long time, and SoM has kept me up late multiple nights in a row. Aside from the awe-inspiring graphics, the smooth and    Repost of my Steam review:

    I absolutely love this game. A mashup of the best parts of the Assassin's Creed and Arkham games, it's one of the most exciting and engaging titles I've experienced in years. Believe me, I haven't done all-night play sessions in a very long time, and SoM has kept me up late multiple nights in a row. Aside from the awe-inspiring graphics, the smooth and intuitive combat system, and yes, the technical issues, it has that one, intangible factor that all games strive to offer but few actually do: Playability. And boy, SoM has it in heaps. Excuse me while I fire it up yet again. There are uruks that need killing.    … Expand
  43. Cloud981
    Oct 7, 2014
    9
    In the past i've always wondered what would it be like to implement that Batman series great counter fighting into some middle age game with swords!!! I finally have my answer. Awesome fighting mechanics and fluid free roaming is what keeps me coming back to this game over and over again,although the story is nothing special ;) Stolen or not, it does not matter,i'm a great fan of AssassinsIn the past i've always wondered what would it be like to implement that Batman series great counter fighting into some middle age game with swords!!! I finally have my answer. Awesome fighting mechanics and fluid free roaming is what keeps me coming back to this game over and over again,although the story is nothing special ;) Stolen or not, it does not matter,i'm a great fan of Assassins Creed series and think that Ubisoft could learn a lot from these guys :)… Expand
  44. PurpleSpartan
    Oct 26, 2014
    10
    Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor is wildly fun for the duration of the campaign (about 25 hours for me), and still manages to pack in about 4 hours on top of that. This is mostly due to the very fun stealth system, however glitchy sometimes it still really makes the game fun almost wherever you are. Planning out your different strategies with warchiefs and slaying them is definitely theMiddle-earth: Shadow of Mordor is wildly fun for the duration of the campaign (about 25 hours for me), and still manages to pack in about 4 hours on top of that. This is mostly due to the very fun stealth system, however glitchy sometimes it still really makes the game fun almost wherever you are. Planning out your different strategies with warchiefs and slaying them is definitely the strongest point of the game. It gives you possible ways to deal with them, and you make them happen. absolutely brilliant… Expand
  45. AussieBloke
    Nov 16, 2014
    8
    In some ways superficial, the game is basically just a lot of straight-forward fun.

    The studio who developed it owns the Batman Arkham properties and has developers who worked on Assassins Creed .. and the game feels like a hodge-podge of those titles. Not necessarily a bad thing, but it does make some elements uninspired & creatively bankrupt. Where the game innovates and shines is    In some ways superficial, the game is basically just a lot of straight-forward fun.

    The studio who developed it owns the Batman Arkham properties and has developers who worked on Assassins Creed .. and the game feels like a hodge-podge of those titles. Not necessarily a bad thing, but it does make some elements uninspired & creatively bankrupt.

    Where the game innovates and shines is the unique Nemesis system, where your foes remember you, fight amongst themselves, have quests based on past events..

    The nemesis system lifts the game from Good to Great.    … Expand
  46. nima1990
    Jan 26, 2015
    8
    I really enjoyed the game. Middle Earth Shadow of Mordor has many positive aspect like decent-looking graphics or combat but the story is flat, lacking any climax even at the end. Characters are not very likeable. The gameplay is repetitive and lacks innovation. Anyway, it's a decent action adventure game that LOTR fans will enjoy. Although I personally really liked the movies but I'veI really enjoyed the game. Middle Earth Shadow of Mordor has many positive aspect like decent-looking graphics or combat but the story is flat, lacking any climax even at the end. Characters are not very likeable. The gameplay is repetitive and lacks innovation. Anyway, it's a decent action adventure game that LOTR fans will enjoy. Although I personally really liked the movies but I've never been into the books or a fan of Tolkien since he was a Jesus freak.… Expand
  47. Add1cted
    Oct 6, 2014
    9
    Yes. This is assassin's creed gameplay skinned into middle earth. The Nemesis system is outstanding, really great fun and at times challenging. Gameplay becomes a little easy at times, but overall this is a rare gem in being a £30 AAA game that plays well on release and is worth the money.
  48. rxgamer
    Oct 22, 2014
    10
    Haven't seen a game feel this polished, complete, and well-designed since Tomb Raider. Incredible graphics and level design. Clever missions. Challenging for the right reasons and not frustration. Sometimes overwhelming when taking on too many captains...
  49. ADHGO
    Jun 26, 2015
    8
    It is beautiful how to control the character and fighting mechanics is so great with amazing cinematic views during the fighting,characters details and texture is also great and beautiful to look at, the campaign is very poor and there are no much details to deliver in this landscape, i would gave this game 10 if the environment of the game was different, it should be an adventure gameIt is beautiful how to control the character and fighting mechanics is so great with amazing cinematic views during the fighting,characters details and texture is also great and beautiful to look at, the campaign is very poor and there are no much details to deliver in this landscape, i would gave this game 10 if the environment of the game was different, it should be an adventure game with many secrets to reveal.… Expand
  50. tomasz009
    Nov 24, 2014
    8
    I love the idea of this game, going into Mordor and making trouble for Sauron's forces. However, I became disappointed when I realised that two areas were all that the game was made up of (albeit fairly large ones). I mean, Lord of the Rings is my favourite movie series of all time, and that's mainly because of the adventure, the overlapping but separate plots, and the sense of mysteryI love the idea of this game, going into Mordor and making trouble for Sauron's forces. However, I became disappointed when I realised that two areas were all that the game was made up of (albeit fairly large ones). I mean, Lord of the Rings is my favourite movie series of all time, and that's mainly because of the adventure, the overlapping but separate plots, and the sense of mystery woven throughout. Shadow of Mordor got the first one halfway right, the third one completely right, but the second one not at all.

    Positives: the game looks and plays a dream. Talion's cloak flutters amazingly realistically while Mordor has the duality of barren wasteland in one area, and lush fields of green in the other (executing both quite well). The combat is smooth as silk, better than Assassin's Creed's (which it obviously took cues from) and, in my opinion, better than Arkham's (actually killing things may be why). Orcs are varied, especially due to the whatever system they call it where you can antagonise individual and unique orcs throughout the game.

    The 'whatever system' is great as it actually provides a sense of personalisation into your battles. Killing orcs that have gotten the better of you numerous times is satisfying, however this is also where the problem lies. The 'whatever system' is at its best when you're having a tough time killing them - but I rarely did (I think about twice). I don't think I'm particularly 'good' at the game, it's just the way it is, especially towards the end where you unlock the ability to stun enemies by leaping over them; leap, land 5 strokes in one sec, use instant kill, repeat. I always looked forward to fighting enemies that could not be leapt over for this reason.

    The personalities of the orcs however, they got spot on. I think I heard the same line repeated only once throughout my 20+ hours of playing the game. That's what more games need - for enemies to be tangible, real, human-like beings. I know I was actually intimidated before many battles against orc captains, simply because of those intro lines (my favourite being the 'friendly' orcs which, while trying to kill you, were very nice about it - they actually creeped me out).

    This system ties into the story, because a lot of the quests you'll get into involve taking down captains - and I think this is where the main weaknesses of the game show themselves. The game has a great set-up: Talion's wife and son dead, NOT because of Sauron, and you're ready to go on a wild rampage of revenge through Middle-earth. What you get though, is you killing orc captains that have no relation to your family's death, having lame boss fights against the ones that are responsible, and not much else (hunting that big ass troll aside).

    I really enjoyed the combat, enemies, and graphics, so this is where the high score comes from, but I wanted meaning. To tell you the truth, I wanted to go to Minas Tirith, Rohan, Mirkwood, The Shire. I know the game has a tight focus, and to tell you the truth, this has its benefits. However, for a game with the prefix 'Middle-earth', the game only touches on 5-10% of Middle-earth. The one part of the game that delivers this yearning for the rest is the artefact collection sidequest, where many references to the Istari, the world of Men, Dwarves, and the locations I mentioned are abound. Didn't love the elven wall collection thing though.

    To conclude this long-ass review, WB show here that they can write strong lore worthy of the franchise, so show us how you can realise it in a full Middle-earth setting! If such a game came out, this would be a tech demo in comparison. The orc system is strong, but keep it on the side! It would be badass to have a rare encounter with your arch-nemesis orc captain, instead of making it oh-so-common. Imagine this happened while exploring the forest of Fangorn with Gandalf searching for lost elven ruins or something....I'm salivating just at the thought of it.

    I'll give it a 7.8/10.    … Expand
  51. Herding
    Oct 31, 2014
    10
    Pros:
    -Graphics
    -Nemesis System -Arkham-like combat -Great voice acting -Great character design -Open world -Collectibles Cons: -The repetitive nature of the game -The fact that you need 6gb vram to run ultra settings -No save option (Only auto-save) When I first saw this game on YouTube I thought it wouldn't be a game I enjoyed. But boy was I wrong. This is a solid game    Pros:
    -Graphics
    -Nemesis System
    -Arkham-like combat
    -Great voice acting
    -Great character design
    -Open world
    -Collectibles

    Cons:
    -The repetitive nature of the game
    -The fact that you need 6gb vram to run ultra settings
    -No save option (Only auto-save)

    When I first saw this game on YouTube I thought it wouldn't be a game I enjoyed. But boy was I wrong. This is a solid game based off of the Lord of the Rings universe and if you love Lord of the Rings, then you'll love this.    … Expand
  52. Marsonra
    Oct 19, 2014
    10
    Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor. Unlike Borderlands 2, I actually managed to finish this game's story before I reviewed it. This game has a much shorter story than Borderlands 2, and was therefore much easier to finish. Anyways, ever since this game was announced I was crazy excited to play it. I am a gigantic Lord of the Rings fan, and the movie franchise is my favorite movie trilogyMiddle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor. Unlike Borderlands 2, I actually managed to finish this game's story before I reviewed it. This game has a much shorter story than Borderlands 2, and was therefore much easier to finish. Anyways, ever since this game was announced I was crazy excited to play it. I am a gigantic Lord of the Rings fan, and the movie franchise is my favorite movie trilogy of all time. So when this game was announced, I jumped out of my seat in excitement. Now that I finally got my hands on the final product, I can finally review it. So, is this game the definitive Lord of the Rings game that the fans have been waiting for, or is this the kind of game that they would want to cast into the fire along with the one ring to rule them all? Let's find out. All I can say about this game's gameplay is this: it is insanely fun and addictive. You can approach this game in three different ways: you can be stealthy, using your dagger to pick off enemies without anyone noticing, you can attack from long range with your bow and arrow, or you can go up close and personal, and just attack everything with your sword. I heard this game was greatly influenced by the Assassin's Creed series, which made me nervous, as I reviewed two Assassin's Creed games a while back, and I thought that they were the most overrated games I have ever played. However, my concerns were put to rest when I finally played the game and I realized the game also had influence from another game series: Batman Arkham. I love the Arkham games (except for Arkham Origins), and I was very happy to see that this game had Arkham's fast and furious free-flowing combat was put into this game instead of Assassin's Creed's clunky and boring combat, which made me feel right at home with it. This made the game that much more fun than it already was. However, what really makes this game fun is its nemesis system. The nemesis system is a very complex A.I. system implemented into this game, that creates a living breathing Uruk (Orc) society in the game. It also gives the orcs you fight different personalities. Here's how it works: every time an Uruk does something great, they are promoted higher up in the ranks of the Orc society, becoming a captain. Captains are essentially more powerful versions of normal Uruks. These captains have their own unique personalities, as well as strengths and weaknesses. For example, a coward might retreat to fight another day, and a loyal captain might defend their master to the death. It gets even better late in the game when the game's main character gains the ability to mind-control Orcs, allowing him to have his own Orc armies. This system allows the player to create their own unique villains and stories. This is what makes the gameplay so addictive and fun. Along with this, there are also story missions, as well as weapon legend and free the slave missions. All of these missions are every bit as fun as the Orc society missions, and they only make the gameplay better than it already is. Overall, this game's gameplay is fantastic, and should be played for this reason alone. As for the graphics, they are every bit as fantastic as the gameplay. Everything in this game is rich with detail and beautiful to look at, from the vast open expanses of Mordor, to the different Orc strongholds you can raid, to the deep dark caves you can explore. The graphics of this game are fantastic, no matter which way you look at them. As for the story, it is also fantastic, but not quite as good as the gameplay and graphics. It is set after the Hobbit but before Lord of the Rings. You play as a ranger named Talion (a ranger is basically what Aragorn is in the films), who is killed by agents of Sauron, but is cheated from death by a wraith of an elf named Celebrimbor, who is the one who created the rings of power. The only familiar Lord of the Rings character you will come across throughout this game is Gollum. The rest are either mentioned, or not in the game at all. Despite this however, the plot is still very good, and will keep you on the edge of your seat until the end. Overall, this is a fantastic game that should not be overlooked, not just by Lord of the Rings fans, but by anyone. It is insanely fun, has beautiful graphics, and a gripping story. Also, I love this game's nemesis system, and I would love to see other games utilize it in the future. This is a game everyone should play. I recommend that if you have Steam, just buy it now!
    Gameplay: 10/10
    Graphics: 10/10
    Story: 9/10
    Overall: 10/10    … Expand
  53. MadJaples
    Nov 1, 2014
    8
    8.1 (at current user score standing) is a good and fair score for this game.

    The game itself doesn't half take some installing on a reasonably capable (IMO that's mid to high end) system, with a fair hour devoted to getting it installed, but the wait is actually pretty worth it. It's removed the turn based baloney of the first LoTR game and now it's more free flowing and more like    8.1 (at current user score standing) is a good and fair score for this game.

    The game itself doesn't half take some installing on a reasonably capable (IMO that's mid to high end) system, with a fair hour devoted to getting it installed, but the wait is actually pretty worth it. It's removed the turn based baloney of the first LoTR game and now it's more free flowing and more like Assassin's Creed in combat, than the system pretending to play a game of dungeons and dragons with an imaginary dice or three.
    The textures are amazingly good, but also distinctly dark, which goes with the general theme of the game, it's not exactly about blue skies and green fields after all. The skins are okay, but they all seem pretty similar to me, so I think the Dark Ranger skin is probably the best skin out of the lot of them, with the predecessors looking too similar to be of any significant notice.
    The gameplay can be a bit tedious, but you are rewarded with a really well coded and brilliantly choreographed combat aesthetic, where the combat is not in the least bit as clunky and awkward as the AC series (even though it's a different franchise entirely). It's a pleasure to play it for the combat alone.
    The intel gathering is the most repetitive part of the game, and if you should decide to get this game, be warned that you will be offered great rewards for confronting certain uruk, if you fail, you might be punished more severely than if you were to be rewarded. I had successfully killed several uruk, only to find I'd been offered to confront a specific uruk with the promise of great reward. I was killed, and then several of the empty slots of the uruk hierarchical tree containing the dead bodies of uruk I had dispatched had all of a sudden got filled right up again. So be prepared and make sure to get as much in the way of upgrades as possible, otherwise you could be in for a hard slog.

    The music is great, I love the soundtrack to this game it's really well composed, the voice acting is good enough for me, it passes as professional enough, so all in all, despite the repetitive gameplay at times, it's still a sterling effort well worth getting.

    The settings are a little much in places, and I was a little disappointed that despite opting to run the game on an Nvidia card, it still only registered the use of an intel graphics card - despite running on the nvidia card anyway (I dunno, I don't code the stuff I just play it).

    Good game, definitely worth the spending on.
    Unlike other disappointments from earlier on in the year, like Sims 4 for example.    … Expand
  54. lucasmx
    Oct 21, 2014
    10
    It has been a long time since i do not get so addicted to a game. This game has a true open world, very nice features. Worths every penny. You should try it
  55. elrofrost
    Oct 8, 2014
    8
    I like the game play. I like the death system. What I don't like at the many forced missions. What I mean by that, is many missions you are forced to play a certain way. Such as stealth. I enjoy stealth. What I don't enjoy is being forced to use. Hey, if i want to jump into a group of 30 orcs and fight it out (I'd die) then why not? It shouldn't matter how you archive your objective.I like the game play. I like the death system. What I don't like at the many forced missions. What I mean by that, is many missions you are forced to play a certain way. Such as stealth. I enjoy stealth. What I don't enjoy is being forced to use. Hey, if i want to jump into a group of 30 orcs and fight it out (I'd die) then why not? It shouldn't matter how you archive your objective.

    For an open-world game that said it was all about freedom. It's not.

    But the combat is fun. And killing orc never gets old. And the Nemesis system is fantastic. Add great graphics, a kick-ass sound track and this game deserves an 8. IF it didn't force me to play it a certain way it would've been a 10.

    Major props for the developers for trying something different then the usual "die-reload-save" process.    … Expand
  56. rabby_afc
    Oct 14, 2014
    9
    It felt like they took the best elements from Assassin's Creed, Prince of Persia and Devil May Cry and put them in the setting of the Lord of the Rings world, and it worked absolutely magnificently! Loved every bit of it, the enemy hierarchy system was something totally unique to me, the gameplay was awesome, the moves and controls were very responsive. Although there were lot of sideIt felt like they took the best elements from Assassin's Creed, Prince of Persia and Devil May Cry and put them in the setting of the Lord of the Rings world, and it worked absolutely magnificently! Loved every bit of it, the enemy hierarchy system was something totally unique to me, the gameplay was awesome, the moves and controls were very responsive. Although there were lot of side quests, which the game recommends you to complete and rewards you handsomely for doing with M points with which you can unlock awesome abilities, but I was wish the main campaign had a more LOTD-ishly epic story. The campaign only had 20 missions and event then, the story didn't feel very epic the way a LOTD story should be. That's probably my only negative feedback of the game. Otherwise a solid action adventure and hopefully, the beginning of a new and successful gaming franchise.… Expand
  57. samsolidME
    Nov 8, 2014
    9
    This game was so good in my opinion. While I was disappointed of Arkham knight absence around Christmas, because it become some kind of tradition Gotham on Cold Christmas Eve and dark Gothic vibe, Shadow of Mordor fill the emptiness and in such a good way.
    Shadow of Mordor doesn't try to hide AC And Arkham influences and with their genuine nemesis system , this game is more than good ,    This game was so good in my opinion. While I was disappointed of Arkham knight absence around Christmas, because it become some kind of tradition Gotham on Cold Christmas Eve and dark Gothic vibe, Shadow of Mordor fill the emptiness and in such a good way.
    Shadow of Mordor doesn't try to hide AC And Arkham influences and with their genuine nemesis system , this game is more than good , almost as its role models.
    Story i so so but when you emerge your self in the world of Mordor full of filthy Orks and human slaves i was so thrilled to dive in to this world as long as I could.
    Production values are high, voice acting is great, copy of Arkham combat an AC parcour is implemented very well, and combat finishers are awesome. But really that nemesis system is something special.
    Graphics in my opinion are very good and I ran everything on ultra, textures High and it was from 40-60 FPS on my GTX 770.
    This game was so good that I don't feel the urge to play Unity...for some time.

    9,4/10    … Expand
  58. mweagle
    Oct 8, 2014
    8
    This game gives you the Assassins Creed gameplay in LotR style. And it works!
    With little expectation for this game due to the (over)hyped Nemesis system, I feared the worst: that they would focus too much on that and that the rest of the game would fall short. In some way it did, since the things you can do (killing, killing, hunting a bit, gardening the fields, killing, collecting    This game gives you the Assassins Creed gameplay in LotR style. And it works!
    With little expectation for this game due to the (over)hyped Nemesis system, I feared the worst: that they would focus too much on that and that the rest of the game would fall short. In some way it did, since the things you can do (killing, killing, hunting a bit, gardening the fields, killing, collecting stuff, killing, upgrading and killing) are basically the same every time. You are required to kill Uruk A, but it's up to you how easy you want to have that. You can make things easier for yourself by *ahum* "devouring the starters" before proceeding with the main course, so to speak. It's up to you. But although it it much of the same in this game, it does not get boring at all!

    Sure the game is a lot of killing easy targets and having the same tactic (with the occasional different moves) usually works but if you want, you can vary things up as you please, which keeps the game interesting. With all the different abilities and powers of Talion, which grow over experience and plot, you can keep switching up your tactics to make encounters more challenging and more fun. Plus, the game makes you feel like a god. And if there was anything I dreamt of during the LotR movies, it was doing just the stuff Talion is doing right now. Awesome! So gameplay-wise, the game is solid, fluent and controls are good enough. Movement is sometimes a bit tacky though, getting stuck on corners quite frequent.

    About the nemesis system: It sure is nice and works great, but it is as I feared: nothing more than a fancy boss-management system. And the bosses are not really that hard or different from each other. They are simply a little bit harder rhan the normal Uruks due to their health, but so far, neither the bosses nor the system itself impressed me. But it is a nice feature that adds a bit to the feeling of the game (like a re-encounter with a Captain which I burned the previous time, and he makes mentions of it). Verdict on this feature: nicely polished, but has little impact.

    Story is good enough for a hack 'n slash game that focusses on combat. Not bad, but not very deep as well. That might be, because the game is not very long in itself and can be finished within 8-ish hours if you really push it. Although the story aspect of being half man, half wraight is awesome and makes me feel like it as well, the rest of the story is not even bothering me. Sometimes, amidst 30 Uruks, I forget what I am actually killing these fine gents for.

    Graphics are what you can expect for a 2014 game. Some textures look rough and unfinished, but in the open terrains, the game really does look nice, with a lot of random Uruks and 'Wolfs' running around.

    Verdict: 8/10, because the hyped Nemesis did not deliver it for me, as did the depth of the story. But the fun, fluent and actionpacked combat makes up for it!    … Expand
  59. Skelz0r
    Oct 14, 2014
    8
    A great Lord of the Rings game with a good and well done combat and stealth gameplay.
    The Game had nice Cutscenes and a good Story with interesting Characters. But the main Protagonist,Talion was just to overpowerd with all his Wraith Skills and Abilitys. Also the Story was way too short and there was not so much to explore.
  60. JugoZille
    Oct 27, 2014
    9
    I love Mordor. One of my favorite sandbox Action RPGs of all time. For me, its more fun than the Assassins Creed games (I did not finish one, but Mordor I finished). I like that in Mordor most of the sidequests actually make sense. Its just fun to fight the orcs and find your own nemesis.

    The combat is a nice mix of AC and Batman games. Its easy to learn, but (a little) harder to    I love Mordor. One of my favorite sandbox Action RPGs of all time. For me, its more fun than the Assassins Creed games (I did not finish one, but Mordor I finished). I like that in Mordor most of the sidequests actually make sense. Its just fun to fight the orcs and find your own nemesis.

    The combat is a nice mix of AC and Batman games. Its easy to learn, but (a little) harder to master. Well, I missed an epic endboss fight. The ending of SoW kind of suxx. EVERY game needs a last challenge!

    To sum it up: If you like AC, Batman or similar Action-RPGs, you will like Mordor, too. The gameplay mechanisms are great, the look is cool, only the story is generic fantasy standard. Not so important, because 99% of games have standard story. Hire me, if you want to have some unique, sophisticated story!! :)    … Expand
  61. TheBudworth
    Oct 6, 2014
    9
    This is everything Assassin's Creed tried to be. This game opens with a strong and dark intro and finishes even stronger. The fluid combat system and the robust free-running all adds up to make a beautifully well designed game. The open world is full of things to do and explore. You can defeat armies of Uruks whenever you please and the fantastic Nemesis System adds a lot more depth into combat.
  62. AlienHP
    Oct 6, 2014
    9
    Grande gioco per quanto visto finora, sicuramente il migliore con ambientazione il mondo di Tolkien.
    Sistema di combattimento rodato ed affascinante, molto simile a quello di Batman: Arkham City.
    Il fatto che i nemici si ricordino di te è qualcosa di assolutamente nuovo ed incredibile, come il fatto che ogni orco che sentirete parlare, cambierà a seconda di come vi comportate.
  63. Bloodish
    Oct 9, 2014
    8
    This game is so satisfying to play! The combat is fantastic, with a great variety of skills that all seem very useful throughout the game. The crawling around and parkour part of the game works to some extent, but will probably get you stuck in various places from time to time, often at the most stressful moments when you have 50 orcs on your tail. But other than that, the gameplay isThis game is so satisfying to play! The combat is fantastic, with a great variety of skills that all seem very useful throughout the game. The crawling around and parkour part of the game works to some extent, but will probably get you stuck in various places from time to time, often at the most stressful moments when you have 50 orcs on your tail. But other than that, the gameplay is simply fantastic, the nemesis system works even better than I'd thought, and every orc has such a potential for personality if they get the chance to shine.

    The story is interesting enough, but somehow seems neglected throughout the game, and gets really rushed towards the end, which is a shame.

    But overall I'd say that this is an awesome game, and I'm personally looking forward to story DLC or a sequel, simply so I can have a good reason to use more hours playing this awesome game.    … Expand
  64. Pijjolino
    Oct 13, 2014
    9
    Great game, good combat, lot of gore, interesting story, good character progression( there's actually reward for slaying hordes of enemies) interesting collectibles, not just random objects, and even the side quest are quite good and not that repetitive with the secondary objectives. So its a well made game, the only thing I missed was the challenge, it was easily completed in a coarse ofGreat game, good combat, lot of gore, interesting story, good character progression( there's actually reward for slaying hordes of enemies) interesting collectibles, not just random objects, and even the side quest are quite good and not that repetitive with the secondary objectives. So its a well made game, the only thing I missed was the challenge, it was easily completed in a coarse of a week (25h), and only one dagger gave me a headache. The nemesis system is new, but I don't think its that big of a sg, its still fun tho. At last someone will live up to the hype?:D… Expand
  65. LordBrowning
    Oct 14, 2014
    8
    Excellent gameplay and the nemesis system makes up for mediocre story. Main character is rather bland but that is ok since Talion is really just a stand in for the player. I highly recommend this game.
  66. Thebacon8er
    Oct 15, 2014
    8
    It's a fun game but doing anything other than the main missions is pretty much pointless. Good fighting mechanics and it uses the lore quite effectively. If you like killing orcs, then it's a game for you.
  67. benjie164
    Oct 15, 2014
    9
    Many people have said that this game could be considered a cross between Batman and Assassin's Creed. I'm not going to lie, you can see some similarities, but it handles the combat in a way that I feel surpasses both. I found that unlike Assassin's Creed, I couldn't run it and just murder everything. When you have a bunch of archers shooting at you whilst fighting it can completely throwMany people have said that this game could be considered a cross between Batman and Assassin's Creed. I'm not going to lie, you can see some similarities, but it handles the combat in a way that I feel surpasses both. I found that unlike Assassin's Creed, I couldn't run it and just murder everything. When you have a bunch of archers shooting at you whilst fighting it can completely throw off your combo, and I will be the first to admit I died several times to normal Orcs.

    I will also come out and say that the story isn't the greatest, it is too short for me and I didn't find myself developing any strong feelings to the character. What this game is really for is the Nemesis system. It is extremely well polished, always gives you something to do, and I felt more of a connection to some of the captains in there than I did Talion. Sometimes you'll get a really tough captain that you'll just make it your life's goal to butcher, other times you'll try working a branded captain up the ranks and he'll die, you'll feel gutted for him.

    I must have spent 30-40 hours just messing about with the Nemesis system, and I feel that the story wasn't awful, ending on a note that leaves me with questions. I do hope for another game. As for graphics, the game looks very nice when maxed out, I never personally experienced any bugs in my game at all and overall I'd say its a very good experience, would recommend to any gamer looking to enjoy a fun game.    … Expand
  68. Jetpil0t
    Oct 16, 2014
    9
    This game borrow features and mechanics from your favorite games, however it manages to improve on then mix these features together so well, it doesn't matter that you have seen it before, becuase you have never seen it done this good.

    The game doesn't simply rely on familiar features, it introduces the Nemisis subsystem that not only sets the game apart from its source material, it is    This game borrow features and mechanics from your favorite games, however it manages to improve on then mix these features together so well, it doesn't matter that you have seen it before, becuase you have never seen it done this good.

    The game doesn't simply rely on familiar features, it introduces the Nemisis subsystem that not only sets the game apart from its source material, it is a genuinely innovate approach to open world encounter design.

    The license seems like an unnecessary side dish, however it is integrated well into the rest of the game and doesn't assume LOTR knowledge or interest in order to be effective.

    The game is excellent, this is a master class in how to iterate and innovate and the same time.    … Expand
  69. CR4CK
    Oct 17, 2014
    10
    its my G O T Y

    Looks Good , Plays Fine, Feels Nice, Combat system is nice.
    if you like Assassins Creed you will like this too. Story is OK. The Music is really Great .
  70. CrazyC
    Nov 16, 2014
    9
    I've been having the best time playing on Shadow of Mordor, I have spent so many hours in power struggles like duels and ambushes just for the hell of it. The graphics are so beautiful, and the gameplay is a lot like the Arkham Series, but it is so much fun. The missions can be extremely dull and boring at many times, but the side mission (in red and blue) totally make up for this. GetI've been having the best time playing on Shadow of Mordor, I have spent so many hours in power struggles like duels and ambushes just for the hell of it. The graphics are so beautiful, and the gameplay is a lot like the Arkham Series, but it is so much fun. The missions can be extremely dull and boring at many times, but the side mission (in red and blue) totally make up for this. Get this game, you earn money you get it.… Expand
  71. MattBarker
    Oct 23, 2014
    9
    Well as the beginning You have a great game
    where everything is wonderful Except the story
    the Gameplay Is Fun A LOT OF Fun
    But The story it was Not that great
    And Final battles were disappointing
    But Still one Of the Best Game Of 2014
  72. Bizzovitz
    Oct 25, 2014
    10
    This is a really good game! I like everything about it! Its a combination the batman and assassins creed games. PLUS; Its a game based on the LotR and The Hobbit universe!
  73. jimbobslimbob
    Jan 8, 2015
    8
    Shadow of Mordor is a hybrid Batman/Assassins Creed game set in the LoTR universe. It looks lovely, plays wonderful and is very addictive. Fans of any of these would probably like it.

    The combat is very similar to the Batman games. bar some key mapping changes I would go as far as to say it's almost an exact copy infact, so anyone familiar with the system will be right at home here.    Shadow of Mordor is a hybrid Batman/Assassins Creed game set in the LoTR universe. It looks lovely, plays wonderful and is very addictive. Fans of any of these would probably like it.

    The combat is very similar to the Batman games. bar some key mapping changes I would go as far as to say it's almost an exact copy infact, so anyone familiar with the system will be right at home here. It's smooth, engaging and rewarding. A button-masher this IS NOT. Stealth works nicely alongside this system to give you several options for taking down the enemy. You even get some ranged weapons in the form of your elven counter-part's bow - using "Elf Shot".

    The story seems fairly well devised and sits nicely within the LoTR universe. it oozes Tolkien from the get-go and it's wonderful to be playing a LoTR game that is actually good. Voice acting is also top-notch, which really benefits the game.

    The nemesis system is a wonderful little addition that makes deaths more meaningful to you. When you get killed, the enemy gets promoted in Sauron's army, making him stronger. The next time you meet you will then get a little jab from them about when they previously killed you before battle ensues for revenge. There are some other really nice touches here, like if you choose to run away from one, they will comment on this the next time you meet. It makes the battles and deaths seem more personalised to your game and is a welcome addition.

    All-in-all, this is a very solid game that I would recommend to anyone that likes Batman or Assassins Creed and LoTR.

    Jimbo Rating: 8/10    … Expand
  74. eisberg77
    Dec 31, 2014
    10
    One of the most fun games I have played this year. The nemesis system really adds life to the game, and you really learn to hate your nemesis'. Not to many games can really convey the feeling of actually hating a character in the game, and loving every minute of trying to kill them off. The combat is super fun, and I enjoy using different way to kill orcs.
  75. mcplums
    Dec 21, 2014
    9
    Batman combat mechanics + open world of AC + LOTR lore?

    Brilliant. The new enemy system was also great- killing captains was always fun and always satisfying. However, I can't help but think it could have been easily improved by not having an infinite number of captains. After the first few killing a captain felt kind of pointless since they are infinite in number. Why can't I clean an    Batman combat mechanics + open world of AC + LOTR lore?

    Brilliant. The new enemy system was also great- killing captains was always fun and always satisfying. However, I can't help but think it could have been easily improved by not having an infinite number of captains. After the first few killing a captain felt kind of pointless since they are infinite in number. Why can't I clean an area of captains permanently if I choose to?    … Expand
  76. somedude14
    Feb 9, 2015
    8
    Gets most of its ideas from other games, but executes those ideas better than the games it takes inspiration from. Combat is more fluent than in any AC or recent Batman game. Not nearly as buggy as any AC game has ever been. In fact very few bugs. I fully completed the game (took about 20 hours), and the only issue I encountered was one CTD, which I'm pretty sure was actually caused by myGets most of its ideas from other games, but executes those ideas better than the games it takes inspiration from. Combat is more fluent than in any AC or recent Batman game. Not nearly as buggy as any AC game has ever been. In fact very few bugs. I fully completed the game (took about 20 hours), and the only issue I encountered was one CTD, which I'm pretty sure was actually caused by my anti-virus trying to update and then locking up my system for a few minutes.

    Campaign doesn't really add to the game as much as it gets in the way, as the story isn't great, but each mission acts as a tutorial for a specific ability. Best way to play is to rush through the campaign ASAP so you have both maps and all important actions unlocked, at which point you are free to play around to level up and increase in strength so you become a better orc-slayer.

    Worst part of the game are the stealth sections. I still don't know of an open-world game that does this right. Games are either designed to be stealth oriented from the ground-up, or it's poorly fitted into a game that has other mechanics in order to tout "support" of a stealth playstyle. Well, it supports that playstyle, but not very well (at least not until you unlock the full-cloak ability, which turns you into an invisible God for several seconds). This game is a lot better when you're one-shotting orcs with arrows to the head, and possessing some of them to fight along your side until their allies are dead, at which point you press a key that causes the heads of your temporary minions to explode.    … Expand
  77. RebelliousGoat
    Feb 11, 2015
    10
    This game is in incredibly fun, detailed, and massive. There is a lot of extra stuff, an excellent combat, and even though the map is not huge, they pack a lot in to it and make the map awesome because you get to know every corner of it. This is my favorite game that I own and I recommend it to everyone who owns anything which they can download it on.
  78. BigBossReviews
    Feb 3, 2015
    8
    Shadow of Mordor takes the combat systems from Assassin's Creed, and the Batman: Arkham games, then, adds in the lore and story from the Lord of the Rings, and makes one remarkable game. And you know what? It just doesn't take the combat systems from AC and the Arkham games, it IMPROVES up on it. If you're looking for an Assassin's Creed game that ACTUALLY WORKS, BUY THIS GAME. And if youShadow of Mordor takes the combat systems from Assassin's Creed, and the Batman: Arkham games, then, adds in the lore and story from the Lord of the Rings, and makes one remarkable game. And you know what? It just doesn't take the combat systems from AC and the Arkham games, it IMPROVES up on it. If you're looking for an Assassin's Creed game that ACTUALLY WORKS, BUY THIS GAME. And if you don't like AC, but you like adventure games, or are a LOTR fan, this game is a buy. Either way, this games is a MUST HAVE!

    10/10 - "Orc-Hunter Simulator"    … Expand
  79. Hurleyfromlost
    Mar 27, 2015
    8
    Running around the maps killing Orcs has to be one of the most satisfying things I've ever done in a game. There are SO many ways to kill and harass the enemy it's redonkulous. Put about 50 hours into it and still play daily for an hour or two just to kill bad doods. Game is DA BOMB YA'LL
  80. shatarah
    Dec 2, 2020
    10
    greattttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt
  81. danstew
    Feb 15, 2016
    9
    Where do I even start? This game won me over, when I didn't really expect too much of it. I had heard several different opinions about it, and wasn't sure whether I'd enjoy it.I bought it when it was on sale, and just finished it. And I enjoyed it a LOT.
    Let's go through it:
    Story: The story is not very deep, and neither is it Tolkien-level writing. It actually messes with the lore of    Where do I even start? This game won me over, when I didn't really expect too much of it. I had heard several different opinions about it, and wasn't sure whether I'd enjoy it.I bought it when it was on sale, and just finished it. And I enjoyed it a LOT.
    Let's go through it:

    Story:
    The story is not very deep, and neither is it Tolkien-level writing. It actually messes with the lore of Sauron, the One Ring, and Celebrimbor quite a lot. But STILL, I did enjoy it. It isn't all that deep, but it's dark, tragic and makes you care about the main protagonists.
    Please note that I am a big Tolkien-fan, and while I realize that this is a bit lore-breaking, I still enjoyed the game and the story a lot.

    Graphics:
    The game looks great. The first zone is rather dull, which fits Mordor. The second zone is nicer. And I disagree with those reviewers who said it is wrong, or doesn't look right. This is a zone which had a lake, and that, together with the volcanic ashes of Mt. Doom, made for quite fertile soil. This is actually according to lore.

    Gameplay:
    If you like AC and Batman, you'll get a handle of the mechanics quickly. Attacks, jumps, dodging, blocking etc. You have to adjust to different enemies. Sometimes, a tactical retreat to heal and reattack is helpful. I think I did about three times by the hands of an orc, and twice by some creature (Caragor).
    There are some fun moves you can do, especially the shadow strike, which isn't only a powerful one-shot move, it also helps to get around camps full of orcs.

    The fun REALLY starts once you get the ability to brand orcs so they fight FOR you. You can tactically brand an area full of orcs before you go for a stronger one or start a mission there to improve your chances.

    Yes, you CAN go for a certain build (stealth, archery, swordfight, mounted fight), BUT the missions will force you to use different playstyles at some point. So even if you don't go for archery too much, the game eventually requires you to use it for a while. Also, with the story quests and all the side-stuff I did, I got to the point where I unlocked almost all abilities in the skill tree anyway, and opened up most rune slots etc, so all play-styles where useable and I had special abilities for each of them.
    And finishing those hunting quests with the dwarf in the second zone opened up some abilities and how to use them that felt pretty epic. =)

    At first, you wanna be careful about picking your fights, but eventually, you can handle several big groups.
    The final boss fight is often critizised, and I agree, it seems a bit underwhelming. Then again, how could you expect to actually hold your own against this enemy for too long? You go through a couple of sub-bosses shortly before this fight, and then you get one shot, and you use it.

    Nemesis-system:
    This is the most innovative system of the game. It shines even more if you die a lot and really start to hate certain mobs. I didn't die too often, but if an orc managed to kill me, I really REALLY was out for revenge.
    It's a VERY cool idea IMO. Not only one of the coolest parts about SoM, but in general, just a great idea, just like the branding.

    Content:
    The story isn't TOO long... I hear you can finish that in about 10 hrs or less. There is a lot of side content which is NOT mandatory. It's the system you have in most open-world games... it CAN be grindy if you do all the rather repetitive side content, but you don't have to. I did the side-missions for a while in order to make my army of orcs stronger and level my orc leaders, but eventually stuck to story missions. I recommend a mix of both... do the story, but if you feel like it, do a bit of the side-content. Dont burn yourself out on doing too much of the side-stuff, but don't ignore it either, otherwise you'll most likely go through the game too quickly.

    Music:
    Even though it occasionally sounds pretty much like some MIDI-library, some of it sounds great, especially tracks with the choir.

    Overall:
    I didn't expect to enjoy this as much as I did. It has its flaws, surely, like the typical "open world with tons of repetitive side content", you mostly fight orcs (which makes sense in Mordor), the story isn't exactly on the level of a Tolkien-novel. Still, I loved the fighting style and special moves, the tactical aspects of infiltrating a fortress and branding orcs (again: Once you get branding, the fun really starts), loved how the main character started to feel more and more powerful (nice development curve there), and when I was done after about 26-28 hours, I really felt entertained. I definitely got my moneys worth (got this during a sale), and enjoyed it MUCH more than similar games, like, say, AC Syndicate.

    I really recommend the game if you like AC/Batman style gaming, if you like Tolkien and his books (even though it messes with the lore and isn't that deep), and especially if you can get this while it's on sale!

    Overall rating: 8.5/10    … Expand
  82. NathanielRH
    Jul 14, 2016
    10
    With beautiful graphics, an interesting storyline, an action-packed and suspenseful combat system, an intricate leveling system, an outstanding immersion, an emotional drama for both the player AND the various enemies faced throughout the game, great voice acting, and a theatrical approach to execution, this game is a 10/10. I originally got a stolen copy, as I do with all my games, butWith beautiful graphics, an interesting storyline, an action-packed and suspenseful combat system, an intricate leveling system, an outstanding immersion, an emotional drama for both the player AND the various enemies faced throughout the game, great voice acting, and a theatrical approach to execution, this game is a 10/10. I originally got a stolen copy, as I do with all my games, but ended up buying the game about halfway through it (no spoilers on the halfway mark, but it was right between the "dirt" and the "jungle"! Hah! Vague enough for you?)

    This game needs a sequel. Super impressive. Will turn any home into a theater. You do not need to be a fan of the series to get absorbed into this game and fall in love. Warner Bros knocked out a homerun!    … Expand
  83. OberiousLocke
    Jun 25, 2017
    9
    As someone who's never really gotten the hype behind the Lord of The Rings franchise (I did love the movies though) this game is absolutely fantastic, even if it doesn't fit in 100% with the universe. The combat is satisfying, frenetic and silky smooth. There is no greater feeling then to get in a brawl with 30 Uruks and win it unscathed. There is also a certain depth to the game, as allAs someone who's never really gotten the hype behind the Lord of The Rings franchise (I did love the movies though) this game is absolutely fantastic, even if it doesn't fit in 100% with the universe. The combat is satisfying, frenetic and silky smooth. There is no greater feeling then to get in a brawl with 30 Uruks and win it unscathed. There is also a certain depth to the game, as all captains have their own unique set of Strengths (Enraged +damage if set on fire, for example) and Weaknesses (Terrified of X monster, can be killed instantly using technique Y) and if you die to even the lowliest Uruk, they can themselves become powerful captains. The different types of Captain can also keep things interesting, and you can turn Uruks and Captains to your side when you unlock Brand. There is also a somewhat extensive sheet of different talents you can invest in, from instantly executing enemies every 8x hitstreak (8, 16, etc hits) or be able to mount Caragors and go on a rampage.

    I picked this up on the Steam Summer Sale and got the complete package, and I feel like I should have paid more for this. Even if you're not a LoTR fan, you should at least give this game a gander.    … Expand
  84. VigilanteOito
    Jan 12, 2021
    8
    A obra Senhor dos Anéis todo mundo sabe que é incrivel. Neste game é possivel ver varias referencias a trilogia dos filmes, como o Gollun, Orcs, Sauron e a voz de Saruman.
    O game tem o mesmo sistema de combate dos games de Batman Arkhan e movimentação muito similar a Assassins Creed.
    Comprei por 10 conto, valeu apena nesse preço, espero jogar o Shadow War um dia desses.
  85. rpeh
    Oct 3, 2015
    9
    I read a lot of reviews on this site before buying this game, and I can agree with almost all of them; both the positive and the negative. Yes, the combat can be a bit repetitive but there are enough variations that you have to try to make it that way. You can either snipe from a distance with your bow, sneak around and take down enemies by stealth, deal death from above (or below!) orI read a lot of reviews on this site before buying this game, and I can agree with almost all of them; both the positive and the negative. Yes, the combat can be a bit repetitive but there are enough variations that you have to try to make it that way. You can either snipe from a distance with your bow, sneak around and take down enemies by stealth, deal death from above (or below!) or just whale into a pack of orcs and give 'em the old cold steel treatment. Even there you can simply mash the attack and parry buttons or start to mix in special kills, dodges and rolls.

    For LoTR fans, the story just about fits into Tolkien's world properly. I'm not sure about the hundreds of human slaves that populate Mordor but otherwise it fits with the books. The plot itself is pretty interesting and having a guide who's lost his memory is certainly an interesting twist.

    And then there's the Nemesis system. Yes, it is just as good as everyone else says it is and adds an extra dimension to the game. When I started out I didn't really know what I was doing and got killed several times by one particular captain. He gained enough power to rise to the top of the orc hierarchy and I felt really aggrieved that I'd helped him out so much. When I finally killed him it genuinely made me happy!

    The real success of the game is that it kept me coming back for more. And that's all you really want from a game.    … Expand
  86. Wrath68
    Dec 2, 2014
    9
    It has been a long time since i've had so much fun with a game :D Im so excited by the game concept. I love that you are able to mindcontrol your own orc army, and assassinate others with them. The Batman combat system works really well here. You feel strong, but you are not invinsible. You are able to improve your gear by adding runes to them, but i must admit it doesn't feel very fun toIt has been a long time since i've had so much fun with a game :D Im so excited by the game concept. I love that you are able to mindcontrol your own orc army, and assassinate others with them. The Batman combat system works really well here. You feel strong, but you are not invinsible. You are able to improve your gear by adding runes to them, but i must admit it doesn't feel very fun to use. Mostly you just hurry through the customization of your weapons. I really like the skillsystem though. It really makes it possible for you to play different ways and makes you want to do powerstruggles. Powerstruggles grants you power, and when you eventually have enough power, you are able to purchase a new tier abilitys if you have saved a few skillpoints through lvl'ing. The history and cutscenes are really good. This is not just an assassins creed game with a new skin. This is a whole new game, no matter what anyone says.… Expand
  87. Banhammer0
    Dec 6, 2014
    8
    I really enjoyed the Nemesis system, branding captains, each one having personality and weakness/strenghts. It added a ton of life and depth to this world. I don't think any of the other game ever tried something similar to it.
    Combat is superb, they nailed it. Very similar to Asassin's Creed and Batman combat but feels even smoother.
    The plot is TERRIBLE. We have a generic hero with a    I really enjoyed the Nemesis system, branding captains, each one having personality and weakness/strenghts. It added a ton of life and depth to this world. I don't think any of the other game ever tried something similar to it.
    Combat is superb, they nailed it. Very similar to Asassin's Creed and Batman combat but feels even smoother.
    The plot is TERRIBLE. We have a generic hero with a cliche story, and it's very short on top of that, with majory if content (completed it in 27 hours with ~80 % of total completion) being side missions and collectibles (surprisingly interesting ones).
    If you want good plot twist and well-developed characters, this is not a title for you.
    Another problem is that the game feels cramped, the maps are too small and I had a very strong feeling like the third of the game has been cut, ending was really rushed and anticlimatic. The last boss fight is laughable, sadly the "QTE final boss" thing apparently became a trend.
    HOWEVER I had a ton of fun and I wish it was longer, it's likely that I'll do another playtrough one day, it is a well done game, too bad it had to sacrice some areas (story, lenght) to excel in others (Nemesis system and combat). 8/10    … Expand
  88. ChoicestGames
    Oct 11, 2020
    8
    It's like a Batman: Arkham or Assassin's Creed game set in Middle-Earth, which isn't necessarily a bad thing and it's probably the reason I got into this open world action-adventure more than its competitors. This is a highly recommended game for "The Lord of the Rings" fans which prefer the use of stealth and cunning in order to overcome their foes. There are a few minor technical andIt's like a Batman: Arkham or Assassin's Creed game set in Middle-Earth, which isn't necessarily a bad thing and it's probably the reason I got into this open world action-adventure more than its competitors. This is a highly recommended game for "The Lord of the Rings" fans which prefer the use of stealth and cunning in order to overcome their foes. There are a few minor technical and design issues but they don't detract from what is probably the best The Lord of the Rings game in recent times.… Expand
  89. ZeroWaitState
    Oct 24, 2015
    9
    The rest of the game is so good, the boss fights are disappointing and anti-climactic. That's literally the only complaint I have about this game. It's that good. Go play it.
  90. julius98
    Aug 29, 2016
    10
    Pure fun. Although the ending is definitively not ideal, the main bulk of the game is extremely entertaining, if not entirely refined. Well optimized for play on PC, a must buy for any gamer interested in action RPGs.
  91. kiwijinxter
    May 20, 2017
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Wowsers. I came into this game without any expectations whatsoever. Boy, I was blown away. Hot off Dragon Age: Inquisition which in itself is an Action RPG, I found Shadow of Mordor's combat (which is important in any ARPG) to be most satisfying. I must admit I found it a bit difficult at the start - I died a lot at the beginning due to lack of experience (going for a whole bunch of orcs like a superhero) but over time as I added more skills, I became more adept at handling orcs, warchiefs and all (yes I still died, but quite a bit less!). It's a game that does stealth MUCH more smoothly and seamless than Assassin's Creed, combat movements MUCH more fluid than Dragon Age: Inquisition and introduces a fun "Nemesis" system.

    The Nemesis system introduces you to the idea of enemy progression e.g. each time an orc or uruk kills you, he gains 1 rank up. There are Warchiefs who are stronger versions of orcs/uruks, surrounded by some bodyguards which require a bit more careful planning. Later in the game when you can brand uruks and turn them into your side, the Nemesis system becomes more fun where you can brand bodyguards and get them to betray Warchiefs (with you helping them), essentially creating traitors within Sauron's orc army ranks.

    As I said before, combat is super fluid and reminds me of the Batman series of games.

    There's heaps of variety in the game, including the ability to ride Caragors (the fierce dog monsters) and Graugs (the huge golem like monster). You also have a mix of sword, bow-and-arrow and stealth dagger skills you employ throughout the game to rid of your enemies. Stealth executions and branding are actually fun and very smooth. Later on you can purchase higher end skill sets which makes you a stronger killing machine for a limited time. There are the main quests and never ending side-quests to enable you to grind a bit to increase your skill sets.

    If there's one thing I'd improve, I'd like the sometimes "sticky" situations where you're stuck climbing on a wall and can't jump down quick enough. But generally you can survive without having to do this.

    Story-wise, it's pretty straight forward, and has ties to Tolkien's Lord of the Rings lore (as re-imagined by Peter Jackson). Familiar characters like the ring, Sauron, Saruman, Gollum either make an appearance in person or in the text.

    After playing this, games like Assassin's Creed will need to improve their combat! I'm certainly looking forward to the sequel, Middle Earth: Shadow of War. It's truly a worthy game.    … Expand
  92. Arcon
    Nov 20, 2014
    9
    Pros: Best fighting gameplay mechanics around, Immersive atmosphere, Fun stealth mechanics, At least 50 hours of gameplay if you do everything, Very nice graphics, Interesting Nemesis function

    Cons: You get too powerful by the end, Your ability by end to just walk through Mordor killing everything in your path disagrees with canon, The Nemesis system(while listed as a pro or concept)    Pros: Best fighting gameplay mechanics around, Immersive atmosphere, Fun stealth mechanics, At least 50 hours of gameplay if you do everything, Very nice graphics, Interesting Nemesis function

    Cons: You get too powerful by the end, Your ability by end to just walk through Mordor killing everything in your path disagrees with canon, The Nemesis system(while listed as a pro or concept) was sort of lacking in its potential, Final battle lacks intensity

    Other Thoughts: Get it if you enjoy the Batman Asylum or Origins fighting mechanics as this is more of the same but in LoTR universe. Well worth the money.    … Expand
  93. tab531
    Jan 7, 2015
    9
    game is great! the animations are great!... the battles are great ! the roaming giant beasts that are interacting with other beasts and fighting them! great game
  94. Rex_richards
    Jan 16, 2015
    10
    So some bstd orc kept coming after me and trashing me when my health was low. Each time he taunts me and makes me look even worse. Each time I died he got more powerful. Eventually I had to hunt him down instead. I killed another orc captain, got some intel on my target and found out he was terrified of carragors/death dogs. So i trailed him for a while, set some carragors free (they areSo some bstd orc kept coming after me and trashing me when my health was low. Each time he taunts me and makes me look even worse. Each time I died he got more powerful. Eventually I had to hunt him down instead. I killed another orc captain, got some intel on my target and found out he was terrified of carragors/death dogs. So i trailed him for a while, set some carragors free (they are caged up) and at the same time dropped a hornet nest on his bodyguards and knocked down a wall onto some others. My target runs off screaming in panic, his bodyguards are freaking out over the hornets, so I get after him and get him on his own for once and cut his head off. REVENGE!
    So yes shadow of mordor is about kllling orcs but it's totally unique and completely excellent..    … Expand
  95. Rogyapa
    Nov 22, 2014
    8
    + I love this game not for the main story (which is pretty boring imo) but for the combat (which is excellent) and the nemesis system. These two aspects allow emergent gameplay to happen and man is it awesome.
    Here's an example that happened to me: I creep along the rooftops shadowing my prey, he's surrounded by bodyguards which could make this fight quite hard. He comes to a stop and I    + I love this game not for the main story (which is pretty boring imo) but for the combat (which is excellent) and the nemesis system. These two aspects allow emergent gameplay to happen and man is it awesome.
    Here's an example that happened to me: I creep along the rooftops shadowing my prey, he's surrounded by bodyguards which could make this fight quite hard. He comes to a stop and I dive on top of him, trying to stealth kill him. I panic when he grabs me in mid air and throws me, then summons a bunch of enemies. I hack my way through a hundred orcs and finally manage to get the warchief low enough for me to kill him. As I'm about to deliver the killing blow I'm struck by a spear and die. The killer taunts me. Good thing I can't die, but he can. I chase him across the map, find him, and proceed to remove his head from his body.
    +The combat gives you a wide range of options from stealth to swordfighting to ranged and actively encourages you to change your tactics depending on the enemies ( just like Arkham Asylum).
    There are some nice little touches such as how when you level up your weaponry, runes are carved into them and eventually transform the weapons into better versions.
    +Combat has a nice meaty feel. The executions are brutal and have very convincing death animations/sound effects too.
    +There's a nice variety to the roster of enemies (which is randomized every game/ new ones are added if you advance time)

    -My biggest complaint is that the game introduces some interesting supporting characters but really only gives backstory/ any character development through collectibles.
    -The game has some really weird bugs such as climbing a building only to end up inside of it and floating corpses.    … Expand
  96. mugen_is_here
    May 11, 2022
    8
    Great game! Reminds me of assassin's creed!

    Lots of variety in the gameplay. Extremely lengthy. Story is quite emotional and powerful (though it's laced with the LOTR elements that are just plain dumb). Difficulty was quite high after a while. The captains were incredibly difficult to defeat because they would keep regenerating health. But great characters all of them. Their    Great game! Reminds me of assassin's creed!

    Lots of variety in the gameplay. Extremely lengthy. Story is quite emotional and powerful (though it's laced with the LOTR elements that are just plain dumb).

    Difficulty was quite high after a while. The captains were incredibly difficult to defeat because they would keep regenerating health. But great characters all of them. Their dialogues brought out how gruesome they were.

    Overall loved it!    … Expand
  97. birdman3
    Aug 6, 2017
    8
    I've got mixed feelings about this game- on the one hand, it's got a lot of very similar stealth and combat moves from the Arkham series, which I love in the LOTR setting. I like the story, and a few of the characters even stood out to me (I really loved the dwarf, even if the rest of the 2nd act characters were forgettable). I liked the interplay between Talion and the wraith, which madeI've got mixed feelings about this game- on the one hand, it's got a lot of very similar stealth and combat moves from the Arkham series, which I love in the LOTR setting. I like the story, and a few of the characters even stood out to me (I really loved the dwarf, even if the rest of the 2nd act characters were forgettable). I liked the interplay between Talion and the wraith, which made for some interesting contrasting sequences. I liked that the game started off challenging (although, a bit too challenging- I died a lot very quickly and some of the captains got really powerful, and I found myself running from many, many battles early on). I dlisked that the game got too easy once you gained the ability to Brand the orcs- every battle from that point on became a war of attrition, where I simply attacked until I could Brand, then I Branded over and over again until my orcs overwhelmed the enemy. In the last half of the game, I died only once, compared to the 20+ times in the 1st act. I additionally disliked some of the tedium of the side quests, fetching, and challenges- I felt like they added very little to the game overall, so their scope should have been reduced.

    As has probably been mentioned, the best part of the game is the Nemesis system wherein orcs fight each other and develop, thereby becoming stronger and adapting. While I thought that controlling orcs in individual skirmishes made the game too easy, controlling captains made the game into a fun pokemon-style level-up system wherein you babysit your pet captains, making them grow stronger and have achievements and rank advances. That was fun.

    Overall, the game achieves more successes than failures, and I appreciate the use of the license. Makes me want to re-watch some of the movies.    … Expand
  98. Alsmir
    Apr 8, 2015
    9
    Quick version:
    It's like an Assassins Creed that doesn't suck.
    I bought this game for 2 reasons: 1. It was cheap - around 15$. 2. There is one more week untill GTA 5 and I have nothing to play. I' ve read some reviews before, watched a couple of videos. I've heard it's good but at the same time it didn't look like a game I'd enjoy. Surprise, surprise. It is good and I'm loving    Quick version:
    It's like an Assassins Creed that doesn't suck.

    I bought this game for 2 reasons:
    1. It was cheap - around 15$.
    2. There is one more week untill GTA 5 and I have nothing to play.

    I' ve read some reviews before, watched a couple of videos. I've heard it's good but at the same time it didn't look like a game I'd enjoy.
    Surprise, surprise. It is good and I'm loving it.

    First of all, my 2 cents about issues mentioned in negative reviews:
    It's not for hardcore LoTR fans. Mostly because they can't be pleased by anything other than the book trilogy. Personally, I don't care if the lore is perfect. The story if fine, I enjoyed it.

    PC controlls. I'm playing it with mouse + keyboard and it works well. No issues with camera or weird controlls. It's quite intuitive and easy to learn. You have bloody tutorials with explaination + video for every single move, so I can't understand why some people say that they can't learn it.

    Combat isn't difficult, nor is it too easy. You can get overwhelmed by enemies, some bosses are a pain in the ass. It gets better as you progress your character.

    What I enjoyed the most:
    Combat.
    The game is mostly about fighting and the combat is really fun. A whole bunch of different moves, fluid, interesting, challenging. On top of that SoM has one of the best animations, I've ever seen.

    Progression system is interesting and keeps the game interesting. You always have some new upgrades waiting for you, my fighting style was changing with every new unlocked ability.

    Side quests give you decent rewards. Most of them are quite enjoyable with multiple ways of finishing them. There aren't tons of similar missions that feel like a chore. It's not as repetitive as AC series.

    Overall I'm very happy with this game, especially for that price. ~30-40 hours of entertainment.    … Expand
  99. jackhunter
    Apr 6, 2016
    8
    A very good beat them up set in Tolkien'slore. Well made fights, where you cut and slash your enemies with a lot of pleasure.The stgory is decent and could be integrated to the canon of the universe if you want my opinion.The only flaw of this game may be the lack of epicness of some fights against bosses. Definitely worth a try when you see it on sale.
  100. Rahza
    Feb 11, 2015
    10
    Great Combat, Great Audio, Great Graphics, Great Mechanics, Great Atmosphere, Great Story, Great Execution, Great Roleplay, Great Customization... Should I continue? I'll just say that it's a great game, worth the full price (although understandable if you want to wait until it goes on sale, because it *is* expensive. I reccomend the Season Pass, because it gives access to *a lot* ofGreat Combat, Great Audio, Great Graphics, Great Mechanics, Great Atmosphere, Great Story, Great Execution, Great Roleplay, Great Customization... Should I continue? I'll just say that it's a great game, worth the full price (although understandable if you want to wait until it goes on sale, because it *is* expensive. I reccomend the Season Pass, because it gives access to *a lot* of stuff; Costumes for your guy, New Quests, new Runes for your Weapons, new Challenges, ect.)… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

23
#23 Best PC Game of 2014
11
#11 Most Discussed PC Game of 2014
10
#10 Most Shared PC Game of 2014

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
84

Generally favorable reviews - based on 17 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 17
  3. Negative: 0 out of 17
  1. PC PowerPlay
    Nov 1, 2014
    90
    Solid action wrapped in a fascinating simulated Orc society. [Nov 2014, p.52]
  2. Game World Navigator Magazine
    Oct 25, 2014
    72
    After you get used to the world of Shadow of Mordor understanding comes: there is nothing to do in it. Chieftains – pretty serious opponents at first – in the end due to the lame balance become the whipping boys. Storyline is buried under muddy reasoning about rings, elves and dark lord. As a result you like the Shadow of Mordor gameplay but you do not want to go to the finish. [Nov 2014, p.64]
  3. Riot Pixels
    Oct 19, 2014
    70
    Only thanks to the Nemesis system stinky orcs from Peter Jackson’s movies rise above being cannon fodder and turn into actual characters. If this cool system weren’t here, no one would have looked twice at this hybrid clone of Batman: Arkham City and Assassin’s Creed.
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