Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor

 PlayStation 4
User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 2699 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2,017 out of 2699
  2. Mixed: 474 out of 2699
  3. Negative: 208 out of 2699
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  1. HardFinn
    Nov 20, 2014
    10
    Exceeded my expectations by far. One of the few games that balances the main story and open world well. The games selling point was the Nemesis system which was cool but definitely not one of the standout parts of the game. The most rewarding part of the game is combat. Most of the time you will feel like you're in that first battle scene of 300...tearing through enemies. Games likeExceeded my expectations by far. One of the few games that balances the main story and open world well. The games selling point was the Nemesis system which was cool but definitely not one of the standout parts of the game. The most rewarding part of the game is combat. Most of the time you will feel like you're in that first battle scene of 300...tearing through enemies. Games like Assassin's Creed have a few death animations where as Shadow of Mordor never feels like they're recycled.

    The story is decent overall (better if you're a Tolkien nerd). Its definitely better than War in the North. I don't have many complaints but the combat does start off hard and then with the addition of new skills and runes it becomes significantly easier. I'm giving the game 9/10 because I felt the end fight with my nemesis was anti-climatic and too easy. Its not a perfect game but definitely one of the best of the year!    … Expand
  2. ZaPaAl
    Dec 22, 2020
    8
    This is a very simple open world game. It's story is thin and it does not have very much content overall, but the gameplay (sneaking and fighting with different abilities) is a lot of fun, especially the orc captains are a joy to engage with. Visually it's ok, but the world is extremly simple.
  3. actionist83
    Jul 31, 2018
    8
    Shadow of Mordor is a good game but is a little overrated. The nemesis system truly made this game stand out, the combat was great, and the story was good. I loved how you could tackle a fight in multiple ways. The problems I have with this game include - enemy swarming, stiff/unresponsive controls (especially when sneaking around on ledges and climbing), a somewhat funky camera system,Shadow of Mordor is a good game but is a little overrated. The nemesis system truly made this game stand out, the combat was great, and the story was good. I loved how you could tackle a fight in multiple ways. The problems I have with this game include - enemy swarming, stiff/unresponsive controls (especially when sneaking around on ledges and climbing), a somewhat funky camera system, repetitive missions, and an underwhelming world.

    same ole same ole    … Expand
  4. MeSalman
    Jun 29, 2023
    8
    Game story if good, game-play and combat is nice but can be improved especially climbing walls. If you are a fan of AC then this is a game for you.

    Stealth kills, combat kills and many more. You'll enjoy.
  5. alexaxa
    May 22, 2016
    8
    Killing orcs have never felt so good ! The only thing that bothered me is that some skill in the skill tree could not get upgraded before you're past some story mission (since i'm a completionist, i tend to do ALL side missions available before doing the story mission) but beside that, it's a good game !
  6. mearlam
    Dec 6, 2014
    9
    I played this game for 50 hours and enjoyed everything it had for me to do.
    I will warn you that the game is a little harder than the average game these days but with a little patience you get rewarded for it.

    A serious quality game that is bug free (a new concept these days), if you want to chop off orcs heads then there is no better
  7. eatgarlic
    Nov 14, 2014
    9
    Even though I am not a fan of Lord of the rings universe I loved this game. It takes familiar mechanics, mixes them together with some creative spark and the result is something very fresh and most importantly: pure fun. I had a blast finishing the campaign and clearing all the side missions and collectibles and would recommend it to anyone.
  8. Squeezit
    Oct 19, 2014
    8
    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.
  9. Underpants158
    Dec 22, 2014
    9
    What is this game?: An open world action game. The action is defined by attacking, blocking, dodging, stunning, and a few other nifty moves that come in handy. The open world has bosses (captains, warchiefs) roaming around minding their own business, main missions, side missions that include messing with some captains and warchiefs, and side missions that focus on bow, sword, or stealthWhat is this game?: An open world action game. The action is defined by attacking, blocking, dodging, stunning, and a few other nifty moves that come in handy. The open world has bosses (captains, warchiefs) roaming around minding their own business, main missions, side missions that include messing with some captains and warchiefs, and side missions that focus on bow, sword, or stealth dagger play.

    Pros:
    -The action aspect works well. The blocking, stunning, and finishing somebody off is real satisfying
    -Stealth kills are cool
    -You can takeover orcs and have them fight alongside you
    -The bosses (captains and warchiefs) have strengths and weaknesses that are unique to him and that you must exploit/avoid if you are to have any realistic shot of taking him down.
    -The nemesis system can lead to unique and fun stories of killing each other.

    Cons:
    -Idc about the story or the characters. I forgot why I was supposed to be doing it all until the game told me again at the end.
    -speaking of the end it was very lackluster both story and gameplay wise.
    -dodging is delayed sometimes making it frustrating

    Conclusions: You are surely not playing this for the narrative unless it's the one you create with your interactions with the baddies roaming around the world. That being said it is a great and addictive action game. I struggled with giving it an 8 or 9 but hey, it's christmas. Better make a second one and make it even better.    … Expand
  10. sbkw1983
    Nov 19, 2014
    10
    Easily one of the most addictive Single Player experiences in years. And to top it off, it's got a great and original narrative set in Middle-Earth, and which faithfully bridges the gap between Peter Jackson's adaptation of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.

    For many years now, I have longed for an AAA caliber Single Player game about Middle-Earth, and preferably having to do - at    Easily one of the most addictive Single Player experiences in years. And to top it off, it's got a great and original narrative set in Middle-Earth, and which faithfully bridges the gap between Peter Jackson's adaptation of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.

    For many years now, I have longed for an AAA caliber Single Player game about Middle-Earth, and preferably having to do - at least in part - with Sauron and The Rings of Power.

    For many years, I was let down - until now. So thanks to Monolith, I now have the game I've always wanted.

    Two caveats:

    - The PS4 version tends to crash occasionally, but ironically, with less frequency as the narrative progresses.
    - J.R.R. Tolkien purists may not enjoy part or all of this game for reasons I cannot comprehend, but valid in their views nonetheless.

    ---------------------------------------------

    Verdict: 9.5 / 10 - Worth every penny. I just wish that there would have been either an official strategy guide or an art book of the game available for sale, because this is definitely a contender for Game of the Year in my books.

    ----------------------------------------------

    P.S. - UBISoft, please take note of this game. It resembles Assassin's Creed (of which I am a hardcore fan of) in so many ways, and definitely more than any other third party game out there.

    P.P.S. - Here's the bad news for you, UBISoft: Monolith has managed to beat you at your own game by not trying to adhere too much to specific things such as an annual release window, and graphics/polish over gameplay mechanics/fun factor (among other things). You can do better - I believe in you.    … Expand
  11. BBoondocks
    Dec 30, 2014
    10
    To me, Middle-earth: Shadow Of Mordor is the game of the year for 2014. Set in a fantasy world, made famous by the Lord Of The Rings books/movies, it is a combat orianted open world, action-adventure game where you control a hero, named Tallion, who was murdered along with his family, but got brought back from the afterlife by a mysterious elf, whose ghost powers give you incredibleTo me, Middle-earth: Shadow Of Mordor is the game of the year for 2014. Set in a fantasy world, made famous by the Lord Of The Rings books/movies, it is a combat orianted open world, action-adventure game where you control a hero, named Tallion, who was murdered along with his family, but got brought back from the afterlife by a mysterious elf, whose ghost powers give you incredible strength. It takes some great ideas from other video game classics, like the Batman Arkham series or the Assassin's Creed, but it's also original enough, with some awesome ideas, to make it a classic on it's own as well. One of these ideas is the Nemesis System, which basically allows you to play the game as YOU want it. You can choose to hunt down and massacre all the orc captains and warchiefs or you can brand them and create your own orc army. The story is also very cool, a revenge story with some fun, flamboyant characters, who help the generally dark story to be interesting enough to play through. The main focus is on fighting, Tallion is a master of brutalizing enemies with his sword, his dagger and with his bow. You can upgrade your moves as you progress, by the end making Tallion a close to unbeatable warrior. Killing warchiefs is not always easy though, as some of them are combat masters with very few weaknesses (these weaknesses you can find out by gaining intel from other orcs and then use that info to kill them - some are scared of fire, monsters, betrayal, etc and by realizing them you can execute them easier). It is also a sandbox game, so you can go around the world freely, whether on foot or by riding beasts, and choose side missions or main story missions in any order you wish. There are also plenty of things to collect and challenges to complete. As I mentioned before, the fighting is very similar to the Batman Arkham games, except it is a LOT more violent. The finishing moves and the executions are always satisfying and you can also use the environment to help you kill your opponents. You can also use stealth to mix things up or destroy orcs with caragors. The free running is a lot like we got used to in the Assassin's Creed series, it is smooth and easy, and Tallion can not die by falling, thanks to his elf powers. So all in all, this a must buy for everyone, I haven't played a game this great and addictive in a long time.… Expand
  12. janeausten69
    Dec 16, 2014
    10
    Absolutely loved this game. I got a PS4 specifically for this game and do not regret it. It's basically Arkham Series combat, AC stealth and an open world environment. The game does get a little repetitive, but that didn't bother me. The gameplay was fun so I didn't mind doing similar things over and over. I usually don't write reviews but I've noticed a lot of poorly written negativeAbsolutely loved this game. I got a PS4 specifically for this game and do not regret it. It's basically Arkham Series combat, AC stealth and an open world environment. The game does get a little repetitive, but that didn't bother me. The gameplay was fun so I didn't mind doing similar things over and over. I usually don't write reviews but I've noticed a lot of poorly written negative reviews. For those who are criticizing the combat and nemesis system, I don't believe you truly understood the game. I'm assuming that you wrote your reviews after only playing an hour or two, or just flat out didn't understand the game. To me, this is a definite game of the year contender. The only negative I found was the final boss battle. It was definitely anti-climatic. Other than that an excellent game. Can't wait for the DLC and hopefully a sequel too.… Expand
  13. brockcheese
    Apr 23, 2023
    8
    This game is an assassin's creed clone but in the world of lord of the rings that is much appreciated.
  14. unluckydice
    Oct 21, 2014
    8
    Fans and non fans of LOTR will enjoy this game due to its familiar mix of Assassins Creed and Batman Arkham City gameplay and mechanics all generated into a live flourishing world of middle earth with various intimidating Orcs full of dread and hate among many other enemy's, but what makes Shadow of Mordor unique from the bunch is it's Nemesis System (otherwise it would have been justFans and non fans of LOTR will enjoy this game due to its familiar mix of Assassins Creed and Batman Arkham City gameplay and mechanics all generated into a live flourishing world of middle earth with various intimidating Orcs full of dread and hate among many other enemy's, but what makes Shadow of Mordor unique from the bunch is it's Nemesis System (otherwise it would have been just another clone in my opinion) (think of it like a game of chess very difficult chess) side note (what i enjoyed the most was finding the artifacts (all voice spoken) and learning more about the lore of the game) (few faults were the main protagonist voice and story were a tad weak, killing orc captains got repetitive)… Expand
  15. electriclight41
    Jan 14, 2015
    9
    Whenever I go out of my way to get all the achievements in a game, you know I think it’s good. Shadows of Mordor is one of those games.

    There is nothing more satisfying than taking down orcs with style. The learning curve is a little steep, but once you get it, it’s pretty easy to slaughter scores of enemies or get revenge on your nemesis. I thoroughly enjoyed the entire experience, but    Whenever I go out of my way to get all the achievements in a game, you know I think it’s good. Shadows of Mordor is one of those games.

    There is nothing more satisfying than taking down orcs with style. The learning curve is a little steep, but once you get it, it’s pretty easy to slaughter scores of enemies or get revenge on your nemesis. I thoroughly enjoyed the entire experience, but would probably refrain from a 10 because it doesn’t have a ton of replay value.    … Expand
  16. Dokkodo
    Feb 5, 2015
    8
    This game blatantly rips off AC2 and the Arkham Games and it is so damn fun that you won't care. Sure it might steal a lot of it's mechanics but it also implements new ones and makes it really fun.

    The combat is fun and from start to finish you are pretty much engaged in it. There isn't a whole lot of waiting for something to happen, even when you're traveling from point A to point B    This game blatantly rips off AC2 and the Arkham Games and it is so damn fun that you won't care. Sure it might steal a lot of it's mechanics but it also implements new ones and makes it really fun.

    The combat is fun and from start to finish you are pretty much engaged in it. There isn't a whole lot of waiting for something to happen, even when you're traveling from point A to point B you are probably going to get tempted by that small patrol waiting to get their throats cut.

    The biggest downside is that the game is pretty short, you can easily finish it in a day. If you want a challenge you basically have to create your own challenge because the story mode isn't going to give you one, but you can play with the generals to boost their power and make them a threat.

    I also found the story more interesting than those boring long-winded movies, that Gollum thing annoys the piss out of me though.    … Expand
  17. Jellybean15
    Jan 2, 2015
    9
    Shadow of Mordor is a game that didn't have a lot of hype leading up to it. Many wrote it off as another cash in of a famous license that ripped of gameplay from popular franchises while promising what many thought the game couldn't deliver. Despite this, Shadow of Mordor not only lives up to it's promise, but it also rises as one of the best game's of 2014.

    SOM's story centers around    Shadow of Mordor is a game that didn't have a lot of hype leading up to it. Many wrote it off as another cash in of a famous license that ripped of gameplay from popular franchises while promising what many thought the game couldn't deliver. Despite this, Shadow of Mordor not only lives up to it's promise, but it also rises as one of the best game's of 2014.

    SOM's story centers around Talion, a Blackgate ranger who's brutally murdered along with his family in a ritualistic killing committed by the Black Hand of Sauron, in the hopes of summoning the spirit of Celebrimbor from beyond the grave and absorbing it's power. Celebrimbor instead merges with Talion, bringing him back from the dead in a quest for revenge against Sauron and his allies.

    It's an interesting start to a game, but what really makes SOM shine is the brand new Nemesis system, a mechanic that centers around the Uruk hierarchy. Through your actions, you'll see Uruks rise in power, die, and even fight each other. If an Uruk kills you, they'll rise in rank and power. If you kill the Uruk, another will take his spot, or he'll come back later with scars caused by your last encounter. What truly makes the Nemesis system stand out is that every Uruk remembers you and your actions. If you defeated them, fled, or even died at their hand, the Uruk will remember your actions when you meet again.

    Besides their unique names and titles, the Uruks also have their own set of strengths, weaknesses, and fears. Some Uruks have to be taken down using stealth, while others are impervious to it. The same goes for combat and your ranged attacks, with some being weaker to certain attacks and more immune to others. Also, if an Uruk has a fear, you can exploit that to put them in a weakened position, and all of these factors force you to plan accordingly, changing up the gameplay with each enemy you face.

    This mechanic truly hits its stride when you get the ability to brand, which gives you control of an Uruk's mind and free will, allowing you to turn him against his allies, which in turn spawn events that you can get involved with directly, or let them play out by themselves. The simple ability to brand makes the Nemesis system more fun than it already was because it allows you to bend the Uruk hierarchy to your will. Ultimately, the Nemesis system is an amazing, innovative mechanic that makes SOM the first truly next gen title. It's a system that promised way too much but ended up delivering so much more.

    Of course, none of this would matter if the gameplay wasn't good, and fortunately, it is. The combat is a blast to play with, mainly because it's simple to understand but has so much substance behind it, especially when you start upgrading and unlocking new moves. Admittedly, the combat and a lot of the extra mechanics are lifted straight from the Batman Arkham franchise with SOM taking it's own spin on it with sword based combat, with all of the blood and brutality that Batman would never resort to. The game does add its own spin by allowing you to instantly switch to your bow, causing time to slow down and allowing you to line up precision shots or blow up explosives. However, the counters, stuns, and vaulting are all reminiscent of Arkham, with the only real complaints being that the vaulting is a somewhat wonky mechanic and that some of the more unique enemies have overpowered cheap attacks, but these issues get easier to deal with as the game progresses.

    The stealth and climbing mechanics also highly resemble the Assassin's Creed franchise, which let you scale walls, navigate beams and ledges, and dive from high spots, just like AC. However, the stealth gameplay is what truly shines and actually manages to surpass the AC franchise, making stealth so much more accessible and fun than AC ever has. In all honesty, the stealth and parkour mechanics are actually a step up from the AC franchise.

    Finally, the last thing this game did an outstanding job on was the graphics. The game looks absolutely amazing, with beautiful colors, amazing detail, fantastic rain/hail effects, and a consistently smooth framerate from start to finish. This game is an absolutely technical marvel.

    The only place this game falls flat is with the story and characters involved. Although the story starts out strong, and immediately captures your attention, the game never really manages to reach that height of excitement again. Many of the characters are boring, Talion and Celebrimbor included, and the few interesting characters included aren't that important to the story. Plus, it doesn't help that relationship between Talion and Celebrimbor lacks any real chemistry or interesting dynamics. Finally, the ending is a weak sequel-bait conclusion with a disappointing boss fight to top it all off.

    Despite that, Shadow of Mordor is an amazing game, with gameplay that'll keep you hooked from start to finish. I don't care what kind of game you're into. You cannot pass this game by.    … Expand
  18. chr1so
    Oct 29, 2015
    9
    Really fun game and hard to put down. The combat system is amazing and is the main focus of the game. It's a mix of Batman's & Assassin's Creed's systems. Just really fluid, responsive and challenging, especially when Captains and War Chiefs are involved.
    It's really well paced and a perfect length. Would highly recommend
  19. bronbron
    Oct 28, 2014
    9
    I don't understand the reviews positive or negative from people who played this game for a short period of time and feel that's enough to warrant a review. I have played it from top to bottom and finished the game. It exceeded my expectations, it was a blast to play from start to finish. The combat is fun and engaging, side quests are enjoyable and the story is good. Also this should beI don't understand the reviews positive or negative from people who played this game for a short period of time and feel that's enough to warrant a review. I have played it from top to bottom and finished the game. It exceeded my expectations, it was a blast to play from start to finish. The combat is fun and engaging, side quests are enjoyable and the story is good. Also this should be said it's not a quick story but not an extremely long story either. I think I beat it without doing all of the sides missions in around 15 hours. That being said compared to the watered down crap games we get these days (cough cough destiny) it was refreshing to play a game with a campaign that I can't beat in a weekend. One complaint is the camera angle on the main character the view is so it's right behind him and you can't change that, it was extremely annoying for me at the beginning but I surprisingly got used to it and didn't care at the end. Aside from that I have nothing to complain about. It's worth the buy and the time, I honestly can't see someone who plays through the entire game from beginning to end and not be satisfied.… Expand
  20. SIPPIO
    Jan 1, 2015
    9
    UNDECIDED GAMERS READING REVIEWS= a l w a y s click the persons name to see if they are a legit reviewer...

    -MY REVIEWS ARE TO HELP THE UNDECIDED = D E C I D E. --This game should be in Game o' The Year running. -facts- -The game was released just prior to all the super heavyweights like Halo,GtaV,AlienIsolation,SunsetO,DragonAge etc etc. So like most next gen gamers I didn't    UNDECIDED GAMERS READING REVIEWS= a l w a y s click the persons name to see if they are a legit reviewer...

    -MY REVIEWS ARE TO HELP THE UNDECIDED = D E C I D E.

    --This game should be in Game o' The Year running.
    -facts-
    -The game was released just prior to all the super heavyweights like Halo,GtaV,AlienIsolation,SunsetO,DragonAge etc etc. So like most next gen gamers I didn't hesitate as this was considered a highly anticipated game,.
    --pros + Cons
    -The combat has the Batman Arkham City style- AWESOME!
    -Story- MEDIOCRE AT BEST! ESP for a Lord of the Rings game. LOTR was always far-fetched but a str8^shost is taking it to the ridiculous..
    --Main Character/Protagonist= Talion is gpGREAT voice acting,,But what annoyed me sooo much was The Writing of Talions personality..He is so thuggish,thug is the ultimate word to describe him. For a good deed,,help innocents,yadda yadda yadda type= he sure gives off the aura of "" I'm going to help you,,but I'm gonna complain about it & my huffy puffy posturing says I'm SOO annoyed to help you""...this drove me nuts the whole 4-5 weeks I played..every night!

    ---OPEN WORLD PLAYGROUND--AWESOME! The bread & butter of this game.. It is soooo addicting to find the random bad guys in green, identical to Batman-Riddler-Informants. you hit a button instead of killing them and they reveal info about the boss war Chiefs..or you can put a bounty on ANY war chief/Captain
    --the bounty--Think of tLking smack about somebody before a fight,,when you see that person they repeat you're sh!t talking but in question form. "sooo, you're going to rip out my blah blah blahs?""" Lol---But it mainly raises the captains rank/level and thus makes the automatic rune he drops better, possibly epic..

    --Runes-just a simple weapon attachment. You can put 5 into you're 3 weapons. And the 3 are auto equips. Only 1 bow,,1 longs word,1 dagger.. Dagger is ONLY used for stealth kills,,bow= ranged, sword-Melee basic combat.. The runes are the way you're weapons are "custom"....a common rune is ""this blah blah regenerates at double the speed,,,or you run twice as fast blah blah...

    --the games main positive coulda been sooo much more. the open world and fun combat coulda been SOO much more had they're been more to do.. If this open world had Farcry/or Fallout3/VegasStyle side missions then I woulda kept playing it...

    --the future looks bright for gamers because this style of combat is sooo much better then the Skyrim style of block,then attack.combo multipliers are just rewarding.. See more games using this style. Woot!!!

    ---bottom line--Game of the year is pushing it.. I realized that typing my review.. But it IS a keeper, not a rental. Cause I did so much toyBox'n that I never even finished the main campaign. I already returned once to the game and was happy that I retained ALL the controls via memory..
    ---oh yeah--- THE DEVELOPERS DLC AND $1.99 runes are such a sweeeeeet perk. We all know that when we are sucked in deep to a game that a $1.99 something cool & interesting is a good thing for us....
    ---I also fealt too powerful at the 1/2 way point,..because I side-quested SOO much,,and had fun killing for weeks etc= Talion quickly leveled up every single perk to the point that it became pointless to kill for exp or for gold..gold buys certain kind of perks, and exp buys the other kind..I easily maxed both waaaay too early...

    A METACRITIC 83-87 is a ACCURATE Rating......    … Expand
  21. HazardXMediaz
    Nov 18, 2014
    9
    It's a game about killing Uruks, but it's a game about killing Uruks that does killing Uruks extremely well. The nemesis system is a real feat in game design, and I would love to see things like this in the future.
  22. Stoneyzatiger
    Oct 23, 2014
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I got mad at this game a lot. Dying to some ugly troll gimp frayed on my nerves a little more than it should have. The first hour of play was so bad for me I had to hide my head in shame from my son. I restarted and took things a little slower and I triumphed.

    Yes, the game is good. and yes...It is similar to batman and AC, blah blah blah. I don't care as long as it entertains. The story isn't really up to much; I was expecting my Tark character to dominate all of the warlords and become some evil dragon riding general or something. etc.
    One disappointment is with the collectables; After completing the weapons and Skills and pretty much getting everything to Max - including the side missions - I was bitterly annoyed to find no sweet reward waiting for me. It is true that when you become that powerful you don't really need anything uber powerful, but its a nice touch.

    The AI can sometimes let themselves down with an entire horde hugging the wall trying to get after you while you are safely dangling on the other side of the wall. That's not a big deal though and helps break up the Warlord missions where you seem to run into 3 bodyguards and 2 additional captains.

    The missions could sometimes be repetitive, I was expecting more AC3 style action here, with maybe some Stronghold destroying or capturing ability.

    The ending is poor. It seems then ran out of time to release? It easily had some more millage there for additional story/action. Still, its a pity they didn't use it for the original game. I expect the DLC will soothe the pain somewhat.

    Conclusion: - Its an Assassins Creed game set during lord of the rings. What could go wrong? Well the answer is, nothing major Its a good little game with perhaps little staying power after you max out your character everything. Not perfect but worth the money if you are a fan of the genre there's definitely more right with the game than wrong.    … Expand
  23. Maycolino10
    Nov 12, 2014
    9
    I can't remember the last time that I finished a game doing all that there is to do in it. MESOM is a truly next gen game not because of the graphics (by the way are very solid), but for the ideas and the execution of that ideas. Never got really tired of killing orcs in the thousand ways you could doing, and yes the Nemesis system is truthfully awesome. There some flaws of courseI can't remember the last time that I finished a game doing all that there is to do in it. MESOM is a truly next gen game not because of the graphics (by the way are very solid), but for the ideas and the execution of that ideas. Never got really tired of killing orcs in the thousand ways you could doing, and yes the Nemesis system is truthfully awesome. There some flaws of course specially with the character movement (it gets stuck a lot) and parkour, that i expect to be fixed in the sequel , but the combat feels and respond smoothly. Great game, i strongly recommend it… Expand
  24. bulletchan
    Sep 9, 2015
    8
    from the minute i put this magic disk in, the game flowed with story, passion, and blood. if you like killing games here ya go. if you like extremely well made fighting, here you go. this is its own game can not be compared to others.
  25. Munkey
    Dec 25, 2014
    9
    In the year of weak triple A titles and HD Remastered versions Shadow of Mordor is a welcome sight and fkr me the game of the year. Yes it has it problems but the fun you will get with this title makes the flaws of this title look small.
    First the combat is a blend of Batman series free flow and counter fighting with the Creed series of stealth finishers. Combat is bloody, brutal and very    In the year of weak triple A titles and HD Remastered versions Shadow of Mordor is a welcome sight and fkr me the game of the year. Yes it has it problems but the fun you will get with this title makes the flaws of this title look small.
    First the combat is a blend of Batman series free flow and counter fighting with the Creed series of stealth finishers. Combat is bloody, brutal and very responsive. The satisfaction of landing combos over 50 and the screems of enemies is music for my ears. Then is the ranged combat with the bow. It's there for does enemy archers,killing off straglers or to pin to the ground.
    The RPG element is there. You have wraith and ranger skills to chose from. You can also upgrade your health, focus, number of arrows and ad rune slots to your weapons ( sword, bow, dager ). There is a good amount of things to unlock.
    Mordor as an open world passes the test. You have ruins, old castles, forts and caves to explore. Let's be honest it isn't big when you compare it to skyrim, gta or da:inq but yoh will find it enough to please you. Then there is a second map with is a welcome change of the wastelands of Mordor.
    Then there is the Nemesis system. It's briliant and funy at times. In short when an uruk kills you it gets promoted to captain. You can kill him but when the encounter begins the uruk has something to say. He can say how he killed you, mock you, threaten you and so on. If you fail to kill the captain he will escape or if he kills you he will raise in rank and power. Each uruk has his strenght and weakness which you can exploit. This system should be implemented in more open world/rpg games.
    There are also collectables with lore, mounts to ride and more like in every open world game.
    The story is good. Nothing special but explores the middle-earth lore. I won't go in the details but will just say it's ok possible the weakest point of the game but still far from being bad.
    My only to concerns with game I had was the camera control in large fights. Sometimes it went in such an angle that you couldn't see or was stuck for a second. The other thing sometimes the climbing wouldn't work as fluid and when there was an enemy near you the game had some problem of recognizing what you wanted to do.
    Final score for me is a 9 out of 10. The best game in this year by far. Combat, lore and Nemesis system! I want more. Got it for 29£ and it was the best buy this year on my ps4!    … Expand
  26. yogurtspy
    Oct 13, 2014
    9
    I've given this a 9. It would have been a 10 but I think the difficulty at the start can make it a touch frustrating for a new player, and the tutorials could have explained the combat systems a bit better. It borrows heavily from AC and the Batman games, but why not? SoM adds in new elements that make it an awesome game which will make you want to throw the controller at the TV, but alsoI've given this a 9. It would have been a 10 but I think the difficulty at the start can make it a touch frustrating for a new player, and the tutorials could have explained the combat systems a bit better. It borrows heavily from AC and the Batman games, but why not? SoM adds in new elements that make it an awesome game which will make you want to throw the controller at the TV, but also have you dancing round the room with glee when you finally kill that orc that has been killing you over and over again the last week. Looks and place great on the PS4.… Expand
  27. mikepango
    Mar 22, 2016
    9
    I must say this game is so much fun. A lord of the rings story, with Batman & Assassin's Creed game play. Look good, plays good, story is good (i don't know how die hard LOTR fans will feel about it) The one real down side for me was the size of the open world and variations of the locations. Every thing takes place in Mordor so things kind of look the same for the most part. A must playI must say this game is so much fun. A lord of the rings story, with Batman & Assassin's Creed game play. Look good, plays good, story is good (i don't know how die hard LOTR fans will feel about it) The one real down side for me was the size of the open world and variations of the locations. Every thing takes place in Mordor so things kind of look the same for the most part. A must play in my book.… Expand
  28. Tom360
    Nov 6, 2014
    8
    GREAT GAME. I question the replayability though. I've beaten it twice now and I doubt I'll get much more use out of it. Wishing I had purchased hard copy instead of download.

    You can tell it's been created off of the Arkham games' format. Has an almost identical control scheme (which is fine by me!). This game shines when in the heat of combat, so if that's what you're looking for you    GREAT GAME. I question the replayability though. I've beaten it twice now and I doubt I'll get much more use out of it. Wishing I had purchased hard copy instead of download.

    You can tell it's been created off of the Arkham games' format. Has an almost identical control scheme (which is fine by me!). This game shines when in the heat of combat, so if that's what you're looking for you won't be disappointed.

    An extremely dark game - the opening is pretty shocking. The story is so-so in the whole context of the LOTR universe.

    You can tell that the game is being released for past-gen consoles, which I think held it back in the graphics department. A game that came out much earlier on PS4 looks much better than this title. This didn't hold me back from enjoying it, however. I really had a lot of fun dessimating orc armies, then bending them to my will.

    Overall, awesome, creative (which is more and more rare these days), addicting, well done!!    … Expand
  29. masterjohnson1
    Feb 5, 2015
    10
    What a game, running through mordor Killing hordes of orc's and urak's. The skills and runes you get are amazing and the kill animations when you kill a war chief or captain are just the best in any game to date.
    This is one of the best games in 2014 if you have not tried it you should, you will not regret it
  30. Sparkticle
    Nov 6, 2015
    9
    Really fun game. Might be short on content, because it's a small world, don't expect the same amount of things to do as you would in, say, Witcher 3, but this game wasn't trying to be Witcher 3. It was trying to be Assassins Creed combined with Arkham combat and Lord of the Rings lore. If you enjoy playing those games and the Lord of the Rings story, then you will feel right at home withReally fun game. Might be short on content, because it's a small world, don't expect the same amount of things to do as you would in, say, Witcher 3, but this game wasn't trying to be Witcher 3. It was trying to be Assassins Creed combined with Arkham combat and Lord of the Rings lore. If you enjoy playing those games and the Lord of the Rings story, then you will feel right at home with this game. It's really fun to exploit the uruks system, and it really is what makes the game. There is a lot of variety in the uruks, and they all have their unique personality and looks, adding hours to the gameplay. Overall the game is short, easily completed in around 3 days to 100%, and that is the one thing that sets this game back for me from being a masterpiece - I just would have loved to see more content.… Expand
  31. cntrl
    Nov 14, 2014
    8
    9/10
    well as someone who expected another poorly made and uninnovative game to make some easy bucks out of the lotr series, shadow of mordor is a pleasant surprise! it is really fun and even though it has some similarities with titles like assassins creed or batman, it is innovative in some areas. the story is fun, the game is good and it looks like it's actually finished and not a beta    9/10
    well as someone who expected another poorly made and uninnovative game to make some easy bucks out of the lotr series, shadow of mordor is a pleasant surprise! it is really fun and even though it has some similarities with titles like assassins creed or batman, it is innovative in some areas. the story is fun, the game is good and it looks like it's actually finished and not a beta like many other games that have been released in the last couple of months/years (driveclub, ac unity, ...)
    if you like some nice action adventures and the lotr series, you should definitely go for that one!!!    … Expand
  32. The_Game_Doctor
    Oct 25, 2014
    8
    As far as Lord of the Rings games go, this is the top of the pyramid.

    As far as games in general goes, it brings very little new to the table. The game is a solid Action-adventure game. The scenery is not overly varied, but more out of necessity of the source material rather than lack of ingenuity. The fighting mechanics are borrowed from the Batman: Arkham series, while the movement    As far as Lord of the Rings games go, this is the top of the pyramid.

    As far as games in general goes, it brings very little new to the table. The game is a solid Action-adventure game. The scenery is not overly varied, but more out of necessity of the source material rather than lack of ingenuity.

    The fighting mechanics are borrowed from the Batman: Arkham series, while the movement mechanics are reminiscent of the Assassin's Creed games. The being said. This is markedly not either one of those games, and it doesn't try to be. It spices in the RPG elements of its core inspiration while basing it in the rich LOTR universe.

    That being said, the mechanics base themselves on some of the most successful franchises in recent gaming. Because of that, it allows the real star of the game to shine. The star of the game is the Nemesis system. Something many more games should have. Te game itself is a construct built around the experience of the Nemesis system. At its surface, it is simple. You kill an Uruk, the tide of Sauron's army shifts. Simple. But the reactions to your actions have a much deeper affect on the game. This is a game that is meant to be enjoyed and the nemesis system is there to be manipulated and exploited.

    Sadly, the story seems more of a necessary evil to the extravagance of the game. A construct within which the beating heart of the game exists. As you evolve through the game, honing your gameplay styles, perfecting how the game is played, the story pushes you along and opens up more abilities to be used. The fact that several of the abilities are locked until you reach that specific story mission is almost a shame. I found myself getting much more enjoyment of playing through the shifting army than the story. Don't get my wrong, the story isn't bad, but it is a normal, no surprises revenge plot. It is paced extraordinarily well, but just not the most interesting item in the game.

    Several people complain that the game is nothing but a button masher, and the combat is a sad excuse for an action game. This can be played, poorly, as a button masher, but it is far from the only way that it can be played. There is enough variation in your skill trees to enjoy the different ways you can creatively approach every situation.

    The game shares elements with successful and well known franchises, and because of this, people are claiming it is a rip-off. This is certainly not the case. If you go into this game expecting a good action-adventure game, you won't be disappointed. If you are going into it looking for something completely new, you won't enjoy the game for what it is.

    This game is good. Not perfect. But good.    … Expand
  33. Mistval
    Oct 17, 2014
    8
    This is a competent but small open world game with some interesting innovations that hopefully will work their way into the video game industry at large.

    Combat in this game is very fun and you get a heck of a lot of abilities. So many that sometimes using them is a little awkward, as you have to press two buttons at once or something. No big deal though. That's the price of having a    This is a competent but small open world game with some interesting innovations that hopefully will work their way into the video game industry at large.

    Combat in this game is very fun and you get a heck of a lot of abilities. So many that sometimes using them is a little awkward, as you have to press two buttons at once or something. No big deal though. That's the price of having a lot of abilities. Stealth mechanics are pretty good and, indeed, quite Assassin's Creed like. If you've played that series you'll be right at home. Enemies can be ridiculously oblivious to you running around and killing their buddies, so it ain't no Splinter Cell, but that's probably for the best.

    As far as being open-world, yes you can go anywhere and there's a lot of stuff to do, but don't expect the scale of, for example, an Elder Scrolls game. There aren't skills, there aren't cities, shops, no people you can really talk to, just some people in cutscenes and slaves that say a few words of thanks when you free them. The world is also pretty small, I was disappointed by how small it is. They pack a lot of stuff in, but you will see it all pretty quickly. By the ten hour mark I had unlocked all dozen-ish of the forge towers in the game (pretty much exactly the same thing as viewpoints in Assassin's Creed) and forged the legendary bow by finishing all the bow missions (ten, they take like two minutes each).

    Nemesis system: a lot of people are talking this up, and rightfully so. This is the first current-gen game (I refuse to call PS4 and Xbone next gen anymore) I've played that does something that last gen couldn't. In a nutshell, orcs are also playing the game, trying to kill their enemies (including you) and get promoted to war chief while you play the game. Sometimes some orc you fought a while ago will show up and try to kill you at a really inconvenient time. But that's just payback for when you tried to kill him at a really inconvenient time. You can also take control of orcs by defeating them and order them to kill other orcs you don't like. And you can help them level up and get promoted to war chief.

    Eventually this makes things too easy, though. If you control a war chief and there's some other orc you want to kill, you can just tell your war chief to help you kill the other war chief and you would have to try pretty hard to lose that fight.

    So the Nemesis system is not perfect but it is definitely fresh and interesting and there is a lot of potential in the concept. Hopefully other games will follow in Mordor's footsteps by giving NPCs more soul. Mordor is just the beginning of the trend, and other games can hone and refine it.    … Expand
  34. Pacific_Inferno
    Nov 17, 2014
    8
    Shadow of Mordor introduces the Nemesis System which is truly one of the best gameplay elements to be introduced into a game in a long time. For a game that would have been boiled down to Batman/Assassin’s Creed combat with Lord of the Rings decals on it, it provided a nice breath of fresh air. Every time you’re killed you’re killer is promoted and becomes stronger. Amug the Fanatical wasShadow of Mordor introduces the Nemesis System which is truly one of the best gameplay elements to be introduced into a game in a long time. For a game that would have been boiled down to Batman/Assassin’s Creed combat with Lord of the Rings decals on it, it provided a nice breath of fresh air. Every time you’re killed you’re killer is promoted and becomes stronger. Amug the Fanatical was ultimately my greatest nemesis; I could be out working on a side mission or another story arc mission and out of nowhere he would show up and ruin my day. Tossing taunts and insults into the brief cut scene that acknowledges who the Uruk is and being an ultimate pain in the ass I grew to hate him. It compelled me to continue with my quest, grow stronger and destroy him.
    Shadow of Mordor starts out tough, and you die a lot. With this death you’ll continually build up Uruks in the ranks and make them stronger, until you finally become insanely strong and easily destroy all of your enemies. Although it becomes much easier, it doesn’t become less fun. My two biggest complaints are the two random appearances by Gollum, which could have been completely left out and not had any impact on the game, and the final boss fight which was a series of cut scenes and quick time event button presses. Overall, a pretty small list of complaints compiled into a larger list of enjoyable attributes.
    TL;DR: Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor introduces a fun new mechanic in gaming that will irritate and please you at the same time, throw Gollum at you twice for no reason at all and end in a ultimately disappointing boss fight. 8.5/10    … Expand
  35. northernlad
    Oct 7, 2014
    9
    really enjoyed the ork captains are great my only complaint would be its more of an action game than an rpg but if your in two minds its a really good game
  36. ici_chacal
    Oct 5, 2014
    9
    One of the best game this year. I bought it this week and do not regret. Good graphic, good PC performance, good story and.. and the best Orcs killing and fighting.I recommend it.
  37. MaxPayneIsGod
    Dec 18, 2016
    10
    As late to the party as I am I can tell you that this game is awesome and thoroughly entertaining. Not being a huge LoTR fan I (wrongfully) steered clear of this title for a couple of years. The combat is functionally fun, although not overly complex it follows precedents set by the Arkham titles and Mad Max. The game is pretty big, took me 33 hours to Platinum, but that 33 hours was 33As late to the party as I am I can tell you that this game is awesome and thoroughly entertaining. Not being a huge LoTR fan I (wrongfully) steered clear of this title for a couple of years. The combat is functionally fun, although not overly complex it follows precedents set by the Arkham titles and Mad Max. The game is pretty big, took me 33 hours to Platinum, but that 33 hours was 33 hours of fun. Where Shadow of Mordor shines is it's Nemesis AI system. The way your enemies remember you and hunt you down is something that surprisingly hasn't been copied by anyone else, although the system relies heavily on the narrative to work, its still a very cool idea. The skill trees are worthwhile and meaningful and the game draws you into Mordor extremely well.
    If you are a fan of the Arkam games and Mad Max, and especially if you are a LoTR fan you cannot miss this stellar title!    … Expand
  38. Murredly
    Dec 1, 2014
    8
    This game could easily have been a 9 or 10 but the sheer fact I can tell (or at least in my opinion) that this game was originally intended for last gen holds me back.

    It is a fantastic game and an excellent open world. The dark gloomy atmosphere really pushes the idea of Mordor being a dark and scary place but also holds it up on the PS4. The world is big, but there is a lot of empty    This game could easily have been a 9 or 10 but the sheer fact I can tell (or at least in my opinion) that this game was originally intended for last gen holds me back.

    It is a fantastic game and an excellent open world. The dark gloomy atmosphere really pushes the idea of Mordor being a dark and scary place but also holds it up on the PS4. The world is big, but there is a lot of empty space filled sparsely with 3-person patrols or just plain empty space. Maybe it was as intended but I assuming this was done because older machines would not be able to handle the clutter. But based on the combat and lack of demanding graphical pieces, I am guessing this was done to make the game accessible.

    My only other beef with this game is that the "main quest" chain is not intuitive. Maybe I am old but it took me a bit to get into it because the main quests were so far apart and setting waypoints to target them required a lot of back and forth between map-options-map-sauren's army etc.

    That said, the dynamic enemies make the game a treat. If you aren't paying attention you can run into a mob of captains and followers - resulting in a brutal and fast death.

    There is plenty of trophies for the trophy peoples and there is some replayability with the challenges and different combat styles.

    Overall, I would recommend this game to anyone. If you see on sale (like boxing day or week long black-friday) - GRAB IT.    … Expand
  39. Raviel1827
    Oct 26, 2014
    8
    The most next-gen game since Forza introduced Drivatar. The nemesis system is a fun innovative mechanic that makes the world feel alive. Unfortunately, it takes up everything of the game, not that it's bad but the story and especially the villains are badly executed. You're introduced to the villains at the beginning and then it takes half the game to reach one of them as a boss and noneThe most next-gen game since Forza introduced Drivatar. The nemesis system is a fun innovative mechanic that makes the world feel alive. Unfortunately, it takes up everything of the game, not that it's bad but the story and especially the villains are badly executed. You're introduced to the villains at the beginning and then it takes half the game to reach one of them as a boss and none of those boss battles are interesting.

    However, the nemesis system is well enough implemented and fun to waist time with, Yu'd want to get through the story to just play with the system. When you can brand, threaten and kill captains, that's when you've reached the games full potential.

    The story is very "not good" is the only way I can put it, not bad at all the first half of the game but bosses aren't as interesting as the captains or warchiefs, which says alot. The characters are "appearently" well based on the books of Tolkien which you notice since they fit so well together in the world that they're in.

    Wonderfully put together world, many open world games seems to fall flat on the "second" world, as the likes of Far Cry 3 where the second island is very pale compared to the first. Shadow of Mordor however gets a more beautiful and interesting second world with new stories to tell and nice locations to visit.

    Great game overall which you'll have a blast with and maybe find a captain that you like so much you help him reach the top of his ranks. Create bonds with your captains, you'll never know when you find the right one.    … Expand
  40. bigboss1964
    Nov 21, 2015
    8
    Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor

    Game-Play:The game-play in this game is very similar to the Batman Arkham series and the climbing to the Assassin's Creed series but that is not bad just not original.The game-play flows very well when you play and I really loved it .Their is a little stealth in the game but mostly action .The game also have some RPG elements . Story:The story is good    Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor

    Game-Play:The game-play in this game is very similar to the Batman Arkham series and the climbing to the Assassin's Creed series but that is not bad just not original.The game-play flows very well when you play and I really loved it .Their is a little stealth in the game but mostly action .The game also have some RPG elements .

    Story:The story is good but I did not like the ending that much .But it is a good addition to the lord of the rings.

    Graphics;I did not like the graphics that much I think that it should have been better.

    Notes:There is not much else to say about the game expect that this is a great game and deserves the fullprice .    … Expand
  41. anichels
    Jan 1, 2016
    9
    This game was marketed as a badass game, looks like a badass game, and plays like a badass game.
    On top of that LOTR theme and lore is absolutely wonderful. It's a compliment to the franchise.
  42. TheFrostyPen
    Nov 6, 2014
    9
    Just beat the game. Loved playing through it, loved listening to silly Orcsises...love the gameplay...only bad part...the ending...too confusing...felt rushed...QT event for last boss? Come on...

    But besides the very very end...totally worthwhile and enjoyable!
  43. AbominationV
    Mar 16, 2015
    10
    Simply, AMAZING definitely the best game I have played in the whole of 2014 and with so many disappointing games in 2014 this game really did take the cake, from the game play to the graphics, it may not be the best looking game but damn it looks good, especially when it's raining and water falls onto Talion's outfit, it looks really stunning not to mention easily the best part of thisSimply, AMAZING definitely the best game I have played in the whole of 2014 and with so many disappointing games in 2014 this game really did take the cake, from the game play to the graphics, it may not be the best looking game but damn it looks good, especially when it's raining and water falls onto Talion's outfit, it looks really stunning not to mention easily the best part of this game for me, the Nemesis System, it allows players to create a story of their own with battles against Captains-Warchiefs being both extremely challenging at times but always a blast. Simply put this game is a must buy for fans of the Batman Arkham games and or the Assassin's Creed games.… Expand
  44. ravenheart42
    Nov 13, 2014
    10
    This is a very satisfying title, the combat is fresh, as well as the story and the graphics are awesome, with so much to do in this game, and the role you play, I don't get tired of this game, yeah some rieminds me of Assassin's creed, but tha'ts ok with all the other great qullities in this game, a long satisfying game, and you feel like you are definaetly getting your moneys worth
  45. easterfields
    Dec 26, 2014
    10
    I'm usually a pretty hard sell on games that are based on film, television, and book licenses. The main reason being that there's never enough attention to detail and production value put in such games as they are mainly created to cash in on the name. There are a few exceptions though, and this may be the biggest one. As a huge Tolkien fan, I will admit I was disinterested by theI'm usually a pretty hard sell on games that are based on film, television, and book licenses. The main reason being that there's never enough attention to detail and production value put in such games as they are mainly created to cash in on the name. There are a few exceptions though, and this may be the biggest one. As a huge Tolkien fan, I will admit I was disinterested by the concept of this game when I first heard about it. I really didn't feel it could do the books or films any justice, but I was hugely myopic in my assumptions. This game truly is a work of art in nearly every way. The attention to detail-such as the voice acting (the orcs are amazing!), the collectibles, the weapons, the graphics, etc. are all some of the very best I have ever experienced. It's very obvious that this game was a labor of love by those who developed it, and that shines through in nearly every moment of playing the game. And oh what fun there is to be had. Visceral, intense, threatening, and awe-inspiring are just some of the adjectives that come to mind in a typical play-session of Shadow of Mordor. They have done an outstanding job of presenting an experience that feels removed right out of the brilliant Peter Jackson films. It saddens me to great lengths, that this title will not be receiving the attention and hype it deserves-lurking in the "shadow" of the other regurgitated titles that were released around the holidays (GTA5 as an example), for it truly deserves to be praised and heralded as a great gaming moment. It is no doubt the sleeper hit of 2014 and would without question, be my pick for Game of the Year!… Expand
  46. BobBently
    Oct 8, 2014
    10
    Under-hyped hit game of the year. Just what we wanted. What we deserve, after that failed Destiny game that was shoved down our throats.
    It plays like Assassins Creed, So your ready to jump in & are already comfortable w/ the controls.
    Top notch animation & graphics. Killer combos (blood & death level 10!) Sweeeet!! Full of surprises, Just the right difficulty too. No    Under-hyped hit game of the year. Just what we wanted. What we deserve, after that failed Destiny game that was shoved down our throats.
    It plays like Assassins Creed, So your ready to jump in & are already comfortable w/ the controls.
    Top notch animation & graphics. Killer combos (blood & death level 10!) Sweeeet!!
    Full of surprises, Just the right difficulty too. No multiplayer though. But you don't need it w/ this game.
    The single player campaign is so strong, you don't need anything else.
    Enjoy this game. It is spectacular.    … Expand
  47. Akilae0
    Oct 13, 2014
    9
    Fantastic game. Great open world, interesting story, fluid combat system, and strategy elements that get more interesting as you go forward. Highly recommended whether you're a fan of LOTR or just open world/action games in general.
  48. VGReviwer
    Oct 19, 2014
    8
    Shadow of Mordor is an innovative addition to the open world genre. In an industry filled with games that are rehashed, re-skinned versions of their respective games before them, it is great to see something fresh in gaming. The nemesis system makes the game. The countless scenarios that i created with rival orcs is always dynamic. Its the part of this game that sets it apart from othersShadow of Mordor is an innovative addition to the open world genre. In an industry filled with games that are rehashed, re-skinned versions of their respective games before them, it is great to see something fresh in gaming. The nemesis system makes the game. The countless scenarios that i created with rival orcs is always dynamic. Its the part of this game that sets it apart from others and is worth getting just to experience it. The game does however have some flaws that keep it from being recognized as a 10/10 game. First off, what the game does right.

    While the maps are smaller than I'm used to, they are well designed, especially in the main orc strongholds which offer you so many ways to go about your mission. In the game their are 3 main ways to progress in a mission. You can go in sword swinging and catching the orcs off guard (though I'd advise against it in early levels, This game is no walk in the park for noobs), You could slip past like a shadow through stealth (which you must use in this game, or prepare to die) or you could play tactically be distracting enemies, drawing in the beasts of the wild, secretly branding and controlling enemy soldiers before you launch an attack( which is always fun when it comes together in your assault) or scaring the living **** out of your enemies with the always helpful morgul flies.
    The combat system itself is like a hybrid of assassins creed and Batman Arkham series, with each present at all the right levels. Its so satisfying when you finally decapitate your arch nemesis after he has killed you 500 times and is basically immune to any strategy. The graphics on the ps4 are great and really stand out however a bit more variation in the environment would have been appreciated
    The collectibles in the game are... descent. The artifacts are like an audio log mixed with an actual object (memory reading, the game explains it). While sometimes the objects are somewhat bland, the memory almost always interesting and the artifacts add to the vast lore of J.R.R Tolkien.

    Now for the negatives. The games story, while interesting at first, never gets really engaging except for the plot twist in the end, no spoiling. The characters are okay and not that interesting. I feel like i would have become more invested in Talion if they had shown more of his memories through other collectables or something like that. The boss fight with the black hand are the games weakest points, they are not challenging and really scripted for this game. The last one was the biggest disappointment. Their was so much potential for an epic clash that would rival that of Dark Souls. Instead, we get a quick time event. Which is such a shame, seeing how many random encounters have felt like epic boss fights. Another thing this game needed from dark souls was greater difficulty, for late game i mean. Once you've played the game for about 8 to 10 hours, it becomes really easy, with no way to increase the difficulty.

    In spite of the flaws, the game is a great piece of work from monolith, a developer who has now earned my respect. If the story had been better and if the story boss fight were more interesting then I would have give this game a full 10 out of 10. But for a now I give it 8. However it is the best lotr game made and if you are a fan the franchise or you feel like you want to try something , it is a must buy. I hope the sequel is just as innovative.    … Expand
  49. byouwin
    Oct 5, 2014
    8
    Shadow of Mordor was a great game although there is room for improvement in the graphical improvement. If you are a Lord of the Rings or a hobbit fan you will get much more out of this games story as the game takes place in between those two movies. The story was quite intriguing throughout. A sequel was setup at the end of the game. The music always matched what was going on in the gameShadow of Mordor was a great game although there is room for improvement in the graphical improvement. If you are a Lord of the Rings or a hobbit fan you will get much more out of this games story as the game takes place in between those two movies. The story was quite intriguing throughout. A sequel was setup at the end of the game. The music always matched what was going on in the game so good job there. The nemesis system was a welcome change of pace in the gaming industry and I hope to see it in other games. The best thing about this game is that it is open world and there is a level of scalability. Overall the game was great.… Expand
  50. HybernianWolf
    Oct 5, 2014
    9
    Comparisons to the Assassin's Creed and Arkham series aside, Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor has more than enough merits to stand on its own. I found the size of the world and the exploration therein to be quite satisfying for a game such as this, and discovering the many collectibles was very rewarding. The combat is fluid and responsive, and quite challenging (at least for me). When youComparisons to the Assassin's Creed and Arkham series aside, Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor has more than enough merits to stand on its own. I found the size of the world and the exploration therein to be quite satisfying for a game such as this, and discovering the many collectibles was very rewarding. The combat is fluid and responsive, and quite challenging (at least for me). When you get a rhythm going and build up your multiplier, there's nothing more satisfying than slaughtering and beheading countless orcs on the battlefield. Hardcore players might find the combat tedious, to which I would suggest disabling the prompts during such encounters to make for a more challenging experience. I'll not delve into the game's story arc, but suffice to say I found it to be fairly interesting, if a bit monotonous at times, but there was more than enough there to keep me wanting to continue forward. The real meat of the game is the much-hyped nemesis system, and it succeeds on countless levels. I spent hours just exploring Mordor and fighting war chiefs, and showing up to ruin there many run-ins with one another. These guys aren't out to get just you, they'll readily duke it out with each other and rise through the ranks in their ever-changing hierarchy. The nemesis system the standout feature in this game. It really gives your enemies more depth, and in turn makes Mordor feel much more alive and volatile because of it. If you're a fan of RPGs and open world games, Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor comes highly recommended. Monolith, make another one of these!… Expand
  51. kexan
    Oct 6, 2014
    9
    This is a great contender for game of the year, but some small issues keep it from going to 10.

    This game plays like a lovechild between Batman arkham Asylum and Assassins Creed, in a good way. The combat, borrowed from Batman is great, responsive, violent and rewarding. Its not button mashing, but instead rewards creative play. Having put some 50ish hours into each Batman it feels    This is a great contender for game of the year, but some small issues keep it from going to 10.

    This game plays like a lovechild between Batman arkham Asylum and Assassins Creed, in a good way. The combat, borrowed from Batman is great, responsive, violent and rewarding. Its not button mashing, but instead rewards creative play. Having put some 50ish hours into each Batman it feels familiar very quickly. The only downside is that the game is somehwat easy, bordering on really easy if you know your stuff when it comes to combat. There are even guides on the internet to help you INCREASE the difficulty by turning off visual cues and not putting skillpoints on more health etc. I recommend (pre patch, lets hope they amp up the difficulty) everyone with some Batman experience to do this, since it really makes the game more fun to play.

    Stealth is great and basic, and the feeling that mordor is constantly a threathening place is always there with patrolling uruks and other creatures.

    The captain system for Saurons army is GREAT, and really adds a feeling of depth to the game. Hunting these guys is a great thrill, but , once again thanks to the lacking difficulty, results in a harder then average fight,despite their special abilites. A higher difficulty would really turn these fights into mino boss battles. The fact that its all randiom adds to the feeling fo a changing landscape.

    I cant hype this game enough, but my only conserns are that the story is told in the background (not as much as Destiny though) and the lack of a challenge right now, about 50% through the game.    … Expand
  52. ScarletAndGray
    Oct 6, 2014
    10
    This game is a blast to play and I loved how the game gives you the ability to create your enemies. I was worried the nemesis system would be a flop, but it did not disappoint. Of course it couldn't help but be a little repetitive (probably due to the fact I played it way to much), but this game is definitely worth playing. It has a much better stealth aspect than assassins creed and IThis game is a blast to play and I loved how the game gives you the ability to create your enemies. I was worried the nemesis system would be a flop, but it did not disappoint. Of course it couldn't help but be a little repetitive (probably due to the fact I played it way to much), but this game is definitely worth playing. It has a much better stealth aspect than assassins creed and I liked it's combat better than the batman games because, to be honest, its more fun decapitating Orcs than simply knocking out your enemies with punches and kicks.
    The story was not spectacular, but I was having so much fun romping around Mordor riding caragors and manipulating the nemesis system that I didn't really care!
    This game was mysterious, interesting, and it makes me excited for any potential sequels.    … Expand
  53. MalistiX
    Oct 12, 2014
    9
    I gotto say if you love action games or like them and love LOTR you will find much to enjoy here. The combat is great and that is where the game shines, killing orcs in all kinds of fashion with a solid and good voice acted cast that give this title some real good atmosphere and you will find much to love.
  54. Jollukka1
    Jul 10, 2015
    8
    Shadow of Mordor: stylish combat, epic fighting and well-created enemies are salt of the game. Shadow of Mordor is the best action/adventure game of 2014. // 8 points
  55. Flippy4212
    Oct 10, 2014
    10
    Let Me set This Strait, its a great game, i only have one issue. I made the mistake in the begining of not knowing what to do. so i went off to kill uruks. i soon learned that the more you die to the same captain, the harder it gets to kill them. so now after an hour of messing around dieing its almost impossible for someone like me. But Beside From me Dieing To the Same Captain 40 TimesLet Me set This Strait, its a great game, i only have one issue. I made the mistake in the begining of not knowing what to do. so i went off to kill uruks. i soon learned that the more you die to the same captain, the harder it gets to kill them. so now after an hour of messing around dieing its almost impossible for someone like me. But Beside From me Dieing To the Same Captain 40 Times Over. Its A really good game… Expand
  56. Mehtevas
    Oct 12, 2014
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I've had so much fun with this game so far! My favorite feature would definitely be the nemesis system with all the different captains you can fight. I was a little disappointed that there was no grand massive battle at the end since we spend the entire second half of the game building a grand Army. Yeah I mean when you attack the tower there are maybe 10 with you, but that isn't on the immense scale I would've hoped for. But that is literally my only complaint, which I think speaks volumes about the game itself. Definitely would recommend!… Expand
  57. Wardrobechaos
    Oct 18, 2014
    8
    Like that game a lot, its cool, stylish, super combat system, working interesting abilities that actually change how you play the game, I just think the main character is a bit flat and run of the mill, but the world is gorgeous and fits together well, maybe whats missing is towns or settlements to add a bit of peace into the hostile setting...all in all a great, polished game...
  58. vinnykin
    Oct 12, 2014
    9
    The sign of a good game is when you notice the sun coming up and your still playing! I was hooked for 3 days on this game and played to 100% completion with 80% trophy's. The combat, movement and game mechanics are brilliant and the nemesis system was a nice surprise........however the end of the story was a bit of a let down and by the time you have hit 25 hours of gameplay and unlockedThe sign of a good game is when you notice the sun coming up and your still playing! I was hooked for 3 days on this game and played to 100% completion with 80% trophy's. The combat, movement and game mechanics are brilliant and the nemesis system was a nice surprise........however the end of the story was a bit of a let down and by the time you have hit 25 hours of gameplay and unlocked all the abilities you will be so proficient at killing orcs and leaders that the game becomes stale. the 30 hours are so fun though and well worth the money. will probably play it again right through in a few months… Expand
  59. UShallntPASS
    Oct 13, 2014
    8
    Daring really from Monolith to come with another game from the consecrated Lord of the Rings series, but without bigger complications, Monolith developed a great and indefatigable hack'n slash game, with a superb story, meanwhile some mechanics that seems to be good working at the first view may be just problematic after 5 or 6 hours of gameplay, as well as the map, a map that no, the fastDaring really from Monolith to come with another game from the consecrated Lord of the Rings series, but without bigger complications, Monolith developed a great and indefatigable hack'n slash game, with a superb story, meanwhile some mechanics that seems to be good working at the first view may be just problematic after 5 or 6 hours of gameplay, as well as the map, a map that no, the fast taveling points weren't able to save it this time, the traveling in the game is slow and repetitive.

    But boreless combat, fluid and frantic, it can give you lots of fun for a long time, without leaving a missing air in the story, I can't forgot to mention the graphics, gorgeours to say less, an easy 80/100 game.    … Expand
  60. foxviewchannel
    Nov 2, 2014
    9
    Tolkien games have yet to reach their true potential; however, one of the biggest surprises this year was Shadow Of Mordor. Shadow Of Mordor is an action role playing game which is set between the hobbit and the lord of the rings and is developed by Monolith.

    The story explores characters not seen in the movies. The main character is called Talion, a ranger of Gondor responsible for    Tolkien games have yet to reach their true potential; however, one of the biggest surprises this year was Shadow Of Mordor. Shadow Of Mordor is an action role playing game which is set between the hobbit and the lord of the rings and is developed by Monolith.

    The story explores characters not seen in the movies. The main character is called Talion, a ranger of Gondor responsible for defending the black gates of Mordor. Sauron, also known as the Dark Lord sends his army to attack, you and your family end up being slaughtered., you are then brought back to life with magical powers and this sets you out for revenge on Saurons army.

    Shadow of Mordor has immersive game-play. The fighting is similar to that of Batman and Assassins creed but feels fresh with its new mechanics. You will be using a combination of stealth to take out enemies unseen and melee combat.

    As you progress, you level up your character and weapons and you will have access to all sorts of abilities like stunning enemies, teleporting, and crushing an enemies skull with your hands.

    The world in Shadow Of Mordor feels alive. The game fully utilities next gen and the attention to detail is impressive. the true strength in this game is the new Nemesis system that is unique and one that i have not seen done before. all the enemies in the game move dynamically in the world with their own missions.

    The enemies are distinct, with different ways of fighting, speaking, physical appearance and name. If you injure an enemy while battling, they will remember you and taunt you when they see you again. All enemies in the game have the potential to turn into a superior boss. The Uruk army is always shifting and evolving while the Orcs don't rise up in the ranks.

    Enemies will level up and improve their skills while roaming in the world and they will change positions which means no two game-plays are the same. When you go into battle and a specific enemy kills you, then that soldier will move up the ranks and this increases his strength making him tougher the next time you face him in battle.

    They will also challenge each other to compete for the top spot and those that win, grow in power and advancing an unknown warrior all the way to legendary ware-chief.

    Each enemy will have their own weakness that you have to find out, and you can do this in numerous ways. Interrogating Uruks for info to learn more about the characters in Saurons army and when you earn more upgrades, you will earn the power to make enemies fight for you. Using the power wisely can change a lot in the battlefield.

    It is an exciting feeling when you watch an enemy that you faced before barge his way during a fight, This creates a lot of tension. Once you drain their power, you will have an option to kill them or free them, and once you gain power you will be able to summon an enemy into tasks such as taking out a warrior when the time is right.

    Some of the campaign missions aren't as exciting as they should be and there is no multiplayer; however, Shadow Of Mordor is a true next gen game that is fun with good combat and one that is worth your time.    … Expand
  61. mordor15
    Oct 13, 2014
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. overall the game was epic, the only thing i didn't like was the final battle with sauron. it was too short and a bit of a disappointment...with all of that hype he got for being so evil and all.And i hate the fact that talion didn't give a **** about the whole Celebrimbor using him thing.… Expand
  62. Unladenswallow0
    Nov 18, 2014
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This game has been praised enough, but for the sake of my two cents on this ill just go out and say that this game deserved every ounce of praise that it got. This is innovation in game design, the war chief design will be copied by games in future but it was this game that sold it. It made the game what it was and in future titles i hope they use and improve on this really excellent feature.

    I'm giving it a nine rather than a ten simply because of the final boss sequence with sauron which ended in quick time events. Quick time events need to die, but it didnt take from my overall experience, a really excellent game.    … Expand
  63. headtrainborn
    Oct 23, 2014
    8
    This game performed well above my expectations. I thought it looked like an assassins creed rip off, and I wasn't even going to pick it up. This game is fun to play and a challenge at times. The story holds my interest. I don't regret purchasing it unlike some other games lately.
  64. Jokstar
    Nov 13, 2014
    8
    8/10. The good - I really enjoyed the stealth aspects of this game. I loved the stealth kills animations. Sometimes I would just run out of my way on purpose just to stealth kill a solitary orc just because it felt good.

    The story is well progressed with some nice animations too. The bad - Sometimes the character will start climbing walls when you don't want them to. And the killing    8/10. The good - I really enjoyed the stealth aspects of this game. I loved the stealth kills animations. Sometimes I would just run out of my way on purpose just to stealth kill a solitary orc just because it felt good.

    The story is well progressed with some nice animations too.

    The bad - Sometimes the character will start climbing walls when you don't want them to. And the killing can start becoming a little repetitious but is saved by the characterisation of the bosses.

    Would recommend it if you don't already have it. A bit like the old Tenchu but on steriods :)    … Expand
  65. FatBoyDave
    Oct 27, 2014
    8
    Had to write a review of this wonderful game,Slashing,Stealth,Runes,Archery,from a five minute Uruk slaughter fest to an hour carefully getting into the story.This game is brilliant,great graphics and sound,the Nemesis system where your victors or battle scarred foes remember your previous encounters and taunt or remind you of your actions.Like most people have said a cross between CreedHad to write a review of this wonderful game,Slashing,Stealth,Runes,Archery,from a five minute Uruk slaughter fest to an hour carefully getting into the story.This game is brilliant,great graphics and sound,the Nemesis system where your victors or battle scarred foes remember your previous encounters and taunt or remind you of your actions.Like most people have said a cross between Creed and Batman( no bad thing).Now the crushing amazingly BAD news the last two end battles are an absolute disgrace,shocking,sloppy,poor,head shackingly rubbish.It got 9.3 I would knock off a point for the end,it's that bad !!!!!!… Expand
  66. welchmen22
    Oct 28, 2014
    8
    Fun game the fighting mechanics are great story has been good. A few people mention fighting near walls that's true its a little tough to see but you can just rotate out or roll to a better position (pay attention to your surroundings). This might be unfair but I am disappointed in the lack of customization the game is great I guess I just look forward to being able to put your mark on aFun game the fighting mechanics are great story has been good. A few people mention fighting near walls that's true its a little tough to see but you can just rotate out or roll to a better position (pay attention to your surroundings). This might be unfair but I am disappointed in the lack of customization the game is great I guess I just look forward to being able to put your mark on a character. I love the idea of having the captains changing and having a rival. Lots of variety with the enemies. It does seem easy at times hopefully it gets a little tougher. Not a huge fan of stealth in games but this one uses the elements well without over doing it or forcing it on you too often. The game looks great too, overall I'm enjoying it.… Expand
  67. timwarner
    Oct 28, 2014
    10
    Don't be fooled by the jackass claiming that we're being fooled by Warner Brothers paying people to give these ratings. This game is fantastic. End of story
  68. StiffNippys666
    Oct 29, 2014
    10
    If you're a huge LOTR fan and/or LOVE the batman series games, you're going to love this. The nemesis system is the Game of the Year changer! Slaying different orcs or helping them to become stronger is a very rewarding feeling. I love the new free DLC costume that they released. Finally a game for the fans! Can't wait for what they will introduce next or the next LOTR game.
  69. Goltztyme
    Oct 30, 2014
    8
    Shadows of Mordor plays very much like assassins creed 2. Which is wonderful, it was in my opinion the best assassins creed to date. It also feels very much like The Arkham Asylum Batman series, which i think again, I enjoyed. While it does have its problems with the climbing mechanic. Overall If you are a fan of either of these 2 games i would recommend you play Shadows of Mordor. My onlyShadows of Mordor plays very much like assassins creed 2. Which is wonderful, it was in my opinion the best assassins creed to date. It also feels very much like The Arkham Asylum Batman series, which i think again, I enjoyed. While it does have its problems with the climbing mechanic. Overall If you are a fan of either of these 2 games i would recommend you play Shadows of Mordor. My only problem with this game is after playing it for a while it begins to feels old. As if you've played it 1 or 2 times. Also failing missions requires you to abandon the mission and go back to the start mission indicator and restart. Which isn't a problem if you like running through hordes of enemies humming the LOTR theme. Overall I would say a pretty nice title to add to your collections.… Expand
  70. Levin
    Mar 29, 2015
    9
    I knew very little of this title, but needed something for my new ps4. I was totaly blown away. The nemesis system is brilliant. The many characters show lots of variation. Great story. Amazing gameplay. I look forward to the next title from this studio. Add just a little more variation to the environment and its a slam dunk.
  71. jonnykemp
    Dec 1, 2014
    9
    Brilliant game. Finally there is a game from LOTR franchise worthy of everyone's time. Really we done, you find yourself getting immersed into the game and leaving the story on the side. This is a game I cannot get enough off.
  72. Tamel_Eidek
    Nov 5, 2014
    9
    Fantastic game in all regards! Well made and stays fun well beyond the storyline - which is a satisfyingly original addition to the LotR universe.

    It can be a bit of a one trick pony by relying heavily on it's combat system for all things in the game but that is not a bad thing when the combat system is one of the best in gaming currently - weighty, satisfying and skill based. Compared    Fantastic game in all regards! Well made and stays fun well beyond the storyline - which is a satisfyingly original addition to the LotR universe.

    It can be a bit of a one trick pony by relying heavily on it's combat system for all things in the game but that is not a bad thing when the combat system is one of the best in gaming currently - weighty, satisfying and skill based. Compared to other games coming out this generation this one is near perfect. A must buy for any fantasy or action/adventure game fans!    … Expand
  73. tormentor55
    Mar 14, 2015
    9
    Just buy this game. As a LOTR this game is awesome. As an assassin's creed fan, this game is awesome. As a Batman Arkahm fan, this game is awesome. It has the combat of Arkahm and the parkour/exploration of Assassin's creed. Why is this game not called rip-off of the year you may ask? That's because it adds a little something to the table that propels it beyond AC Unity and gives it'sJust buy this game. As a LOTR this game is awesome. As an assassin's creed fan, this game is awesome. As a Batman Arkahm fan, this game is awesome. It has the combat of Arkahm and the parkour/exploration of Assassin's creed. Why is this game not called rip-off of the year you may ask? That's because it adds a little something to the table that propels it beyond AC Unity and gives it's identity. The Nemesis system. It allows for dynamic relations with you and the baddies and makes this game 'Next-gen' for gameplay AND graphics. The story is ok but what makes it so great is the fact that you can LITERALLY make a story of your own by tampering with the orcs around you and just having a good time. Shadow of Mordor second next-gen game that truly shows what these new consoles can do. (First being Battlefield 4.)… Expand
  74. ToddDow
    Nov 11, 2014
    8
    Pretty solid game. Great graphics, controls respond well, story keeps you engaged, open world (although not very big). As many have pointed out, it's very similar to Assassin's Creed, and that is a good thing in my book. My only knock is that it gets slightly repetitive, but not too bad. Some more variety and a bigger world and it would be outstanding.
  75. True_Beleiver
    Nov 12, 2014
    10
    Great Game one of the best I have played on the PS4 could not put the controller down I think I scared my family with the lack of food and sleep that I got while playing this game Quit Reading and go out and purchase this game
  76. vallentagal
    Nov 12, 2014
    9
    It's uplifting to see a game as refreshing as this after spending time with the atrocity that is Assassin's Creed: Unity. Even though it is very similar to other games of the past, it does enough to differentiate itself and improve upon previous foundations.
  77. Iceberg91
    Nov 15, 2014
    9
    Great game,great history,good sound,perfect combat system,this is a GAME ,is very very fun,one of the best game of the year.it isn't very long 20 missions are quite but not many,i hope that in mordor 2 they resolves this problem so i will do 10/10.
  78. SenseyZ
    Feb 19, 2015
    10
    This game is what you really want as an rpg, it can be really fun trust me.
    It has the feeling of open world, and danger in every corner. it's just the type i like
  79. rhysmyself
    Aug 18, 2015
    8
    Great all rounder. Combat felt repetitive (although mechanically very good) and upgrade system felt lacking towards the end of the (relatively short) campaign. BUT as a fan of Middle Earth was pretty engaged from start to finish. Good time to pick it up pre owned.
  80. razrien
    Nov 17, 2014
    8
    Its Assassins Creed in Middle Earth.
    You run around killing orcs. Then run around and kill more orcs.
    Thankfully the kill animations are nice and varied, so it never really gets old, because thats pretty much all you do in this game.
    The story is kinda.. meh.
    Worth a play through.
  81. d_an_ie_l
    Nov 18, 2014
    9
    Very nice game, awesome game play experience and fun .The fight is dynamic even with the free movement. Very interesting story, best game based on the world created by Tolkien.
  82. aroddy23
    Nov 18, 2014
    9
    Heard alot about this game and how it was so great and awesome.....well after spending a few weeks playing it and finishing the story I can say that it doesnt dissapoint. The gameplay is so much fun and non repetative like other games in the past. The challenges in the game are awesome and also the leveling up system is great. The only problem i had was the final boss fiht dissapointed aHeard alot about this game and how it was so great and awesome.....well after spending a few weeks playing it and finishing the story I can say that it doesnt dissapoint. The gameplay is so much fun and non repetative like other games in the past. The challenges in the game are awesome and also the leveling up system is great. The only problem i had was the final boss fiht dissapointed a bit but over all it was great.… Expand
  83. AlejandroCano
    Nov 18, 2014
    10
    One of the bests games of yearOne of the bests games of yearOne of the bests games of yearOne of the bests games of yearOne of the bests games of yearOne of the bests games of yearOne of the bests games of yearOne of the bests games of yearOne of the bests games of yearOne of the bests games of yearOne of the bests games of yearOne of the bests games of yearOne of the bests games ofOne of the bests games of yearOne of the bests games of yearOne of the bests games of yearOne of the bests games of yearOne of the bests games of yearOne of the bests games of yearOne of the bests games of yearOne of the bests games of yearOne of the bests games of yearOne of the bests games of yearOne of the bests games of yearOne of the bests games of yearOne of the bests games of yearOne of the bests games of yearOne of the bests games of yearOne of the bests games of yearOne of the bests games of yearOne of the bests games of yearOne of the bests games of yearOne of the bests games of yearOne of the bests games of yearOne of the bests games of yearOne of the bests games of yearOne of the bests games of yearOne of the bests games of yearOne of the bests games of yearOne of the bests games of yearOne of the bests games of yearOne of the bests games of yearOne of the bests games of yearOne of the bests games of yearOne of the bests games of yearOne of the bests games of year… Expand
  84. kateuptonlover
    Nov 18, 2014
    8
    This is an outstanding addition to the Lord of the Rings, and is a great tactical stealth, and adventure game. While it has repetitive missions, the idea of becoming "leader of the land" is a great placement to the game.
  85. Metamax
    Nov 20, 2014
    9
    Tis be a good one Capitan! This is a game I didn't have many hopes for tbh. A LOTR game coming out again. Much better game than AC and all around just fun to play. The Nemesis System in Shadow of Mordor is the highlight overall. I'm looking forward to a sequel that maybe takes us a bit further into the lore.
  86. Purechaos
    Nov 20, 2014
    8
    Very fun game. I enjoyed the open world feel. Combat was quick and tight, and had pretty good variety although at times could get repetitive. The nemesis system was fun and interesting. I would say that the scale of the world is quite small, but a very good first title.
  87. Game-Master
    Nov 21, 2014
    9
    With being a big lord of the rings fan (and Batman fan), I was really excited to see how this game went and I was really surprised with how fun it was mainly because the nemesis system ,Its LOTR and the fighting resembles batman very much in a (good way)

    9/10
  88. flipitdave
    Nov 22, 2014
    9
    This game out Assassins Creed'ed Assassins Creed. It's a marvelously realized world that doesn't center around knowing the lore of Lord of the Rings. If you don't care about LotR, don't worry, the name is borrowed for marketing.
  89. Keys1989
    Dec 18, 2014
    10
    All the positive word of mouth is why I got this game. Well then....it's the first game I ever bothered to platinum.

    I loved this game so much I can't possibly articulate it here. I think I clocked in at about 50 hours and it felt like 10 minutes. The combat is beyond smooth, in the early going I died often, but as the game progressed and my character got stronger things changed. I felt    All the positive word of mouth is why I got this game. Well then....it's the first game I ever bothered to platinum.

    I loved this game so much I can't possibly articulate it here. I think I clocked in at about 50 hours and it felt like 10 minutes. The combat is beyond smooth, in the early going I died often, but as the game progressed and my character got stronger things changed. I felt like a painter, my canvas was the battlefield, my brush a sword and my paint was supplied by decapitated and impaled orcs. SO FUN!

    If I had to nitpick my only complaint would be that by the last quarter of the game I was an unstoppable killing machine and to die would take some serious effort. Also no real replay value but with how much is there that is really not an issue. It's still a great value and worth every penny and then some.    … Expand
  90. ed_hunter01
    Dec 17, 2014
    10
    Simply amazing one of the best game i ever play the combat system is amazing is like play a fusion of batman origins with assassins creed with a mod of lotr is a great game a must own
  91. Jarl_Redbeard
    Dec 8, 2014
    10
    It's been a while since I played a recently released game that has provided so much fun for me. In a day where we're flooded with multiplayer-focused games with thin stories and 6-hour or less "campaigns", Shadow of Mordor is really a breath of fresh air. Simply put, I can sit down and play this game and just have simple, unadulterated fun with it.

    The game is deep enough to provide    It's been a while since I played a recently released game that has provided so much fun for me. In a day where we're flooded with multiplayer-focused games with thin stories and 6-hour or less "campaigns", Shadow of Mordor is really a breath of fresh air. Simply put, I can sit down and play this game and just have simple, unadulterated fun with it.

    The game is deep enough to provide some interesting RPG elements (leveling up attributes, learning new skills, collecting runes to add different powers to your weapons and deciding which ones are the best to fit your play style, etc.), but stays simple enough to feel fun to play no matter what you choose or how you choose to play. You never feel hindered by choosing one attribute over the other or learning one skill first before another.

    The gameplay itself has been criticised for "being an Assassin's Creed rip-off". But hold on now...let's not forget a little game released in 2003 called Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, which came long before both. Uncharted also uses this leaping/grabbing/acrobatic-style gameplay to great effect. I am not a personal fan of the Assassin's Creed series (it has fallen victim to the CoD one-a-year treatment), but the point trying to be made here is this: although the games have similar mechanics, I feel Shadow of Mordor uses it to a greater, and more fun, effect. Simply put, don't let the haters detract you from at least trying the game.

    The core fighting gameplay is very fun. You can complete the game using button mashing if you desire, but certain unlockable skills later on reward you for timed combos. Fighting 1-5 enemies or so is an easy affair; however when you get ambushed by a Captain and they bring in 30 or 40 Uruks to aide them, the tides turn a bit and you are constantly kept on your toes by having to counter attacks and keep your combo counter up to perform executions. I especially enjoy the stealth gameplay; performing aerial takedowns and "brutalizing" Uruks which makes enemies flee is very satisfying.

    The Nemesis system is also done very well. Enemies will remember you if you fight them, do not kill them, and come back to them later. Scars from the battle will remain on their bodies. You can gain intel from lower-ranked Uruks to learn the weaknesses of the Captains which will help you defeat them quicker (example: some Uruks might be able to be killed instantly by a stealth attack, or a charged bow shot to the head). Learning intel also tells you their strengths; some Captains, for example, are enraged when they are on fire and will become stronger and regenerate health. It makes for some very interesting fights.

    The gameplay missions are varied by objectives of different kinds; you have the main story missions which progress the overall plot, but there are also side missions, which range from upgrading your weapons to participating in helping one Captain overthrow another, and more. There are also various things to collect inside the game world that reveal lore and backstory in the game, and small "missions" that add to the overall game percentage completion (collecting herbs, hunting).

    In all, the game is very well done. I don't usually give any game a 10, but I've had so much fun with this one that even an occasional minor glitch (which I personally haven't experienced yet but have heard about) doesn't detract from the fun I've had. If you're a fan of LotR, or you just want a fun, action-packed game in general, definitely pick this one up and give it a shot.    … Expand
  92. snip4r
    Dec 10, 2014
    10
    Lord of the rings assassins creed minus the assassins creed glitches. Enough said? No. This game also combines what was great about not just assassins creed, but also the batman arkham games. Plus it adds in whole new ways to look at the lord of the rings universe. Great game recommended.
  93. Skagzilla
    Dec 10, 2014
    10
    Best game I have played in a long time I've played for 46 hours and I'm only 50 percent through all the side missions and everything. It's a game that you can put hours into without getting bored I love and I recommend this game to anyone who plays games
  94. SerialSeaguller
    Dec 10, 2014
    8
    Pros
    -Love the nemesis system
    -Good graphics -In-depth skill tree -Strongholds are fun to wreck -Great open world Cons -Short and mediocre story -No items or loot -No class system though you can focus more on ranger or wraith -Meh quests -Prepare to rage at some Uruks Overall The Shadow of Mordor is a great game worth the buy. Though I found myself more focused on the open    Pros
    -Love the nemesis system
    -Good graphics
    -In-depth skill tree
    -Strongholds are fun to wreck
    -Great open world

    Cons
    -Short and mediocre story
    -No items or loot
    -No class system though you can focus more on ranger or wraith
    -Meh quests
    -Prepare to rage at some Uruks

    Overall The Shadow of Mordor is a great game worth the buy. Though I found myself more focused on the open world and nemesis system than the actual story I still had a great time and can't wait for the dlc. My advice:Pick it up when its on sale on G2A or something. (I got it for $25 and have seen it go for $15)    … Expand
  95. windbite
    Dec 13, 2014
    8
    Purchased Middle Earth because of the great ratings on metacritic and haven't been disappointed. The storyline is interesting and control is nice but a little tricky. The biggest flaw to me with this came is the camera/view angles. The graphics are very good, but I'm still expecting more against my PS3.
  96. Megadonx92x
    Jan 8, 2015
    10
    Let me start off by saying that I don't understand how anyone can give this game a bad review. Shadow of Mordor is by far the funnest game I've played on the new consoles. It pretty much is the Batman Arkham and the Assassin's Creed series mixed. I never really played much of the Batman's but as a fan of Assassin's Creed, I'm a big fan of this game. The game play is smooth, counters lookLet me start off by saying that I don't understand how anyone can give this game a bad review. Shadow of Mordor is by far the funnest game I've played on the new consoles. It pretty much is the Batman Arkham and the Assassin's Creed series mixed. I never really played much of the Batman's but as a fan of Assassin's Creed, I'm a big fan of this game. The game play is smooth, counters look awesome, and the game play is very fun and addictive. There's nothing more fun than going around and slicing orcs' heads off and the animations make it that much better. The graphics look great and the story is pretty interesting. I think this game is very well put together and, to me, is the best game of the year for the new systems. If your true gamer there's no excuse not to have this game in your life.… Expand
  97. Danulius
    Dec 18, 2014
    10
    This game is an absolute must-have in my eyes. Being a huge Lord Of the Rings fan, I'm in love with the story line. the combat is brilliant, the perks for weapons is a great idea and the stealth and execution elements make the game even better.

    Bringing this style of game into an open world lay out was an excellent idea, i cannot praise it enough. going from a dark and infested area of    This game is an absolute must-have in my eyes. Being a huge Lord Of the Rings fan, I'm in love with the story line. the combat is brilliant, the perks for weapons is a great idea and the stealth and execution elements make the game even better.

    Bringing this style of game into an open world lay out was an excellent idea, i cannot praise it enough. going from a dark and infested area of Mordor into lush greenlands brings a new appeal to a game. As i have never played a game like this, I easily put hours and hours into it without thought.

    In regards to the story line, it sticks well to the events of the LOTR books/films, and brings elements of these films into the game, they've done an excellent job with this game, and i strongly recommend you get it!    … Expand
  98. Muzzle131
    Mar 9, 2015
    9
    So off the bat: This game is good. We could leave it that but I'm not that type of person so first off is the story: For me it's the weakest part, I'm no giant fan of Lord of the Rings so I have only a simple idea of whats going on which is you are Talion a man who is part of band of other soldiers called hunters who are the first defense against the Sauron's return, however a siege on theSo off the bat: This game is good. We could leave it that but I'm not that type of person so first off is the story: For me it's the weakest part, I'm no giant fan of Lord of the Rings so I have only a simple idea of whats going on which is you are Talion a man who is part of band of other soldiers called hunters who are the first defense against the Sauron's return, however a siege on the gates takes place and you are captured and killed making you an undead unable to live or die, now it's up to you and your Wraith companion to seek vengeance. So simply put it's a vengeance story and it doesn't (seem) to greatly impact anything of the over-arching story so you would probably come here only for gameplay. The gameplay is a bit of a touchy subject, it's like Assassin's Creed and Batman Arkham , you stealth around finding ways to slice an enemy and combat is your simple attack and counter attack, simple right? WRONG! The combat at least is super difficult creating situations of intense focus as it punishes you for any wrong move you do. That being said it's a good thing creating something of a Dark Souls feel where you have to quickly assess a situation and execute a plan, in the first hours of the game it's pretty difficult as your entirely weak and helpless using intelligence and the environment to your advantage against the most unrelenting Uruks. Which I should mention is probably the greatest reason on this games success: normal Uruks are nothing special except they do seem to have intelligent AI that know that ganging up on you is the best way to kill you, but it's the captains that take the cake as each one of them has a unique name and personality that constantly evolve as they level up making combat more intense if one joins in. They also serve as a vital role within game as the nemesis system works against you and is always in motion, for instance captains will try to complete their own challenges in order to level up and become that much more powerful making you want to intervene and instead you level up, which is another thing: leveling up does make you stronger however it becomes that more clear that it still wont stop the local population to pave the road in your blood as a simple 1 v 5 can turn into a much more **** of what is going on!? Like the Neo vs Smith fight in Matrix: Reloaded and probably ending up the same way and that is: you running like hell. In the end this is a solid amazing game creating lots of fun and replay value thanks to the nemesis system.… Expand
  99. maveric_87
    Dec 19, 2014
    9
    My first 30 minutes with the game were not thrilling. I felt it was a bit boring and unoriginal. However, once I got passed the 1.5 hour mark I was hooked and still am. The graphics are fantastic and really show off the world Tolkien created that Peter Jackson showed us on the big screen. The controls are solid using the combat system Arkham Asylum made famous. The story is well done forMy first 30 minutes with the game were not thrilling. I felt it was a bit boring and unoriginal. However, once I got passed the 1.5 hour mark I was hooked and still am. The graphics are fantastic and really show off the world Tolkien created that Peter Jackson showed us on the big screen. The controls are solid using the combat system Arkham Asylum made famous. The story is well done for an action game and it does an excellent job utilizing the material provided by the books to give us more background on the setting, herbs, characters, history etc. One of my few gripes is the lack of a loot system which I feel could have been easily added to the game even with the rune system(which I loved) already in place. Being able to customize Talion's armor and weapons rather than being limited to different skins would have been the icing on the cake for me. The game setting although set in Mordor(hence the name of the game) could use some more variety to it. Now to my favorite part. The Nemesis system! It. Is. Awesome! Very innovative and adds a new dimension to games that are fun but lack a good challenge. I look forward to seeing this system evolve and be used in future games. Overall, this game is amazing! Worth every bit of the $59.99 price tag!… Expand
  100. alexmanea
    Feb 5, 2015
    9
    This game is simply awesome! I was skeptical at first because of the other LOTR games but I was surprised by how good this game can be. The graphics were beautiful and the story just hypnotises you with its amazing plot. I loved the fact that it combined elements from both Assassin's Creed and Batman Arkham. Even the side quests were fun to play but after a while these can get a littleThis game is simply awesome! I was skeptical at first because of the other LOTR games but I was surprised by how good this game can be. The graphics were beautiful and the story just hypnotises you with its amazing plot. I loved the fact that it combined elements from both Assassin's Creed and Batman Arkham. Even the side quests were fun to play but after a while these can get a little repetitive. Another reason why I love this game so much is because it is fun and enjoyable. Also, I've achieved near 80% of the trophies not even trying to achieve them, but only by beating the game 100% .… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

19
#19 Best PS4 Game of 2014
7
#7 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2014
5
#5 Most Shared PS4 Game of 2014

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
84

Generally favorable reviews - based on 85 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 77 out of 85
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 85
  3. Negative: 0 out of 85
  1. Thunderbolt
    Jun 12, 2015
    90
    For people who are alright with playing fifteen hours or so of Helm’s Deep-style carnage, Shadow of Mordor is a delight – and even for people who couldn’t care less about Lord of the Rings, the exciting combat and unique Nemesis System are more than enough to make the experience worthwhile.
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  2. The Digital Fix
    Dec 24, 2014
    90
    As a gamer you owe it to yourself to experience Shadow of Mordor if not for anything else other than the Nemesis system because playing a single-player game never made you feel less alone.
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  3. CD-Action
    Dec 13, 2014
    75
    Batman’s Creed: Shadow of Mordor – Monolith’s inspirations are so obvious that you could call their game a rip-off. Its greatest sin though is the fact that it fails to vary gameplay the way Assassin’s Creed or Batman do and offers almost nothing apart from killing stuff and playing with the Nemesis system (which, I admit, has its moments). I got so tired with its repetitiveness that I wouldn’t have finished the game if I didn’t have to. [Dec 2014, p.48]
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