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. kaldon
    Oct 6, 2014
    10
    The game is incredibly fun, combat is engaging and you can kick some serious ass, but at times it can be unforgiving if you get a certain combo of boss NPCs. Graphically it is one of the most beautiful games I have ever seen. It is the most Nextgen title thus far. I highly recommend it I have it on PC and PS4 with the majority of my time played on the PS4. I haven't run into any bugs thusThe game is incredibly fun, combat is engaging and you can kick some serious ass, but at times it can be unforgiving if you get a certain combo of boss NPCs. Graphically it is one of the most beautiful games I have ever seen. It is the most Nextgen title thus far. I highly recommend it I have it on PC and PS4 with the majority of my time played on the PS4. I haven't run into any bugs thus far, it is really well done, Monolith did a very nice job.… Expand
  2. Dinizap9
    Oct 6, 2014
    10
    The game is excellent and very well optimized. I'm a huge fan of the Lord of the Rings and Tolkien's work in general and I can say that this game did not disappoint me. Sure, he's practically an Assassin's Creed: Middle-earth, but it is an excellent game. I do not regret one bit of bought it. Perhaps the only downside is the length of the game, at least the main story, which is comprisedThe game is excellent and very well optimized. I'm a huge fan of the Lord of the Rings and Tolkien's work in general and I can say that this game did not disappoint me. Sure, he's practically an Assassin's Creed: Middle-earth, but it is an excellent game. I do not regret one bit of bought it. Perhaps the only downside is the length of the game, at least the main story, which is comprised of only 20 missions and you can finish it very quickly if you want. 10/10… Expand
  3. DarthPreamp
    Oct 6, 2014
    4
    I haven't played a more broken game since Two Worlds. YIKES! Which is too bad, because there is an great game trapped inside a mess of development and testing.
  4. 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
  5. 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
  6. Jimmy_Rinser
    Oct 6, 2014
    7
    This game is dope! I know I have only given it a 7 but its still worth a play. The game is what it is, big combos, lots of upgrading, lots of pressing square and triangle when promoted with a couple special attacks mixed in. Its kind of a mix between, skyrim, assains creed, batman and informus with a LOTR skin over the top.
    Not ground breaking, no real new ideas but def lots of fun and    This game is dope! I know I have only given it a 7 but its still worth a play. The game is what it is, big combos, lots of upgrading, lots of pressing square and triangle when promoted with a couple special attacks mixed in. Its kind of a mix between, skyrim, assains creed, batman and informus with a LOTR skin over the top.
    Not ground breaking, no real new ideas but def lots of fun and worth playing.
    (dont think it will have much shelf life, once completed it will be sold straight away)    … Expand
  7. Perxoda
    Oct 6, 2014
    8
    Very clearly a follow-up from the Batman games in terms of game mechanics. But with it's own feel and style heavily entrenched in the Middle-Earth setting.

    Gameplay: The first and foremost aspect for myself. It feels smooth and intuitive. It's build on the basics of the Batman games which you'll clearly recognize. It gives you a bit more leeway for errors though (thankfully in this    Very clearly a follow-up from the Batman games in terms of game mechanics. But with it's own feel and style heavily entrenched in the Middle-Earth setting.

    Gameplay: The first and foremost aspect for myself. It feels smooth and intuitive. It's build on the basics of the Batman games which you'll clearly recognize. It gives you a bit more leeway for errors though (thankfully in this split second moments) and with the upgrade system get's some nice extra's. The stealth gameplay reminds me of Assassin's Creed games with a lot of the same movements. The stealth missions aren't too long thankfully. Orcs seems to be fairly blind though, allthough this allows for a better gameplay experience overall with more freedom of movement.

    Graphics: Not much to note here if I'm honest. It looks great (depending on your rig). Pushes the bar just a little bit higher and still runs well while doing so. Make sure you get the HD package after installing.

    Replayability: That's where the downside of this game kicks in. It felt short. I completed the entirity of this game (side missions, collectibles, weapon legends, etc.) in 21 hours. For a modern third person action game that's a respectable time. Still it felt way too short for me and the main storyline consists of 20 missions which only tell a threadbare story. The entire time I was playing I felt like I was playing in an enclosed enviroment. Just a teeny, tiny bit of what could be a huge world. Some of the final missions were just to wrap up the story line and felt like the designers didn't know where they could go anymore. And a quick-time event for the final scene just seems like a waste to me.

    Conclusion: An overall very good game which is certainly worth buying if you're into fast paced action in a good looking world. You might at times feel claustrophobic within the confined walls of the two zones, but there's plenty to do in this secluded space of MIddle-Earth. If the above is not true for you than I'd suggest waiting till the price drops to 25 euro's/dollars or so before picking this up. As far as the storyline goes you're not missing anything by not buying this title.    … Expand
  8. Ezekialx
    Oct 5, 2014
    10
    Highly addictive game. Fun combat system with forgiving stealth system. A bit like Assassin's Creed in Mordor. Difficult at times, but not frustratingly so. I'm enjoying the story.
  9. 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
  10. Raybel22
    Oct 5, 2014
    8
    Very good game. I love the combat system as the battle can get intense and it is lot of fun. I just which there was more things to explore in the world. A little bit more from Skyrim kind of thing, something else than just collection writing for the wall and the memory thing . Sometimes it gets too repetitive.
  11. parkerbigs84
    Oct 5, 2014
    9
    If you enjoy The Batman & Assassin's Creed franchises then you are in for a very surprising treat with "Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor"!! Great controls with an awesomely bloody & violent combat system!! It has a captivating & original story that is leaving its mark in the Middle Earth lore taking place in-between the Lord of the Rings/The Hobbit story time-lines.. While all that isIf you enjoy The Batman & Assassin's Creed franchises then you are in for a very surprising treat with "Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor"!! Great controls with an awesomely bloody & violent combat system!! It has a captivating & original story that is leaving its mark in the Middle Earth lore taking place in-between the Lord of the Rings/The Hobbit story time-lines.. While all that is definitely great; the most important thing is that "ME: Shadow of Mordor" is simply a lot fun to play!… Expand
  12. psugrad1999
    Oct 5, 2014
    8
    I've been playing this all weekend, and I must say, over all I really like it on the Xbox One. The graphics are stunning, the lore is rich and deep, and the captain battles are tense. That is what I really love about the game. What I don't love? The story is really not that great. While it actually has a story as compared to Destiny, and it's deeper, it's still seriously lackingI've been playing this all weekend, and I must say, over all I really like it on the Xbox One. The graphics are stunning, the lore is rich and deep, and the captain battles are tense. That is what I really love about the game. What I don't love? The story is really not that great. While it actually has a story as compared to Destiny, and it's deeper, it's still seriously lacking considering how much material Tolkien provided in the original sources. I get it, I'm revenging my family's death, but I just haven't don't feel compelled to disrupt the chain of command. I have little reference for the locations. So far, all the artifacts have told me more about the people then the history of the region, the factions, and the major players. This might seem trite to complain about, but, when you consider how much lore is available, I feel that they should have made an effort. The other thing that has really bothered me is the actual game play. I don't mind so much needing to hit a button and just the right moment, but there are times where you have to move the pointer in the circle, and hit a requested button. It's very similar to Laura Croft's 2013 release, and I hated it in that game also. Finally, the AI can be frustrating. I might find a captain, and I might know how best to fight it. I can methodically take out all his unit, so it's just the two of us. Or I could be in a battle, and one would show up. I think, I can handle this, no problem. I start fighting, and then, next think I know 2 or more captains show up. I've had this happen both in and out of strongholds. At first, I'd get killed, but then I quickly learned that sometimes, it's best to run and fight another day. Other then my annoyances, this is a solid game, that has already given me many hours of enjoyment. I knocked off a point for not using all the lore available, and another point for the actual game play mechanics. If you like the Middle Earth setting, like button mashing, like a mix of outright fighting and a good amount of stealth, then by all means get this game.… Expand
  13. 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
  14. Gamingking007
    Oct 5, 2014
    10
    This game is amazing!!! From beginning to the end this game had me hooked! I am an obsessed fan of the lord of the rings movies and was really not expecting such an immersive game which expands on the lord of the rings saga! The presentation, story and gameplay were all out of this world. I believe this is the best lord of the rings game there is and would recommend it to anyone who is aThis game is amazing!!! From beginning to the end this game had me hooked! I am an obsessed fan of the lord of the rings movies and was really not expecting such an immersive game which expands on the lord of the rings saga! The presentation, story and gameplay were all out of this world. I believe this is the best lord of the rings game there is and would recommend it to anyone who is a fan of the series and if not to anyone who loves fantasy rpg.This is the best rpg of the year so far!thanks monolith you guys rock!… Expand
  15. 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.
  16. pkla
    Oct 5, 2014
    9
    Rus language review
    Игра с очень хорошей графикой(видно что нексген) , геймплей очень похож на Ассасинс крид в лучший его чертах , очень интересные побочные квесты , я их выполняю просто потому , что интресено ослабить армию Саурона , игра стоит своих денег .    Rus language review
    Игра с очень хорошей графикой(видно что нексген) , геймплей очень похож на Ассасинс крид в лучший его чертах , очень интересные побочные квесты , я их выполняю просто потому , что интресено ослабить армию Саурона , игра стоит своих денег .
  17. Pendragon197779
    Oct 5, 2014
    10
    Best game of the decade in my opinion. Sure there are a few minor flaws, but there have been many games with just as many or more flaws that still got a 10 rating. They took the best things from many good games and made something new and exciting. 40 plus hours into the game after beating all missions and game, and I am still enjoying it.
  18. GERULAS
    Oct 5, 2014
    10
    This is one of the best game that I have played on PC in last 10 years and I played plenty of games.
    Combat mechanics are a bit better than the one from Assassin's Creed that's the part that I like the most , anyway the short version: overall this is a very well constructed game, fun and exciting it's a very good game worth to be rated around 9/10
    P.S: This is my second time when I waste    This is one of the best game that I have played on PC in last 10 years and I played plenty of games.
    Combat mechanics are a bit better than the one from Assassin's Creed that's the part that I like the most , anyway the short version: overall this is a very well constructed game, fun and exciting it's a very good game worth to be rated around 9/10
    P.S: This is my second time when I waste my time with such activities to rated a game here.    … Expand
  19. Brit_Miller
    Oct 5, 2014
    8
    I think the 10/10 reviews are way off on this. To say the graphics are next gen is just not true - they're distinctly average - and the camera is a nightmare at times near walls.

    But, the gameplay is very enjoyable and the nemesis system is very good. I'd definitely recommend to other people based on this, but it's not a 10/10 game.
  20. jimski53
    Oct 5, 2014
    9
    some people scoring this game low ,this is a decent game and anyone giving this gamer less than 7 is a mug id like to know what game they would give a 9/10 too
  21. Fartahontas
    Oct 5, 2014
    4
    Try to press X,triangle,O,and square at the same time, three of the four shoulder buttons, and coordinate both sticks at the same time. Got it? Now, run while doing that with the camera facing a direction other than the one in which you are running. Next, get killed and you pretty much have this game in a nutshell.
  22. boddhisativa
    Oct 4, 2014
    10
    As a life long Tolkien fan, I get sucked into trying almost every game that comes it set in his..........legendarium. Pretty much always ends in disappointment. To date the only real fun I have found in Middle Earth gaming are the Third Age mods for the Total War series. When I initially started to see press for this game, I was not impressed. The whole Talion/Wraith thing seemed to beAs a life long Tolkien fan, I get sucked into trying almost every game that comes it set in his..........legendarium. Pretty much always ends in disappointment. To date the only real fun I have found in Middle Earth gaming are the Third Age mods for the Total War series. When I initially started to see press for this game, I was not impressed. The whole Talion/Wraith thing seemed to be very un-Tolkien like, and the gameplay reminiscent of other offerings. Then, in what I think was a wise move, Monolith revealed the wraith as Celebrimbor. Now this was really intriguing. Then as more was revealed about the nemesis system, I decided to buy it.

    After finishing the game in 26hrs, at 60% total completion, I can say I am very impressed. The last open world game I played was GTAV ( on XBOX, SoM was played on PC ). I far and away enjoyed my time in Mordor than I did in Los Santos. Now, if you are concerned about story length, heres my take. Some folks have completed it very quickly. 9.5 hours is the fastest I have seen. In those cases the players blew through the main story quests almost exclusively. I am not sure this is a bad thing. If one chooses, it gives them the opportunity to do a quick play through that is story driven. It seems that when this approach is taken, the Nemesis system does not get much of a chance to develop powerful captains and chiefs. Folks who finish fast often complain its an easy game. Most others, who take there time to explore, complete side missions, etc, find it more difficult. In fact I see more complaints that it is too difficult than otherwise. I found out to be a reasonable challenge. One sure way to die quickly is to think this game can be played in the same styles as they games they are often compared to. It is extremely fun, extremely visceral, and addictive.

    Are the specs inflated? To a degree. My rig is a i7 4790, 250g SSD, 16gb ram, 770 2gb. The High texture pack has a recommendation of 3gb vram. I have no problem running high textures, with all high settings, with max frame rates of 80, with very rare dips to the min of 55. I don't even seen those dips. The benchmarks just tell me they apparently happen. When I watch the counter I never see it go below 70. Can I run the Ultra pack? Well yeah. It dips, stutters, and rarely is ever as smooth as it is on high textures. I have seen youtubes of guys with the same card saying "See, it can run it." They get they same kind of performance I do. The High settings are a more enjoyable experience imo. I can run most of the other Ultra settings however, but my min framerates dip to 43 or so. Thing is, I have found what many ( pro ) reviewers have. The Ultra textures do not look a heck of a lot different than the High. I can barely not a difference on my 21" monitor.

    How does it look? Fabulous. Especially the named Uruk. The look, and sound better than any other attempt has made to capture them in any medium, other than the original source of course. The Nemesis system scores big in achieving its goal. During my playthrough there where a couple of notable Uruks for me. Most notable the spear grunt who finished me off when I pressed an attack against a chief to far. That grunt eventually rose the ranks with my blood. Always showing up at the most in opportune times to do me in with his poison spears. In the end I never did kill him. I recruited him instead.

    How egregious was the story when it comes to the professors lore? Well, the best thing I could tell you do is go to youtube and watch the interview the dev. did with the guys fro theonering. net. A lot of effort was made to keep things within the lore. Have some liberties been taken? Some would scream "YES! It's blasphemy." For myself I am glad I gave it the chance. I enjoyed they story that was put forth. I found far less to be critical about with this game than any other Middle Earth offerings before. Certainly truer than the movies.

    So, my score? 9/10. A lot of fun, well executed. I am still playing after finishing, doing the challenges and taking care of lose ends in the campaign. I have some small gripes about things like occasionally getting stopped/stuck in the environment where one would not expect to, but those are rare, and hardly worth mentioning. So, why am I rating it 10? +1 to balance those who gave it a zero, but have not played it.    … Expand
  23. tombo
    Oct 4, 2014
    9
    This is the best game I've played since Dark Souls. Yeah, it's derivative BUT also innovative and
    most importantly, great, great fun. Terrific combat, stealth, and progression systems continually
    delight and surprise. Superb voice acting really immerses you in a compelling story.
  24. vousje
    Oct 4, 2014
    0
    My hand is broken after playing nightmare joyless button smasher. Story is very bad. Lifeless battle system. Worst of batman and assassins creed. Why bother.
  25. ForeverFalling
    Oct 4, 2014
    10
    There have been some great LOTR games and there have been some mediocre ones too. Shadow of Mordor, thankfully, falls into the former. This is a must play, even if you aren't a huge LOTR fan. If you are on the fence, watch some gameplay. Obviously Ignore the attention seeking trolls that are giving ridiculously low scores and saying the game is bad.
  26. Markolius
    Oct 4, 2014
    7
    This is a good game, but it's not as great as many critics and reviewers have been making it out to be. The overall map is small, the quests are repetitive, the story is as almost as absent as Destiny's, and the camera is faulty. The nemesis system is what stands out the most in defining what makes this game unique. In that, the AI is smart in the long term but stupid in the short term.This is a good game, but it's not as great as many critics and reviewers have been making it out to be. The overall map is small, the quests are repetitive, the story is as almost as absent as Destiny's, and the camera is faulty. The nemesis system is what stands out the most in defining what makes this game unique. In that, the AI is smart in the long term but stupid in the short term. There is little variety in the game. Almost every enemy is Orc, again and again and again. I guess they can excuse the masses of dumb AI Orcs because masses of Orcs are dumb- so that was by design right? Right... And as with the gameplay so the same with the environment, it's a small open world and it all looks the same. When I think of LOTR, I think of grand beautiful variations of environments, races, and adventures. I mean I've only seen one hobbit and one elf; no wizards, dwarves, or trolls. This is just one small shadow of mordor. Still... The game is good. The challenges themselves are challenging and fun. The action is exciting. The graphical detail of Talion and each Orc is all very well done. It is similar to Arkham and AC as so may have said, which is not a bad thing. I'd also say that it's similar to Infamous as well in the layout of the map, quest & ability progression, and use of cutscenes. Music and voice acting are very good. It's got a solid dozen hours of fun. I just feel like it could/should be so much more.… Expand
  27. djmusic10
    Oct 3, 2014
    6
    Just finished the game well... I loved it and Hated it. I loved it because its Lord of The Rings and it provides some awesome Cameo's , as well as context on the land of Mordor. The Story line is your simple Revenge story that is extremely short being . The combat is your simple Assassin Creed and Arkham City engine which is cool but makes every single battle feel the same with only 3Just finished the game well... I loved it and Hated it. I loved it because its Lord of The Rings and it provides some awesome Cameo's , as well as context on the land of Mordor. The Story line is your simple Revenge story that is extremely short being . The combat is your simple Assassin Creed and Arkham City engine which is cool but makes every single battle feel the same with only 3 different times of orcs, 1 neutral monster and 2 mounted monster. The camera is very clunky and the controls feel delayed sometimes.
    The Biggest Downfall ! was the Nemsis System. This was their selling point and it worked got me to buy the game and looks cool when you work with it at first. But it is the most pointless aspect of the game . they combine the Nemesis system with the story line two times throughout the game which is good or bad depending on who you ask. Leveling up your orcs or taking them over don't do anything for you in game because even when you start the game your already an OP beast but as you level up the game goes from Normal to Very Easy. Its the same repetitive Nemesis Missions and they keep talking about runes which doesn't really do anything because you already can kill those orcs with ease without them    … Expand
  28. LFiori
    Oct 3, 2014
    10
    A nice surprise. Story is ok, the gameplay is awesome and the game itself is very fun to play. I think it is the best game released so far and everyone should give it a try, but of course it is just my opinion.
  29. Fenntastico
    Oct 3, 2014
    10
    This game is absolutely the best game on the current gen. The combat is the best I've ever seen. The Nemesis system takes open world gameplay to a whole new level. You actually get attached to some of the orcs. The first grunt to kill me in this game is now the highest ranked war chief. I took him down once only for him to resurface with a nasty scar. Half way through the game and he'sThis game is absolutely the best game on the current gen. The combat is the best I've ever seen. The Nemesis system takes open world gameplay to a whole new level. You actually get attached to some of the orcs. The first grunt to kill me in this game is now the highest ranked war chief. I took him down once only for him to resurface with a nasty scar. Half way through the game and he's been levelling along side my character, creating a very personal rivalry. I've attempted to kill him many times only to have him kill me every time. And every time I see him, he reminds me of that fact. I've now given up and will attempt to make him my number one when I take on the dark lord.… Expand
  30. kirtasheks
    Oct 3, 2014
    9
    I expected nothing and got a really nice game.

    Glad to have it now, it gets a little repetitive, but suddenly they offer you more options. Really solid game.
  31. SeanGamerDays
    Oct 3, 2014
    9
    It's almost look like Batman: Arkham series, except there is blood in the game. However, It's fantastic! Brilliant, & f---ing amazing! But the campaign story is soo, unexpected! Lithtech, is a fine engine, and awesome, since it's been used, on F.E.A.R. series....
  32. adrenilinmatt
    Oct 3, 2014
    10
    What can I say, for a game I had doubts about, I've been surprised plenty. Destiny came out not long ago, and well, all I have to say whilst mentioning destiny and this game in the same paragraph is that I wish the sales for destiny and shadow of mordor could swap. This game deserves massive success so much more than destiny. It truly lives up to the hype, fantastic current gen title,bestWhat can I say, for a game I had doubts about, I've been surprised plenty. Destiny came out not long ago, and well, all I have to say whilst mentioning destiny and this game in the same paragraph is that I wish the sales for destiny and shadow of mordor could swap. This game deserves massive success so much more than destiny. It truly lives up to the hype, fantastic current gen title,best I've played yet, I own xbox one version, which is no different to the ps4; however I imagine both versions of the game are as fabulous as eachother. How could they not be. If this game doesn't atleast get GOTY nominated, I'll be amazed. All hail middle earth, all hail inspired thoughtful games such as this. They are few and far between these days.… Expand
  33. TyrannicalDonut
    Oct 3, 2014
    9
    This game is a reskin of the Batman fighting formula taking place in Middle-earth with a new storyline. That being said, the combat is just as fun as Batman, while the story is not quite as good. Still well worth the purchase and hours of fun.
  34. proudheretic
    Oct 3, 2014
    8
    Shadow of Mordor begins by ripping out your heart and discarding it nonchalantly. The game is dark, even for Lord of the Rings. The gameplay is more than reminiscent of Assassin's Creed and the Arkham games, it is a blatant re-skin of them. This is not necessarily a bad thing as it draws from the strengths of both.

    The missions and story are a bit bland, the classic revenge plot, and    Shadow of Mordor begins by ripping out your heart and discarding it nonchalantly. The game is dark, even for Lord of the Rings. The gameplay is more than reminiscent of Assassin's Creed and the Arkham games, it is a blatant re-skin of them. This is not necessarily a bad thing as it draws from the strengths of both.

    The missions and story are a bit bland, the classic revenge plot, and the missions are repetitive. The thing is, the missions are fun and it's fun to perfect them and upgrade your abilities so that you can dominate the next "seek and kill" mission.

    That brings us to the "seek and kill" missions. This game gives meaning to every single menial "kill" mission by giving every single enemy a chance to shine with the "Nemesis" system. Even the lowliest peon enemy can become a major boss in this game by getting lucky and killing you. He gains power by completing his own missions and fighting his own battles.

    That's one of the things that sets this game apart, you can do nothing and the world will still evolve without you.

    The story could have been better, the controls are ripped off (but they're good ripoffs), but the "Nemesis" system is revolutionary and really gives this LOTR game an organic feeling that most games lack.    … Expand
  35. angryelves
    Oct 3, 2014
    2
    Talk about boring, all you do is kill orcs. Granted, the style of hunting orcs and taking them down is pretty cool. But after awhile of killing orc after orc, the game becomes very rote, and a game cannot survive long on one thing. The nemesis system is a good idea, but poorly implemented; the leveling up orc captains do not significantly contribute to Talion's story. Speaking of story...Talk about boring, all you do is kill orcs. Granted, the style of hunting orcs and taking them down is pretty cool. But after awhile of killing orc after orc, the game becomes very rote, and a game cannot survive long on one thing. The nemesis system is a good idea, but poorly implemented; the leveling up orc captains do not significantly contribute to Talion's story. Speaking of story... Shadow of Mordor lacks a bit in that department. Gladiator-like, the story seems unoriginal, and tired.

    This is a Batman combat feel with Assassin's Creed type of stalking. Definitely a rental, not a purchase type of game. Only rabid LOTR video game fans will appreciate this one for long.    … Expand
  36. noobishka
    Oct 3, 2014
    1
    This game is disgraceful, it truly is very poor. Combat is dull and the free roaming has almost no joy in it. I wish I regain the hours i wasted on this excuse of a game.
  37. Zerathal
    Oct 3, 2014
    10
    This game is sent by the Gods! One of those games that has life to it .You will be able to play this for hours and forget about the main story . I Recommend this game to everybody that likes to play games !.
  38. hiddenpheonix
    Oct 3, 2014
    0
    Right now, the game is broken. Bugs are huge and ridiculous.
    1) Auto save so if you screw up, they win by becoming more powerful and that's permanent. Enemies become invulnerable to your every attack unless certain circumstances line up just right in a highly unlikely way. And those invulnerable will have all the missions include them so the game gets stuck.
    2) Complex Quick time event,    Right now, the game is broken. Bugs are huge and ridiculous.
    1) Auto save so if you screw up, they win by becoming more powerful and that's permanent. Enemies become invulnerable to your every attack unless certain circumstances line up just right in a highly unlikely way. And those invulnerable will have all the missions include them so the game gets stuck.
    2) Complex Quick time event, which is horrible to begin with, pop up behind the interface so even if you manage to get the the circles lined up, half the time you have no clue what button to it because of course that changes too.
    3) 48 hours past game launch and still no prepurchase bonuses patched in to the game.
    4) walk near a wall, get stuck on that wall
    5)two hit kill enemies are everywhere
    6) nothing fixed or choice, everything is random like diablo loot
    7) Tiny map, like a GTA opening world
    Save your money.    … Expand
  39. yssy
    Oct 3, 2014
    10
    Finally a LOTR game which is worth the money and the hype. I've played it for over three hours and enjoyed every single second of it. It's definitely one a the best game releases this year.
  40. greedoinaspeedo
    Oct 2, 2014
    9
    This is a very well made game with a lot of polish, an addictive and rewarding combat system, a beautiful open world to explore, and a decent story. It all adds up to a superb gaming experience that is hard to pull yourself away from.

    I would recommend this to anyone who is a fan of Lord of the Rings, open world games, Batman games, Assasin's Creed games, or just a fan of viscerally    This is a very well made game with a lot of polish, an addictive and rewarding combat system, a beautiful open world to explore, and a decent story. It all adds up to a superb gaming experience that is hard to pull yourself away from.

    I would recommend this to anyone who is a fan of Lord of the Rings, open world games, Batman games, Assasin's Creed games, or just a fan of viscerally satisfying combat. I would also mention that if you aren't a fan of Assasin's Creed series, despite Shadow of Mordor having a lot of gameplay similarities, it manages to overcome a lot of that series shortcomings.    … Expand
  41. trollkiller
    Oct 2, 2014
    10
    The first game that truly deserves the moniker "next gen", The nemesis system alone may revolutionize PVe play in ways no game has done in years. With shades of AC parkour and Arkham Batman combat, the combat is challenging but rewarding. The side missions are rich in Tolkien lore and really add depth to the story. There are a few frustrating moments when the gameplay might glitch and notThe first game that truly deserves the moniker "next gen", The nemesis system alone may revolutionize PVe play in ways no game has done in years. With shades of AC parkour and Arkham Batman combat, the combat is challenging but rewarding. The side missions are rich in Tolkien lore and really add depth to the story. There are a few frustrating moments when the gameplay might glitch and not respond so you...die. But overall its by far the best game so far this year… Expand
  42. xhaosis
    Oct 2, 2014
    7
    Its a decent game I actually give it a 7.5. I put in about 1-2 hours into. Its a button masher and I recommend drinking mountain dew coffee etc. Not beer while playing. I had a hard time remembering combos but I am sure after more time I will get it down. I was hoping for more of a rpg element or a bit more of a immersion into the world its more of a action game where practically yourIts a decent game I actually give it a 7.5. I put in about 1-2 hours into. Its a button masher and I recommend drinking mountain dew coffee etc. Not beer while playing. I had a hard time remembering combos but I am sure after more time I will get it down. I was hoping for more of a rpg element or a bit more of a immersion into the world its more of a action game where practically your just running around pushing buttons to make countless animations mutilating orcs etc. none the less it is fun its a face paced game so as I said you really need to be paying attention etc. the sound is good visuals are impressive to my 37 year old eyes. Its fun as I said I was hoping for more of a rpg element but can settle for less, dragon age will fill the gap for me. Finally this game has more value than the previous titles that came out hyped to all hell. hard to explain but everything in it works pretty good etc you get what you pay for no bullcrap here with this game its a action button masher that can keep you busy for a few hours. I don't recommend it for children if parents are looking here for gifts for kids, it is very violent etc. You have to use your parental guidance on that yet as I said its very violent and graphic. Practically a graphic rated R cartoon. Anyhow this is my review its worth the money folks.… Expand
  43. Xanerith
    Oct 2, 2014
    10
    I cannot put this game down, sometimes I don't even follow the game and go about killing enemies and just messing with them the combat is awesome and to me never gets old, the story is brutal and not about happy times that's for sure! The nemesis system is very interesting and I hope it gets expanded upon on future games!
  44. hawdskinna
    Oct 2, 2014
    7
    If you are in to the style of games like Arkham, or Assassin's Creed, then this is the game for you. Its a fancy, polished mixture of the two. The nemesis system is neat, but very over-hyped. It was cool at first, but the novelty wears off fast, and it just becomes an annoying "cut-scene" you have to skip every time. It adds nothing to the game play that simply automatically promotingIf you are in to the style of games like Arkham, or Assassin's Creed, then this is the game for you. Its a fancy, polished mixture of the two. The nemesis system is neat, but very over-hyped. It was cool at first, but the novelty wears off fast, and it just becomes an annoying "cut-scene" you have to skip every time. It adds nothing to the game play that simply automatically promoting units would have done.

    I'm also not a fan of RPG's where the "spec" you choose has no real meaning. You get all the skills in the game very fast, and it makes picking what you select feel pointless. At best, you just pick what you want to use an hour earlier than the others... then you just get those too.    … Expand
  45. RumThief
    Oct 2, 2014
    10
    This game delivers in every respect it sets out to accomplish. Yes, it combines some great elements that we've seen in several other triple A games and the combat and movement systems will be familiar. I think they have masterfully blended them, though, and given us a game that we can enjoy again and again. Kudos to the guys that gave us so many awesome small details as well.
  46. Zegu
    Oct 2, 2014
    9
    I finally had some time to sit down and play this. The initial hours are pretty fun. The tutorial is very well done, it teaches you everything you need to know, but it comes off differently than "Press Triangle to Counter".
    It took me a bit to realize you have to sneak around at the start, running in is going to attract a lot of enemies and is a sure fire way to die.
    I really love    I finally had some time to sit down and play this. The initial hours are pretty fun. The tutorial is very well done, it teaches you everything you need to know, but it comes off differently than "Press Triangle to Counter".
    It took me a bit to realize you have to sneak around at the start, running in is going to attract a lot of enemies and is a sure fire way to die.
    I really love watching the power struggles among the Orcs that I am not a part of, it's cool watching the game evolve without player input.    … Expand
  47. Aendel
    Oct 2, 2014
    10
    I would recommend this game to anyone who loves open-world games, killing orcs, and manipulating a hierarchy in a bloody and occasionally funny way. This is the first game set in Tolkien lore to take my breath away. Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor has a combat style similar to batman arkahm asylum but what defines it is that it is done very well. The animations are excellent and it flowsI would recommend this game to anyone who loves open-world games, killing orcs, and manipulating a hierarchy in a bloody and occasionally funny way. This is the first game set in Tolkien lore to take my breath away. Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor has a combat style similar to batman arkahm asylum but what defines it is that it is done very well. The animations are excellent and it flows very smoothly and when you see a prompt to counter you will counter if you press it on time, you don't feel like the game is cheating you in some way. The world is beautiful, as I have experienced both of the expansive maps, and they both have a unique feel, but graphically pleasing in some way to the player, not to mention the rain/hail and how it affects your characters textures as well as those of the orcs is beautiful. Then the Nemesis system is what puts the icing on the cake for sure. With owning it since tuesday ( two days ) I've done about half the main story missions, but the whole first day I just couldn't help but play with the orcs in the nemesis system. I would set out to go do a quest but then I'd walk by a mission to ruin this orc's feast for instance and I'd just get distracted and enjoy it! That is the most important thing in an open-world game, and that is the side missions are captivating and fun and sometimes more important than even the main storyline. I haven't enjoyed an open world game so much since skyrim's release, and I haven't enjoyed an action game this much for a very long time. Not to mention the innovation of the nemesis system can grow ad become more complicated as time goes on. Imagine a Mafia game with such a system, or even a batman game with this system where you pit joker's men against that of penguins or something to capture them both. Just an example, but this system could revolutionize the genre as it makes the player feel that they affect the game in a fundamental way, which is what makes Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor such a pleasing and satisfying experience.… Expand
  48. bestkeeper14
    Oct 2, 2014
    9
    Shadow of Mordor is the surprise game of the year candidate that every one should try it out! It has a little bit of everything; Stealth, Action, RPG, Shooter, and strategy game mixed in and done well. Every time I have engaged in a fight I have come away wanting to run around my house wielding a sword in person. The combat is the best parts of the Batman Arkham series, mixed in withShadow of Mordor is the surprise game of the year candidate that every one should try it out! It has a little bit of everything; Stealth, Action, RPG, Shooter, and strategy game mixed in and done well. Every time I have engaged in a fight I have come away wanting to run around my house wielding a sword in person. The combat is the best parts of the Batman Arkham series, mixed in with Assassins Creed game play, all set in the lord of the Rings Universe. It isn't any where near a perfect game, but it is one of the best experiences I have had all year and the most fun I have had with a video game I can ever recall.… Expand
  49. memtndude1
    Oct 2, 2014
    10
    This game is amazing. The combat reminds you of Batman and the open world gameplay reminds you a bit of the Assassin's Creed series. It is very easy to get deeply involved in the side missions and hunting captains etc. and forgetting about the main story altogether. The graphics are pretty good. I highly recommend this game to anyone who likes good action games or LOTR. You don't need toThis game is amazing. The combat reminds you of Batman and the open world gameplay reminds you a bit of the Assassin's Creed series. It is very easy to get deeply involved in the side missions and hunting captains etc. and forgetting about the main story altogether. The graphics are pretty good. I highly recommend this game to anyone who likes good action games or LOTR. You don't need to be a fan of both to enjoy this game.… Expand
  50. Marshy
    Oct 2, 2014
    7
    After playing this game on pc, I can easily say it is a great game but there is alot of bugs and stupid systems Like the controls it is just horrible, I find my self smashing the space bar to sprint but half of the time it dose not work,

    The story is just above par, It didn't really make me feel any connection to the Tolkien at all and i didn't want to know what was going to happen    After playing this game on pc, I can easily say it is a great game but there is alot of bugs and stupid systems Like the controls it is just horrible, I find my self smashing the space bar to sprint but half of the time it dose not work,

    The story is just above par, It didn't really make me feel any connection to the Tolkien at all and i didn't want to know what was going to happen next, I just kept at it cause it is part of the lord of the rings universe.

    The game-play is great. Combat is smooth and fluid the whole open world is stunning and run great on my system for a PC port the game runs perfect could not ask for a better job, Now and then the textures get messed up but still nothing too bad to complain and make a big fuss about.

    If your looking for a open world game with great combat and not too arsed about story middle-earth is the game for you, You will have hours of fun taking Orcs body parts off    … Expand
  51. Jitomate
    Oct 2, 2014
    10
    Gameplay mechanics and combat are finely polished and highly enjoyable. Monolith has managed to capture the LORT world perfectly and paired it with Batman AC like gameplay. This is a must play if you're a fan of either, but the game stands out on it's own regardless if the obvious influences those games had on it. Overall, an amazing game.
  52. ams76550
    Oct 1, 2014
    10
    I dont care what anybody says so what if this games
    game is a assassins creed copy its fun as hell and addicting as crap
    People are just complaining to have something to complain about
  53. pdanieldenis1
    Oct 1, 2014
    10
    Great game, love the nemesis system, action is tight. The graphics are not the best i've seen but its really good. Not really a fan of the Lord of the rings but this game is great
  54. ShortReviews
    Oct 1, 2014
    5
    A creative Nemesis system along with a Batman-ish style combat system which will entertain you for a few hours. However, soon the enjoyment dies down and becomes a repetitive button smasher. Try before buy.
  55. Andynokills
    Oct 1, 2014
    9
    This game is sweet. This is the first legit next gen game. Its story is good, could probably be better but the gameplay is awesome and with the upgrade system, the combat is always interesting. It makes destiny feel painfully empty. Mordor obviously took batman and ac and came up with a brilliantly nuanced version of them. The game makes you feel powerful but not invincible and theirThis game is sweet. This is the first legit next gen game. Its story is good, could probably be better but the gameplay is awesome and with the upgrade system, the combat is always interesting. It makes destiny feel painfully empty. Mordor obviously took batman and ac and came up with a brilliantly nuanced version of them. The game makes you feel powerful but not invincible and their 'nemesis' system keeps you scheming and murdering your way to the top. This game could be 3 hours long and it would trump all destiny's 30 hours of grinding.… Expand
  56. semperfi1503
    Oct 1, 2014
    9
    I've been waited for a good LOTR game ever since LOTR: BFME II and I've not been disappointed in 2014. This game's story is quite short and maybe dull at times to me but everything else is really fun to just try and play. I've play all three Batman: Arkham games and I gotta say, incorporating THAT combat system into this game is freaking awesome! Always wanna build up the chain and getI've been waited for a good LOTR game ever since LOTR: BFME II and I've not been disappointed in 2014. This game's story is quite short and maybe dull at times to me but everything else is really fun to just try and play. I've play all three Batman: Arkham games and I gotta say, incorporating THAT combat system into this game is freaking awesome! Always wanna build up the chain and get some sweet uruk executions. The animation is fluid, the RPG-like system is really simple but it works really well since the main part of the game is combat. And the voice acting is really great. The Nemesis system makes the world organic and alive: who would have thought that you would really want so much to exact your revenge on a particular Uruk - with a name and rank? And the world progresses naturally, especially everytime you die. Everything looks well polished and beautiful, and what's even greater: the game is almost bug-free to my experience though there some nuisances with turning on and off certain graphics options would slow down the game mysteriously, which I hope would be patched soon. All in all, if the developer wonders whether they should make a sequel(s), I'd say go for it but with a better and longer story, perhaps in the Second Age, which is largely left untouched in the films and previous games. And come on, who wouldn't love an adventure with a Ranger of Gondor and Celebrimbor the Ring Forger himself?… Expand
  57. joshsk
    Oct 1, 2014
    5
    The nemesis system is frustrating in the early game. You have to kill certain enemies before fighting the war chiefs. Unfortunately, they respawn after every damn kill and still show up to guard the war chief. To really have a fighting chance you must avoid the war chief quests and level up abilities. I hate working so hard to kill an impossible enemy *(one immune to normal attacks andThe nemesis system is frustrating in the early game. You have to kill certain enemies before fighting the war chiefs. Unfortunately, they respawn after every damn kill and still show up to guard the war chief. To really have a fighting chance you must avoid the war chief quests and level up abilities. I hate working so hard to kill an impossible enemy *(one immune to normal attacks and has massive damage), just to see them show up again. I think there are maybe 15 different captains and no matter who you kill, they never die and only drop in the ranks temporarily.

    Another crappy system is that early in the game, you might die a lot to the same few captains, because they have abilities that make them a tough fight. Guess what? Every time they beat you, they get stronger! Having trouble beating an enemy? Let's give him a buff to health and damage. One enemy in specific made it to level 17 before I even had played an hour. I finally beat that mother **** and he immediately came back.

    The story aside from the war chiefs js decent enough. I like the interaction with gollum. One strange addition is the artifacts you find. Each one has a story unlock that plays a dialog when you find them. Sounds cool? It is not. The dialog seems random and appears to be taken from random conversations about people and things that mean nothing to you. I stopped listening after the first few.

    Another major issue is the constant stream of orcs and no real way in the early game to deal with such a large number of orcs.

    The biggest problem is the nemesis system that everyone seems to be Having a circle jerk about. If you fail a fight with a war chief, they now have more body guards and you have to start over! This game has such potential... Yes, it does get better, you have to griND levels, and early on it should be able to tell you are getting your ass kicked and back off on the difficulty so you can better learn the combat. Either that or hide the war chief missions till the other main missions are complete. The game feels hard because you don't have the tools to deal with what they throw at you early on and if you run away or die that tough enemy gets TOUGHER.    … Expand
  58. piquizera
    Oct 1, 2014
    10
    Esse jogo está simplesmente maravilhoso...to curtindo pra carai e não vejo logo a hora de chegar no fim..heheheh! Melhor jogo da nova geração até o momento!
  59. Despair
    Oct 1, 2014
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The game starts out incredibly strong I was having a blast but around the time when you get the Brand Skill is when it takes a real turn for the worse. Basically the last 25-30% of the game is majority of enemies that you take control of doing the fighting I mean the in the final open world area you can literally do nothing and the AI can just beat every boss for you. The final two bosses are absolute trash with the actual final boss needing the DLC (Which I got but still a very bad decision) which are basically just qte events.. two of probably the most epic enemies we see in the game are just incredibly poorly designed fights. So yeah I loved the story, loved the gameplay for the first 70% of the game but the final portion of the game just leaves a real bad taste.

    If you like a bit of Batman, mixed in with Assassin's Creed, mixed in with Skyrim then you should have a good time and worth the money.    … Expand
  60. Terrus99
    Oct 1, 2014
    9
    Fantastic fun, great combat, great story, 6 hours in and I want to call into work and keep playing. So cool watching a regular Uruk getting promoted after owning me...lol, then going back after him to get my due revenge. Not a waste of money!
  61. AududonSlayer
    Oct 1, 2014
    10
    This game is great. I do not get to play many games anymore. Many seem unimaginative and do not capture my interest. I find myself wanting to play this game all the time which to me is a sign of a great game. Highly recommend for those still on the fence.
  62. BatFat09
    Oct 1, 2014
    10
    Finally, not only a good Lord of the Rings Game, but a truly great CURRENT gen title (you know, because PS4 and Xbone are current gen now). This game is everything I wanted it to be and more!
  63. guitargod4
    Oct 1, 2014
    10
    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. assassins creed doesnt have anything on this game. neither does whatever else it is compared too. this game rules
  64. scott1up
    Oct 1, 2014
    10
    I love the game so far a few hours in. The tone reminds me of an old favorite game of mine Prince of Persia Warrior Within, Imo one of Ps2 gen's most underrated games. The game engine is obviously Assassins Creed but it feels different enough but familiar to control. Yes the combat is like Arkham Batman games, but Batmans code won't let him take out a sword and behead an enemy like TarionI love the game so far a few hours in. The tone reminds me of an old favorite game of mine Prince of Persia Warrior Within, Imo one of Ps2 gen's most underrated games. The game engine is obviously Assassins Creed but it feels different enough but familiar to control. Yes the combat is like Arkham Batman games, but Batmans code won't let him take out a sword and behead an enemy like Tarion in this game! I agree with the other reviewer, I expected a 7/10 mediocre game but I am glad I picked this up and dusted off the ps4.… Expand
  65. willyAS3
    Oct 1, 2014
    10
    Oh my god, this game is amazing. It's worth spending money on this game. It´s the best purchase you can make for your "Playstation 4". Graphics, sound, gameplay ... everything is at a higher level. Recommended.
  66. Sgtkeebler
    Oct 1, 2014
    10
    I love this game so much. The action and fighting are so amazing the controls are extremely responsive. there are some really tiny glitches but you will hardly notice them because you will be so immersed in the game. I love the Rangers in lord of the rings they are my favorite characters. There are some scenes that I find pretty funny, and the acting and voice overs are done so well II love this game so much. The action and fighting are so amazing the controls are extremely responsive. there are some really tiny glitches but you will hardly notice them because you will be so immersed in the game. I love the Rangers in lord of the rings they are my favorite characters. There are some scenes that I find pretty funny, and the acting and voice overs are done so well I sometimes forget im in a game and not watching the movie. This is such an amazing game well recommended to your game collection.… Expand
  67. SupaCoop
    Oct 1, 2014
    10
    Shadow of Mordor has good graphics, an interesting story line, great voice acting, and difficult combat without being too difficult like Dark Souls. Me being a hardcore gamer didn't take too kindly to being killed by low level orcs or uruks in the beginning of the game. I started my game over a few times as I got the hang of the combat. Monolith has made a game that it feels ok to die.Shadow of Mordor has good graphics, an interesting story line, great voice acting, and difficult combat without being too difficult like Dark Souls. Me being a hardcore gamer didn't take too kindly to being killed by low level orcs or uruks in the beginning of the game. I started my game over a few times as I got the hang of the combat. Monolith has made a game that it feels ok to die. Using their nemesis system I can always get revenge on my killers, and revenge is always sweet. I enjoy taking on multiple captains at once just to test my skill. The world is filled with things to do outside of the main story. Intervening in power struggles deciding which orc or uruk you want to succeed is pretty enjoyable. They are missions to earn currency to purchase more rune slots for your weapons among other things. Freeing slaves from orcs will also create a sort of human resistance where if a human is in your proximity that you've freed they will help you in combat. Monolith has created a very rewarding loot system. The loot is always equal to the captain or war chief you kill. Their is only one bug in the game dealing with cut scenes. It froze for just a few seconds while I was trying to skip them as I kept starting over. The combat is extremely fluid, and you can travel across the world seamlessly. Overall this is a great game to invest your time and money into.… Expand
  68. Pureray
    Oct 1, 2014
    10
    This game is well worth the money, it doesn't matter if you're a LoTR fan or not, you'll enjoy this game regardless. It's a lot better playing it for yourself then it is to watch someone else unless your doing it to watch their stories within the nemesis system, which is awesome. The graphics are simply splendid to gaze upon from above your forge tower. The combat is just satisfyinglyThis game is well worth the money, it doesn't matter if you're a LoTR fan or not, you'll enjoy this game regardless. It's a lot better playing it for yourself then it is to watch someone else unless your doing it to watch their stories within the nemesis system, which is awesome. The graphics are simply splendid to gaze upon from above your forge tower. The combat is just satisfyingly brutal, and you have that freedom to do whatever the hell you want in Mordor.

    I highly recommend Shadow of Mordor, you'll be surprised on how much you'll enjoy it.    … Expand
  69. twc004
    Oct 1, 2014
    10
    This is the best game that I have played on the PS4, to this point. The game offers so much more than your average game. To those saying that all you do is run around and kill orcs, are you kidding me? There are more side missions than you want to handle! I love the nemesis system! It makes me actually think about running into bad situations before doing them. Great game that has a SERIOUSThis is the best game that I have played on the PS4, to this point. The game offers so much more than your average game. To those saying that all you do is run around and kill orcs, are you kidding me? There are more side missions than you want to handle! I love the nemesis system! It makes me actually think about running into bad situations before doing them. Great game that has a SERIOUS shot at Game of the Year honors. Rock on!… Expand
  70. CaptainBuck
    Oct 1, 2014
    10
    I can honestly say that I thoroughly enjoy shadow of mordor. This game flew completely under my nose until a week ago, and I am thankful I found this gem. I have seen only one textual pop-in, two slight framerate drops (lots of on screen action though so I'd say only twice is a good thing), and some wall-cover mechanics inconsistencies in four hours of play. I haven't had this much funI can honestly say that I thoroughly enjoy shadow of mordor. This game flew completely under my nose until a week ago, and I am thankful I found this gem. I have seen only one textual pop-in, two slight framerate drops (lots of on screen action though so I'd say only twice is a good thing), and some wall-cover mechanics inconsistencies in four hours of play. I haven't had this much fun killing enemies in a pretty good while. This game keeps my attention, and the nemesis system is phenomenal. I want to see other AAA titles utilize a similar system. The cut-scenes have been incredible thus far, and I expect the same throughout the game. I would recommend a buy, but if you are leery, rent first but I can almost promise it will not disappoint. I would pay for another title this good any day… Expand
  71. frofrozzty
    Oct 1, 2014
    8
    This is the game LotR needed. Stunning visuals, beautifully designed environments, intriguing and very Tolkien-esque story line, and a well developed karma system delivers the game that redeemed LotR video games for me. Saying that, there are some issues I have with this game. And I'm not talking about all of the bugginess, that receives a pass for it is a new game, and bugs are to beThis is the game LotR needed. Stunning visuals, beautifully designed environments, intriguing and very Tolkien-esque story line, and a well developed karma system delivers the game that redeemed LotR video games for me. Saying that, there are some issues I have with this game. And I'm not talking about all of the bugginess, that receives a pass for it is a new game, and bugs are to be expected with the assumption that upcoming patches will be released. But those aren't the issues I'm referring to. With an action/adventure/rpg title like this, it's hard to not let the gameplay get repetitive, and I was hoping that with the vast universe of Middle-Earth at their disposal, Warner Bros would have been able to put this fear to rest. Unfortunately, this isn't so, and felt myself getting agitated at doing the same thing over and over again so many times. Another problem I had was relativity. I'm a stickler for video games and movies and tv shows staying true to the books or comic books they are based off of. And in this game there are some contradictions to the books, although they are not as massive and frequent as the ones in the movies. All in all, Shadow of Mordor proved to be an entertaining and redeeming addition to LotR based video games, I just wish that the game had reached its potential and actually made me feel like I was dropped into the universe of Middle-Earth.… Expand
  72. AcousticStyles
    Oct 1, 2014
    10
    The reviews are correct when they compare it to the Batman and Assassin's Creed games. To me, that's great because I enjoyed both. I loved the stealth and parkour of AC and the combat of Batman. Put that in the LoTR universe and you have a great recipe for a game. SoM is a LOT of fun to play. The nemisis system is very satisfying as well even though it doesn't fully open up to whereThe reviews are correct when they compare it to the Batman and Assassin's Creed games. To me, that's great because I enjoyed both. I loved the stealth and parkour of AC and the combat of Batman. Put that in the LoTR universe and you have a great recipe for a game. SoM is a LOT of fun to play. The nemisis system is very satisfying as well even though it doesn't fully open up to where you can actively control it(aside from just killing the orcs and watching someone take their place)until the second act. Facing an orc that once killed you really ties to the whole revenge premises of the main story.

    I haven't beat the game yet but the story is intriguing so far. I've always enjoyed any character that Troy Baker plays and he does an amazing job as Talion.

    SoM is more enjoyable as a hack n slash game. That's where it shines along with the nemesis system. One thing I took notice of was that SoM has a lot of recorded dialogue for the orcs. So much so that within the first hour and a half of playing, I didn't even notice a repeated line with the ambient orc dialogue. With as much as you overhear the orcs talking to each other and their slaves, you would expect to hear more repetition. The landscape is just gorgeous. At first you'll be playing in a dark area of Mordor but later on, you play in a much greener area. It makes for a nice change of scenery. Both are spectacular though.

    The combat if very fluid and responsive. It's easy to dispatch a small group of orcs but becomes difficult when you have 20+ orcs and 5 War Chiefs swarming you. Then it's time to run and hide.

    Now the cons. The camera took a bit of getting used to. I would prefer the camera to be set further back from your character. I haven't checked the options menu though so it's possible there are alternate camera setting but probably not.

    I also am not a fan of how quickly orcs seem to re-spawn in the area you are in. It would be better if orcs didn't re-spawn unless you left the region but it does make for more head slicing opportunities.

    This is a high action game with a small focus on stealth. I would highly recommend you buy this if you enjoyed the Batman or Assassin's Creed games, or are a fan of the LoTR books. If you are none of those then I still recommend it but you may want to rent it once to make sure this is the style of game you enjoy playing. Some people just don't like to play this genre of game and that's o.k. The others should really enjoy this game.

    I am giving this a 10 even with the cons I listed. Why? Because no game will have everything in. I will always find something I would like changed. That's just personal preference. My score is based off of the core aspects of the game and how solid they are. This is a very well made game.    … Expand
  73. goodOctor
    Oct 1, 2014
    6
    VERY REPETITIVE ! Go there, kill enemies, win experience and repeat. Go there, kill enemies win experience and repeat ...

    Combat system stealed from Batman videogame, parkour system stealed form Assasins Creed. Nothing really exiting about nemesis system. The game is ok, wait and buy it for 30 € or less.
  74. pt122781
    Oct 1, 2014
    7
    Unreal graphics, immersive gameplay and combat. Great open world with plenty to do. Just an amazing game, good job Monolith, can not wait for the sequel. You can loose hours in this game and be in awe at the next -gen graphics!!
  75. sandysman
    Oct 1, 2014
    9
    It's bets game in series of Middle-earth. Don't compare this game with AC or Batman, just play until it wil not start bored you, than you can play in anotherr game, with good memories about Shadow of Mordor.
  76. mrowley
    Oct 1, 2014
    10
    Best game for all platforms all year so far! The Nemesis system is a true next-gen feature that doesn't include graphics features. The game plays better than Assassins' Creed, has the combat of Batman, and better gameplay than both of them (due to the Nemesis system). The story is very intriguing and the graphics are a visual splendor! Congrats to Monolith!
  77. fserb
    Oct 1, 2014
    2
    The game feels like a poor Assassin's Creed rip off.

    The camera is so bad that it becomes a challenge in itself. If you fight near a wall it completely goes crazy and points to random directions. It reminds me of old N64 games. The stealth mechanics are bad. It's an open world most of the time, so the enemies just have super small sight. You can kill 3 enemies stealthly when they are    The game feels like a poor Assassin's Creed rip off.

    The camera is so bad that it becomes a challenge in itself. If you fight near a wall it completely goes crazy and points to random directions. It reminds me of old N64 games.

    The stealth mechanics are bad. It's an open world most of the time, so the enemies just have super small sight. You can kill 3 enemies stealthly when they are all side by side and nobody notices. It's made to look like you are stealth, but in fact I think they found out that in LoTR orcs are deaf and have very poor vision. Also, there is no "go behind the wall mechanics", so when you go close to a wall, the camera focus on the wall and the controller gets clumsy (since you can't walk by the wall).

    Combat mechanics are a bit better, but still clumsy. Fighting has lots of button smashing and the player moves in random directions sometimes. To compensate for the easiness of button smashing, the game throws tons of monsters at you at the same time. This changes the mechanic into: button smashing, run far from everyone (which you do faster than them anyway), wait for them to come in line, button smashing and repeat. Also, the bow mechanic is worse than Tomb Raider. The only ok point of the combat system is that you don't have to actually switch weapons (press square you use the sword, press R2/L2 you use the bow).
    The open world part seems to be ok so far and the nemesis/famous orcs part works well. The respawn system is very aggressive (more than Destiny, for example). It means it is virtually impossible to get rid of all orcs in an area before killing the big guys. You kill a bunch of them, walk 15 steps, look back and there are more of them again. The only way to clear an area is killing the bug guys. It is designed like this because the fighting is very easy 1vs1.    … Expand
  78. hawkstar
    Sep 30, 2014
    10
    I got to Play Test this game during development, and it was Awesome!! I am going to totally buy this game!:D It is so fun be able to decapitate Orcs!! 0:D
  79. LightMor
    Sep 30, 2014
    9
    Dark Assassin's Arkham City Creed, um mm Souls?. That was the original game pitch at Monolith when someone at Warner Bros said "Well we can't make a game called that, So lets just add LOTR to the mix and call it good." So began the development of M-E:SOM (Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor)...

    Ok its bin awhile since a game actually met a significant amount of Hype for once, Ill say the    Dark Assassin's Arkham City Creed, um mm Souls?. That was the original game pitch at Monolith when someone at Warner Bros said "Well we can't make a game called that, So lets just add LOTR to the mix and call it good." So began the development of M-E:SOM (Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor)...

    Ok its bin awhile since a game actually met a significant amount of Hype for once,
    Ill say the story's more imbedded with the Lore of LOTR rather than Talion's. With his family dead and aided by a mysterious Wraith. The game focuses more on the Wraith, Rings of power, and Sauron himself but turns to Talion a few occasion.

    The Combat is to say a combination of Assassin's Creed, Batman Arkham, a small side of Dark Souls, and plenty of Wraith powers to spice things up. With Fighting, Stealth, and a death mechanic that wouldn't make much sense if it wasn't for the Nemesis system (Which I wont go into detail cause ill be here forever) Ill just say it keeps the game from growing boringsome, but anyway the game goes the Hitman rout giving the player plenty of choice to dispatch your opponents.

    Tech wise, its fine. the only problem I've encountered is with the Combat mechanics, a large pack of enemies can become quite a muddled fight with Talion attacking the nearest thing. Luckily their are Wraith powers to help counter this.    … Expand
  80. shadowmancer66
    Sep 30, 2014
    10
    This is by far the most fun I have had dismembering orcs in a long time. Shadows of mordor is what happens when you take the best of assassins creed, batman arkham, and lord of the rings and melt it all together.
  81. Just1nsane
    Sep 30, 2014
    9
    I see a bright future for this franchise. The mechanics are very fun and addicting, the story line is true to the roots and interesting, the characters are of course awesome and voice acting is spot on. The nemesis system is very smart and useful. Love the soundtrack in the game. I will say the combat has been seen already in the batman series and it can get repetitive at times and peopleI see a bright future for this franchise. The mechanics are very fun and addicting, the story line is true to the roots and interesting, the characters are of course awesome and voice acting is spot on. The nemesis system is very smart and useful. Love the soundtrack in the game. I will say the combat has been seen already in the batman series and it can get repetitive at times and people might hate me but I honestly thing the sneaking around is way better than assassins creed series its very fun and rewarding. Thanks WB for a good game keep it up.… Expand
  82. OutDorJustice80
    Sep 30, 2014
    9
    The developers did a great job right from the beginning. The sound quality is amazing, graphically wise it is good, but not great as it is multi platform and is a bit noticeable. However this does not take away from the experience whatsoever. They hit the mark with the gameplay. The nemesis system is truly groundbreaking, and I'm sure other developers will take note of this. Even if youThe developers did a great job right from the beginning. The sound quality is amazing, graphically wise it is good, but not great as it is multi platform and is a bit noticeable. However this does not take away from the experience whatsoever. They hit the mark with the gameplay. The nemesis system is truly groundbreaking, and I'm sure other developers will take note of this. Even if you don't know all or even some of the lore of LOTR you won't be disappointed. This might not be a GOTY, but it is a contender.… Expand
  83. AlexMaTePblu
    Sep 30, 2014
    4
    So if you were wondering what will happen if you blend Assassin's Creed and Batman together,this is the game for you.

    The story is basically non existent,typical revenge plot. Nemesis system is interesting in some ways,but became boring after like an hour,80% of the encounters with the captains/warchiefs are basically the same,some can just be killed faster. The gameplay...oh my    So if you were wondering what will happen if you blend Assassin's Creed and Batman together,this is the game for you.

    The story is basically non existent,typical revenge plot.

    Nemesis system is interesting in some ways,but became boring after like an hour,80% of the encounters with the captains/warchiefs are basically the same,some can just be killed faster.

    The gameplay...oh my **** god,it took me like 15 minutes to realise that the game is basically a Batman game,but with different visuals.EVEN THE KEY BINDINGS ARE THE SAME.I mean,wow...that is some lazy **** type of gameplay obviously was great in batman and worked there,but THIS is a fantasy "roleplaying"(yeah right) game in which there's so much enemies,and you choose to go with attacks from batman?Non targeting system would be fine in this,but this is just retarded copy

    Plus there is a parkour ,it's basically "assassin's creed type" of parkour,just a little bit faster.

    Game promised more that it could handled,i mean even if something is not that bad ...it's just average,no more - no less

    **** this game    … Expand
  84. Poopypants123
    Sep 30, 2014
    10
    This game is finally a game that the LOTR Universe deserves. Graphics, Animation, Voice Acting, and Combat are all top notch. Game didn't get nearly enough hype and is easily the Sleeper Hit of this year. People will thoroughly enjoy this game whether or not you are into the LOTR Universe or not there is something enjoyable here for everybody.
  85. KThree
    Sep 30, 2014
    10
    awesome combat system enemy checking system it's good background story but main story is nomal. new system is good nemesis? it's awesome and graphic is good for open world not a bad it''s totaly good
  86. Gafan2108
    Sep 30, 2014
    10
    What can I say... Awesome game that did not get enough hype!! I bought into the Destiny hype and was let down, but with this I was pleased. Shadow of Mordor offers new,fresh and open world experience that will suck you right in. This will keep me busy for a while!!
  87. VitorCortial
    Sep 30, 2014
    6
    The story of the game start as well, therefore in the middle of the game starts to get confuse and cheesy. The gameplay for me is the strongest point, it takes assasin's creed for another level! It's easy, beautiful mechanicals and a lot of blody!
    The game is worth at all, there is some good background story, cool but emotionless protagonists, and a mistery to be discovered... If you love    The story of the game start as well, therefore in the middle of the game starts to get confuse and cheesy. The gameplay for me is the strongest point, it takes assasin's creed for another level! It's easy, beautiful mechanicals and a lot of blody!
    The game is worth at all, there is some good background story, cool but emotionless protagonists, and a mistery to be discovered... If you love LOTR and AC, go on and eat the game, but if you don't like, man! Keep a great distance of this game! (Sorry my grammar erros, i'm brazilian and i don't write well...)    … Expand
  88. IohanBR
    Sep 30, 2014
    10
    O jogo é muito bom!

    Os gráficos são incríveis, o detalhamento dos personagens, quando chove então... Os combates são ótimos, os controle respondem bem e as finalizações são muito legais. Tudo muito fluído. O sistema Nemesis é muito legal. Ver que os inimigos também evoluem deixa a coisa bem interessante. Estou muito feliz com o jogo, tem um pouco de Batman e Assassin's Creed    O jogo é muito bom!

    Os gráficos são incríveis, o detalhamento dos personagens, quando chove então...

    Os combates são ótimos, os controle respondem bem e as finalizações são muito legais. Tudo muito fluído.

    O sistema Nemesis é muito legal. Ver que os inimigos também evoluem deixa a coisa bem interessante.

    Estou muito feliz com o jogo, tem um pouco de Batman e Assassin's Creed (deste último já andava bem enjoado e parei no Revelations), tudo isso na Terra Média. É show de bola!!!    … Expand
  89. FrankBooth
    Sep 30, 2014
    10
    This kind of game is not generally my brand of vodka, however, after seeing the trailers and reviews I was more than a little curious.

    I couldn't be more happy that I gave this game a chance, it is outstanding. Game play is fun, story is great and the Nemesis system is outstanding. Did I mention that it is absolutely gorgeous? I could look at this game all day. The attention to    This kind of game is not generally my brand of vodka, however, after seeing the trailers and reviews I was more than a little curious.

    I couldn't be more happy that I gave this game a chance, it is outstanding. Game play is fun, story is great and the Nemesis system is outstanding.

    Did I mention that it is absolutely gorgeous? I could look at this game all day. The attention to detail with the characters and world/environment is second to none. Just a really sexy looking game - cheers to the Monolith team for raising the next-gen console bar.

    Even if this type of game isn't your normal type of game, give it a shot, I would be surprised if you regret it.

    To those that compare it to Assassin's Creed: this is the game that they always wanted Assassin's Creed to be. Don't hate this game, embrace it. My bet is that after the next Assassin's Creed is released, Ubisoft tries to create their own Nemesis system, then people will be saying "Assassin's Creed is just a poorly done Shadows of Mordor."

    Cheers.    … Expand
  90. dart_kelt
    Sep 30, 2014
    10
    Жирный Тоха в край охуел, ему судя по всему на самом деле денег не дали, вот и бесится. Втоптал в грязь отличную игру.
  91. Khalerzhus
    Sep 30, 2014
    9
    Overall this is a very well constructed game and relatively under hyped. While the combat sometimes seems repetitive, the unique enemies their progression is extremely unique and are keeping me entertained. If you like the Arkham games or LOTR then there is a significant chance you will like this, as personally this is the best LOTR game made yet. The only reason I give a 9/10 is thatOverall this is a very well constructed game and relatively under hyped. While the combat sometimes seems repetitive, the unique enemies their progression is extremely unique and are keeping me entertained. If you like the Arkham games or LOTR then there is a significant chance you will like this, as personally this is the best LOTR game made yet. The only reason I give a 9/10 is that there are certain segments where the frame rate drops slightly, but that is all. I would highly recommend this to anyone with a PS4.… Expand
  92. vcca15
    Sep 30, 2014
    9
    Awesome game, very fun, combat is awesome, nemesis system is one of the most interesting, fun, exciting elements of gaming I've experienced. Not to mention the story is nice so far and the graphics are great.

    Next Gen has arrived.
  93. John5417
    Sep 30, 2014
    1
    This game does a great inspiration to many other games and put on your hands a unique experience. I can say it's a revolution in gameplay. Future games, as ACUnity, will have to do better or equivalent to hitting the feet of SoM. A masterpiece. And it's not an exclusive! 10
  94. Pickle
    Sep 30, 2014
    10
    What a fantastic game this is, aside from the obvious problems that you can begin to notice in the beginning of the game, there's always somethings that shines lurking around as soon as you start feeling bored or tired of the outgoing level of little to no monotony that the game offers.
    The irony is that the game doesn't have that much to say in the first place, that being said, it's    What a fantastic game this is, aside from the obvious problems that you can begin to notice in the beginning of the game, there's always somethings that shines lurking around as soon as you start feeling bored or tired of the outgoing level of little to no monotony that the game offers.
    The irony is that the game doesn't have that much to say in the first place, that being said, it's difficult to really begin to explain what is so beautiful and wonderful about the combat system, the "nemesis" system, as well as just the general idea of exploration and the feel and vibe that the open world leaves to you. That's where the beauty of Shadow of Mordor really lies ahead, within the combination of the tree main aspects of the game, the game ends up being truly something special and worthwhile, started playing since yesterday, haven't looked a day older since then, truly a wonderful experience.    … Expand
  95. mtlevan
    Sep 30, 2014
    10
    This is a huge Game of the Year contender. I find myself struggling to get sucked into and pull value out of games these days, but I started playing Shadow of Mordor last night and only stopped 11 hours later. I haven't done that since I was in college, and all I can think about is going home later to keep playing. The nemesis system is really incredible. It's the first time I feel likeThis is a huge Game of the Year contender. I find myself struggling to get sucked into and pull value out of games these days, but I started playing Shadow of Mordor last night and only stopped 11 hours later. I haven't done that since I was in college, and all I can think about is going home later to keep playing. The nemesis system is really incredible. It's the first time I feel like someone has truly made a game feel "next-gen" and innovative. Congratulations Monolith - you guys made the LOTR game I've wanted since I was a little kid. I really hope people purchase and support this game.… Expand
  96. Sturge
    Sep 30, 2014
    9
    Having played this at EGX in London last weekend I was not disappointed after queuing for a good 40 minutes. The combat was fluid, the AI felt challenging and the choices in combat styles were refreshing to say the least. I wasn't able to take in much of the story having only played for 20 minutes or so, but from what I did experience, I can say that i'm a huge fan of the mechanic and howHaving played this at EGX in London last weekend I was not disappointed after queuing for a good 40 minutes. The combat was fluid, the AI felt challenging and the choices in combat styles were refreshing to say the least. I wasn't able to take in much of the story having only played for 20 minutes or so, but from what I did experience, I can say that i'm a huge fan of the mechanic and how it felt to play. I cannot wait for this to arrive through my door.… Expand
  97. Figma
    Sep 30, 2014
    9
    Very different from any game I have played before.
    Much more to do other than the main story. Filled with content.
    Graphics are top notch on the ps4.
    Only problem I have with this game is that the game play itself can get a bit repetitive.
  98. PeteStaiv
    Sep 30, 2014
    9
    Easily the best game in Lord of The Rings Universe ever created! Fantastic combat system with top notch animation brings you the enjoyable gameplay experience! Fairly big open world with engaging story and side missions! And the best thing about it, innovative Nemesis system that creates emotional connection to your enemies! MUST BUY
  99. Arsiboy
    Sep 30, 2014
    10
    This is a very very fun game...I was expecting it would turn out to be a 7 rated game but never thought it would turn out 9.5 to 10. Stop reading and play this... your missing out....Ignore the negative reviews from AC fans.....
  100. Zyglroxenon
    Sep 30, 2014
    9
    Ultimately, I think this game is worthy of all the praise that it has received thus far. As a full disclosure, I haven't quite finished the game, but I've finished nearly all of the story missions, and I'm cleaning up some of the side stuff, and I decided to write this while taking a break. So, bar an abysmal ending, this review should hold up.

    RPG Mechanics    Ultimately, I think this game is worthy of all the praise that it has received thus far. As a full disclosure, I haven't quite finished the game, but I've finished nearly all of the story missions, and I'm cleaning up some of the side stuff, and I decided to write this while taking a break. So, bar an abysmal ending, this review should hold up.

    RPG Mechanics
    ----------------------------------------------------------------
    The first thing you need to know about this game is that nearly the entire focus of the game is on combat. When it comes to the actual RPG mechanics of this RPG, it's pretty light, honestly. You go about and kill things and find collectibles and etcetera to acquire EXP/currency to upgrade your abilities/weapons and there's also a rune system which are used to augment your character into some more specific roles. From my understanding, what runes you actually acquire from the Orc Captains are pretty random, but the ones I've gotten tend to rely on random chance more than anything else, just straight percentage rolls. Which is ultimately fine, as your character has another means of upgrading, via a skill tree system which actually has a good amount of variety/customisation. It's a tiered system (which makes sense) and the abilities actually impact the way you play the game rather than just provide you with a bunch of passive stuff.

    Combat
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    The actual combat in the game is very satisfying, albeit a bit easy. It takes cues from the Batman: Arkham series and just has a kind of freeflow combo system. A lot of games try to emulate this system, and a lot of games fail at this system. This game, fortunately, does the system well. The combat is very fluid and responsive and is generally very accurate. Also, the animation quality of this title is top notch, so moves flow into each other very well and your character looks completely natural while pulling off his extravagant combos. There is also a rudimentary stealth system that is functional, but very basic. You should not play this game in a stealth only approach, and if you do (if it's even possible), you are not very likely to have a lot of fun.

    Story
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    The story is pretty serviceable. It hasn't been anything that has been cringeworthy, it feels pretty in place in a Tolkien universe. I've read The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy, but I haven't read the other Middle-Earth stuff, but as far as I can tell, the game doesn't really reuse any plot devices from the books and everything feels natural. I've had a lot of fun with the own stories that end up getting created as you play the game via the Nemesis system where you form your own rivalries with orcs and orcs will fight amongst themselves and vie for power. If you get killed by an orc, that orc gets more powerful and becomes your nemesis and you get to go hunt him down for revenge. It creates context to the battles you're fighting and gives the enemies more personality. Also, the voice acting in this game is top notch.

    Technical things
    -----------------------------------------------------
    This game ran at a smooth 60 fps and, as far as I'm aware, didn't dip anywhere. The graphical fidelity is quite good (Full HD res even!), the texture quality was very consistent, and I didn't notice much of anything like texture pop-in, etcetera. The draw distance is quite far as well. In my playthrough, I did not notice any bugs or glitches. Once in a while there was some odd collision detection with the environment as you go for a stealth kill but outside of that, nothing.

    Conclusion
    --------------------------------------
    The game is fun, pure and simple. The Nemesis system is pretty innovative as it allows you to play games in the shadows where you pit orcs against each other. I wanted to talk more about that, but it's kind of hard to put into text, you might want to watch a video that'll give you more detail on that. I recommend TotalBiscuit's video on YouTube.

    I gave this game a 9 because later on in the game, things do start to feel a bit repetitive. Unfortunately, I think that is just something that's inherent to the combat system and the game is very combat focused. Do not buy this game if you do not like the Arkham style combat system. Also, the game won't really present you with much of a challenge, which disappointed me a bit. One other gripe with this game is that there are a couple forced stealth sections, they are few in number but it's, y'know, a slap in the face to player choice and agency.

    When all is said and done though, I quite enjoy this game. It feels in place with Tolkien works and the combat mechanics are responsive, fluid, and fun while adding a bit of innovation to the genre via the Nemesis system. Also, the production values are top notch, truly an AAA title.

    Monolith is back to form.    … 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.
    Read full review
  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.
    Read full review
  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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