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. Gittoplo
    Apr 10, 2018
    9
    What an unexpected gem of a game! Becomes a little bit too easy towards the end but hell of an experience. A few things can be improved upon but that's just being picky. Future potential is enormous. Much better than AC games, yes even Black Flag.
  2. AlbertoBuzz
    Mar 27, 2018
    7
    Shadow of mordor empieza con una historia emocionante pero luego se vuelve repetitiva al igual que todas las misiones. Esta bien para matar a orcos, sus capitanes y caudillos. Me gusta el echo de las vengazas que puedes tener con los orcos o que los asciendan por matarte.

    Shadow of Mordor begins with an exciting story but then becomes repetitive just like all missions. It's okay to kill    Shadow of mordor empieza con una historia emocionante pero luego se vuelve repetitiva al igual que todas las misiones. Esta bien para matar a orcos, sus capitanes y caudillos. Me gusta el echo de las vengazas que puedes tener con los orcos o que los asciendan por matarte.

    Shadow of Mordor begins with an exciting story but then becomes repetitive just like all missions. It's okay to kill Orcs, their captains and warlords. I like the echo of the vengazas you can have with the Orcs or be promoted to kill you.    … Expand
  3. estebambuco
    Dec 29, 2017
    10
    Un juegazo:
    -Sistema némesis una excelente forma de encontrar las debilidades de cada jugador
    -Encontre pocos bugs -Buena historia -Adictivo -Me gusto la banda sonora -Buen sistemas de peleas -Buenas gráficas -Juego innovador muchos le dicen que es un Assassins Creed pero bien hecho, para mi es muy diferente a un Assassins Creed -Juego muy divertido, no entiendo porque muchos    Un juegazo:
    -Sistema némesis una excelente forma de encontrar las debilidades de cada jugador
    -Encontre pocos bugs
    -Buena historia
    -Adictivo
    -Me gusto la banda sonora
    -Buen sistemas de peleas
    -Buenas gráficas
    -Juego innovador muchos le dicen que es un Assassins Creed pero bien hecho, para mi es muy diferente a un Assassins Creed
    -Juego muy divertido, no entiendo porque muchos dicen que es aburrido, armar tu ejercito de caudillos orcos o capitanes para enfrentarlos fue una nueva y grata experiencia, algo fresco e innovador en los videojuegos personalmente me gusto mucho y el juego ya me lo rescate pero dan ganas de seguir jugando.
    Fallas:
    -Los jefes finales son fáciles, excepto el némesis propio    … Expand
  4. Exilionus
    Dec 16, 2017
    0
    Not really sure what all praise is about with this game its complete trash. It’s unplayable because the camera will make you nauseated, it’s the same enemies and its the same area design throughout the game. It’s just one big hub not really an open world in my opinion, takes you literally less than a minute to run on the other side. It’s more like an arena... rather than an open worldNot really sure what all praise is about with this game its complete trash. It’s unplayable because the camera will make you nauseated, it’s the same enemies and its the same area design throughout the game. It’s just one big hub not really an open world in my opinion, takes you literally less than a minute to run on the other side. It’s more like an arena... rather than an open world with out any different locations to see.
    It doesnt feel completed, the world is empty devoid of anything interesting to see. The terrain looks like dinosaur poop and you’re surrounded by it all the time. The X button is used fore everything, running, dashing, jumping... Which creates a huge problem when trying to get away from enemies. Physics in this game doesnt exist... Almost nothing in the world gets destroyed by your arrow grenades or your weapons.
    Lets go back to the camera, you’re fixed to looking down towards the horizon. When trying to look around especially while running the camera wobbles instead of making a smooth transition. As you begin to run the camera centers itself on your character. A horrible design and concept... The fov is horrendous as well.
    The game is boring... It’s the same moves over and over again; granted you get special moves but they’re really not eye candy. Then theres this nemesis thing, I could care less abou it. The story is interesting and pretty gory. The voice acting is spite on and the fighting is crisp but the camera makes it nearly impossible to enjoy it.
    Stealth in this game is a big part of the game which can be stressful. We play games to have fun not take a lecture every five minutes on what to press. My God does this game have so many tutorial tips... The worst part you can disable it doing so and you’ll have no idea what to do or how to handle yourself. If you can put up with the camera great, but just a warning it’s not really open world and its the same boring bosses with different aesthetics. Still waiting for a good lots game, just seems its never going to happen.    … Expand
  5. XanferX
    Nov 15, 2017
    9
    Hack and slash at its best. What could be more enjoyable then sneaking behind and orch and stabbing him in the hearth only to spin around and decapitate another charging orc. This game features addictive gameplay mixed in with a genius boss and nemesis system that makes you want to keep playing. The story is not much to brag about but that is not the point of this game either. So if youHack and slash at its best. What could be more enjoyable then sneaking behind and orch and stabbing him in the hearth only to spin around and decapitate another charging orc. This game features addictive gameplay mixed in with a genius boss and nemesis system that makes you want to keep playing. The story is not much to brag about but that is not the point of this game either. So if you like rolling orch heads this is a must get for you.… Expand
  6. Heisenberg93
    Nov 5, 2017
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Let's start with a premise: Shadow of Mordor is not perfect. It is not easy to create a game based on an enormous legacy like The Lord of the Rings and of all Tolkien's lore. It was not easy for movies, and it's not easy for video games.

    The tales of The Lord of the Rings, as well as The Hobbit, are narrated so that the characters, the protagonists, form a common synergy in the narrative arc of story. In an epic tale, that involves everyone, everyone in the story will have the strength to find its own way and its own fate. A unique and integer set of so many small sets. A story composed of so many stories. "Bilbo once told me, his part in this tale would end. That each of us must come and go in the telling"; to make it clear. Shadow of Mordor is not this way: the plot is too much focused on Talion and his thirst for vengeance. I understand that positioning a new story in a such complex and multifaceted lore is not easy, but in this way the very meaning of Tolkien's epic is lost. It's a shame because the game, generally, succeeds in collecting much of Tolkien's legendarium, though there are ridiculous alterations such as: Celebrimbor who drives an army of orcs with the "One Ring"; Celebrimbor who almost kills Sauron; Celebrimbor who has a wife and a daughter (at best, he was in love with the beautiful Galadriel). And then the final scene: Talion announces the creation of a second "One Ring". A second "One Ring"? Really?! Why it should even be called "One Ring" if another could exists? It is a reluctant, arrogant, disrespectful and inconsistent idea. Unacceptable, simply unacceptable. An obscenity.

    Gameplay is the focus in Shadow of Mordor, and it's right in this way. Nemesis System really is a peculiar and great feature in the game and the way it manages the various events (duels, feast, betrayal, ambush etc.) and the relationship between Talion and the orcs, or between the orcs themselves, is really nice, credible and satisfying. Sometimes almost unpredictable. For the less skillful players in action games, the first 10 hours can be quite cumbersome and challenging, dying is quite common and the various orcs evolve more and climb the ranks of Sauron's army pyramid, mocking Talion and bragging themselves. Their strengths and weakness must be taken into consideration, because they can overthrow the fate of the battle, especially with the most powerful orcs. Orcs are quite different in appearance and in their mix of strengths and weaknesses, a little less in the names and titles that they held. They react realistically based on the situation and the context in which they are located. Everything is really well done, structured and calibrated in a great way. Combat in the game is well made and looks almost like a macabre choreography of cuts, beheadings, jumps and blood in a series of attacks and combos; very violent and very cruel on the body of the orcs, less on Talion's. It requires a good deal of skill and good reflexes, but by increasing the level is possible to get new perks that make the fights even faster, hectic and deadly. Use of bow and stealth is a nice addition; stealth works fairly well and is satisfactory. Good are also the secondary missions to strengthen Talion's weapons and Outcasts' liberation ; the open-world structure is good and there are enough collectable items to find – even though collectables are clearly indicated on the map. The climbing system, unfortunately, is not as effective as the Nemesis or combat: often the character ends up moving in the wrong direction, or not climbing at all, just in front of an obstacle. In addition, movements, though fluid in some cases, are too woody in others. It works, but it could be done much better. Painful note for battles against bosses: very nice the one against the "Hammer", easy the one against the "Tower" and simply ridiculous the one against the "Black Hand". Theoretically, in video games, the more you go ahead and the more bosses become difficult: in Shadow of Mordor is the exact opposite.

    Technically the game is very good. It has a really good graphics, appreciable, especially considering the open-world setting and that LithTech is a nearly 20-year old graphics engine. Very nice Orcs and Talion's models, in particular. Fluidity is also quite solid: 30 stable frames and rarely, almost never, I have seen a slowdown. The soundtrack is nothing special, but very beautiful "The Gravewalker" track, sung in black speech which recites the Ring-inscription.

    Overall, Shadow of Mordor is a game that amused me enough. However, it is far from perfection and I would have expected much, much more. It is a game that stands out more in its gameplay than in its plot. That's why many loved it, but the dearest fans of The Lord of the Rings will hardly call it a masterpiece.    … Expand
  7. Mordeth131
    Oct 29, 2017
    8
    This one is a good game, I enjoy the increased depth in gameplay compared to the first game. Graphics are good but not really mind blowing (my version is on console though so :/ ) Like most games these days its sad to see how much these AAA games cost now :(
  8. Spedtastic
    Oct 6, 2017
    0
    Boring, sub par graphics, dreadful story, grindy nature, repetitive and houses Microtransactions/loot chests. Its soo generic it hurts, another triple A game found in the bargain bin in a few months.
  9. Nycore
    Sep 12, 2017
    10
    Shadow of Mordor is the best Lord of the Rings out there. The game is amazing period. The nemesys sistem is out of the change, the combat is very satisfying like the arkham games and the art of the world is beautiful.
  10. Termin8ter
    Aug 30, 2017
    8
    Shadow of Mordor definitely was one of the few wholesome games from 2014. Sure, the developers took heavy inspiration from the Batman Arkham franchise, and from the Assassin's Creed franchise too. But they also spiced this game up with their own ideas and concepts. The graphics are very impressive too. If Shadow of War somehow fails to deliver, get this game instead.
  11. GreedyPete69000
    Aug 30, 2017
    8
    Every LOTR game I have played has sucked. Not this one. Fantastic game, incredible use of the source material. Captain system was implemented very well and is a really novel idea.
  12. hypernewbie
    Aug 27, 2017
    0
    The fact that this is actually game of the year reflects the sad, sad, sad state of the games industry, its a bloody joke. I agree that this should be game of the year, but the game of the year scores 0.

    The combat is **** complete nonsense. Swords don't work that way. 1v1 or 1v3 is pretty fun, and it looks like the entire kit is built around dispatching 3-4 groups of enemies. When do    The fact that this is actually game of the year reflects the sad, sad, sad state of the games industry, its a bloody joke. I agree that this should be game of the year, but the game of the year scores 0.

    The combat is **** complete nonsense. Swords don't work that way. 1v1 or 1v3 is pretty fun, and it looks like the entire kit is built around dispatching 3-4 groups of enemies. When do you EVER fight 3-4 groups of enemies in the game? 1% of the time. Almost never.

    It takes bloody ages to pick up your powerup in power struggles, and you have to do it or else 5000000000000000 other captains just happen to drive by. I've started a power struggle that went for 50 minutes straight because enemy captains just kept pouring in endlessly and endlessly and endlessly surrounded by more guys than dynasty warriors. I JUST WANT TO PICK UP MY DAMN LOOT FROM THE COUNTLESS I KILLED, GOD DAMN STOP SENDING IN ENEMIES.

    It's a set of finely combat mechanics that doesn't bloody work with each other. It's like someone made a very good car chassis and a very good engine but the engine has no hope of ever fitting in the chassis, so they just glued the two together. This is bad game design.    … Expand
  13. Mikeb86
    Aug 20, 2017
    6
    I really wanted to love this game and in some ways I did, combat is really good, I really like the whole nemesis mechanic, the big let down for me was when you defeat the first lot of war chiefs and move to the second big area to explore you realise you have to do the exact same thing again, it felt very lazy to me so much so it stopped my enjoyment instantly and still haven't finished it!I really wanted to love this game and in some ways I did, combat is really good, I really like the whole nemesis mechanic, the big let down for me was when you defeat the first lot of war chiefs and move to the second big area to explore you realise you have to do the exact same thing again, it felt very lazy to me so much so it stopped my enjoyment instantly and still haven't finished it! Hope they step it up for the sequel and keep it fresh throughout the whole game instead of clear the chiefs in one area to do the exact same in the next, not cool!… Expand
  14. HolyHooligan
    Aug 17, 2017
    8
    There are several things I liked about this game and several things I didn't care for. This review begins with the latter.

    Negative: 1.) Repetitive map. Although the game designers have an appendices that lay out different orc strongholds and give a little brief overview of each, all the orc strongholds feel the same. It's the same story with all the map. Every area just feels the    There are several things I liked about this game and several things I didn't care for. This review begins with the latter.

    Negative:

    1.) Repetitive map. Although the game designers have an appendices that lay out different orc strongholds and give a little brief overview of each, all the orc strongholds feel the same. It's the same story with all the map. Every area just feels the same. The only thing that is different between area to area is color and minor architectural changes.

    2.) The nemesis system. It works well, but it would work better if orcs didn't only climb the ranks when you die. I didn't really die that often, so orcs often didn't rise up in rank all that often. As such, I didn't really see the nemesis system in its full splendor. Another solution would be to up the difficulty so you really feel intimated by the orc chieftains.

    3.) Side quests seem meaningless and are kind of boring. There are a handful of different things to do in addition to the main quests. You can free human prisoners, unlock the legends of your weapons, complete challenges, and collect Ithildin and artifacts. For the majority of these, they only get you spending points to upgrade your character. They don't really retain their own personal storyline or contribution to the main story. There are exceptions, but for the most part the side quests feel rather contrived and are ultimately boring.

    Pros:

    1.) Fun combat. The combat in this game is really fun and surprisingly varied. It is as dynamic as the player's imagination. There are truly a plethora of ways you can go about attacking orcs and their fortresses, from simply running in and duking it out in hand to hand combat to stealthily running on the outskirts and poisoning their grog barrels, from mounting a giant graug to turning strategic orcs into your followers and making them battle amongst each other.

    2.) The nemesis system. Whenever you play the game right, you can have special moments where you can manipulate orc chieftains and create internal battles, watching quietly from the sidelines, or partaking in the duels themselves. You can face up to a long-time enemy who keeps getting the best of you, or help a pet chieftain make it to the top. The possibilities are as wide as your imagination.

    3.) The story. I think the story isn't the best in video game history (by a long shot). But for Tolkien fans, the game will be very entertaining. You will catch minor and major references to Tolkien lore. Also, the plot is a classic tale of revenge, with the motivating force to find out more about you and your special friends' past.

    4.) Enemy design. You will be confronted with a lot of different kinds of enemies, and each requires a different strategy. There are at least different sorts of orcs that I can remember, along with very different orc chieftains, not including the different wild beasts you'll occasionally encounter.

    5.) Excellent character upgrades. There will likely not be a time in the game where you won't be able to somehow upgrade your character (even once you finish the main game you'll probably still have a few upgrades you can get). And each upgrade is actually significant (some, naturally more than others). There's a whole web of upgrades just for Talion, the protagonist, and a separate web for Talion's weapons, his health, and his 'focus'.

    This game has some seriously praiseworthy things about it. What's holding it back (which will fortunately be amended in the sequel) is that for every praiseworthy thing there is a minor flaw . All in all however, the game is really fun.    … Expand
  15. abysswalker9000
    Aug 9, 2017
    9
    I hated this game at first. Brought it when it came out, played it once and hated it. It seemed a dull world, lacking creativity and imagination. There was no first person mode and the enemies all seemed the same. I died relentlessly. Some years later, needing to cut down on the thousands I spend on games I decided to revisit Shadow Of Mordor and give it another shot. Almost twelve hoursI hated this game at first. Brought it when it came out, played it once and hated it. It seemed a dull world, lacking creativity and imagination. There was no first person mode and the enemies all seemed the same. I died relentlessly. Some years later, needing to cut down on the thousands I spend on games I decided to revisit Shadow Of Mordor and give it another shot. Almost twelve hours of continuous play later I feel compelled to write a review. This game is a bleak, dark masterpiece of understated atmospheres and glorious sword play. Utterly immersive in its relentless fury and grim landscape you often find yourself entering a hypnotic transient state as you dispatch the Uruk-hai. Feeling at once omnipotent and vulnerable you become obsessed with stalking your despicable enemy and slaughtering those that escaped or killed you before in balletic blood lust. The fact these creatures remember you and bare the scar of your sword or Caragor only adds to the realism. As I stand here looking out over a grey, rain swept London skyline with the wind in my face I close my eyes. I stand on a Forge Tower in my true realm. My hair and cloak dance around me in the black rain. I am ready to settle old scores and incite new ones. With my spirit brother Celebrimbor I will avenge my loved ones that died at the hands of Sauron’s elite. Highly recommended.… Expand
  16. SuperkenGaming
    Aug 6, 2017
    8
    Middle Earth Shadow of Mordor
    When Batman meets Assassins Creed
    Middle Earth Shadow of Mordor is an action adventure game where you play as Talion, going after the black hand after he does something in the beginning of the game that I wont spoil… But part of that something is killing you.. That’s right.. youre dead… sort of… Youre stuck in limbo and seeking revenge.. but you soon find    Middle Earth Shadow of Mordor
    When Batman meets Assassins Creed
    Middle Earth Shadow of Mordor is an action adventure game where you play as Talion, going after the black hand after he does something in the beginning of the game that I wont spoil…
    But part of that something is killing you..
    That’s right.. youre dead… sort of…
    Youre stuck in limbo and seeking revenge.. but you soon find out youre attached to Elf Lord Celebrimbor who is also after the black hand… and with his power you turn into an assassins creed fans dream…
    You can hop from these towers and really any location without taking damage leap of faith style..
    The game is set in an open world takes place on 2 maps
    and you can unlock fast travel points on the maps by climbing towers like assassins creed..
    Climbing in this game is automatic, done by just holding down a button which can make for some frustrating getaway moments during combat as expected..
    not as smoth as the later installments of assassins creed has become..
    but these maps are crawling with side missions power struggles and collectables…
    And there is actual incentive to star aside from the main story thanks to the different skill trees and leveling system in this game..
    You of course aqquire skills by leveling up from killing orcs and completing quests… this lets you unlock new skilsl in your skill tree..
    But to unlock more tiers in your skill tree you need more power..
    power is acquired by taking out orcs in saurans army..
    The first half of the game is all about climbing your way through the orc ranks and taking out the 5 warchiefs..
    you do this by grabbing orcs, enetering their brains,, and getting intel on your target..
    this intel will tell you their location, their strengths, power and their weaknesses…
    And once you feel youre prepared to take them down you can go into a power struggle to eliminate them..
    But you have to be sure youre ready because of the games nemesis system…
    the combat here is fairly simple and plays like the batman arkham games and the ps3 assassins creed games…
    you can stealth kill enemies from bushes, ledges, behind, or from above.. use your bow to head shot or zip through thin air for a devastating blow.. ride in on the back of an animal or monster you’ve taimed in the wild..
    or you can go in batman style countering attacks and going for annoying finishers that take 20 years to pull off and are nearly impossible to pull off outside of a main mission…
    This is my biggest complaint with the entire game…
    These missions to dethrone orcs are extremely frustrating because the game expects you to be able to take on 30 at a time while in the story they only ask you to deal with like 5 or 6 at a time..
    The variety here is a lot like the arkham games where you eventually have to stun enemies or jump over their shields just to make things more frustrating…
    but every time you go to do a ground finisher itss get broken up because it takes so long to pull off, thankfully you are eventually able to pull of moves like executions once you get a hit streak going of 8 and later 5, but this doesn’t help these encounters from feeling cheap…
    if you do get knocked down,. You will.. a lot.. you have the opportunity to do a quick time event to get up again 2 or 3 times.. but eventually you will just die or if you mess up youll just die,,
    And dying makes things even worse as the orc that kills you will remember you, they get promoted in the ranks, and their power ioncreases making them even harder to take care of the next time…
    And then there are the collectibles and sidemissions that increase your attribvutes like health as well as open rune slots for your sword, bow, and dagger, these runes are picked up off of warchiefs and captains…
    Who also act as bodyguards…
    so its important to take out a targets bodyguards before you attack them to make your encounter easier…
    during the 2nd half of this 12 hours game.. you have to go through the same system..
    this time however youre tasked with making your own army out of these orcs so you can challenge the black hand.. and you do this by your new ability to brand them..
    Your goal is to now find a target and get them on your side..
    you can either go right to a bodybuard or help your newly owed orc captain prove himself and become a bodybuard..    … Expand
  17. visiblelight7
    Jul 21, 2017
    6
    I played this game for many hours and i'm finally putting it down. I'm done, the novelty of the nemesis system and initial wow factor when encountering bosses with short introductions finally got old. Honestly, if you removed this, I would have not played this game past 2-3 hours. It's just a repetitive mindnumbing zerg fight after zerg fight. It's highly overrated IMO.
  18. ItsAllOgre5
    Jul 6, 2017
    3
    I'm so lucky I bought this during a sale when it was like $5. The graphics are nice, but everything else just feels like a crappy version of Batman Arkham. You just hold up as the guy automatically vaults over obstacles, and then there is the braindead combat and constant cutscenes. The game is so shallow, I could not survive 2 hours.
  19. BITESCREEN
    Jun 22, 2017
    8
    Schon Peter Jackson drückte J.R.R. Tolkiens Fantasy-Epos Der Herr der Ringe einen betont düsteren Stempel auf. Die Condemned-Macher Monolith besudeln ihr Open-World-Spiel Mittelerde – Mordors Schatten jedoch noch großzügiger mit Blut. Die Rachegeschichte um einen Totalwitwer, der sich als übermächtiger Halbgeist auf die Suche nach Antworten begibt, ist reines Alibi für ein brutalesSchon Peter Jackson drückte J.R.R. Tolkiens Fantasy-Epos Der Herr der Ringe einen betont düsteren Stempel auf. Die Condemned-Macher Monolith besudeln ihr Open-World-Spiel Mittelerde – Mordors Schatten jedoch noch großzügiger mit Blut. Die Rachegeschichte um einen Totalwitwer, der sich als übermächtiger Halbgeist auf die Suche nach Antworten begibt, ist reines Alibi für ein brutales Gameplay: Waldläufer Talion köpft, verstümmelt und verbrennt ganze Orkarmeen, die Angriff-Konter-Finisher-Mechanik klaut das Actionspiel dabei frech aber nahezu perfekt bei Assassin’s Creed. Zum Glück schielt Monolith auch in puncto Schleichen Richtung Ubisoft, was das schicke Gemetzel auflockert und in Kombi mit zig Nebenmissionen und dem smarten Nemesis-System für große Unterhaltung sorgt. Das finstere Mordor mit seinen rauen Felsen, Höllenfeuern und Sklavenkolonien ist derweil die perfekte Kulisse.… Expand
  20. badgerryan19
    Jun 19, 2017
    8
    Wow! If you are a Lord of the Rings game this is for you. With an awesome nemesis system and great combat you can't go wrong with this one. The story was pretty good as well but could of been better. Excited for the new one.
  21. Peacen
    May 3, 2017
    4
    With Shadow of War rapidly approaching, many will choose to sate themselves with the first in the series, Shadow of Mordor. This review is for you guys, and hopefully you'll read it before buying. I'm not going to bog this down with credentials. Suffice, I've played enough for long enough, and know, above most things, objectivity is key.

    Shadow of Mordor is not a good game. It's not the    With Shadow of War rapidly approaching, many will choose to sate themselves with the first in the series, Shadow of Mordor. This review is for you guys, and hopefully you'll read it before buying. I'm not going to bog this down with credentials. Suffice, I've played enough for long enough, and know, above most things, objectivity is key.

    Shadow of Mordor is not a good game. It's not the steaming pile it's made out to be by its harsher critics, no, but it's also not very good. Breaking it down piecemeal:

    Fighting mechanics are stolen from Assassins Creed and the Batman series, fused into a simplistic three button counter dependent system that sits just slightly below AC's variety. Fighting bottlenecks in proportion to the number of enemies, meaning the more there are, the fewer options you have and the more you must comply with the game's ideal scripted fight scenario. It's all massively flashy, but also massively repetitive. Environmental attacks are possible, but often feel very scripted, thought there are quite a few varieties. The game is heavily inclined to sneaking, which it does passably, but not well, and being spotted is a common occurrence.

    Weapon selection is limited to three, all of which you gain from the start. Runes can be used to improve them and give attributes, which is a good mechanic that was unfortunately shallow. Damage upgrades are earned in tailored 'proving' quests. Application of these weapons is dictated by skill tree progression. There is a sense of achievement in the skill tree, making you feel like you're gaining strength with each notch, but there is no real versatility. It is obvious what you need, and what you'll upgrade early (ranged attacks are useless, early finishers are essential). If you fail to recognize this, later engagements become terribly long suffered and some downright impossible.

    Overland travel is limited, stunted and slow. An early game upgrade allows short dashes to be activated by leapfrogging rocks to get you where you need to be (yes, you read that right). Talion climbs well enough, but you'll begin to notice very clear passages and footholds to starkly defined second and third floors, which lifts the veil on what you considered to be a clever entry point.

    Enemies are varied, and kill animations are numerous. But SOM also sadly illustrates a very good idea gone wrong in a very thoughtless way: Immunities. Some Orc captains are immune to numerous damage types. You can't sneak stab, can't use arrows for headshots, etc. The problem is, instead of improving the actual fighting mechanics or skill of these tougher orcs, the game simply adds immunities. This is a broken mechanic, and once more forces a bottleneck. In addition, when an opponent can only be killed by aerial takedown, but the nearest chest high wall is four miles away, I can't exactly invite him with a phonecall. Resistances, not immunites, would've been the step back that completely fixed this issue.

    The story is shamefully weak for a Tolkien inspired game. Character roster is limited to about a dozen (including NPCs, excluding the procedurally generated orcs), and though these few are well realized (never let it be said the game lacks polish on character models) their backdrops, being the environments you find yourself in, are bland and feel very samey. It is understandable that the world has been ravaged, but that's not much of an excuse for the barren nature of it. You get the feeling that you're one of the last men on earth, and not in a good heroic ascension kind of way. As a character, Talion is strong and virtuous, but also very flat. There's no progression to his grief. And grief this man has (should have) much of.

    Lastly, the nemesis system is essentially pokemon without visual battles, gyms or a final boss. Before you're sold on the hype and bootlicking, know that there are no benefits to 'finishing' it. It's a collect-a-thon with no payout. And with Talion's abysmal walking speed, intervening when necessary to advance your chosen orc becomes a case of racing to keep in-game appointments you're essentially setting for yourself.

    I didn't enjoy SOM. It could've been much more and I think a lot of the love for it stems from the want for the old days of the intense LoTR games. But it isn't those games, and for an open world, it's surprisingly devoid of content. Everything is essential to your quest in becoming the greatest orc murderer there ever was, save for one or two Gollum missions added to break up the monotony. This is a shame, because it makes the world feel very dead.

    I can only conclude that many reviewers here seem to have been raised on less than excellent value, game wise, to give such shining reviews. Don't get me wrong, it's okay for it to not be good, to enjoy a game for inherent elements that appeal to you. But objectivity is vital to improvement. And improvement, in the case of SOM, is a necessity if games that follow it are to rise above this    … Expand
  22. HaloFever
    Apr 24, 2017
    7
    Shadow of Mordor is a fun game but I am reluctant to give it more than a 7 out of 10. Gameplay is great and the nemesis system is inspired. The world, however open it may be, is small and the story is pretty much non-existent. The few cutscenes are nice.

    What makes Shadow of Mordor work is the personality of the orcs you slaughter by the hundreds. The run of the mill Orcs have their    Shadow of Mordor is a fun game but I am reluctant to give it more than a 7 out of 10. Gameplay is great and the nemesis system is inspired. The world, however open it may be, is small and the story is pretty much non-existent. The few cutscenes are nice.

    What makes Shadow of Mordor work is the personality of the orcs you slaughter by the hundreds. The run of the mill Orcs have their generic chatter and taunts. You don't care about them. You want the leaders. The leaders do not disappoint. They have unique looks and personalities to match. They have different dialogue if they previously defeated you, if you ever ran from them, or if you ever defeated them. The highest level leaders have their own theme music. I've really never seen anything like it. The nemesis system gives them life as each Orc leader remembers your last encounter with them.

    The nemesis system then goes to the next level in the second half of the game. Not to spoil the story, but instead of just killing Orcs, you build an army of Orcs. This means making sure your allies win duels and work their way towards becoming war chiefs. It's a wonderful flip from the first half of the game and my only complaint is that babysitting Orcs becomes repetitive and annoying near the end of the game. The effort seemed worth my time when my little army cut through the enemy forces like a hot knife through butter.

    Combat itself is simple enough and is almost identical to the Arkham games. What surprised me was the effectiveness of the bow. Usually these kinds of fighting games give you weak ranged weapons so you can't pick off enemies from a distance. Instead, Shadow of Mordor embraces the idea of sniping from an unreachable position. With a fully unlocked bow, you can defeat most gangs of Orcs and even some Orc leaders without setting foot on ground. I felt liberated not just because encounters become more strategic but also because it felt good to down these Orc bastards.

    Where the game lacks is in the size of the world and scope of the story. Most of the time, I had no idea how my actions connected to the story. At it's heart, the game is a revenge tale. Then a couple of people show up and you do missions for them for no apparent reason. The story hook of the game seems to be flashbacks of the tale of Celebrimor, the person who forged rings for Sauron. The problem with this hook is that 1) the cutscenes are scant and brief; and 2) the do not progress the story you are playing. The snide personality of the protagonist, Talion, doesn't help. Some semblance of story progress would have helped the 20ish hours of repeating the same encounters in the same locations in the tiny land of Mordor.

    As open world games go, this is the smallest open world I have seen. Perhaps this is an issue with the last generation of consoles, as Shadow of Mordor was released for them as well. The textures are also low rez and do no service to the excellent animations. I wonder, though, if the problem was created by cutting content to then sell as DLC. Maybe the plans for this game were never ambitious. It seems in whole to be less than a $60 AAA game should offer. Full disclosure: I picked up this game for free back in January of 2015 and waited until April 2017 to play it. I try to divorce the cost of a game from my impression, but this this generation of games if full of examples that challenge that intent. Let me just say that I believe more content would have made this game better.    … Expand
  23. Nednerb
    Mar 30, 2017
    7
    Picture Batman in in Middle Earth. That is what Shadow of Mordor is. The game is pretty much a carbon copy of Arkham Origins/City except you are in a different world, playing a different hero and fighting different villains. Without a doubt Shadow of Mordor is the best Lord of the Rings game available to date, however the fun and excitement that you get out of the game from the moviePicture Batman in in Middle Earth. That is what Shadow of Mordor is. The game is pretty much a carbon copy of Arkham Origins/City except you are in a different world, playing a different hero and fighting different villains. Without a doubt Shadow of Mordor is the best Lord of the Rings game available to date, however the fun and excitement that you get out of the game from the movie you love is short lived and the game becomes quite repetitive. For the trophy hunters obtaining the platinum is relatively easy with one or two semi-tough trophies in the DLCs.… Expand
  24. Kritik_king
    Mar 29, 2017
    8
    Shadow of Mordor was a gift that I received and I had no preconceived notions. As such, I was very pleasantly surprised by this game, and enjoyed it a lot.

    Visually the game looks good. The enemies are varied in appearance and as interesting to look at as they are repulsive (in a good way). A lot of effort was put into the voices and appearance of the captains and leaders and it    Shadow of Mordor was a gift that I received and I had no preconceived notions. As such, I was very pleasantly surprised by this game, and enjoyed it a lot.

    Visually the game looks good. The enemies are varied in appearance and as interesting to look at as they are repulsive (in a good way). A lot of effort was put into the voices and appearance of the captains and leaders and it shows. The environment is interesting with its background and structures and ruins look good. It is fairly obvious that this was made with the last generation in mind and not much effort was made in updating the graphics for PS4. It is not bad unless you get a close up look at characters.

    Overall map size is ok. It seems quite large at the beginning, but by the end seems a little small. Luckily as you advance the story you are able to unlock other maps that look different but offer otherwise the same things: orcs, wild beasts and ruins/fortifications. Sounds and aesthetics are also very good.

    The linear storyline is quite compelling and it is interesting and compelling to advance the story, complete missions and level up your character and abilities. It really is very fun to watch your character turn into an absolute orc killing machine, and the number of abilities keep it interesting. You are only equipped with a bow, long sword and "dagger", but the wraith abilities and weapons upgrades keep things fresh.

    The nemesis system was really a big selling point and it is quite interesting. I found the system to be unique and adding a good dimension to the game play, as it turned what could have been just an elegant hack 'n slash into a strategic game. You were able to do research on your enemies, and then using those to your advantage in order to beat them. This is really useful in the beginning of the game, but as you power up, it outlives its usefulness because you essentially become a one man army. It was satisfying to see the chain of command change in response to your killing of enemies or dying at their hands. It was also served a useful purpose in understanding who was under control of whom and to see your network of allied commanders. That said, the system seems like it can be expanded, and I certainly hope we get to see increased depth with the next installment.

    The combat is where this game really shines. It essentially plays like Assassin's Creed, but the wraith abilities introduce a whole new dynamic. Nothing else made you feel like a BAMF than when you take on a horde of orcs and leave a pile of bloody corpses and command a small orc contingent from wraith branding. Being able to brand creatures and use them as mounts was also extremely satisfying and can straight up be overpowered in boss battles. The controls are tight and once you used to how you attack, stun, brand and parry, you will find battles extremely satisfying.

    With all the awesome abilities you can unlock, you will inevitably become almost invincible in the end game. This is especially true if you complete the game, as it allows you to continue to roam the map and take out leaders and just generally muck about. I find that I don't even care now if they call for reinforcements (what was a death sentence in the early game) because no amount of normal enemy can touch me. The only exception are bosses that have a "poisoned" blade attribute that is essentially a one hit K.O. It isn't unusual to take at least one hit for damage when fighting bosses and it is absolutely unforgiving with the poisoned blades. Other attributes make the boss battles more interesting, like being immune to range attacks (can't hit them with a bow) or not being able to vault over and stun them (which is a very basic and extremely important tactic throughout the entire game). However none of these are as frustrating as the poisoned enemy blade.

    The main downfalls of this game are its lack of replayability and the gameplay can get monotonous. Once I had finished the game, I was satisfied with the ending but did not feel compelled to start another play through, and I still have not done so after two years of owning it. I would also feel like I needed a break after some of the gameplay felt monotonous, having executed my 10th "run over here and kill this dude" mission. That said, they keep it more varied than other games with similar play styles, like Assassin's Creed.

    This game is well worth checking out, especially at a discounted or price. It has me interested in the upcoming sequel as well and if they can stay true to what made Shadow of Mordor so great, they will have a great successor.    … Expand
  25. MarshallBuzz
    Mar 25, 2017
    8
    Very nice game and very addictive this new system called "Nemesis", a revolution of gaming.
    The story is the bad thing of the game because is too short and the strong part... again... is the nemesis system, not the history and much less the secondary missions.
  26. LordMOrion
    Mar 21, 2017
    2
    This is a poor game. The combat is repetitious and the penalty for losing just one boss fight can be massive. The orcs try to have different personalities but they end up all sounding the same. I get the basis of the Nemesis system but its actual implementation in this game feels extremely forced. I'll be honest and say that I really did not enjoy this game, I cannot bring myself to finishThis is a poor game. The combat is repetitious and the penalty for losing just one boss fight can be massive. The orcs try to have different personalities but they end up all sounding the same. I get the basis of the Nemesis system but its actual implementation in this game feels extremely forced. I'll be honest and say that I really did not enjoy this game, I cannot bring myself to finish it. The colour palette just makes me think of an old quarry. Everything is just a chore and I don't find it particularly rewarding.… Expand
  27. MAFIAxMaverick
    Mar 19, 2017
    8
    I haven't had as much fun with a "new" (2 years later) mechanic in a game as I have with Shadow of Mordor. The Nemesis System was a pleasant surprise for me and I can't wait to see what they do with it in Shadow of War. Gameplay mechanics are fluid and rewarding. It's a game worthy of all the praise it's received over the years and the added expansions are a lot of fun. Knocks on it for aI haven't had as much fun with a "new" (2 years later) mechanic in a game as I have with Shadow of Mordor. The Nemesis System was a pleasant surprise for me and I can't wait to see what they do with it in Shadow of War. Gameplay mechanics are fluid and rewarding. It's a game worthy of all the praise it's received over the years and the added expansions are a lot of fun. Knocks on it for a mediocre story and issues with the lore. I had to keep telling myself this game isn't trying to be canonical and that helped a bit.… Expand
  28. PsychoShane123
    Feb 15, 2017
    2
    An ugly, boring world with no life or character, a story that's forgettable in every sense and combat you have seen elsewhere. Overrated for its "nemesis" system. .
  29. Leo_Manzano
    Jan 27, 2017
    9
    With a decent storyline what really draws attention in Shadow of Mordor are its mechanics that are extremely fun combat is fluid and the possibilities to kill your enemies are varied that added to the mechanics of captains and revenge whenever an enemy kills you it stays The stronger the whole experience involving the addictive game causing the player to easily lose hours playing.
  30. Nel
    Jan 10, 2017
    8
    Great game has a lot of fun gameplay, and it has great animations which makes it a joy to play. The story is great, and you feel like your upgrade does something, and the moves are easy to execute. Really fun game for fans of the lore, and first timers.
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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

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Metascore
84

Generally favorable reviews - based on 85 Critic Reviews

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