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. Raviel1827
    Oct 26, 2014
    8
    The most next-gen game since Forza introduced Drivatar. The nemesis system is a fun innovative mechanic that makes the world feel alive. Unfortunately, it takes up everything of the game, not that it's bad but the story and especially the villains are badly executed. You're introduced to the villains at the beginning and then it takes half the game to reach one of them as a boss and noneThe most next-gen game since Forza introduced Drivatar. The nemesis system is a fun innovative mechanic that makes the world feel alive. Unfortunately, it takes up everything of the game, not that it's bad but the story and especially the villains are badly executed. You're introduced to the villains at the beginning and then it takes half the game to reach one of them as a boss and none of those boss battles are interesting.

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

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

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

    Great game overall which you'll have a blast with and maybe find a captain that you like so much you help him reach the top of his ranks. Create bonds with your captains, you'll never know when you find the right one.    … Expand
  2. The_Game_Doctor
    Oct 25, 2014
    8
    As far as Lord of the Rings games go, this is the top of the pyramid.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    This game is good. Not perfect. But good.    … Expand
  3. zezosk
    Oct 24, 2014
    10
    The game is a complete beast, the most likable thing about it is its smooth gameplay. it takes the open world trait form GtA v and scales it down, and it takes the assassin's creed freedom and triples it because it makes you do what you want to do, and finally it takes the batman arkham series's fighting perfection so that with each strike of the sword you get the satisfaction you need.
  4. Stoneyzatiger
    Oct 23, 2014
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I got mad at this game a lot. Dying to some ugly troll gimp frayed on my nerves a little more than it should have. The first hour of play was so bad for me I had to hide my head in shame from my son. I restarted and took things a little slower and I triumphed.

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

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

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

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

    Conclusion: - Its an Assassins Creed game set during lord of the rings. What could go wrong? Well the answer is, nothing major Its a good little game with perhaps little staying power after you max out your character everything. Not perfect but worth the money if you are a fan of the genre there's definitely more right with the game than wrong.    … Expand
  5. lexsteryo
    Oct 23, 2014
    7
    I've never been a huge fan of LOTR but I am always excited for a medieval based game. The combat system works amazing, when it WORKS, that's probably the biggest issue I have with this game. There are times when you are required to hit "X", and end up getting hit, or you dodge an attack end up against a wall, only to attempt to climb when you are hit, and end up dying to bad controls. TheI've never been a huge fan of LOTR but I am always excited for a medieval based game. The combat system works amazing, when it WORKS, that's probably the biggest issue I have with this game. There are times when you are required to hit "X", and end up getting hit, or you dodge an attack end up against a wall, only to attempt to climb when you are hit, and end up dying to bad controls. The open world is very repetitive, and you continue running into respawning orcs, over and over and over again. Now I know I have talked about a lot of bad things in this game, put those issues aside and you are left with a great looking and great sounding game. Its the simple gameplay that will leave you asking for more after about 7 hours which is where I'm at.… Expand
  6. Zbox
    Oct 23, 2014
    9
    0,1,2.4's.................. so many trolls here, obviously either didn't even played the game, or using pirated copy (along with all the issues of being pirated) or just losers with too much free time. This game have minor issues, but nothing serious. story is very focus and the game is very rich with lore, combining batman with assassins creed to a whole new level of gameplay, pretty open0,1,2.4's.................. so many trolls here, obviously either didn't even played the game, or using pirated copy (along with all the issues of being pirated) or just losers with too much free time. This game have minor issues, but nothing serious. story is very focus and the game is very rich with lore, combining batman with assassins creed to a whole new level of gameplay, pretty open world, dynamic events and characters, rpg elements and so much content packed. this game is a serious contender for the Game of the year. sadly due to trolls spaming around and haters, this will be another sleeper hit like sleeping dogs, making people buying overhyped trash (driveclub,destiny,etc) over genuine good games like this one.… Expand
  7. headtrainborn
    Oct 23, 2014
    8
    This game performed well above my expectations. I thought it looked like an assassins creed rip off, and I wasn't even going to pick it up. This game is fun to play and a challenge at times. The story holds my interest. I don't regret purchasing it unlike some other games lately.
  8. dj_cole
    Oct 21, 2014
    8
    Shadow of Mordor could be epic, and most of the time feels like its heading in that direction, but then....just isn't. The game does a lot of things right, and a lot of things that other games don't do. To judge a book by its cover Shadow of Mordor looks great, and once you dive in it is great. However, the game is held back later on by a lack of impact and replayability.

    Shadow of    Shadow of Mordor could be epic, and most of the time feels like its heading in that direction, but then....just isn't. The game does a lot of things right, and a lot of things that other games don't do. To judge a book by its cover Shadow of Mordor looks great, and once you dive in it is great. However, the game is held back later on by a lack of impact and replayability.

    Shadow of Mordor looks great. I wasn't blown away by the technical prowess of the graphics, but everything looks sharp. The character models are well done, combat animations are fun to watch and the world looks, for the most part, realistic. The blood and guts gore adds to the oppressive tones of the title, though does go a bit far. Its only the second time my wife has asked me not to play a game in front of her (the other being the original The Darkness). There are plenty of games out there I wouldn't play in front of children, but there are far fewer I wouldn't feel comfortable playing with other adults around, and this one crosses that line at times. The gore isn't sadistic nor necessarily over the top, but it is frequent and bloody. The voice acting and sound are solid and add to the experience. There were no characters or enemies that sounded out of place or had poor acting, and the main cast was solid from start to finish. Overall, a solid start to finish presentation that won't blow you away, unless you love seeing gore, but has a high floor that doesn't disappoint.

    The gameplay is where the game shines. The combat is fun, fluid and gets better as you level up so it doesn't stagnate. I would compare the gameplay favorably to the Batman Arkham series (which I enjoy) but my friends equate it to the Assassin's Creed games (which they enjoy). As you level you gain a sense of power slowly but surely. Where a few weak enemies early in the game would quickly kill you, by the end of the game you are able to easily dispatch even the most powerful enemies you come across. The world is easy to navigate and rarely becomes frustrating, save for the times you want to just get a certain collectible but have to cut through a horde of enemies to collect it. The stealth is fun, if a bit clunky. Once you figure the system out it becomes simple to stealth through areas sniping enemies with the bow, but there's always that sense of suspense as a horde of enemies can come crashing down if you make a wrong move. The minigames are varied and fun, ranging from stealth assassinations to last stand type situations with your bow to freeing prisoners through whatever means are available. They can become frustrating later on in the game as there are no checkpoints, so if you fail you have to start over. This can be even worse for the stealth minigames as you can make a mistake so easily.

    This may be a small spoiler, but to anyone who has watched a trailer for the game you will know the end goal of the game is army building. To take over Sauron's army by controlling their minds and turning them against him. This was what made me want to play the game so badly. Be able to build an army and take it into combat. It's extremely fun and rewarding to find the captains you want and take control of them. You are then able to assist them on the missions they undertake, much like you are able to hinder enemy captains as they undertake missions. The problem is it doesn't really do you a lot of good. Yes, it's fun to get into a brawl and have an ally captain come with his small group of soldiers to aid you, but the problem is that it's not really all that useful. Captains will be where they are and you can't command them anywhere else. And the commands you can give them are very limited and don't allow for a lot of strategy beyond trying to position captains you control to become a warchief. Once they are warchiefs they become slightly more useful, but only as a means to kill off enemy captains. The one really annoying hiccup I did run into with the system was if you control enough captains the game feels hollow, as there aren't anything besides basic enemies to fight and not a lot to do with the captains you do control. Army building is extremely fun and rewarding until you realize that it's not really all that useful in the grand scheme of the game, though by that point you'll be powerful enough to rip through any enemy that comes across you. You have an army, which is fun, but it's an army that just wanders around.

    Shadow of Mordor is fun, rewarding and does a lot of things right. The floor is high as everything is done well. Unfortunately there are enough issues to keep the game from being epic. I would equate Shadow of Mordor to a book that draws you in, makes you want to keep going, makes you invested in the characters and then just....kind of peters out. The game is spent doing a lot of fun things, that make you invested in what's going on, only to surprise by just kind of ending without great resolution or impact.    … Expand
  9. unluckydice
    Oct 21, 2014
    8
    Fans and non fans of LOTR will enjoy this game due to its familiar mix of Assassins Creed and Batman Arkham City gameplay and mechanics all generated into a live flourishing world of middle earth with various intimidating Orcs full of dread and hate among many other enemy's, but what makes Shadow of Mordor unique from the bunch is it's Nemesis System (otherwise it would have been justFans and non fans of LOTR will enjoy this game due to its familiar mix of Assassins Creed and Batman Arkham City gameplay and mechanics all generated into a live flourishing world of middle earth with various intimidating Orcs full of dread and hate among many other enemy's, but what makes Shadow of Mordor unique from the bunch is it's Nemesis System (otherwise it would have been just another clone in my opinion) (think of it like a game of chess very difficult chess) side note (what i enjoyed the most was finding the artifacts (all voice spoken) and learning more about the lore of the game) (few faults were the main protagonist voice and story were a tad weak, killing orc captains got repetitive)… Expand
  10. radamanthys
    Oct 19, 2014
    10
    this game is just : awesome !!!! i don´t think that deserves a 1010 but in a year of so much weak new games for this new generation that were so coward to bring new experiences for gaming , this one does his best in many aspects , and its a must for every tolkien fan so c'mon lets play a real great game of this mythology
  11. Squeezit
    Oct 19, 2014
    8
    Admittedly a perfect score is something I would probably never give any game because I can always find something that needs improvement. Shadow of Mordor is no exception to that rule. However Shadows of Mordor, while it had a slow start for me, was a fantastic game.
    Story 7/10
    Graphics 9/10
    gameplay 8/10

    Overall, I absolutely loved the game and really hope for a sequel.
  12. djrussell
    Oct 19, 2014
    9
    I really enjoyed this game, its everything I hoped it would be when first seeing it. The gameplay is reminiscent of Assassins Creed (free-roam, free-climbing) and Batman Arkham Asylum (combat), but it very much feels different. Even when you're completely leveled up its still possible to swamped by so many Orcs that even as a badass ranger you never truly feel safe in Mordor, this isI really enjoyed this game, its everything I hoped it would be when first seeing it. The gameplay is reminiscent of Assassins Creed (free-roam, free-climbing) and Batman Arkham Asylum (combat), but it very much feels different. Even when you're completely leveled up its still possible to swamped by so many Orcs that even as a badass ranger you never truly feel safe in Mordor, this is especially true at the beginning of the game. The story was also really good as well, although at times it felt a bit thrown together (you can approach certain missions in whatever order you want, so branching side-stories can feel lost in the overall narrative). My only major gripe is that after the campaign is finished the side missions (archer, sword, dagger and outcast missions) dont have enough variety to sustain 5-10hrs of grinding. It would have been good if cut-scene side-missions were available or the side-missions already in place had more variety and better objectives.… Expand
  13. Hamburgl3r
    Oct 19, 2014
    7
    (Scroll to bottom for summary) This game overall its a fun game. Unfortunately this game's gameplay is just a copy and paste of other games, except buggier and less polished.. It is just uncanny that the entirety of the Batman Arkham's combat is in this game, from the basic punches, counters, and stuns, to the entire upgradable tier list. The same can be said for other features which(Scroll to bottom for summary) This game overall its a fun game. Unfortunately this game's gameplay is just a copy and paste of other games, except buggier and less polished.. It is just uncanny that the entirety of the Batman Arkham's combat is in this game, from the basic punches, counters, and stuns, to the entire upgradable tier list. The same can be said for other features which either come from assassins creed, or batman. At least those were some of the best mechanics. So if you are fine with the game having a few bugs, and playing some mechanics you may have played before, you might find this more enjoyable than me.

    The map is very populated, and is structured well for the mechanics in this game. Their are fast travel points and "strongholds" where many enemies reside. The map ended up being a very good one, but I did have a couple problems. The few problems I had were: the respawn of enemies was almost instant after you cleared them out, leaving no time to escape/recover. :the other problem was that it did feel a bit small.

    The good news its there are lots of things to do. There are the main missions, that last around 12 hours, and the side missions in each area, and the power mission to do as well. After that there is also so much more to do with the Orc captains and War chiefs.

    Moving on to the story. Mostly Spoiler free. The story doesn't make a whole lot of sense explaining the main plot, but it has its moments of shock, or reward. The game creates a few new characters some fairly memorable. If you are a huge LOTR fan, you may find some references laughable, and others you might find cool. For example the game does end up make decent use of gollum.

    The one interesting new feature that stuck out was the captains/warlords feature. There are specific characters you can hunt/manipulate in game to kill off/ kill to build the Orc army leaders in your image. This ended up being one of my favorite features.

    -slightly more buggy copy and paste mechanics
    -copy and paste mechanics were at least from great ones.
    -few new fun features
    -an okay story
    -populated well done map(little small)
    -Lots to do
    7/10    … Expand
  14. Mikeyd93
    Oct 19, 2014
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. A mixture between the Arkham and the Assassins Creed franchises. Easy to get in to and fun if you enjoy these types. Stealth in the game is fun and fair. I do wish there was more to the story line, as i found it short. also Talions face should have been better detailed. As the main character whose previous life was being a ranger, you'd think there would be scars or wrinkles from his past. The "end boss" is also disappointing as he is a quick time event at the end. overall good game… Expand
  15. Kal-Hell
    Oct 19, 2014
    9
    We who love LotR have been burned before by the promise of Tolkien gaming bliss, WBIE have finally delivered. Even if you aren't a fan of LotR you'll enjoy the Arkham-like combat system, the Nemesis system, and cutting an Orcs head off. I put this game down for a week to play Alien: Isolation and when I came back I thought the new-game-rush would have warn off, I was wrong. It's just a joyWe who love LotR have been burned before by the promise of Tolkien gaming bliss, WBIE have finally delivered. Even if you aren't a fan of LotR you'll enjoy the Arkham-like combat system, the Nemesis system, and cutting an Orcs head off. I put this game down for a week to play Alien: Isolation and when I came back I thought the new-game-rush would have warn off, I was wrong. It's just a joy to play. The story isn't all that but this is a game you will want to come back to time and time again.… Expand
  16. Rodistar
    Oct 19, 2014
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The ending is just something inexplicably bad because the overall the game is amazing but the final missions are incredible idiotic. Killing The Mountain was like a tutorial for stealth and killing the Black Hand and Sauron was a cheap quick time event, a bad one by the way. Its just so sad this game could have been much better if it would have had a better ending. so i give it a 7/10. the overall game was good. but the ending was bad… Expand
  17. VGReviwer
    Oct 19, 2014
    8
    Shadow of Mordor is an innovative addition to the open world genre. In an industry filled with games that are rehashed, re-skinned versions of their respective games before them, it is great to see something fresh in gaming. The nemesis system makes the game. The countless scenarios that i created with rival orcs is always dynamic. Its the part of this game that sets it apart from othersShadow of Mordor is an innovative addition to the open world genre. In an industry filled with games that are rehashed, re-skinned versions of their respective games before them, it is great to see something fresh in gaming. The nemesis system makes the game. The countless scenarios that i created with rival orcs is always dynamic. Its the part of this game that sets it apart from others and is worth getting just to experience it. The game does however have some flaws that keep it from being recognized as a 10/10 game. First off, what the game does right.

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

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

    In spite of the flaws, the game is a great piece of work from monolith, a developer who has now earned my respect. If the story had been better and if the story boss fight were more interesting then I would have give this game a full 10 out of 10. But for a now I give it 8. However it is the best lotr game made and if you are a fan the franchise or you feel like you want to try something , it is a must buy. I hope the sequel is just as innovative.    … Expand
  18. St4rk
    Oct 19, 2014
    10
    By far my favourite PS4 game I have played since launch. A real jewel in the rough and a must play game for any fan of the sandbox/open world genre. Even if you aren't a fan of the LotR franchise this is a must own, form combat to graphics and scenery this game is just amazing. They've taken so many element of other games, Batman and Assassins Creed and perfected it and not to mention theBy far my favourite PS4 game I have played since launch. A real jewel in the rough and a must play game for any fan of the sandbox/open world genre. Even if you aren't a fan of the LotR franchise this is a must own, form combat to graphics and scenery this game is just amazing. They've taken so many element of other games, Batman and Assassins Creed and perfected it and not to mention the nemesis system which works so well and really adds some depth to the game. So far my no 1 for game of the year and there are only a handful of other titles I'd say can compete this year.… Expand
  19. Grassrafiki
    Oct 18, 2014
    6
    Good game and worth a look. Mechanics are polished and top notch. Graphics are decent but nothing special for next gen. Story is non existent which really hurts the game.
    There is little motivation to progress other than the sake to progress. You spend all your time going from one interest point on your map to the next interest point on your map with little sense of purpose
  20. Ryhelia
    Oct 18, 2014
    10
    Game should be an 8.5 or 9, but I give it a 10 to balance out these ridiculously low scores of 1,2 and 0. To the couple people complaining about "bugs"...it's just not true. I have 40+ hours so far and the game is smooth as silk. I spoke with a few friends who have been playing this for 3 solid weeks and they haven't seen a single bug either. As far as the other super low scores....IGame should be an 8.5 or 9, but I give it a 10 to balance out these ridiculously low scores of 1,2 and 0. To the couple people complaining about "bugs"...it's just not true. I have 40+ hours so far and the game is smooth as silk. I spoke with a few friends who have been playing this for 3 solid weeks and they haven't seen a single bug either. As far as the other super low scores....I don't know. ..just bitter trolls I guess.

    This game is loads of fun great graphics and super fun combat. In my opinion the combat never gets old because there are so many different strategies you can take to approach your enemies.

    As many others have said...the game has elements of assassin's creed and Batman, but it does what they do BETTER. It also came up with this "nemesis system" and your enemies evolve and change depending on how you play the game. They have real memories. Anyway, I could go on and on. I'm having a blast with this game and so far it is my favorite game on the ps4    … Expand
  21. flametail23
    Oct 18, 2014
    9
    I thought this game was just going to be an Assassin's Creed clone, it's really not. I think this is even better than Assassin's Creed. I love this game, if you love LOTR or Middle Earth's past you will like this game. The nemisis system works amazingly and I love encountering Orks I have fought before to see what scars they have after the first battle we had.
    9/10
  22. Wardrobechaos
    Oct 18, 2014
    8
    Like that game a lot, its cool, stylish, super combat system, working interesting abilities that actually change how you play the game, I just think the main character is a bit flat and run of the mill, but the world is gorgeous and fits together well, maybe whats missing is towns or settlements to add a bit of peace into the hostile setting...all in all a great, polished game...
  23. Mistval
    Oct 17, 2014
    8
    This is a competent but small open world game with some interesting innovations that hopefully will work their way into the video game industry at large.

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

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

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

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

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

    So the Nemesis system is not perfect but it is definitely fresh and interesting and there is a lot of potential in the concept. Hopefully other games will follow in Mordor's footsteps by giving NPCs more soul. Mordor is just the beginning of the trend, and other games can hone and refine it.    … Expand
  24. TheWillydog
    Oct 17, 2014
    2
    I bought this game because it got such a high rating and I saw the words RPG and ADVENTURE in a review, I got bored of this game very quickly, fighting mechanics were familiar and gameplay felt repetitive. Kill orc, kill orc, kill orc, no roleplaying or adventure, just find an orc and slash.... repeat over and over.
    I took the game back to EB games a day later for a refund and I haven't    I bought this game because it got such a high rating and I saw the words RPG and ADVENTURE in a review, I got bored of this game very quickly, fighting mechanics were familiar and gameplay felt repetitive. Kill orc, kill orc, kill orc, no roleplaying or adventure, just find an orc and slash.... repeat over and over.
    I took the game back to EB games a day later for a refund and I haven't done that in years.
    I suggest you hire before you buy if you're looking for an rpg or adventure because this is just button mashing action.    … Expand
  25. Matodox
    Oct 17, 2014
    7
    The gameplay is really smooth. It features the combat system we were introduced with, by the "Arkham Asylum" series of Batman games, and it just really works well, better than i thought it would in a fantasy RPG game. I love the violence in here! It's so damn bloody, but you feel awesome when you finish off an orc and cap his head of with your finishing moves! The ability system is also aThe gameplay is really smooth. It features the combat system we were introduced with, by the "Arkham Asylum" series of Batman games, and it just really works well, better than i thought it would in a fantasy RPG game. I love the violence in here! It's so damn bloody, but you feel awesome when you finish off an orc and cap his head of with your finishing moves! The ability system is also a great add-on, there's a good variety of powers to choose from. There's also runes that you can use to upgrade your weapons. Personally i think it would've been better, if you could just change your weapons. The story line is also surprisingly good and interesting. I mean, no points for originality here, but it does what it's supposed to do, keep you hooked on from beginning to end and doesn't feel like it's just a money maker like most expanded universe stories. And the nemesis system is just freakin' awesome!!! And i love when you attack a captain or warchief you get to confront them just before you decapitate their ass. The only things disappointing about it, is that the game is too short. The main story is completed in like a day or two (depending how much you play in a day) but around 20-25 hours. Then you got the side missions, which are okay but a little repetitive after a while. And the world is just not big enough. And i was greatly disappointed by the final boss battles. The only "superboss" you really get to fight are the Hammer of Sauron, while both the Tower and the Black Hand are ridiculously easy, like just a matter of pressing the right buttons at the right time or sneaking up behind 'em and drain them. Also i hate that you can't jump when you're climbing if there isn't any ledge or platform that you can leap towards, like in Assassin's Creed, you can jump anywhere even if it means you will die or loose a lot of health. It get's really annoying when you accidentally climb onto something and you need to get down quick but you just have to let go and press and hold the circle button, or else he will grab onto it again. Despite it's flaws, it's a great experience and has decent graphics.… Expand
  26. Maeglin
    Oct 17, 2014
    8
    Even though it shares many similarities with Assassins creed or the batman franchise the game provides it's own experience. After so many failed Lotr titles this game provides an interesting story line and a rather unique insight in Mordor.

    The combat system is easy to learn but difficult to master. The camera might sometimes be a little off but never to an annoying point or that it    Even though it shares many similarities with Assassins creed or the batman franchise the game provides it's own experience. After so many failed Lotr titles this game provides an interesting story line and a rather unique insight in Mordor.

    The combat system is easy to learn but difficult to master. The camera might sometimes be a little off but never to an annoying point or that it hampers your view or fighting ability.

    And even though anything but the main missions is repetitive (kill uruks, free slaves, kill warchiefs) there is a certain addiction to doing the challenges, duels and interrupting a recruitment attempt by Uruk warchiefs. Especially when things get personal (they have killed you and brag about it, throw insults at you or run away to fight you another time) it is very satisfying to walk across half of Mordor to get that bastard and finish him off. The sheer hatred you feel when a cowardly warchief stabs you every time in the back when you are already in a fight and kills you for the 3th time that way (all the while growing in power) I have not experienced before.
    The abilities work all very well and give you more options to make a battle a whole spectacle.

    I just had hoped there would be a bit more diversity in your enemies/world, like Haradrim or Easterlings. Maybe that will be something for expansions? And my worry is that when you are fully levelled up you become a bit to godlike which takes away the thrill of the fight or hunt.

    My only complaint is that not everything is explained very well. You learn the most from doing immediately the main missions but somehow they throw you out there in the open world without much explaining.    … Expand
  27. WarX
    Oct 17, 2014
    9
    Best Lord of the Rings themed in recent times.
    Yes it have AC elements, but it's not a rip off, they have improved the formula. And the AC fan boys dont understand that.
  28. Zafeer
    Oct 16, 2014
    9
    So entertaining I played every spare minute until I completed the game. I can't say that about very many games. Excellent combat and an interesting story that stays within the lore but doesn't feel mired in it.
  29. MasiTronXIII
    Oct 15, 2014
    9
    I didn't know much about Shadow of Mordor going into it, but when you get started, this game simply feels incredible, running around Mordor in itself on next gen machines looks fantastic. The combat system is reminiscent of the Arkham combat systems, but this time you can brutally murder things, making it a step up in my opinion. The biggest knock on this game is it can get a bitI didn't know much about Shadow of Mordor going into it, but when you get started, this game simply feels incredible, running around Mordor in itself on next gen machines looks fantastic. The combat system is reminiscent of the Arkham combat systems, but this time you can brutally murder things, making it a step up in my opinion. The biggest knock on this game is it can get a bit repetitive sometimes. If you are a Lord of the rings fan, or a fan of the Arkham series, like myself, you will probably love this game. It's smooth and beautiful and a great step up on the next gen consoles. The nemesis system is incredible, within 2 hours I had been killed 6 times by one foolish uruk who made his way up the ranks, eventually I got revenge, only for him to come back with a face wound and for our battle to continue. It creates small stories and power struggles within the game and I absolutely love it. Overall Shadow of Mordor is an incredibly fun experience, though it is not without flaw and so much more could be done with it, I would highly recommend it. I look forward to more games following in the footsteps of this one… Expand
  30. Deschain89
    Oct 15, 2014
    6
    What happens when Ass Creed has butt sex with Arkham Assylum? ASS.

    And now that this is out of the way, on to the review. The story is straight up Hollywood panderism: Troubled protagonist who was the perfect father/husband, looses all, and now is out there to get revenge: partnered with an unlikely, quirky ally, and this time it's personal. It's a buddy cop movie, but with Gollum    What happens when Ass Creed has butt sex with Arkham Assylum? ASS.

    And now that this is out of the way, on to the review.

    The story is straight up Hollywood panderism: Troubled protagonist who was the perfect father/husband, looses all, and now is out there to get revenge: partnered with an unlikely, quirky ally, and this time it's personal. It's a buddy cop movie, but with Gollum thrown in the mix. Remember Gollum guys? You people loved him in the movies! He is a ticked seller, that good old potato headed hobbit.

    Gameplay wise, You run and jump just like in Assassins Creed, you even have eagle vision and the tower system; and then you fight and mash buttons just like in Arkham Asylum. The only original fart coming from this ass meet up is the original "do not steal" nemesis system, in which you will fight Uruk Ay Lmaos named Pug the furry or something, cut his head twice, and he will still come back to call you a pig and to check your privilege.

    Trully amazing.

    I give it a weekend from purchase to lose your interest, pick it up second hand for a nickel and a BJ.    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

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

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
84

Generally favorable reviews - based on 85 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 77 out of 85
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 85
  3. Negative: 0 out of 85
  1. Thunderbolt
    Jun 12, 2015
    90
    For people who are alright with playing fifteen hours or so of Helm’s Deep-style carnage, Shadow of Mordor is a delight – and even for people who couldn’t care less about Lord of the Rings, the exciting combat and unique Nemesis System are more than enough to make the experience worthwhile.
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  2. The Digital Fix
    Dec 24, 2014
    90
    As a gamer you owe it to yourself to experience Shadow of Mordor if not for anything else other than the Nemesis system because playing a single-player game never made you feel less alone.
    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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