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. Fartahontas
    Oct 5, 2014
    4
    Try to press X,triangle,O,and square at the same time, three of the four shoulder buttons, and coordinate both sticks at the same time. Got it? Now, run while doing that with the camera facing a direction other than the one in which you are running. Next, get killed and you pretty much have this game in a nutshell.
  2. shadowmancer66
    Sep 30, 2014
    10
    This is by far the most fun I have had dismembering orcs in a long time. Shadows of mordor is what happens when you take the best of assassins creed, batman arkham, and lord of the rings and melt it all together.
  3. AlexMaTePblu
    Sep 30, 2014
    4
    So if you were wondering what will happen if you blend Assassin's Creed and Batman together,this is the game for you.

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

    The story is basically non existent,typical revenge plot.

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

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

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

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

    **** this game    … Expand
  4. SomeHooligan
    Oct 7, 2014
    4
    This game offers no real challenge to the player at all beyond the first ten minutes of learning the game mechanics. The Arkham Asylum type fighting system is really the worst possible choice they could have picked as it turns the whole game into a rhythmic quick-time event. Only one enemy attacks you at any given time even if you are surrounded, the rest stand around and wait their turnThis game offers no real challenge to the player at all beyond the first ten minutes of learning the game mechanics. The Arkham Asylum type fighting system is really the worst possible choice they could have picked as it turns the whole game into a rhythmic quick-time event. Only one enemy attacks you at any given time even if you are surrounded, the rest stand around and wait their turn like a bad kung fu movie. If you do find yourself somehow losing a fight (maybe you weren't paying attention or dropped your controller) you can simply just vault over all the enemies, and run up the face of a mountain to safety.

    Graphics and animation were nicely done, but seeing how this is 2014 this is hardly a compliment anymore in the gaming industry.    … Expand
  5. velvetmeds
    Oct 12, 2014
    0
    This game is incredibly overrated, wtf are reviewers and users thinking? The game has good fighting/combat, though even that is entirely ripped off of Batman Arkham (which still does it better than this game), everything else is a yawn fest. Bland, empty, lifeless open world which is a chore to travel through, boring story, lots of useless padding of the kind that you find in many UbisoftThis game is incredibly overrated, wtf are reviewers and users thinking? The game has good fighting/combat, though even that is entirely ripped off of Batman Arkham (which still does it better than this game), everything else is a yawn fest. Bland, empty, lifeless open world which is a chore to travel through, boring story, lots of useless padding of the kind that you find in many Ubisoft games... damn. This game would have been a lot better with a more tight, focused experience instead of trying to do many things and artificially increasing play time. But i guess this is what gamers want nowadays, doesn't matter if it's boring or not, they just want it to take hours to play through. Quantity over quality mentality...which i disagree with.… Expand
  6. countyourmacros
    Oct 6, 2014
    1
    Do not be FOOLED BY WARNER BROS PR TEAM who is clearly paying "users" to go and review this game positively.

    This is average at best. It's like the deformed love (hate) child of Assassin's Creed and Ryse. So incredibly boring. It takes FOREVER to kill an average Uruk or Orc, and more often than not you're stuck sneaking around. Nobody wants a LOTR games where you're stuck sneaking around.
  7. noobishka
    Oct 3, 2014
    1
    This game is disgraceful, it truly is very poor. Combat is dull and the free roaming has almost no joy in it. I wish I regain the hours i wasted on this excuse of a game.
  8. Marshy
    Oct 2, 2014
    7
    After playing this game on pc, I can easily say it is a great game but there is alot of bugs and stupid systems Like the controls it is just horrible, I find my self smashing the space bar to sprint but half of the time it dose not work,

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

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

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

    If your looking for a open world game with great combat and not too arsed about story middle-earth is the game for you, You will have hours of fun taking Orcs body parts off    … Expand
  9. BlackNastyyy
    Oct 7, 2014
    4
    As much as I wanted to believe it wasn't going to be an Assassin's Creed clone, it turned out to just be Assassin's Creed 2 re-skinned with unimportant Lord of the Rings characters...

    Another hyped up disappointment in the year of 2014.
  10. Gamingking007
    Oct 5, 2014
    10
    This game is amazing!!! From beginning to the end this game had me hooked! I am an obsessed fan of the lord of the rings movies and was really not expecting such an immersive game which expands on the lord of the rings saga! The presentation, story and gameplay were all out of this world. I believe this is the best lord of the rings game there is and would recommend it to anyone who is aThis game is amazing!!! From beginning to the end this game had me hooked! I am an obsessed fan of the lord of the rings movies and was really not expecting such an immersive game which expands on the lord of the rings saga! The presentation, story and gameplay were all out of this world. I believe this is the best lord of the rings game there is and would recommend it to anyone who is a fan of the series and if not to anyone who loves fantasy rpg.This is the best rpg of the year so far!thanks monolith you guys rock!… Expand
  11. pdanieldenis1
    Oct 1, 2014
    10
    Great game, love the nemesis system, action is tight. The graphics are not the best i've seen but its really good. Not really a fan of the Lord of the rings but this game is great
  12. DarthPreamp
    Oct 6, 2014
    4
    I haven't played a more broken game since Two Worlds. YIKES! Which is too bad, because there is an great game trapped inside a mess of development and testing.
  13. LFiori
    Oct 3, 2014
    10
    A nice surprise. Story is ok, the gameplay is awesome and the game itself is very fun to play. I think it is the best game released so far and everyone should give it a try, but of course it is just my opinion.
  14. spyderdeman
    Oct 6, 2014
    0
    A copy of Assassin!

    Hackneyed plot, primitive fighting system, horrible management, and a complete lack of RPGs...

    P. S. Unable to play more than 20 minutes
  15. piquizera
    Oct 1, 2014
    10
    Esse jogo está simplesmente maravilhoso...to curtindo pra carai e não vejo logo a hora de chegar no fim..heheheh! Melhor jogo da nova geração até o momento!
  16. VitorCortial
    Sep 30, 2014
    6
    The story of the game start as well, therefore in the middle of the game starts to get confuse and cheesy. The gameplay for me is the strongest point, it takes assasin's creed for another level! It's easy, beautiful mechanicals and a lot of blody!
    The game is worth at all, there is some good background story, cool but emotionless protagonists, and a mistery to be discovered... If you love    The story of the game start as well, therefore in the middle of the game starts to get confuse and cheesy. The gameplay for me is the strongest point, it takes assasin's creed for another level! It's easy, beautiful mechanicals and a lot of blody!
    The game is worth at all, there is some good background story, cool but emotionless protagonists, and a mistery to be discovered... If you love LOTR and AC, go on and eat the game, but if you don't like, man! Keep a great distance of this game! (Sorry my grammar erros, i'm brazilian and i don't write well...)    … Expand
  17. hiddenpheonix
    Oct 3, 2014
    0
    Right now, the game is broken. Bugs are huge and ridiculous.
    1) Auto save so if you screw up, they win by becoming more powerful and that's permanent. Enemies become invulnerable to your every attack unless certain circumstances line up just right in a highly unlikely way. And those invulnerable will have all the missions include them so the game gets stuck.
    2) Complex Quick time event,    Right now, the game is broken. Bugs are huge and ridiculous.
    1) Auto save so if you screw up, they win by becoming more powerful and that's permanent. Enemies become invulnerable to your every attack unless certain circumstances line up just right in a highly unlikely way. And those invulnerable will have all the missions include them so the game gets stuck.
    2) Complex Quick time event, which is horrible to begin with, pop up behind the interface so even if you manage to get the the circles lined up, half the time you have no clue what button to it because of course that changes too.
    3) 48 hours past game launch and still no prepurchase bonuses patched in to the game.
    4) walk near a wall, get stuck on that wall
    5)two hit kill enemies are everywhere
    6) nothing fixed or choice, everything is random like diablo loot
    7) Tiny map, like a GTA opening world
    Save your money.    … Expand
  18. devils3way
    Apr 7, 2015
    0
    Worst game ever made for this amount of money! If your going to spend a million dollars to produce a game give it a story to follow.Any story like the last of us or fallout not this running around with a sword god of war crap. Nobody want to play the same fight scene over and over! MY MONEY BACK PLEASE?
  19. kenmil
    Feb 15, 2015
    7
    A strange thing happened to me whilst playing this game - I got bored with it after playing about 75%. This has never happened before and I always play to the end, but this one just lost me. Sure there are some weaknesses, such as a weapon upgrade rune system that keeps rewarding me with useless runes way below my current level, and an inability to keep my character focused on the opponentA strange thing happened to me whilst playing this game - I got bored with it after playing about 75%. This has never happened before and I always play to the end, but this one just lost me. Sure there are some weaknesses, such as a weapon upgrade rune system that keeps rewarding me with useless runes way below my current level, and an inability to keep my character focused on the opponent during combat, but I think it was the repetition in every location and every quest that finally drained me of any interest.
    The graphics are very nice though.    … Expand
  20. jamesweber
    Nov 12, 2014
    10
    This game should definitely be considered GOTY. I don't know if that's an actual status or award, but it certainly deserves it! When this gets the prize I'm going to bump **** In My Pants super loud!
  21. jack2059
    Oct 26, 2014
    7
    Some wonderful features but lacking any soul.

    The biggest underdog shock of the year is how everyone is describing this game. Its got a very strong combat system, lifted straight out of Batman. And while its great, the combat on the whole can get very frustrating as you are swarmed by captains, beserkers and shield enemies. A simple attempt at killing a war chief or captain can very    Some wonderful features but lacking any soul.

    The biggest underdog shock of the year is how everyone is describing this game.
    Its got a very strong combat system, lifted straight out of Batman. And while its great, the combat on the whole can get very frustrating as you are swarmed by captains, beserkers and shield enemies.
    A simple attempt at killing a war chief or captain can very quickly become a big test of patience and annoyance. This isnt helped by the camera system which can be very awkward.

    The standout feature however is the Nemesis enemy system. This adds serious weight to the enemies around the world. Giving them names and personas.
    Attempting to take down a War Chief is thrilling as he baits you with great lines of speech, then while you fight you hear the surrounding enemies chant his name.

    The graphics are largely very good. Especially on a rain soaked evening the world looks beautiful.
    The game world is like the story, very bland. Lots of wide open stony floored stretches of middle earth with nothing but rocks to see.

    Where the game falls down most though, all importanly is the complete lack of a main character. You play a very bland person, in a very bland basic story. And its for this reason that the game just doesnt addict me. There is no heart to make the combat and nemesis system worthwhile

    Give the nemesis system to a game like Assassins Creed or Batman and you could have something incredibly special.    … Expand
  22. hollowfication
    Oct 8, 2014
    10
    oh my god i played it last night i only did like 3 mission i loved it i keep trying to takeout most of captain i keep dying it was headache but fact is fun

    felt like bit like assassin creed but fact is it mad i love Nemesis system it awesome wraith ability is cool just hope i get to control orc soon
  23. Ghoster
    May 10, 2015
    10
    Didn't expect much from this game because I'm not really fan of genre. Story is good but nothing special, but gameplay is what make this game awesome. Good fighting, level up and upgrading character. Side missions are repetitive, but it's very fun to kill orcs and warchiefs. There are few things which could be improved, but in luck of good games lately it deserve 10+ !!!
  24. armchairjerk
    Oct 27, 2014
    5
    Really isnt that much to this game. The plot is bad but the combat can make up for that. You're forced to run from captain to captain killing them while being subjected to quests that at times don't feel necessary. Wait for this game to go on sale.
  25. Vertran187
    Oct 9, 2014
    10
    Fantastic game a true gem after a disappointing year this game was pure fun great abilities fluid combat unique story line and some unique features. GOTY so far who would have thought.
  26. Northur
    Oct 10, 2014
    9
    Fantastic Tolkien game. The Nemesis system is something that I would want to be in other games too. Combat is very similar to Batman Arkham series, which is a good thing. This seriously has the potential to be game of the year. Eventhough hte game has it's flaws, like the camera, I would highly recommend this to all.
  27. Storm1672
    Dec 16, 2014
    8
    Let me get this clear; This is one of the best games of the year and was totally surprised by its quality. Certainly did not see this coming. Now, besides that, I read all the press and reviews and have to say that I feel a lot of them were too biased I think by the fact that it surprised all of us.

    The technical aspect is great, though did not care much for some of the artwork. The    Let me get this clear; This is one of the best games of the year and was totally surprised by its quality. Certainly did not see this coming. Now, besides that, I read all the press and reviews and have to say that I feel a lot of them were too biased I think by the fact that it surprised all of us.

    The technical aspect is great, though did not care much for some of the artwork. The gameplay is too similar to some of the great great of the last years. The execution is great and so are the ideas, but there is little to do and every sandbox game needs a great world and Mordor is not it. It is very poorly designed. Ok, it's Mordor. Desolate plains. I get it. More variety was needed.

    The best part of the game is how everything is well made and also the Nemesis system which is what takes this game from mediocrity and places it on top tier.

    I think the sequel has some great potential.    … Expand
  28. TragicShow
    Jan 1, 2015
    8
    Two words- Nemesis system. Shadow of Mordor lets you create your own story as you fight unique orcs. It is so satisfying to kill an orc after he had bested you before. The story is short, but you can find yourself invested in your own as you continually hunt down orcs/build an army. It has an excellent combat system and level/perk system. However, the story is too short, and should onlyTwo words- Nemesis system. Shadow of Mordor lets you create your own story as you fight unique orcs. It is so satisfying to kill an orc after he had bested you before. The story is short, but you can find yourself invested in your own as you continually hunt down orcs/build an army. It has an excellent combat system and level/perk system. However, the story is too short, and should only take about sixteen hours to complete. There are quite a few side missions, but they are very similar and can be finished quickly. There are two maps, but they are only as big as they need to be. Don't expect to traverse through all of Mordor and visit all of the iconic places from the book or movies. While pretty, the landscape is pretty much the same thing everywhere. The story is also uninteresting and the final boss battle is an incredibly anti-climatic cutscene. You will likely find yourself far more invested in your own story other than the one that is presented. The game rates so highly because as far as gameplay goes, it's perfect.… Expand
  29. Enforcer122
    Nov 3, 2014
    7
    The game itself is a solid game. The combat is smooth, the stealth is tactical and it all comes together as an enjoyable experience. I just couldn't help but to feel bored near the end of the game... I had been doing the same stuff for 20 hours plus, the game forcing me to kill all the war chiefs before letting me move on was hugely frustrating. Some of the quests you do also feltThe game itself is a solid game. The combat is smooth, the stealth is tactical and it all comes together as an enjoyable experience. I just couldn't help but to feel bored near the end of the game... I had been doing the same stuff for 20 hours plus, the game forcing me to kill all the war chiefs before letting me move on was hugely frustrating. Some of the quests you do also felt meticulous and samey. If you're looking for a game to get plenty of hours out then go for it, but I found the novelty soon wore off.… 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
  31. GERULAS
    Oct 5, 2014
    10
    This is one of the best game that I have played on PC in last 10 years and I played plenty of games.
    Combat mechanics are a bit better than the one from Assassin's Creed that's the part that I like the most , anyway the short version: overall this is a very well constructed game, fun and exciting it's a very good game worth to be rated around 9/10
    P.S: This is my second time when I waste    This is one of the best game that I have played on PC in last 10 years and I played plenty of games.
    Combat mechanics are a bit better than the one from Assassin's Creed that's the part that I like the most , anyway the short version: overall this is a very well constructed game, fun and exciting it's a very good game worth to be rated around 9/10
    P.S: This is my second time when I waste my time with such activities to rated a game here.    … Expand
  32. chasiu852
    Oct 7, 2014
    9
    What started like a Assassins Creed rip off quickly veered off to something a lot better.

    I've always been a fan of Assassins Creed but there was something about those games that become very mundane and repetitive. I've only played SoM for several hours but there already are some distinct differences and things that make this game a lot more unique and fun. Character customization and    What started like a Assassins Creed rip off quickly veered off to something a lot better.

    I've always been a fan of Assassins Creed but there was something about those games that become very mundane and repetitive. I've only played SoM for several hours but there already are some distinct differences and things that make this game a lot more unique and fun. Character customization and weapon customization skill trees that unlock as you progress. A lot more combos and unique methods of killing enemies. etc.

    What I found most interesting was the fact that every time you die. The guy who kills you gets promoted to a rank of captain (Your objective is to kill all the captains). If all captain slots are taken then they battle til the death for that captain spot and the winner gets stronger. If a captain kills you then he also gets stronger. This makes the game unique and the difficulty changes as you go. Very fun game!    … Expand
  33. Edozul91
    Oct 7, 2014
    9
    I've been playing this game for days and I got really impressed. Let's face it, It's the first great game on The lord of the rings and I really appreciate this thing. Personally speaking I advise you to get this amazing game whether you like this wonderful world or not. So, get it and you won't regret!!!
  34. DragonBorn-
    Jun 24, 2016
    8
    This game is excellent. Completely different to whats out there at the moment. Its sort of like a hybrid of Assassins Creed, Arkham City and Dragon Age for me.

    Pro's - Excellent graphics. Solid story-line. Good rank-up system. Smooth, free flowing game play. Top notch battle mechanics (similar to the Batman games). Originality. Con's - Can get a little repetitive. No    This game is excellent. Completely different to whats out there at the moment. Its sort of like a hybrid of Assassins Creed, Arkham City and Dragon Age for me.

    Pro's -

    Excellent graphics.
    Solid story-line.
    Good rank-up system.
    Smooth, free flowing game play.
    Top notch battle mechanics (similar to the Batman games).
    Originality.

    Con's -

    Can get a little repetitive.
    No difficulty level options. Personally I found the game far too easy.
    The ending is a huge anticlimax.
    The 'open' world isn't actually that open and the backdrop could be more detailed.

    TBH the con's are quite picky, i had to think for a while to come up with the list, whereas the pro's just rolled off the tongue straight away.

    Overall Shadow of Mordor is an excellent game and the edition of Parkour into the mix makes for a real fun 30+ hours of fun (if you 100% the game). Definitely one of the best games of 2014.

    8/10    … Expand
  35. davecave23
    Oct 12, 2014
    9
    This game is not just a great Lord of the Rings game, but a great game in general that repeats its lore and roots. Many will say that the game is similar to the Arkham and assassins creed games and to that I say.... so thats awesome! its story is a bit generic but theres a good host of side characters and it should keep you sufficiently engaged for the duration of the 12 hour campaign. GetThis game is not just a great Lord of the Rings game, but a great game in general that repeats its lore and roots. Many will say that the game is similar to the Arkham and assassins creed games and to that I say.... so thats awesome! its story is a bit generic but theres a good host of side characters and it should keep you sufficiently engaged for the duration of the 12 hour campaign. Get this game NOW!… Expand
  36. Gbomb
    Dec 10, 2014
    8
    I enjoyed this game, it was fun, fast and frantic but with real style. Take the Lord of the Rings world and plonk everything that has been good in action games in the recent past and here's what you get "Lord of the Arkham Creed". I found that I could overlook the slight lack of depth within the story here as each time I picked up the controller I had a blast, great fun.
  37. Movieman4
    Oct 13, 2014
    10
    This game is just pure fun. Story is at least decent, but the action is what this is about. Get this game if you want and open world AC and Arkham game in a LoTR universe with tons of gory bloody action.
  38. Iberian_Buffalo
    Oct 8, 2014
    7
    good things:
    - open world
    - interesting system of orc army(you can build your army, control, betray, help commanders) - fight enjoyable ( little boring, you want to finish is as soon as possible to just complete objectives) - encounters with commanders interesting(weaknesses, strong sides, you can use environment, you can use other orcs, you can scare commander or make him stronger) -    good things:
    - open world
    - interesting system of orc army(you can build your army, control, betray, help commanders)
    - fight enjoyable ( little boring, you want to finish is as soon as possible to just complete objectives)
    - encounters with commanders interesting(weaknesses, strong sides, you can use environment, you can use other orcs, you can scare commander or make him stronger)
    - enemies remember you and speak about this
    - really nice story
    - great compendium that explain a lot about world, nice to read
    - good character progression idea, weapon runes
    - 30fps nice graphic
    - great audio, nice use of mono controller speaker

    cons:
    - little boring weapon missions(at some point you don`t want to do them in next location, all the time the same but you can ignore them)
    - control on mount(dogs) is sometime hard to control, creatures too much prefer to jump up/down than go around something, the same when you try to jump through window, game prefer to grab/climb walls
    - stealth is too powerful(but well.. really fun :) )

    final score: 7/10    … Expand
  39. dyrankun
    Oct 26, 2014
    4
    Not very impressed by this game. I usually don't give games poor reviews but I'm just not thrilled by it. In fact, I find myself forcing myself (unsuccessfully) to play just to try and get my moneys worth. I will say this however. Much of this is my own fault, for not looking into what the game actually was before I purchased it. I saw a new LOTR game with decent ratings, had someNot very impressed by this game. I usually don't give games poor reviews but I'm just not thrilled by it. In fact, I find myself forcing myself (unsuccessfully) to play just to try and get my moneys worth. I will say this however. Much of this is my own fault, for not looking into what the game actually was before I purchased it. I saw a new LOTR game with decent ratings, had some extra money to spend, and bought it on a whim. I was very disappointed by the fact that the entire game takes place in Mordor. Yes, I know, the game title should have been a dead give away, but I didn't honestly think you could make a LOTR game all within the land of mordor. What a shame. I read "Open world". Cool! I can finally play a LOTR game and go visit all those fond locations! nope. The environment is about what you would expect. It's not that it looks bad, its just that it becomes very dull, very fast. Everything looks the same after 10 minutes of play. Everything plays the same within 10 minutes as well. There's just no cohesion. I feel as if I'm running around in circles, from one quest marker to the next (enough with the quest marker formula already). It doesn't feel like I`m getting anywhere. I would say that open world is not my thing, except that TESO games are some of my absolute favorites, so that argument doesn`t stand. The combat is pretty dull in my opinion. hack hack hack, counter, hack, groundkill, rinse and repeat. There are so many enemies everywhere that even stealth stalking just feels insignificant. Oh cool, I stealth killed an orc, too bad theres 50 more in every direction I look. Just takes away from the impact of putting the effort in to stay in stealth, which by the way, you pretty much are forced to do when running anywhere. I don`t know, I could go on, but really, I feel like I`ve wasted enough time and money in this game. To put the effort in on a review of this game would just contribute to the waste. I bought this as a LOTR fan, hoping that someone finally made a decent LOTR game. How disappointing.… Expand
  40. boddhisativa
    Oct 4, 2014
    10
    As a life long Tolkien fan, I get sucked into trying almost every game that comes it set in his..........legendarium. Pretty much always ends in disappointment. To date the only real fun I have found in Middle Earth gaming are the Third Age mods for the Total War series. When I initially started to see press for this game, I was not impressed. The whole Talion/Wraith thing seemed to beAs a life long Tolkien fan, I get sucked into trying almost every game that comes it set in his..........legendarium. Pretty much always ends in disappointment. To date the only real fun I have found in Middle Earth gaming are the Third Age mods for the Total War series. When I initially started to see press for this game, I was not impressed. The whole Talion/Wraith thing seemed to be very un-Tolkien like, and the gameplay reminiscent of other offerings. Then, in what I think was a wise move, Monolith revealed the wraith as Celebrimbor. Now this was really intriguing. Then as more was revealed about the nemesis system, I decided to buy it.

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

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

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

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

    So, my score? 9/10. A lot of fun, well executed. I am still playing after finishing, doing the challenges and taking care of lose ends in the campaign. I have some small gripes about things like occasionally getting stopped/stuck in the environment where one would not expect to, but those are rare, and hardly worth mentioning. So, why am I rating it 10? +1 to balance those who gave it a zero, but have not played it.    … Expand
  41. DrZomboid
    Nov 28, 2016
    2
    Ugly art and poor environment design powered by limited and wild camera behavior. Limitless amount of ork spawn to help a boss. Good idea with nemesis system, but total mess. QTE button mashing fest.
  42. Aplox
    Oct 7, 2014
    7
    I found the game very amusing and polished but i had anticipated and endless horde of quests like Skyrim but insted it took me less than 20 hours to complete main story line and at 24:37 i have completed 95% of the game, since they dident make any multiplayer i doubt i will ever play the game again unless there comes some major update, so in short terms

    Great game, but WAY TOO SHORT i    I found the game very amusing and polished but i had anticipated and endless horde of quests like Skyrim but insted it took me less than 20 hours to complete main story line and at 24:37 i have completed 95% of the game, since they dident make any multiplayer i doubt i will ever play the game again unless there comes some major update, so in short terms

    Great game, but WAY TOO SHORT i am sorry to say that i am dissapointed, cus i rly love the gameplay but there aint enough of it, and no Multiplayer    … Expand
  43. Markiniezter
    Oct 7, 2014
    8
    Very good story, which delves into the lord of the rings, beautiful graphics, aver could have been better. Excellent mechanical to fight the best. By M
  44. Gamer_Guy
    Oct 8, 2014
    9
    I was a little cautious with this purchase as i don't usually buy assassins creed or batman but i'm a huge fan of lord of the rings and the hobbit. But pleasantly to my suprise this game is amazing. Graphically, technically and story wise.

    The nemesis system is brilliant. It's so refreshing to see developers add something new, unseen in any game today. Clearly this game borrows key    I was a little cautious with this purchase as i don't usually buy assassins creed or batman but i'm a huge fan of lord of the rings and the hobbit. But pleasantly to my suprise this game is amazing. Graphically, technically and story wise.

    The nemesis system is brilliant. It's so refreshing to see developers add something new, unseen in any game today. Clearly this game borrows key elements from assassins creed and batman arkham series but does this in such a way it feels unique to the game.

    i highly recommend this game to anyone interested. i will at least get 50-60 hours out of it. which is alot more than most single player games interest me these days.    … Expand
  45. ps4ftw
    Oct 9, 2014
    8
    Love the game love the combat system love the parcour does not feel like AC at all story is amazinging just dont like how easy it is to get over whelmed by enimies and i didnt like the ending but im happy
  46. 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
  47. chayshirin
    Jul 5, 2016
    6
    The bad:
    Way too easy
    non existing AI
    useless collectibles and side quests

    The good:
    runs smooth

    In short your typical assassin's creed under a new guise
  48. 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
  49. AndyPatterson96
    Oct 26, 2014
    7
    The gameplay mechanics more than echo those of Rocksteady's Arkham games and Ubisoft's Assassin's creed but that's forgivable considering Monolith utilised (recycle?) them rather well and threw in an intriguing nemesis system to keep things feeling fresh. Tolkien fans needn't worry that the beloved LOTR license is tarnished either; Shadow of Mordor has an engaging and dark revenge tale atThe gameplay mechanics more than echo those of Rocksteady's Arkham games and Ubisoft's Assassin's creed but that's forgivable considering Monolith utilised (recycle?) them rather well and threw in an intriguing nemesis system to keep things feeling fresh. Tolkien fans needn't worry that the beloved LOTR license is tarnished either; Shadow of Mordor has an engaging and dark revenge tale at its heart that adds depth to the lore and setting of Middle Earth.… Expand
  50. Red-Opposom-098
    Jan 15, 2015
    6
    After looking at what this game looked liked, well it looked fun and it was for the first hour. Now the nemesis system is probably the best part of this game next to seeing the stupid names the enemy's have. The combat system in this game is great and isn't to easy to counter everything but it can be way to tricky when fighting 10+ enemy's. But at times the game can be way to boring.
  51. the_great_owl
    Oct 28, 2014
    7
    Shadow of Mordor is a good game, though full of flaws.

    Combat system is great. It is swift, fast, bloody and impressive. Visuals are great. I really liked the changing weather and the photo mode with which you can play around with creating nice screenshots. Voice acting, music and sounds are top tier, I really felt that game is taking place in Middlearth. Nemesis system is really    Shadow of Mordor is a good game, though full of flaws.

    Combat system is great. It is swift, fast, bloody and impressive.
    Visuals are great. I really liked the changing weather and the photo mode with which you can play around with creating nice screenshots.
    Voice acting, music and sounds are top tier, I really felt that game is taking place in Middlearth.
    Nemesis system is really innovative and gives a lot of opportunities to get rid of captains of warchiefs.

    And that is about everything good this game can offer.

    Flaws? Game is repetitive. After 10 first hours of playing you will know what rest of the game is about.
    Characters are bland and forced into the almost non-existing plot. Plot is really disappointing, especially the ending, which basically is a short QTE...
    Despite the nice Nemesis system I did not find this game challenging. To be honest game was getting easier and easier with new powers that you unlock during play through.

    Having on mind that game is not a short one, I am kind of disappointed with its execution.
    Instead of setting new standards, the game tries not to be Assassin's Creed/Batman clone inserted into Middlearth realm but ultimately fails to do so.

    Shadow of Mordor could have been so much more.    … Expand
  52. colinb93rs
    Nov 6, 2014
    9
    I would of given this game a solid 10 however I didn't like how the game started, short intro into the open world and then its left up to you to decide how you want to proceed. Initially I didn't like this but once I wrapped my head around where the game was going, I haven't looked back. Smooth gameplay, awesome cinematics and a very entertaining game. I have seen on a couple occasionsI would of given this game a solid 10 however I didn't like how the game started, short intro into the open world and then its left up to you to decide how you want to proceed. Initially I didn't like this but once I wrapped my head around where the game was going, I haven't looked back. Smooth gameplay, awesome cinematics and a very entertaining game. I have seen on a couple occasions that the camera angle does get turned around when a wall is close but knowing this makes it easy to adapt to. Overall, must buy great game for the RPG fans!… Expand
  53. Colinator
    Nov 9, 2014
    10
    This game is probably the best game I have on my PS4 right now. The graphics are great. Combat feels like Batman and Assassin's Creed combined. The open world is near perfect. The only problem I have with Shadow of Mordor is the annoying difficulty. Sometimes I feel like I'm trying to play Assassin's Creed with my hands cut off!!! Being a huge Lord of The Rings fan, I love this game. Oh,This game is probably the best game I have on my PS4 right now. The graphics are great. Combat feels like Batman and Assassin's Creed combined. The open world is near perfect. The only problem I have with Shadow of Mordor is the annoying difficulty. Sometimes I feel like I'm trying to play Assassin's Creed with my hands cut off!!! Being a huge Lord of The Rings fan, I love this game. Oh, and just so some of the haters out there understand, this game was made by the people that made the Arkham games. So stop complaining about how similar they are!!!… Expand
  54. Peenusmuncher69
    Nov 11, 2014
    10
    If the concept of making orcs your b****s sounds nice to you, get this game. Don't know why I need 150 characters so BUY DIS N KILL ORCS FOOL :) it's fun
  55. Barendino
    Nov 19, 2014
    8
    With all the triple A titles this year, this game came very unexpected. Shadow of Mordor is a great game with a few down sides. The gameplay is solid but gets a bit repetitive at some point. The world is gorgeous but feels a bit empty in some places. The major down side of this game is that it is way too easy. There is no difficulty level to adjust and that makes the game a bit boring atWith all the triple A titles this year, this game came very unexpected. Shadow of Mordor is a great game with a few down sides. The gameplay is solid but gets a bit repetitive at some point. The world is gorgeous but feels a bit empty in some places. The major down side of this game is that it is way too easy. There is no difficulty level to adjust and that makes the game a bit boring at the end. The boss fights aren't challenging at all. The story is fun, but not really special.

    Overall it's a good game, with no game breaking bugs (which is not common these days... *cough*ubisoft*cough*, solid gameplay and great visuals!    … Expand
  56. NoiNorac
    Nov 19, 2014
    2
    Don't buy it.

    The gameplay is horrendously lazy and the narrative rapes Tolkien's vision. If you want something to waste time with and don't care about Lord of the Rings, then buy something else.
  57. Dlindenberg
    Nov 27, 2014
    9
    Good game with a new perspective. Liked the side missions and main story is verry fun. You have much freedom and can do whatever you want and that makes it verry ammusing. WORTH MY MONEY
  58. JAX85
    Jan 11, 2015
    10
    Best Game on PS4. Best Game on PS4. Best Game on PS4. Best Game on PS4. Best Game on PS4. Best Game on PS4. Best Game on PS4. Best Game on PS4. Best Game on PS4. Best Game on PS4.
  59. tsakiym
    May 25, 2015
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I do not have to say anything. But i need to write one hundred and fifty characters. i think my score can describe it.................................… Expand
  60. tiagodantas
    Feb 24, 2015
    4
    Super repetitive! There are not another words to describe this game. You have to be a super patient person to complete it. Even for a Lord of The Rings based game, is dispensable.
  61. Jpwr39
    Apr 6, 2016
    6
    I'm a huge LotR fan and really wanted to enjoy this game but just couldn't . A very overrated game. Don't understand all the high ratings tbh. The game is impressive at first but gets dull and repetitive quickly. Nemesis system is interesting though as others have said it's basically a rip off of Assasins Creed and Batman Arkham.
  62. Jalmerk
    Nov 16, 2015
    7
    Shadow of Mordor offers a fun, satisfying and brutal combat experience, but in the end, there isn't really much variety to speak of. You will be killing orcs throughout the entire game, and towards the end your character will be so overpowered that it kinda sucks the fun out of it all. Ironically the very first Warchief you face in the game, is considerably more difficult than the finalShadow of Mordor offers a fun, satisfying and brutal combat experience, but in the end, there isn't really much variety to speak of. You will be killing orcs throughout the entire game, and towards the end your character will be so overpowered that it kinda sucks the fun out of it all. Ironically the very first Warchief you face in the game, is considerably more difficult than the final boss of the game. If you can get this game used or on discount, knock yourself out!… Expand
  63. GodHades100
    Jun 24, 2016
    4
    Shadow of Mordor is one of the best games i have ever played.Amazing grahpics , gameplay ,action.. Its really amazing BUT this game becomes really boring. I have spent approximately 25 hours playing this game and i seriously dont want to touch it again . The enemies are the same . The only thing you do is killing orks . The world is really small. if you like playing games for maximum 30Shadow of Mordor is one of the best games i have ever played.Amazing grahpics , gameplay ,action.. Its really amazing BUT this game becomes really boring. I have spent approximately 25 hours playing this game and i seriously dont want to touch it again . The enemies are the same . The only thing you do is killing orks . The world is really small. if you like playing games for maximum 30 hours then get it but if you want a game to spend over 30 hours then dont buy thi game… Expand
  64. Tailynd
    Apr 8, 2016
    7
    Love the way you fight in this game, same fighting engine as Batman Arkham. But a little easy and the story wasn't interesting or engaging. But a fun game and the Nemesis system was a cool experience
  65. JS99
    Apr 13, 2016
    9
    I like this game. I really thought it was a mistake to buy a movie tie-in game but this one is fun. The combat is fast paced and a joy to play. The kill and move animations are outstanding. I loved the Nemesis system. I was actively hunting down and marking enemies. The story was a little thin, but the game play and mechanics were terrific. Tons of replay value.
  66. Greghead
    Jun 30, 2016
    6
    I have mixed feelings about this game. Some elements of gameplay show glimpses of genius, whilst other elements feel unfinished and below par. Boss fights can be really good fun, but the game overall does suffer from a lack of flair.
    For LOTR fans, this is a must buy. But for others who are mildly intrigued by it, try before you buy, or pick it up second hand.
  67. 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. .
  68. Pormetheus12
    Nov 28, 2016
    7
    Decent game with good game mechanics and nice world. The graphics are good, but the story is a major let down. The game could have been much better if the story would have been improved.
  69. frederik1478
    Jul 2, 2021
    8
    shadow of Mordor may have one of the best mechanics in video game the infighting and the brainwashing you can do Is simply phenomenon the movement controls and all the things around it is this good I will not say I hate the Batman fighting system but it's not one of my favorites , And a story is so milquetoast that I can pretty much say that you can Skip it all then not lose anything.shadow of Mordor may have one of the best mechanics in video game the infighting and the brainwashing you can do Is simply phenomenon the movement controls and all the things around it is this good I will not say I hate the Batman fighting system but it's not one of my favorites , And a story is so milquetoast that I can pretty much say that you can Skip it all then not lose anything. Plus the climbing feels awful just like the movement weekend I have never felt like my character is moving through water and all of my movements are delayed it's horrible. But thes mechanic makes it's all Worth playing it once . I just got it Platinum trophy so this is the last time I will play the game it was fun while it lasted but getting a
    Platinum trophy was boring    … Expand
  70. 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.
  71. Deanomite
    Jan 31, 2019
    10
    An excellent game, very good sound effects and voice acting. built on the same engine as Batman Arkham, group combat feels similar but terrifying because you cannot rappel away from a horde, just have to stick it out. Combat was extremely enjoyable, slowing time for an elf arrow barrage a personal favorite, as well as the guys killing you getting promoted was a brilliant touch. to boot,An excellent game, very good sound effects and voice acting. built on the same engine as Batman Arkham, group combat feels similar but terrifying because you cannot rappel away from a horde, just have to stick it out. Combat was extremely enjoyable, slowing time for an elf arrow barrage a personal favorite, as well as the guys killing you getting promoted was a brilliant touch. to boot, its cheap now.… Expand
  72. 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.
  73. 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
  74. sufflaminandus
    Jan 21, 2019
    5
    Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor is yet another collector simulator in the age of open-world action-adventure genre. Everything is straight from recipe list: seamless huge areas? Check. Piles and piles of building, rocks and landscapes to climb upon? Check. Infinite respawning foes roaming those places? Check. Garbage hidden in every inappropriate corner? Check. Unnecessary stories tetheredMiddle-earth: Shadow of Mordor is yet another collector simulator in the age of open-world action-adventure genre. Everything is straight from recipe list: seamless huge areas? Check. Piles and piles of building, rocks and landscapes to climb upon? Check. Infinite respawning foes roaming those places? Check. Garbage hidden in every inappropriate corner? Check. Unnecessary stories tethered to each piece of that garbage? Check. Generic unsolicited ‘side quests’? Check. Stealth? Check. Upgrades and abilities? Check. Progress tab to track percentage of your ‘completion’? Check. In fact, M-e:SoM is so discrete designed that even main quests are perceived as trite markers on map to add to your percentage. But, at least, developers are honest about the story: in a first thirty minutes we introduced to the objective that doesn’t change through all 20 hours, to kill a trio of evil fellows. Blant but ok. At least they are not pretentious.

    So recall an any Assassin’s Creed, extract combat from Batman, throw it all in a alchemy pot and you will distill M-e:SoM. But, of course, there are some flavorings that makes the game distinguishable from others.

    Visuals in general are eye-catching and pleasing but architecture is gray. There are no lore landmarks present, thus Mordor doesn’t inspire imagination. It’s like something completely separated from The Lord of the Rings.

    Protagonist is half-human, half-ghost and this mix actually feels fresh. Contrast between good-natured ranger Talion and stern dour elf-ghost is entertaining, especially remarks of the latter (huge thanks to his brilliant voicing).

    Combat is fifty-fifty. The melee part of it is bad. For a game where you can fight thirty orcs at a time, this fact is very disappointing. The system itself is exact copy of Batman’s but somehow in M-e:SoM it is bleak: basic attacks lack feedback and impact, enemies designed around lots of unrewarding dodging and parrying; so lots, in fact, that it’s quickly becomes a drudgery.

    Archery and stealth, on the other hand, are superb and astounding. Stealth mechanic is trivial: press button-you will crouch-you will be less noticeable but, paired with decent AI, it is just what we need for such kind of game. Balance is perfect: there are no discoveries through walls but there are no ridiculous ‘hide-in-place-sight’ situations either. This makes stealth a go-to option, not due to rewards (like in a lot of other games) but because it’s actually fun.

    Advantages of archery are indirect. The game uses environmental combat utilities (like explosive… bonfires, yes) and they are realized through archery exclusively. The miracle is that M-e:SoM is one of the maybe five games where *all* supporting objects are useful. Incredibly useful, I must add. The other excellence of archery is skill you can learn midgame: you aim your bow at *any* visible orc (yes, literally hundreds of meters away) and you will flash to him and silently end his miserable life. It doesn’t require much resources so generally you can freely use it most of the time. Must I advertise how awesomely cool this skill is? All that spiderweb flying and horse riding doesn’t stand even close to the breathtaking tactics you can realize with ghost bow.

    And the last gem of the M-e:SoM is, of course, a nemesis system. In short: orcs live their own lives. The purpose of their lives is to climb career ladder: nameless rookie - captain - warchief. To obtain rank you need power and power is accumulated through numerous means: feasts, executions, duels, ambushes… And you can be a part of it all! Wanna promote your own warchief? Easy: save him from ambush, intervene in duel, help him slay the beast, or (what’s even more easier) let him kill yourself! Games features no manual saves, the are no game overs (you are immortal and will resurrect after death), defeat is irreversible, so any orc who manages to slay legendary wrath-ranger will surely get a promotion… and become your nemesis. The real show begins later in game when you will learn mind control. You will be able to subjugate a warchief and order him to wage war against another warchief, or brainwash captain-bodyguard and command him to betray his master (and if he succeeds in attempt he will become a warchief himself, yours warchief!). Intriguing, isn’t it? But pointless. The system is great itself but it offer zero reward. There is absolutely no reason to dabble with it more than you have to. Sandboxing is good… but no. Nevertheless, it’s makes M-e:SoM open world quite charming: everything is on the move, changing, captains comes and goes, rivalries resolved…

    If you are a fan of marker-chase explore-on-your-own action-adventure games, M-e:SoM would be a solid choice for you, as it offers qualitative implementation of said mechanics, entertaining combat, pleasing graphics and unique nemesis system. Otherwise, pass by without second thoughts, we’ve seen it all before.    … Expand
  75. Kentonsxng
    Sep 10, 2021
    9
    Loved it, did 100% of the trophies. The DLC is more difficult than the base game but worth it.
  76. GRX3m0m
    Mar 8, 2023
    0
    How can you not add an invert X axis on a 2014 game? While not the majority, the number of gamers who can't play without it is still huge. Fastest 0 rating for a AAA game in my life.
  77. helloicool
    Oct 24, 2022
    0
    I hate to tell you, but this game just sucks. I got so board I quit the game. It is nothing like the Batman games. Batman is a 10.
  78. robinzvak
    Apr 24, 2015
    8
    Good suprise. Game is mix from Batman game and assasins series, with one new element - nemesis system. The best game from LOTR world. If you are fan, absolutly must buy.
  79. aspentitan
    Jan 29, 2021
    9
    It's very puzzling to see anyone hate on this game. All the tools you need for open world gameplay are here. Like stealth? Game has stealth Exp rewards. Like combat/action? Game has weapon upgrades. Like open world? This game isn't linear by any means. Like RPGs? You can choose your characters strengths and essentially strategy. Like value in a game and replayability? The nemesis systemIt's very puzzling to see anyone hate on this game. All the tools you need for open world gameplay are here. Like stealth? Game has stealth Exp rewards. Like combat/action? Game has weapon upgrades. Like open world? This game isn't linear by any means. Like RPGs? You can choose your characters strengths and essentially strategy. Like value in a game and replayability? The nemesis system will make each game with differences for each playthrough. Personally I love this game with so much to do and your own choices on how to tackle the game. And on top of that no software bugs. The criticism I've heard from the game is it's a repetitive button masher but I'm not buying that it's these same players who aren't grasping the open world concept and try to play the game without experimentation thus limiting their own enjoyment. I guess there will always be players utilizing only two buttons when there are more options but let's not forget how perfect a game this is, it also allows for people to play the game with two buttons if that is their gaming skill capacity.… Expand
  80. ConorIrwin001
    Aug 9, 2015
    8
    As a big fan of the Lord of the Rings universe I had high hopes for this game on announcement and largely they have remained intact. The beautiful combat system which draws primarily on Arkham Asylum's revolutionary fluidity and an increase of freedom of movement through a variety of skills ensures that it looks and plays beautifully. The character progression is spot on, and in the lateAs a big fan of the Lord of the Rings universe I had high hopes for this game on announcement and largely they have remained intact. The beautiful combat system which draws primarily on Arkham Asylum's revolutionary fluidity and an increase of freedom of movement through a variety of skills ensures that it looks and plays beautifully. The character progression is spot on, and in the late -game environment I felt both incredibly powerful but also very aware that I could still be challenged in the form of the larger Uruk strongholds. The main fault of Shadow of Mordor is its story which appeared to be hard to invest in, and despite drawing on a variety of LOTR lore, I couldn't shake the feeling that more could have been done in this regard. Overall, a fun and worthwhile game that deserves your time.… Expand
  81. ravennoir
    Dec 3, 2014
    10
    Just finished the story for this and its great. Good pace and game mechanics. Ill be continuing to play to get 100% completion, and might even replay it from the start :). Highly recommend. Lets hope for a sequel
  82. drlowdon
    Nov 9, 2015
    8
    Shadow of Mordor does repeat some of the mistakes that other open world games have made in the past, such as the inclusion of some pretty dull missions and rather repetitive sidequests, but when all is said and done this is very good game.

    The games strongest aspect is without doubt the 'Batman: Arkham Asylum' style combat and fortunately the developers have made sure that it makes up    Shadow of Mordor does repeat some of the mistakes that other open world games have made in the past, such as the inclusion of some pretty dull missions and rather repetitive sidequests, but when all is said and done this is very good game.

    The games strongest aspect is without doubt the 'Batman: Arkham Asylum' style combat and fortunately the developers have made sure that it makes up much of the game. Even when 20+ hours into the game the perfect controls and unlockable special moves, that include teleportation and executions, ensure it never gets dull.

    On top of this you have what is being called 'the nemesis system', possibly the best new feature in gaming of the last five years. Put simply it means that the enemy captains and war-chiefs are directly influenced by their interactions with you. If they kill you they will gain promotions and gloat about their victory, adding a huge incentive for you to seek revenge. If you can defeat them you can either kill them or put them under control, giving orders to murder your other enemies or betray their war-chief. It all adds up to make for a far less linear experience than a lot of other open world games as there are always different ways to tackle the situations that arise.

    Whether you are a fan of Lord of the Rings or not this is a must play.    … Expand
  83. Dukay66
    Oct 8, 2014
    7
    Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor is a fun open world experience and a great "Lord of the Rings" game. It borrows from just about every game in the book; from Assassin's Creed to the Arkham series. That's not necessarily a bad thing, especially when they implement a mind blowing new mechanic call the nemesis system. I would say Shadow of Mordor does everything well enough and if it weren'tMiddle-earth: Shadow of Mordor is a fun open world experience and a great "Lord of the Rings" game. It borrows from just about every game in the book; from Assassin's Creed to the Arkham series. That's not necessarily a bad thing, especially when they implement a mind blowing new mechanic call the nemesis system. I would say Shadow of Mordor does everything well enough and if it weren't for it's new next-gen nemesis mechanic, it would of turned out very mediocre. The good thing is that Warner Bros. and Interactive have created a sturdy foundation to start building a better sequel.… Expand
  84. aqurban
    Oct 10, 2014
    9
    It might hesitate to dive into the storytelling which it lacks, yet Talion's adventure might be best told in his battles against the merciless horde of Uruks. Taking down captains or petting them against one another to achieve his goals, deceiving them to become under his command or simply ending their lives certainly extends the experience into an endless but not linear number of stories.It might hesitate to dive into the storytelling which it lacks, yet Talion's adventure might be best told in his battles against the merciless horde of Uruks. Taking down captains or petting them against one another to achieve his goals, deceiving them to become under his command or simply ending their lives certainly extends the experience into an endless but not linear number of stories. Shadow of Mordor does not shy when it comes to delivering a bloody and merciless combat experience and differently does not hide its incredible Nemesis system and its infinite capabilities.… Expand
  85. Scottgun
    Dec 26, 2014
    9
    Shadow of Mordor is exactly what a game based on Tolkien's lore is supposed to be: fan fiction. Trying to recreate the Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit is usually an exercise in disappointment. For an interesting excercise in this, watch Peter Jackson's films with the attitude that they are fan fiction rather than The Official Movie Version of Middle-Earth, and you might enjoy them muchShadow of Mordor is exactly what a game based on Tolkien's lore is supposed to be: fan fiction. Trying to recreate the Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit is usually an exercise in disappointment. For an interesting excercise in this, watch Peter Jackson's films with the attitude that they are fan fiction rather than The Official Movie Version of Middle-Earth, and you might enjoy them much more. Shadow of Mordor mines Middle-Earth lore for all its worth yet delivers a unique story. Add the Nemesis system that turns the bad guys into real characters instead of faceless drones and you've got a recipe for success worthy of emulation.… Expand
  86. Yerczeys
    Dec 5, 2015
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Nine-tenths of this game was gold. The plot wasn't incredible but engaging enough, the atmosphere was really well put together, the combat was zounds of fun, and you felt like you were really having an impact on the orc population. Easily one of the best games I've played this year. The one-tenth of this game that wasn't borderline perfect was pure **** The last two bosses you face were some of the worst decisions I've seen in gaming. You kill the Hammer in a fight right? Great fun and felt like it should have. Well with the tower it's just a stupid game of hide and seek, and you don't even fight the Black Hand. You know what you get there? Honest-to-god quick time event against Sauron. Middle-Earth's biggest bad-ass shows up as a guest villian for a quick time event. I give these two fights a -10, but the rest of the game is well worth it.… Expand
  87. Taltos
    Feb 3, 2015
    9
    Great fun.
    Interesting story, but the combat or kill sections are a blast.
    Yes it is a bit repetitive in places but overall a great game to spend a few days with.
  88. DSouls_guy
    Apr 30, 2015
    10
    Wow, why didn't I play this sooner. At first I wasn't sure if shadow of Mordor was a good purchase, but all that doubt went to rest when I started playing this adventure. The graphics, music, combat, voice acting is all amazing. The story is well written as well, there are a few problems in shadow of Mordor some times the frame rate can get jumpy but nothing game breaking. Over all this isWow, why didn't I play this sooner. At first I wasn't sure if shadow of Mordor was a good purchase, but all that doubt went to rest when I started playing this adventure. The graphics, music, combat, voice acting is all amazing. The story is well written as well, there are a few problems in shadow of Mordor some times the frame rate can get jumpy but nothing game breaking. Over all this is the best action RPG game to be on the ps4 besides bloodborne.… Expand
  89. LadiesMan217
    Feb 19, 2015
    9
    I'm giving it a solid 9. If you hate sandbox, Asassin's Creed-style games you may not like this one. However, the fighting style, super creative enemies, gripping story and jaw-dropping graphical quality merit a high score. It's a game that sorta creeps on you. The beginning of the story pits you right in the middle of middle-earth. While it'd be cool to see some hobbits and the combat isI'm giving it a solid 9. If you hate sandbox, Asassin's Creed-style games you may not like this one. However, the fighting style, super creative enemies, gripping story and jaw-dropping graphical quality merit a high score. It's a game that sorta creeps on you. The beginning of the story pits you right in the middle of middle-earth. While it'd be cool to see some hobbits and the combat is a wee bit confusing off the bat, you soon get used to it and virtually immersed in the amazing world the designers built. Word of warning, don't do as I did and get whooped repeatedly early in the game. If you do, you'll find yourself battling level 20 dudes that are nay impossible to defeat without a lot of luck.

    Some of the battles in this game feel ripped right out of a movie scene, with baddies teaming up and talking ork-crap to each other and you. It's great.    … Expand
  90. Mr_Wednesday
    Mar 4, 2015
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Awesome game, but the last boss should be an epic battle, not a Quick Time Event. Totally anticlimatic. I don´t know who would think that is OK. Did the playtesters enjoy this?… Expand
  91. JustinElliot
    Dec 2, 2015
    8
    if you want to because a bada$$ sword slicing and dicing killing machine look no further. the fighting mechanics borrow a little from batman plus some intense violence which is uncomfortably satisfying.
  92. Gwyndolin
    Sep 16, 2015
    8
    Despite of having little experience of Batman games, and not a diehard LoTR fan, I found the game to be enjoyable. The Nemesis system is new and kept things interesting. The combat is simple, but it won't get repetitive too quickly. The world is not that big but has enough to keep me busy for awhile. The stealth mechanics were decent but I feel the game design really encouraged moreDespite of having little experience of Batman games, and not a diehard LoTR fan, I found the game to be enjoyable. The Nemesis system is new and kept things interesting. The combat is simple, but it won't get repetitive too quickly. The world is not that big but has enough to keep me busy for awhile. The stealth mechanics were decent but I feel the game design really encouraged more straight up combat, which is a shame as combat really do get stale after 15 hours or so.
    It was definitely a good experience, and I am glad for the LOTR fans out there that there's a game like this out there for them.
    As far as story goes, it is extremely simple but a revenge story usually is straightforward. The last boss fight was kind of a letdown though.

    If you are not a LoTR fan, rent it or buy it at sales price. If you are, it is a must play.    … Expand
  93. 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
  94. Slappyjigg
    Feb 9, 2015
    9
    Tons of fun. Combat is great and very fluid...the developers made it very easy for you to feel like a complete badass in combat. The nemesis system is fun and honestly drags me away from the main campaign, seeing as how I want to either avenge my death or the death of a friend, or eliminate another captain/settle a dispute/spoil a feast lol. It's just so enjoyable! And the voice acting!Tons of fun. Combat is great and very fluid...the developers made it very easy for you to feel like a complete badass in combat. The nemesis system is fun and honestly drags me away from the main campaign, seeing as how I want to either avenge my death or the death of a friend, or eliminate another captain/settle a dispute/spoil a feast lol. It's just so enjoyable! And the voice acting! You know you get anxious when a game is announced with full voice acting, seeing as how most voice acting is awkward, if not horrid at best. The acting, voice work, character movement (I'm assuming motion capture) and just everything else is so polished and well thought out. You can tell they took care and wanted the smallest aspects of their game to really shine on their own. Even though the story line doesn't necessarily fall exactly in line with the Lord of the Rings story, it does an excellent job of interweaving it into their tale, and more importantly is convincing. Whatever your reservations about the game are, throw them in the pool and play it...or better yet, buy it!… Expand
  95. HardFinn
    Nov 20, 2014
    10
    Exceeded my expectations by far. One of the few games that balances the main story and open world well. The games selling point was the Nemesis system which was cool but definitely not one of the standout parts of the game. The most rewarding part of the game is combat. Most of the time you will feel like you're in that first battle scene of 300...tearing through enemies. Games likeExceeded my expectations by far. One of the few games that balances the main story and open world well. The games selling point was the Nemesis system which was cool but definitely not one of the standout parts of the game. The most rewarding part of the game is combat. Most of the time you will feel like you're in that first battle scene of 300...tearing through enemies. Games like Assassin's Creed have a few death animations where as Shadow of Mordor never feels like they're recycled.

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

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

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

    A serious quality game that is bug free (a new concept these days), if you want to chop off orcs heads then there is no better
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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.
    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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