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8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 2699 Ratings

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  1. Nov 20, 2014
    9
    Tis be a good one Capitan! This is a game I didn't have many hopes for tbh. A LOTR game coming out again. Much better game than AC and all around just fun to play. The Nemesis System in Shadow of Mordor is the highlight overall. I'm looking forward to a sequel that maybe takes us a bit further into the lore.
  2. Nov 20, 2014
    8
    Very fun game. I enjoyed the open world feel. Combat was quick and tight, and had pretty good variety although at times could get repetitive. The nemesis system was fun and interesting. I would say that the scale of the world is quite small, but a very good first title.
  3. Nov 21, 2014
    9
    With being a big lord of the rings fan (and Batman fan), I was really excited to see how this game went and I was really surprised with how fun it was mainly because the nemesis system ,Its LOTR and the fighting resembles batman very much in a (good way)

    9/10
  4. Nov 22, 2014
    9
    This game out Assassins Creed'ed Assassins Creed. It's a marvelously realized world that doesn't center around knowing the lore of Lord of the Rings. If you don't care about LotR, don't worry, the name is borrowed for marketing.
  5. Nov 22, 2014
    6
    Would be a much better game without the massive frame rate drops every few minutes even for a new system. Also could use a complete rework on control set up, current one feel like you are rolling and walking through quicksand in combat and button smashing for the first half of the game.
  6. Nov 29, 2014
    5
    I dunno, just rather unremarkable and repetitive to me. Once you find a routine that works for killing multiple enemies it will work every time. Fighting the Captains can be interesting but I was pretty much on auto pilot for the entire thing. This going to a spot on a map and finding stuff has to stop. They keep doing for all sorts of games and it's so ridiculous. It's certainly not badI dunno, just rather unremarkable and repetitive to me. Once you find a routine that works for killing multiple enemies it will work every time. Fighting the Captains can be interesting but I was pretty much on auto pilot for the entire thing. This going to a spot on a map and finding stuff has to stop. They keep doing for all sorts of games and it's so ridiculous. It's certainly not bad but I doubt I'll do it again. Not as good as a game as Destiny but certainly fewer problems. Expand
  7. Dec 18, 2014
    10
    All the positive word of mouth is why I got this game. Well then....it's the first game I ever bothered to platinum.

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

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

    If I had to nitpick my only complaint would be that by the last quarter of the game I was an unstoppable killing machine and to die would take some serious effort. Also no real replay value but with how much is there that is really not an issue. It's still a great value and worth every penny and then some.
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  8. Dec 4, 2014
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. this game is not bad,but is too hard and boring after 3 hours play,and same misson(go there and kill and again go there and kill)
    i think shadow of mordor in look like AC
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  9. Dec 17, 2014
    10
    Simply amazing one of the best game i ever play the combat system is amazing is like play a fusion of batman origins with assassins creed with a mod of lotr is a great game a must own
  10. Dec 8, 2014
    10
    It's been a while since I played a recently released game that has provided so much fun for me. In a day where we're flooded with multiplayer-focused games with thin stories and 6-hour or less "campaigns", Shadow of Mordor is really a breath of fresh air. Simply put, I can sit down and play this game and just have simple, unadulterated fun with it.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Overall The Shadow of Mordor is a great game worth the buy. Though I found myself more focused on the open world and nemesis system than the actual story I still had a great time and can't wait for the dlc. My advice:Pick it up when its on sale on G2A or something. (I got it for $25 and have seen it go for $15)
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  14. Mar 16, 2015
    5
    Extremely fun combat and story but the rate at which enemies spawn completely ruins the games, it's no fun taking on a captain and then all of a sudden have a group of orcs and other captains spawn from absolutely nowhere resulting in you dying instantly. Good idea, poor execusion
  15. Dec 12, 2014
    7
    Its fun and cool looking sword fighting. But after you have killed 10 000 orcs, you start to feel like that there should be variety in enemies. Where are the giants, trolls and other fantasy **** And the ending, its just too easy feels like you dont play at all.
  16. Dec 13, 2014
    8
    Purchased Middle Earth because of the great ratings on metacritic and haven't been disappointed. The storyline is interesting and control is nice but a little tricky. The biggest flaw to me with this came is the camera/view angles. The graphics are very good, but I'm still expecting more against my PS3.
  17. Jan 8, 2015
    10
    Let me start off by saying that I don't understand how anyone can give this game a bad review. Shadow of Mordor is by far the funnest game I've played on the new consoles. It pretty much is the Batman Arkham and the Assassin's Creed series mixed. I never really played much of the Batman's but as a fan of Assassin's Creed, I'm a big fan of this game. The game play is smooth, counters lookLet me start off by saying that I don't understand how anyone can give this game a bad review. Shadow of Mordor is by far the funnest game I've played on the new consoles. It pretty much is the Batman Arkham and the Assassin's Creed series mixed. I never really played much of the Batman's but as a fan of Assassin's Creed, I'm a big fan of this game. The game play is smooth, counters look awesome, and the game play is very fun and addictive. There's nothing more fun than going around and slicing orcs' heads off and the animations make it that much better. The graphics look great and the story is pretty interesting. I think this game is very well put together and, to me, is the best game of the year for the new systems. If your true gamer there's no excuse not to have this game in your life. Expand
  18. Dec 18, 2014
    10
    This game is an absolute must-have in my eyes. Being a huge Lord Of the Rings fan, I'm in love with the story line. the combat is brilliant, the perks for weapons is a great idea and the stealth and execution elements make the game even better.

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

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

    In regards to the story line, it sticks well to the events of the LOTR books/films, and brings elements of these films into the game, they've done an excellent job with this game, and i strongly recommend you get it!
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  19. Dec 19, 2014
    7
    Shadow of Mordor was a highly anticipated game on my side, not because of the creators, nor because of Warner Bros, but because of a successful trailer.
    Only a few trailer creators can add that "spark" to make me anticipated for ANY game nowadays.
    The graphics and sound design was phenomenal, but the story line was rushed closer to the end. It would of been best to post-pone the release
    Shadow of Mordor was a highly anticipated game on my side, not because of the creators, nor because of Warner Bros, but because of a successful trailer.
    Only a few trailer creators can add that "spark" to make me anticipated for ANY game nowadays.
    The graphics and sound design was phenomenal, but the story line was rushed closer to the end.
    It would of been best to post-pone the release date and add a richer ending, instead of a speedy cinematic.
    Overall the gameplay was good, combat is very intuitive and smooth, 2-3 glitches in some places, but not as much as AC.
    I dont regret purchasing the game, but i wont be buying any of the DLC content, its completely unnecessary, i would rather wait for the next installment to take place.
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  20. Mar 9, 2015
    9
    So off the bat: This game is good. We could leave it that but I'm not that type of person so first off is the story: For me it's the weakest part, I'm no giant fan of Lord of the Rings so I have only a simple idea of whats going on which is you are Talion a man who is part of band of other soldiers called hunters who are the first defense against the Sauron's return, however a siege on theSo off the bat: This game is good. We could leave it that but I'm not that type of person so first off is the story: For me it's the weakest part, I'm no giant fan of Lord of the Rings so I have only a simple idea of whats going on which is you are Talion a man who is part of band of other soldiers called hunters who are the first defense against the Sauron's return, however a siege on the gates takes place and you are captured and killed making you an undead unable to live or die, now it's up to you and your Wraith companion to seek vengeance. So simply put it's a vengeance story and it doesn't (seem) to greatly impact anything of the over-arching story so you would probably come here only for gameplay. The gameplay is a bit of a touchy subject, it's like Assassin's Creed and Batman Arkham , you stealth around finding ways to slice an enemy and combat is your simple attack and counter attack, simple right? WRONG! The combat at least is super difficult creating situations of intense focus as it punishes you for any wrong move you do. That being said it's a good thing creating something of a Dark Souls feel where you have to quickly assess a situation and execute a plan, in the first hours of the game it's pretty difficult as your entirely weak and helpless using intelligence and the environment to your advantage against the most unrelenting Uruks. Which I should mention is probably the greatest reason on this games success: normal Uruks are nothing special except they do seem to have intelligent AI that know that ganging up on you is the best way to kill you, but it's the captains that take the cake as each one of them has a unique name and personality that constantly evolve as they level up making combat more intense if one joins in. They also serve as a vital role within game as the nemesis system works against you and is always in motion, for instance captains will try to complete their own challenges in order to level up and become that much more powerful making you want to intervene and instead you level up, which is another thing: leveling up does make you stronger however it becomes that more clear that it still wont stop the local population to pave the road in your blood as a simple 1 v 5 can turn into a much more **** of what is going on!? Like the Neo vs Smith fight in Matrix: Reloaded and probably ending up the same way and that is: you running like hell. In the end this is a solid amazing game creating lots of fun and replay value thanks to the nemesis system. Expand
  21. Dec 19, 2014
    9
    My first 30 minutes with the game were not thrilling. I felt it was a bit boring and unoriginal. However, once I got passed the 1.5 hour mark I was hooked and still am. The graphics are fantastic and really show off the world Tolkien created that Peter Jackson showed us on the big screen. The controls are solid using the combat system Arkham Asylum made famous. The story is well done forMy first 30 minutes with the game were not thrilling. I felt it was a bit boring and unoriginal. However, once I got passed the 1.5 hour mark I was hooked and still am. The graphics are fantastic and really show off the world Tolkien created that Peter Jackson showed us on the big screen. The controls are solid using the combat system Arkham Asylum made famous. The story is well done for an action game and it does an excellent job utilizing the material provided by the books to give us more background on the setting, herbs, characters, history etc. One of my few gripes is the lack of a loot system which I feel could have been easily added to the game even with the rune system(which I loved) already in place. Being able to customize Talion's armor and weapons rather than being limited to different skins would have been the icing on the cake for me. The game setting although set in Mordor(hence the name of the game) could use some more variety to it. Now to my favorite part. The Nemesis system! It. Is. Awesome! Very innovative and adds a new dimension to games that are fun but lack a good challenge. I look forward to seeing this system evolve and be used in future games. Overall, this game is amazing! Worth every bit of the $59.99 price tag! Expand
  22. Feb 5, 2015
    9
    This game is simply awesome! I was skeptical at first because of the other LOTR games but I was surprised by how good this game can be. The graphics were beautiful and the story just hypnotises you with its amazing plot. I loved the fact that it combined elements from both Assassin's Creed and Batman Arkham. Even the side quests were fun to play but after a while these can get a littleThis game is simply awesome! I was skeptical at first because of the other LOTR games but I was surprised by how good this game can be. The graphics were beautiful and the story just hypnotises you with its amazing plot. I loved the fact that it combined elements from both Assassin's Creed and Batman Arkham. Even the side quests were fun to play but after a while these can get a little repetitive. Another reason why I love this game so much is because it is fun and enjoyable. Also, I've achieved near 80% of the trophies not even trying to achieve them, but only by beating the game 100% . Expand
  23. Dec 28, 2014
    10
    Middle Earth is an awesome game. I love the orc captain system, hunting those guys became my primary goal in the game, and its a very innovative twist on things.

    I highly recommend this game if you like Action/Combat Narrative games
  24. cbe
    Dec 29, 2014
    9
    Great game! The PC controls could definitely use some work; but if you haven't played Assassin's Creed (to death), you'll truly enjoy it. The Nemesis system and overall strategy focus creates a great reward feedback that makes you want to take on higher level enemies in order to keep them from dominating you in late-game. Highly recommended.
  25. Jan 4, 2015
    7
    This game is SO much fun throughout the story mode, but that's why I gave it a 7. After story mode, like allot of other games, the replay value dies WAY down. It truly was a fun game when I played it though, I didn't wait for any DLC, just beat it and traded it in. Great game though!
  26. Jan 11, 2015
    9
    Surely one of my top picks of 2014.

    Overall good story.not clearly understood why gollum was there?

    Not a rip-off from AC series. Thanks to the awesome nemesis system, the world around you feels alive and how you confront the enemy is splendid well done.
  27. Jan 12, 2015
    8
    Shadow of Mordor is exactly what it wants to be. Assassins Creed in Middle Earth.
    It does not reinvent the wheel. But it doesn't have to.
    It looks good, sounds good feels good and most important is fun to play. The long time fun is questionable because even if you go for a 100% play trough it wont take you 30 hours and there is simply no reason to ever play it again. The game
    Shadow of Mordor is exactly what it wants to be. Assassins Creed in Middle Earth.
    It does not reinvent the wheel. But it doesn't have to.
    It looks good, sounds good feels good and most important is fun to play.
    The long time fun is questionable because even if you go for a 100% play trough it wont take you 30 hours and there is simply no reason to ever play it again.
    The game difficulty is way to easy and it does not force you to think about what to do because you can always get out of tricky situations with your sword or just... walk away... and i mean WALK away because no one in Mordor is following you anyhow.
    Shadow of Mordor is a very good Assassins Creed Clone and for LOTR fans it definitely is worth a look.
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  28. Jan 12, 2015
    4
    The Nemesis system is a great mechanic but the rest of the game is a big miss for me. The plot is at sub-Destiny levels, and the main story can be finished in about 6 hours without rushing. The small supporting cast is comprised of throw-away stereotypes and although Troy Baker is always good, Talion is just another boring white bread protagonist. Others have mentioned camera issues,The Nemesis system is a great mechanic but the rest of the game is a big miss for me. The plot is at sub-Destiny levels, and the main story can be finished in about 6 hours without rushing. The small supporting cast is comprised of throw-away stereotypes and although Troy Baker is always good, Talion is just another boring white bread protagonist. Others have mentioned camera issues, which I also agree with. The combat is deeply unsatisfying and devolves into a button masher pretty quickly. Ranged combat can be fun but is overpowered, and the stealth mechanic is horribly broken; most of the time you can "stealth" kill an enemy right in front of their pals and no one notices. I played this directly after finishing DA:I and the entirety of the SoM area is about the size of the starting area in DA:I.

    The problem for me is that there's nothing to do once you beat the very short "story." Running from stronghold to stronghold fighting the same two enemy types by button mashing gets old quickly, especially given the insane respawn rate of enemies after you clear an area out. Picked it up at a good discount so it was still worth the money, but overall this is a forgettable, mediocre experience hiding behind its fun Nemesis system.
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  29. Jan 16, 2015
    9
    This game has good graphics and fast gameplay but the worst senaryo.
    Nemesis is a great system. I think Shadow Of Mordor is the best game of the year.
    2. the game has to be better.
  30. Jan 13, 2015
    10
    Exquisite game. I have been captivated since the moment I started the game and now I want to finish it. The story moves at a good pace and the graphics are very well done. Especially the cut-scenes are worth a watch.
    The combat system is fluid and gratifying; certainly during the second half of the game you feel quite powerful as you have an extensive arsenal of moves and executions at
    Exquisite game. I have been captivated since the moment I started the game and now I want to finish it. The story moves at a good pace and the graphics are very well done. Especially the cut-scenes are worth a watch.
    The combat system is fluid and gratifying; certainly during the second half of the game you feel quite powerful as you have an extensive arsenal of moves and executions at your disposal.
    Surely, this is not an overly difficult game. Be prepared to die several times at the beginning, however, when you haven't leveled up on health.
    When you die, several Uruks gain a higher rank and become a bit more difficult to kill, but overall I haven't had many difficulties slaying the wretched orc leaders or war chiefs.
    You can also decide how to approach a battle: either you take individual orcs down one by one by killing them from stealth with your bow or dagger or you can attack them head-on with your sword.
    For the completionists, there are also objects and herbs to collect, a grand puzzle to solve and kill challenges to complete, so if you want to beat the game entirely, you will easily invest over 40 hours in it.
    My conclusion: the outstanding graphics, captivating world and lore (if you're a LOTR fan), satisfying gameplay and interesting Nemesis-system make this game a must-buy in my opinion. It has been a long time since I have been so excited by a game.
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  31. Feb 22, 2015
    9
    Definitely one of the best game i've played on the PS4. Excellent graphics and amazing combat system definitely want to do execution over and over again. The nemesis system offer new experience too. I had a captain who came from the dead up to two times before i slayed him for eternity and i feel like he was a best friend for me, such a memorable moment. The only drawback on this game isDefinitely one of the best game i've played on the PS4. Excellent graphics and amazing combat system definitely want to do execution over and over again. The nemesis system offer new experience too. I had a captain who came from the dead up to two times before i slayed him for eternity and i feel like he was a best friend for me, such a memorable moment. The only drawback on this game is short mission and final boss battle that were too easy. Expand
  32. Jan 20, 2015
    7
    Middle-earth Shadow of Mordor is an interesting game worth playing but never to be considered as best game of 2014.

    The game is clumsy mainly due to the camera and the "stealth" system (very poor). Orcs cannot see you when you are standing next to them but they can see you if you are hidden in the bushes! Game play is very similar to AC and Batman Arkham series (as many people have
    Middle-earth Shadow of Mordor is an interesting game worth playing but never to be considered as best game of 2014.

    The game is clumsy mainly due to the camera and the "stealth" system (very poor).
    Orcs cannot see you when you are standing next to them but they can see you if you are hidden in the bushes! Game play is very similar to AC and Batman Arkham series (as many people have already noticed), which for me it a good dynamic for this kind of games. The story development is interesting and the Nemesis system make this game worth playing it (specially if you are a LOTR fan).

    Positive Things:
    + Nemesis system.
    + Story.
    + Graphics.

    Negative things:
    - Camera.
    - Stealth system.
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  33. Jan 30, 2015
    9
    Really good game. The nemesis system is great, as is the gameplay itself. The plot isn't anything amazing, but is interesting enough, although the ending isn't very good. Only other complaint is the camera angle which can get very annoying . Even still, it's a very fun game with cool customization options such as skills and weapon ruins.
  34. Jan 21, 2015
    10
    Loved this game! The combat is so fun i just played for hours when i first got all i did was kill uruks and level up to upgrade my power. This game makes you feel invincible (not in real life). Now i do suggest getting it on the next gen because they made it for next gen. They just came out with it on the old gen to make more money. Its not the same on the old gen. To get the bestLoved this game! The combat is so fun i just played for hours when i first got all i did was kill uruks and level up to upgrade my power. This game makes you feel invincible (not in real life). Now i do suggest getting it on the next gen because they made it for next gen. They just came out with it on the old gen to make more money. Its not the same on the old gen. To get the best experience buy it on the new gen. Expand
  35. Jan 27, 2015
    10
    Best gaming experience I have had yet on PS4!! So addictive, and so many fun and unique elements of game play. Breathtaking graphics, intriguing story line, and lots of cool powers. I played every day for a month straight whenever I had free time. One of the most fluid and smooth controller interfaces for a modern game, and no glitches. BUY IT!
  36. Dec 27, 2019
    9
    Играл в 2019м после Assassin's Creed: Odyssey, и Тени Мордора всё ещё гораздо лучше. Боевая система разнообразнее, есть какой-никакой сюжет, разве что графически чуть устарела.
  37. Feb 2, 2015
    5
    I'm almost sorry to give this game this score because the first half was amazing, but the 3rd act of the game will leave you with a terrible taste in your mouth. Its starts out fantastic and challenging, but the ending of the game was obviously rushed and included quick time event boss fights. A game that should pride itself on finding the weaknesses of your opponent and then engaging themI'm almost sorry to give this game this score because the first half was amazing, but the 3rd act of the game will leave you with a terrible taste in your mouth. Its starts out fantastic and challenging, but the ending of the game was obviously rushed and included quick time event boss fights. A game that should pride itself on finding the weaknesses of your opponent and then engaging them in combat ends up having a quick time event for the final bosses! What!?
    The only thing else I can say is that you will put effort into the game because the beginning makes it seem like it has so much potential, but you will soon see (and by soon I mean SOON! Really Short Main Campaign) that your effort will reap no rewards or lasting feel of accomplishment.
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  38. Feb 6, 2015
    7
    This game is great! There is a lot of fun to be had in the slashing and murdering of nasty old wankers that ruined the life of our main hero. Not only does the game look beautiful on the ps4, but it runs just perfectly. Never had a single drop in frame rate through my entire playthrough. There's a lot to do here, and well keep you busy. The story itself wasn't terrible...until the last fewThis game is great! There is a lot of fun to be had in the slashing and murdering of nasty old wankers that ruined the life of our main hero. Not only does the game look beautiful on the ps4, but it runs just perfectly. Never had a single drop in frame rate through my entire playthrough. There's a lot to do here, and well keep you busy. The story itself wasn't terrible...until the last few moments, which completely ruined the 3RD Act of the game for me. Sound design is good, nothing really that great though. No song from here well be remembered. Overall, it's fun. Shadows of Murder could very well be the first step into a great game series. But next time, step it up in the story department please. Expand
  39. Feb 10, 2015
    2
    This game is like so many other pretty things: it looks nice but that's the only good thing you can say.

    The Controls) The controls for this game are without doubt the most atrocious, ill-conceived random mishmash of nonsense that I have ever seen in a game. Button definitions are contextual, nothing new there, but the context changes so often that there is no way to memorize the
    This game is like so many other pretty things: it looks nice but that's the only good thing you can say.

    The Controls)

    The controls for this game are without doubt the most atrocious, ill-conceived random mishmash of nonsense that I have ever seen in a game. Button definitions are contextual, nothing new there, but the context changes so often that there is no way to memorize the controls. The Square attacks, but if you hold down the stealth and tap some other button then it drops down from a ledge. I count 15 button type controls on my PS4 stick, not counting the system control/option buttons. As a game designer, if you have to resort to 3 button combinations to achieve your goals then you need to step back and reconsider your mappings and whether this game is really going to be playable.

    I can't stress this enough. This game is so complicated to play that I just eject the disc after 10 minutes or so and put it away for another month hopping it will improve with age. It doesn't.

    The Gameplay)

    Poor control layout aside, the game does look very nice which just serves to antagonize me since I know I will never see very much of it. So far, I have seen Orcs, slaves, and some cat-like thing. The Orcs are easy enough to fight in 1s and 2s but they tend to come in packs once you get them riled up. Good luck there. My ranger gets beaten nearly to death (probably since I can't remember to R1+tap R2 while pressing X or some nonsense) and then the game pauses momentarily to give me some chance to do something. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do but it draws a circle on the screen and puts an arrow and I think it wants me to do something with the left or right stick. Who knows. I see that a lot and it's my warning that I'm going to die in about 5 seconds. Time to get a sandwich and wait for the silly Nemesis system to promote and Orc. I read a lot about what a wonderful thing the nemesis system is. Maybe, but I see a lot of Orcs getting promoted (read more powerful) and I don't seem to be getting any better with these game mechanics.

    The camera and the stealth (and the camera while stealthed) are also troubling. The camera wants to re-center as I move and I find myself constantly fighting with he right stick. This has the effect of making the movement a little sickening around corners and it makes the game feel numb. That's a shame but wouldn't keep me from playing the game.

    Stealth is darned handy but darned difficult to maintain. You have to hold down a button constantly to stealth. Wow, who thought that was a good idea. Stealth is a necessity in this game since the wild array of randomly assigned controls is useless, kills mostly come from sneaking up on something and hitting it. So I stealth a lot. However, to stay stealthed, you must hold down R2 (I think it's R2) all the time. That's amazing, though in a very bad way.

    The Story)

    Honestly, I can't say much about the story. I can't get far enough into the game to really know if there is a story or not. I'm playing in Story Mode, though I don't know if there is a free exploration mode or not. Regardless, all I have seen are Orcs, slaves, and cat-like things.

    Conclusion)

    I've played games with marginal graphics and great controls that were fun but I can't say that I have ever played a game with great graphics and poor controls that was anything but a waste of money and time. Shadow of Mordor is a fine example of a pretty game with ill-thought, poorly implemented controls.

    Don't waste your time or your money unless your idea of a fun game is figuring out esoteric controls that are nearly impossible to remember and require vast dexterity (think hold down two buttons while tapping a third).
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  40. Feb 10, 2015
    8
    the gameplay is very enjoyable and the nemesis system is very good, but can be repetitive. We are really closes to assassin's creed about the conception: Reach towers to synchronize the area, sneaky mission and huge fight when you are detected. During the fight, you push the attack button until someone attack you back. And icon will pop-up (Usually, the triangle for PS4) and you willthe gameplay is very enjoyable and the nemesis system is very good, but can be repetitive. We are really closes to assassin's creed about the conception: Reach towers to synchronize the area, sneaky mission and huge fight when you are detected. During the fight, you push the attack button until someone attack you back. And icon will pop-up (Usually, the triangle for PS4) and you will block.

    The game is fluid, even when you have 20-30 enemies around you.

    The video of introduction is breathtaking!
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  41. Feb 17, 2015
    8
    A very nice game with fun missions and history, I believe this is one of the best games I have played in the last years and trully stands up to the hype. I am giving 8 because it can be really frustrating at the beginning until you find what you have to do and where you should go. The fighting can get boring after some time, all captains work the same way: you find them, tons of enemiesA very nice game with fun missions and history, I believe this is one of the best games I have played in the last years and trully stands up to the hype. I am giving 8 because it can be really frustrating at the beginning until you find what you have to do and where you should go. The fighting can get boring after some time, all captains work the same way: you find them, tons of enemies appear out of nowhere and you have to find a way to get rid of the mess. Expand
  42. Feb 17, 2015
    10
    Very stable game, incredibly good combat system. Only thing that bugged me was that I spent a LARGE amount of time crouched down so that i wouldn't accidentally alert one of the millions of baddies roaming around. But if I were just more badass, I guess I wouldn't have to bother. Definitely pick this one up.
  43. Feb 25, 2015
    10
    one of the best game of 2014.. smooth gameplay decent story lovely gore.. good graphics.. must play game.. and great treat for lotr fans.. after its succes waiting for the sequel,,
  44. Apr 6, 2015
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Wonderful, the authors of this game are Tolkien fans, they have read Tolkien's books (and not just Lord of the Rings but the Silmarillion too). They knew what they were doing, and they did it with lots of passion and skill.
    The combat system is so varied and well done that you never get tired of slaying orcs in stealth attacks or slaughter them in melee, it's liberating. Many missions require a lot of strategy and tactics and the artificial intelligence of NPCs is very good.
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  45. Oct 9, 2015
    9
    Shadow of Mordor is a sublime game that combines hard difficulty with fantastic gameplay along with a story that will please all Lord of the rings fans and gamers alike.

    The first thing that stands out about tis game is its difficulty at the beginning. It is perhaps too much and overwhelming. Thankfully this is quickly, if not quick enough, overcome through character progression. There
    Shadow of Mordor is a sublime game that combines hard difficulty with fantastic gameplay along with a story that will please all Lord of the rings fans and gamers alike.

    The first thing that stands out about tis game is its difficulty at the beginning. It is perhaps too much and overwhelming. Thankfully this is quickly, if not quick enough, overcome through character progression. There are times when it seems unfairly hard out-with the progression mechanic, sometimes being surrounded by too many captains for no explicable reason (at one point I was surrounded by 4 captains just trying to free one slave). But at the end of the game success feel all the sweeter due to the games difficulty.

    My biggest problem with the game was the respond rate of enemies. At times it was ridiculous. At times I could see enemies responding around me in areas I had just cleared out, this a slow tactical approach for me at certain times. his was especially true at the beginning as you move through the world slower and more cautiously. The long term effect of this is that you don't feel like you are impacting the world, not even a small corner as all enemies will return so quickly. This is only natural due to the setting, Mordor, yet is unsatisfying mechanically. What it lacks is the taking over of areas, an expected mechanic of open world games. However implementation of tis could cause different issues.

    The world feels small and that is an issue. You lots of tasks in the same areas/strongholds and that c be tedious especially with refreshing enemies (Differs greatly to a game such as dragon age inquisition). On the topic of the world, the environment lacks variety. This naturally is the nature of being in the shadow of mordor and it is fixed slightly in second half but I still feel like more could have been done visually in the areas to differentiate each area of the map.

    The much hyped nemesis system is simply fantastic. It is true innovation. Enough people have talked about how it works that theres no need to cover this, the most surprising thing is that it just works so well. Through the nemesis system the world feels connected and living. This is where impact on the world comes in. It can become a fantastic distraction from the main plot that can devour whole evenings of your time. It is very exciting to see future applications of this system. Getting the ability to control enemies changes the game and the nemesis system completely at the right time. The game just gets better and better.

    The story is fantastic. The characters are fitted into the known lore nicely. And the lore is slightly altered to great effect. The story is paced superbly and truly gets to an epic peak fitting of the license. Old characters such as Gollum are fantastic and new characters, Torvin especially, are great.

    The game boasts some excellent side missions, particularly the weapon related missions. However freeing slaves becomes too repetitive. Added to this is a good range of collectibles scattered across the map. Unlike some games the volume of collectibles is perfect and not too overwhelming. They add story and aid progression nicely. However the pay off for 100% collection is pretty poor.

    At the core of the game is excellent gameplay. The combat is excellent. It is fluid and weighty and as mentioned difficult. There is great progression eventually from weak to strong. There are great abilities to unlock that add depth to combat and new ways to approach it and thankfully the AI is fairly strong. One issue is that climbing may be too powerful. Enemies lack anywhere near the same level of climbing or manoeuvrability. This makes escape easy and height a great advantage. They generally resort to trying to make you fall rather than follow Games like Assassins Creed have overcome this issue with mobile enemies and this is lacking here. Otherwise the combat is pretty flawless.

    This is simply a fantastic game once you get some progression and adjust to the difficulty. A must play.
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  46. Mar 5, 2015
    9
    This game is different than the games I usually play. What I like about is are the fighting mechanisms. Slaying orcs becomes a great experience and when you improve your skills you will find out that you get stronger every time. I recommend to do the side missions and collectables as well. With these missions you can get many ability points to improve your character. You can go on and rushThis game is different than the games I usually play. What I like about is are the fighting mechanisms. Slaying orcs becomes a great experience and when you improve your skills you will find out that you get stronger every time. I recommend to do the side missions and collectables as well. With these missions you can get many ability points to improve your character. You can go on and rush the game, but you wouldnt get the whole experience and you'll find out that improving your character takes much longer.

    The graphics are very nice as well, and all the orc captains and warchiefs have unique personalities and appearance which give you the impression you're not fighting the same enemy over and over. Also the Nemesis system works great. The only downside of this system is that you can't skip the changes when orcs are getting promoted or new orcs become captain. After several times you know how the system works and it's not necessary to be forced to watch every change in the Nemesis System.

    Overall this game has a good story and it feels good to walk around in Mordor. Also the return of a specific character (not going to spoil this one) is very nice and gives you the impression you are one of the characters who actually lived in Middle Earth.
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  47. Mar 10, 2015
    9
    you might say this game stole from: batman or assassin's creed. but it's okay because this game is more a assassin's creed game then assassin's creed is. and the combat is phenomenal. this game is a hidden gem and i hope a lot of people find it. P.S. there are no lore breaking moments
  48. Apr 7, 2015
    9
    A game worth playing, Shadow of mordor is a great follow up to the last lotr game. its mechanics do feel like a cross over between assassins creed and batman leaning a little closer to batman and in no way is that a bad thing. the battles when you are fighting hoards of uruks are epic and is has a decent story to it as well, My only peevs with the game are that the boss battles with theA game worth playing, Shadow of mordor is a great follow up to the last lotr game. its mechanics do feel like a cross over between assassins creed and batman leaning a little closer to batman and in no way is that a bad thing. the battles when you are fighting hoards of uruks are epic and is has a decent story to it as well, My only peevs with the game are that the boss battles with the tower and the others were to easy the parkour could have been abit better hear and there like instead of jumping to a ledge thats across from me talion would do a massive jump to the ground and a bigger area would have made this perfect in my book. Expand
  49. Mar 20, 2015
    9
    Great game. The amount of the detail is astonishing and the way that the story is set out is incredible. It's a bit like Assassins Creed though. I'm a massive fan of Assassins Creed but this game looks like it could match to how much I like Assassins Creed.
  50. May 19, 2015
    9
    Polished game for recycling project on old
    mechanics, one big miss on game scale and story
    time ratio. But further more intense characters
    and good spin off on the LoTR plot. Great ending
    for a sequel... Hope to see SoM 2 soon :)
  51. Mar 25, 2015
    10
    What a fantastic game easy to pick up and hard to put down a very underated game i would recommend it to anybody and its easy to platinum for the trophy hunters.
  52. Mar 26, 2015
    10
    Huge LotR Fan, and this game nailed it. After completing it once, I went back to play it a second time through. Knowing how to better use the abilities made for more enjoyment. The main quest thread is well written and keeps you guessing. Hours and hours of worth wild game time. Enemies will pop up that supposedly bested one of your online friends (unconfirmed). The only possibleHuge LotR Fan, and this game nailed it. After completing it once, I went back to play it a second time through. Knowing how to better use the abilities made for more enjoyment. The main quest thread is well written and keeps you guessing. Hours and hours of worth wild game time. Enemies will pop up that supposedly bested one of your online friends (unconfirmed). The only possible downside is that the same ‘challenges’ pop up (over and over) but with different enemies who have different Strengths/Weaknesses which forces you to not use the same killing moves.

    By far the most enjoyable PS4 game I have played to date. Give it a try, if you don’t enjoy it trade it in.
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  53. Nov 5, 2017
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Let's start with a premise: Shadow of Mordor is not perfect. It is not easy to create a game based on an enormous legacy like The Lord of the Rings and of all Tolkien's lore. It was not easy for movies, and it's not easy for video games.

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

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

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

    Overall, Shadow of Mordor is a game that amused me enough. However, it is far from perfection and I would have expected much, much more. It is a game that stands out more in its gameplay than in its plot. That's why many loved it, but the dearest fans of The Lord of the Rings will hardly call it a masterpiece.
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  54. Aug 30, 2017
    8
    Shadow of Mordor definitely was one of the few wholesome games from 2014. Sure, the developers took heavy inspiration from the Batman Arkham franchise, and from the Assassin's Creed franchise too. But they also spiced this game up with their own ideas and concepts. The graphics are very impressive too. If Shadow of War somehow fails to deliver, get this game instead.
  55. Apr 6, 2015
    9
    This game is very well crafted, i enjoyed playing this game for hours on end, the nemesis system is a very cool concept, any random grunt that gets lucky enough to kill you, gets promoted to a captain and gets a name, so it adds a sense of personality to the normally nameless NPCs in other games, i really rather like that! the camera can be annoying at times but for the most part it hasn'tThis game is very well crafted, i enjoyed playing this game for hours on end, the nemesis system is a very cool concept, any random grunt that gets lucky enough to kill you, gets promoted to a captain and gets a name, so it adds a sense of personality to the normally nameless NPCs in other games, i really rather like that! the camera can be annoying at times but for the most part it hasn't bothered me. I've logged quite a few hours into this game and i have not found anything that i don't like. the graphics are pretty nice, but they are not the pinnacle of next gen consoles, i'd recommend this game to anyone who enjoys the lord of the ring movies, and enjoy the story. because it wasn't there for me, I've never watched any of those films, maybe other than the hobbit, but that didn't make me dislike playing, it just made me feel like i didn't quite understand exactly what was going on, or who this new talking NPC was. it made me feel a little out of place, but not enough to bring my rating to anything under a 9 Expand
  56. Apr 9, 2015
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The game that Middle-earth fans have been waiting for, or at least i have been waiting for. When they first announced this i was kinda disappointed because it just didn't seem that sort of game that was going to really capture Middle-earth but i was far from wrong as this game is stunning, fantastic and if there is to be a sequel or even better a new Lord of the Rings game then i want it to be just like this because this formula they have created is outstanding and i think that any fan of the books,films games should buy a copy of this game if you haven't already.

    Fans will not be disappointed with the experience. The only problem i had with the game is at then end when Talion fights Sauron i would have loved a more open fight instead of a couple of button mashes but it doesn't take away from how great this game looks
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  57. Apr 14, 2015
    9
    Great game and had fun with it, i 100% it but i only wish the main character was more interesting, but i really enjoyed the story and the combat and listening to the artifacts memorys.
  58. May 13, 2016
    10
    Simply put the best PS4 game ever released!!! SOM is an amazing sandbox game that really puts you in the shoes of a boots on the ground war general. The unique enemy leveling system is amazing and refreshing. There is nothing better then the sweet revenge of getting an enemy that killed you in a previous battle and moved up the ranks. This living world is amazing and if you haven'tSimply put the best PS4 game ever released!!! SOM is an amazing sandbox game that really puts you in the shoes of a boots on the ground war general. The unique enemy leveling system is amazing and refreshing. There is nothing better then the sweet revenge of getting an enemy that killed you in a previous battle and moved up the ranks. This living world is amazing and if you haven't picked it up you should do so right away. You won't regret it! Expand
  59. Dec 8, 2015
    8
    very cool game

    the good: combines the best elements from assasins creed (blekh) and batman arkham series. nice open world very cool fighting mechanics the best thing about this game is the orc captains. the bad: story is not that great final bosses looked cool but were really easy. usually these types of games would be boring, but theres some added elements in this game that
    very cool game

    the good:
    combines the best elements from assasins creed (blekh) and batman arkham series.
    nice open world
    very cool fighting mechanics
    the best thing about this game is the orc captains.

    the bad:
    story is not that great
    final bosses looked cool but were really easy.

    usually these types of games would be boring, but theres some added elements in this game that makes it a lot more fun than the generic open world game.
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  60. May 5, 2015
    9
    Hey. Just one though: 2014 Game of the year.
    The most suprised, this is best version, dont play x360 or ps3 cause loading time is disaster ////
    Graphic 8.5
    Sound 9
    Gameplay 9.5
    Total 9
  61. Jun 4, 2015
    8
    If you like sword action games. If you like games that are extremely fun. If you love the Lord of the Rings lore. You have found your correct game. This Is not your ordinary slasher. It is a unique game style with great story, setting, lore and gameplay. If the one thing you love about games are boss fights, then you should play this game and Bloodborne. Warner Brothers, as, always, hasIf you like sword action games. If you like games that are extremely fun. If you love the Lord of the Rings lore. You have found your correct game. This Is not your ordinary slasher. It is a unique game style with great story, setting, lore and gameplay. If the one thing you love about games are boss fights, then you should play this game and Bloodborne. Warner Brothers, as, always, has injected there unique style into
    this game. It has the smoothest gameplay and the smartest AI. Great game. The world is so unique and real. The game also has that unique hand drawn style that is so rare anymore, to see a game that looks like a game. A game that had a lot of work put into it. One of the very few games that feel next gen.
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  62. May 17, 2015
    8
    The full potential of this game was not realized. Despite that, it's still good fun.

    A few things annoyed me with Shadow of Mordor: - The game starts off too hard but then becomes far too easy once you unlock a few of your better abilities - The nemesis system could have been so much more with a little extra depth - The final boss battle is very underwhelming - The story is
    The full potential of this game was not realized. Despite that, it's still good fun.

    A few things annoyed me with Shadow of Mordor:
    - The game starts off too hard but then becomes far too easy once you unlock a few of your better abilities
    - The nemesis system could have been so much more with a little extra depth
    - The final boss battle is very underwhelming
    - The story is uninspired

    Overall though, it's still a great game. It has very satisfying combat mechanics, the nemesis system is engaging and satisfying and the graphics are pretty. It's just lacking some much needed depth to boost it to a 9/10 or even 10/10 game.
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  63. Jun 3, 2015
    8
    well this was my 1st ps4 game & it was a good intro into the new system, cant say it was a very long game as blast through it within 2 weeks ,.,, but i did have a great time with it. very much as mix of assassin's creed & batman ,., but light on story ,., still chasing down the orcs was a story on its own :) not too much replay value , but it is open ended for a pick up & play at any timewell this was my 1st ps4 game & it was a good intro into the new system, cant say it was a very long game as blast through it within 2 weeks ,.,, but i did have a great time with it. very much as mix of assassin's creed & batman ,., but light on story ,., still chasing down the orcs was a story on its own :) not too much replay value , but it is open ended for a pick up & play at any time so well worth the £25 paid for it Expand
  64. Dec 16, 2015
    10
    This game is just amazing!!! It has great combat, (like the arkham games and Assassin creed), wonderful environemtn with great graphics, and a great story. After you beat the game, theres still stuff you can do, and it took me about 30-0 hours ot complete everything. The nemesis system was very interesting to. I highly reccomend this gameto anyone who likes the Arkham games, Lord of theThis game is just amazing!!! It has great combat, (like the arkham games and Assassin creed), wonderful environemtn with great graphics, and a great story. After you beat the game, theres still stuff you can do, and it took me about 30-0 hours ot complete everything. The nemesis system was very interesting to. I highly reccomend this gameto anyone who likes the Arkham games, Lord of the Rings, or Assassin creed. Expand
  65. May 30, 2015
    9
    In my opinion, this game was the best game of the year.

    The flaws in this game are: occasional control issues when hanging from ledges; rare graphical errors; and a complete misunderstanding of a few aspects of the lore in sections of the menus. The good points about the game are: the game looks good, controls are responsive and accurate, both combat and stealth are viable options,
    In my opinion, this game was the best game of the year.

    The flaws in this game are: occasional control issues when hanging from ledges; rare graphical errors; and a complete misunderstanding of a few aspects of the lore in sections of the menus.

    The good points about the game are: the game looks good, controls are responsive and accurate, both combat and stealth are viable options, and there is a decent story.

    The best thing about the game is the nemesis system. You can raise a level 1 orc to a level 20 warchief, just by allowing him to kill you, and defeating his superiors. Enemies that you have defeated may return with horrible scars and a thirst for revenge. Enemies that you face more than once will remember your previous encounter and comment on it.
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  66. Jun 1, 2015
    9
    Shadow of Mordor is an amazing piece artwork with few flaws.

    Positives + Amazing skills/skill tree with interesting and fun skills Second island has amazing terrain Amazing graphics Fun enjoyable missions Great Characters Negatives - 1st island kind of flat and boring missions could have more variety This game is so much fun and so addicting if you don't already have it
    Shadow of Mordor is an amazing piece artwork with few flaws.

    Positives +
    Amazing skills/skill tree with interesting and fun skills
    Second island has amazing terrain
    Amazing graphics
    Fun enjoyable missions
    Great Characters

    Negatives -

    1st island kind of flat and boring
    missions could have more variety

    This game is so much fun and so addicting if you don't already have it go and get it!
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  67. Jun 4, 2015
    9
    I finish the complete game with DLC included, maybe the problem is that the fights are repetitive but anyway good looking and challenging and the way you go trough the story is lineal but anyway you love the character, great graphics and some enemies are a real deal but you will have a lot of fun fighting 10 orcs at the same time.
  68. Jan 7, 2016
    10
    Shadow of Mordor has a jaw-dropping combat system with a rich open world and a haunting story to match it. The game took me right back to Middle Earth, and had as immersed as I had been since the LOTR trilogy. The open world looks stunning, with some of the best graphics in any game to date. It is the combat system that truly puts this game on legendary status however. Fighting orcs is oneShadow of Mordor has a jaw-dropping combat system with a rich open world and a haunting story to match it. The game took me right back to Middle Earth, and had as immersed as I had been since the LOTR trilogy. The open world looks stunning, with some of the best graphics in any game to date. It is the combat system that truly puts this game on legendary status however. Fighting orcs is one thing, but fighting them with such an immersive style of combat is truly engaging. With Assassin's Creed like gameplay and an interactive Orc system that progresses depending on events that play out, this game will have you never wanting to leave Mordor. Expand
  69. Jun 11, 2015
    9
    Loads of fun contained in a really good looking, open world. Very interesting enemy system, with Captians leveling up and planning revenges. Got about 60 hours of gameplay out of it and enjoyed every second.
  70. Feb 17, 2016
    7
    Good game but the last boss fight was soooooo easy, a simple QTE fight! C'mon, I expected something more. Everything building up to the last fight should be epic, not a bore.
  71. Aug 18, 2018
    8
    "Always bet on black"-Wesley Snipes. I feel this quote captures my sentiments towards this game perfectly. The setting of the game is pretty confusing, even if you have seen the LOTR movies 30 times(I haven't, but I know some of you nerds have). All questions of plot are lost when your eyes glimpse the sexy figure of our hero, your playable character. He doesn't have customizable features,"Always bet on black"-Wesley Snipes. I feel this quote captures my sentiments towards this game perfectly. The setting of the game is pretty confusing, even if you have seen the LOTR movies 30 times(I haven't, but I know some of you nerds have). All questions of plot are lost when your eyes glimpse the sexy figure of our hero, your playable character. He doesn't have customizable features, which is probably a good thing because the populace of the game would run screaming from your ugly mug. The gameplay lasts around 15-20 hours. If you're a LOTR fanboy/fangirl(shout out to the honeys), there is enough LoTR content to keep you entertained solely on that aspect. The game is probably more of a hard 8 because it helped me get through the divorce of my wife. Actually, if you read this babe, I want you back. "The heart wants what it wants wawants wawants wawants"- lyrical genius Selena Gomez Expand
  72. Oct 11, 2015
    9
    That's the breath which we seek for long time. LOTR games are generally suck ass, but this particular game is very good with all of its aspects. Story and progression is the weakest link and hanging slightly above average.
  73. Jun 19, 2017
    8
    Wow! If you are a Lord of the Rings game this is for you. With an awesome nemesis system and great combat you can't go wrong with this one. The story was pretty good as well but could of been better. Excited for the new one.
  74. Jul 1, 2015
    8
    Good game. a potpurri of proven combat mechanics with a poor and uninspired story. Slashing orcs is really satisfying but it gets boring after a while.
  75. Nel
    Jan 10, 2017
    8
    Great game has a lot of fun gameplay, and it has great animations which makes it a joy to play. The story is great, and you feel like your upgrade does something, and the moves are easy to execute. Really fun game for fans of the lore, and first timers.
  76. Jul 17, 2015
    9
    Middle earth: shadow of mordor is a damn good game. I enjoyed every second of playing it (on PS4).

    The gameplay is a mix between the batman arkham games, and the assassin's creed games. The combat is derived from the arkham side. You can slash, counter, and perform brutal finishing moves in your Orc enemies. Those finishers, for me, never get old. The movement is where the assassin's
    Middle earth: shadow of mordor is a damn good game. I enjoyed every second of playing it (on PS4).

    The gameplay is a mix between the batman arkham games, and the assassin's creed games. The combat is derived from the arkham side. You can slash, counter, and perform brutal finishing moves in your Orc enemies. Those finishers, for me, never get old. The movement is where the assassin's creed portion comes in. The way talion climbs and free runs feels just like AC. In other words, the gameplay is amazing.

    The main feature that shadow of mordor introduces is the nemesis system. It contains of an entire hierarchy of orcs, all constantly battling for higher positions of power. Every time you die by the hands of a captain, they get promoted, amongst other orcs across mordor receiving titles. Another feature introduced is the ability to brand orcs. This means that you brainwash them, and insert them back into the regular Orc society. So if you brand a captain, you can help him rise up to power, and manipulate events within the hierarchy of orcs.

    The story is also great. It follows talion, who was killed by sauron, being ressurected by a wraith, and setting off on his quest for vengeance, along the way, you meet a few familiar faces from the LOTR books and movies, along with many interesting new characters. Most missions involve taking on different tasks, with much variety in gameplay and mission objectives. Although, the final boss battle is EXTREMELY anticlimactic.

    This may be my favorite game on the PS4 so far. I love it, and would play it again, anyday. 9/10
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  77. Jul 28, 2015
    7
    as an obsessed person with middle earth movies, i was really excited for this game, and i can't say i was quite disappointed but it's just that i expected more....the story is good but how the game ends was disappointing actually, but the gameplay is really enjoyable and that what gives the game all the positive reviews
  78. Jul 29, 2015
    7
    Game play was fun. Most enjoyable abilities were only able to be acquired near the end of the game, however. The final two boss battles were TERRIBLE. One included no fighting, just sequential button pushing. I liked the game, but the last hour of game play was overwhelmingly disappointing.
  79. Jul 31, 2015
    8
    I'm so mixed about this game. I really do like the game but they could have made it a little easier in my opinion. The nemesis system is so cool but I wish it didn't make life so hard. Its such a turn off when your beating down your target and another captain or an insane amount of urks come just cannot hold them off. Another huge problem is captains magically surviving after you killI'm so mixed about this game. I really do like the game but they could have made it a little easier in my opinion. The nemesis system is so cool but I wish it didn't make life so hard. Its such a turn off when your beating down your target and another captain or an insane amount of urks come just cannot hold them off. Another huge problem is captains magically surviving after you kill them. I have watched all the IGN videos and the guys playing make it look so much easier than it is. Even following their advice its is extremely difficult. I play for enjoyment and I am not an all out gamer but this game puts me on the edge of frustration that makes it not really worth playing. For the hardcore gamer who is devoted to conquering every aspect this is it....for the average gamer...not so much. Expand
  80. Aug 11, 2015
    9
    This game borrows some concepts from other games and gets the best out of them, with a satisfying progression system, beautiful graphics, a unique and entertaining Nemesis system and responsive combat. Make one of the most satisfying and must play games of this generation.
  81. Aug 21, 2015
    8
    Fight your way through Mordor and reveal the truth of the spirit that compels you, discover the origins of the Rings of Power, build your legend and ultimately confront the evil of Sauron in this new story of Middle-earth.
  82. Aug 24, 2015
    10
    This is an amazing a game, its a little late for a review but i can honestly play it over and over. the fights, the difficulty, the enemy progression, the deaths, the graphics are simply well put. there are so many options in combat its simply cinematic all the way through a combat scene.
  83. Aug 26, 2015
    8
    Fight your way through Mordor and reveal the truth of the spirit that compels you, discover the origins of the Rings of Power, build your legend and ultimately confront the evil of Sauron in this new story of Middle-earth.
  84. Sep 1, 2015
    8
    Great LOTR presentation, Great visuals, Ok story, game very repetitive.

    Vast open world to explore, side missions galore that will take you off of the main story path.
    At some point the repetitiveness caused me to stop playing and look at other things. might come back to finish it in the future.
    Visuals are great.. presentation does great job of welcoming you back to middle earth...
  85. Oct 19, 2015
    10
    Pros:
    Looks Great
    Great Mechanics
    Mother **** Lord of the Rings!
    Great Characters
    Heaps of lore
    Dying Matters

    Cons:
    N/A

    PS4: 10/10
    XBOXONE: 10/10
    PS3:10/10
    XBOX360:10/10
    PC:9/10 (PC has some stale graphics at the moment but they will probably be fixed soon)
  86. May 17, 2016
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor is one of those games that are interesting from the start.
    Place in legendary Middle-Earth from Lord of the Rings franchise, game has one of the best combat mechanic ever created and main character Talion is voiced by Troy Baker. It is very good thing, that this is not all, game will deliver very good story and lot to do.

    Story is fairly simple, but becomes very deep during the game. Ending itself is very well done. Shadow of Mordor is connected to the trilogy, but it is it's own story and knowledge of the movies/books is not necessary. This story is loyal to source material, but will deliver much of it's own material.

    World is not the largest out there, but it is large enough to give player a lot of space and quests to follow. There is lot to do, but main thing is slaying orcs and eventually Hammer, Tower and Hand of Dark lord Sauron himself.
    Biggest thing this game has of it's own, is Nemesis system, that is not just good, it is epic. When you die, it matters because the orc that killed you, is know stronger and he will remember you, when you meet again. Enemies become stronger, but so will Talion. There is so many variables in the combat, that it will give a lot to do for a long time and it is always pleasant. Game will give challenge and also very good tools to beat that challenge.

    Combat is familiar to Arkham series. It is very simple, but will become more and more complicated. This is one of my favorite combat mechanics, Lord of the Rings is one of my favorite franchises and Troy Baker one of my favorite voice talents.
    This game will give a lot and style is just amazing. Shadow of Mordor looks good, feels good and works in pretty much everything. There is also so much to do and to find. There is hunting, artifact searching and building the character and his weapons.
    Combat is not even all, there is also very function stealth system and free roaming with parcour. Shadow of Mordor is fairly simple, but it does everything correctly and with style.

    Overall, Shadow of Mordor is game that deserves sequel. Story is not finished and if Nemesis system and combat style would be in even bigger world, it would be even greater than it already is.

    + Combat mechanic
    + Nemesis system
    + Lord of the Rings, atmosphere
    + Troy Baker's Talion
    + So much to do

    - World itself has very little variety
    - Minor details

    95/100

    Masterpiece
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  87. Dec 29, 2015
    9
    The review isn't a 10 because the story end is the only bad part (just like No Country for Old Men): by the rest, it's an all-around great game, specially for fans of the Lord of the Rings universe.
  88. Nov 29, 2018
    6
    La ambientación es interesante. La historia también. Las mecánicas me han aburrido y no lo he terminado.
  89. Jun 5, 2021
    8
    El gameplay me ha parecido muy bueno, el poder enfrentarte a hordas de orcos variando de combos y habilidades hace que siempre sea distinto cada combate. Tiene una gran rama de habilidades y mejorar todas las armas del personaje. La historia se ambienta entre el Hobbit y el señor de los anillos, algo bueno ya que cuentan cosas del canon sobre ese lugar. El sigilo es muy bueno y el sistemaEl gameplay me ha parecido muy bueno, el poder enfrentarte a hordas de orcos variando de combos y habilidades hace que siempre sea distinto cada combate. Tiene una gran rama de habilidades y mejorar todas las armas del personaje. La historia se ambienta entre el Hobbit y el señor de los anillos, algo bueno ya que cuentan cosas del canon sobre ese lugar. El sigilo es muy bueno y el sistema de némesis es algo original y único. Expand
  90. Dec 5, 2015
    9
    A game full of character and charm, one of the most enjoyable games ive played in a long time, its definitely worth adding to your collection and its a game for all ages and abilities, its a 9/10 for me.
  91. Nov 1, 2015
    9
    Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor is freaking aweosme. It goes back to the roots of why video games are made: for fun. It has a great combat system, equally entertaining and challenging. Visuals are great. Fantastic gameplay. Story, uhmmm, I could say between average and above average range. The system with the captains and war chiefs is great and hell of a fun for me. Overall would highlyMiddle-earth: Shadow of Mordor is freaking aweosme. It goes back to the roots of why video games are made: for fun. It has a great combat system, equally entertaining and challenging. Visuals are great. Fantastic gameplay. Story, uhmmm, I could say between average and above average range. The system with the captains and war chiefs is great and hell of a fun for me. Overall would highly recommend this game. Expand
  92. Jun 24, 2016
    9
    One of the most fun and unique open world games i have ever played. The nemesis system gives this game almost endless replayability and adds a lot of depht to the small but great open world. Gameplay is fluid and always fun with a great diversity of story and side missions. The story is just ok but has a interesting premise.
  93. Mar 29, 2017
    8
    Shadow of Mordor was a gift that I received and I had no preconceived notions. As such, I was very pleasantly surprised by this game, and enjoyed it a lot.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    This game is well worth checking out, especially at a discounted or price. It has me interested in the upcoming sequel as well and if they can stay true to what made Shadow of Mordor so great, they will have a great successor.
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  94. Nov 23, 2015
    9
    I recommend to LOTR fans and also AC and Batman Arkham as it utilizes similar if not better combat mechanics.

    Pros: Great visuals, chopping off Orc heads really satisfying, nemesis system brings a uniqueness to the game, DLC skills missions brings replayability

    Cons: Main character somewhat boring, need Online Co op like the old LOTR games, end boss really disappointing
  95. Nov 26, 2015
    9
    Very solid game. It's essentially a well done Assassin's Creed with some nice additions giving it a little more original feel. If you like Creed, definitely grab this one.
  96. Dec 2, 2015
    9
    Shadow of Mordor is a really fun challenging game, the graphics are brilliant which is a plus! The fighting system is similar to assassins creed and batman engine which offers great options for example counter kills and stealth kills. The main storyline is fantastic and the ending is so tense! Only down fall is the fact of using limited bow shots however I can see why they added that forShadow of Mordor is a really fun challenging game, the graphics are brilliant which is a plus! The fighting system is similar to assassins creed and batman engine which offers great options for example counter kills and stealth kills. The main storyline is fantastic and the ending is so tense! Only down fall is the fact of using limited bow shots however I can see why they added that for certain reasons. 9/10 definitely worth a buy and I am almost sure you will love it :) Expand
  97. Dec 3, 2015
    8
    This game is BADASS!!!!!!!! Warner Bros may have copied Batman's combat style but they didn't put it to shame in fact i think it's better. Shadow of Mordor is brutally gory and a helluva joy to play, the graphics are gorgeous and chopping off orcs heads feel fantastic, the only flaws i have is the bad boss fight at the end, the world feels empty and the combat can feel repetitive after aThis game is BADASS!!!!!!!! Warner Bros may have copied Batman's combat style but they didn't put it to shame in fact i think it's better. Shadow of Mordor is brutally gory and a helluva joy to play, the graphics are gorgeous and chopping off orcs heads feel fantastic, the only flaws i have is the bad boss fight at the end, the world feels empty and the combat can feel repetitive after a while but put that aside because it's worth buying. Expand
  98. Jul 22, 2016
    9
    this is how lord of the ring games must be stunning visual fantastic story superb gameplay it had 20 missions th game is not too long but the mission are not that great but still some element in the game let it amazing like a gameplay taking a half assassins creed +half batman arkham= shadow of mordor in controls combat and a little stealth is batman gameplay the other like climb andthis is how lord of the ring games must be stunning visual fantastic story superb gameplay it had 20 missions th game is not too long but the mission are not that great but still some element in the game let it amazing like a gameplay taking a half assassins creed +half batman arkham= shadow of mordor in controls combat and a little stealth is batman gameplay the other like climb and hiding in haystacks is like assassins creed skill three 3 weapons in this game sword and bow and dagger u use the dagger for steealth takedowns and swords to kick enemys asses bow even for stealth and hunting some of skill point make the bow sow **** great if u hold the L2 button and press squar any running enemys u will magickly kills then cut there heads of it feels bad ass and u can brand any enemy those enemy well be your ally to defend u if u brand them u can gain intel to any of those captains or legendary captains these gameplay is satesfing i realy like this game the final verdic is 9.5 out of 10 Expand
  99. Jan 18, 2016
    10
    I bought this game and i really enjoyed it . Graphics and Combat in this game are so good story is perfect . I spent about a 25 hours to finish the game (side missions,collectibles,main missions) . People say this game is like assassins creed and i think yes but this game is better the map is so big and there are a lot of monsters,
    Orcs . THIS GAME IS REALLY GOOD. Go buy it :)
  100. Mar 10, 2016
    10
    Este jogo é incrível! Eu recebi e ainda não posso parar de jogar. Os gráficos são tão detalhadas para um game e é desafiador, mas divertido e terá que jogar por horas! A história é complexa e profundamente pensado. O melhor jogo que eu já joguei de forma
Metascore
84

Generally favorable reviews - based on 85 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 77 out of 85
  2. Negative: 0 out of 85
  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  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]