Middle-earth: Shadow of War

 PlayStation 4
User Score
4.9

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 1686 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 665 out of 1686
  2. Mixed: 265 out of 1686
  3. Negative: 756 out of 1686
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  1. Gabbone
    Aug 20, 2023
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It is a good game i enjoyed shadow of mordor and this sequel is much more better i hope they do a third game to continue the series.… Expand
  2. Killerpummkin
    Aug 8, 2023
    10
    Yes the game is good, people hate the game because of the microtransactions, it is worth the purchase, especially if you liked the first one and this is a perfect sequel because everything is improved, the nemesis system, many more hours of gameplay, the story has improved in my opinion, who likes the universe of the lord of the rings will love it, some points may not like it if you are aYes the game is good, people hate the game because of the microtransactions, it is worth the purchase, especially if you liked the first one and this is a perfect sequel because everything is improved, the nemesis system, many more hours of gameplay, the story has improved in my opinion, who likes the universe of the lord of the rings will love it, some points may not like it if you are a very demanding fan, but yes shadows of war is an excellent game and I expect more games from this franchise.… Expand
  3. Harthik69
    Jul 9, 2023
    9
    Nice Game. Would love to play again in future. Good Graphics and mechanics!!!
  4. Bulba2555
    Jul 5, 2023
    5
    The plot is terrible. It is not clear how, where, when, actions take place. All that's good about this game is the combat, and the fortress conquest system is really interesting. Warner Bros, as always, will make some incomprehensible donation system. It's generally annoying when you can donate in a Single Player game. What is this nonsense. Pay £60 to spend money on loot boxesThe plot is terrible. It is not clear how, where, when, actions take place. All that's good about this game is the combat, and the fortress conquest system is really interesting. Warner Bros, as always, will make some incomprehensible donation system. It's generally annoying when you can donate in a Single Player game. What is this nonsense. Pay £60 to spend money on loot boxes later. And in the last act, knocking out the legendary orcs. Yes, I understand that you can complete the game without a donation, but grindy is 20+ hours, for loot boxes. Perfect! Maybe the combat is good, although varied, although the conquest system is cool. But loot boxes are something.… Expand
  5. goopsup
    Jun 22, 2023
    9
    Un juego muy infravalorado y sobreodiado por el hecho de tener microtransacciones
    Aún siendo que estás no afectan en nada a la historia principal
    Es una lastima que ya nadie pueda usar el sistema némesis
  6. RTCWFAN
    Jun 21, 2023
    8
    Shadow of Mordor is still one of the best games in the whole franchise. Shadow of War ist just as good but a bit buggy and full of micro transactions. Still enjoyed it. Overall rating: 7.6.
  7. R2391
    May 29, 2023
    10
    i have no clue why people review bomb this game i bought it for FIVE **** DOLLARS how do you complain abt a five dollar game aside from that fact people complain about micro transactions and honestly if you need to have micro transaction items then sorry for you bud you just suck absolute ass at this game get good skill issue finally people complain about getting jumped by captains and imi have no clue why people review bomb this game i bought it for FIVE **** DOLLARS how do you complain abt a five dollar game aside from that fact people complain about micro transactions and honestly if you need to have micro transaction items then sorry for you bud you just suck absolute ass at this game get good skill issue finally people complain about getting jumped by captains and im gonna be perfectly honest here you have 3 options #1 get good #2 summon a bodyguard (preferably an olog) #3 just run their AI only chases for a small bit so like summon a caragor or graug or if you played the story then dragon your **** ass outta there… Expand
  8. Mike0529
    May 17, 2023
    8
    I totally understand all the bad reviews about the game when it released. Micro transactions is the best way to ruin a videogame. However, after all the updates made about this situation, the game got way much better, I just finished it 2 days ago and I can say it is great, the nemesis system is greatly improved and the story expands the universe created by Tolkien. Also, the expansionsI totally understand all the bad reviews about the game when it released. Micro transactions is the best way to ruin a videogame. However, after all the updates made about this situation, the game got way much better, I just finished it 2 days ago and I can say it is great, the nemesis system is greatly improved and the story expands the universe created by Tolkien. Also, the expansions were a great addition, specially the one with Eltariel. 8/10… Expand
  9. ripear
    May 10, 2023
    0
    This is not what i was expecting. Having played the original game, this is totally different. The main characters are the same, but it's just a loot game, there's no caching story and the gameplay feels repetitive and borign. It's a shame, as the world and magic of Tolkien has a lot more to offer than this. Don't waste your money on this game.
  10. gamer664
    May 5, 2023
    0
    Don't bother with this games. It's the exact same as the first one. WB also patented the Nemesis system, which prevents other studios from improving upon the concept.
  11. NoahsNexus
    Apr 6, 2023
    9
    Middle-earth: Shadow of War is an epic adventure that takes players deeper into the world of J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth. The game is a direct sequel to Shadow of Mordor and builds on the already excellent gameplay mechanics and the engaging Nemesis System.

    The game takes place in a vast open world, and the graphics are breathtaking, making players feel like they're truly a part of    Middle-earth: Shadow of War is an epic adventure that takes players deeper into the world of J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth. The game is a direct sequel to Shadow of Mordor and builds on the already excellent gameplay mechanics and the engaging Nemesis System.

    The game takes place in a vast open world, and the graphics are breathtaking, making players feel like they're truly a part of this fantastic universe. The combat system is refined and more challenging than its predecessor, with a variety of moves and abilities that give players greater control over their characters.

    The Nemesis System, which was one of the defining features of the first game, has been expanded upon, allowing players to create their own unique army of orcs to take on the enemy forces. The addition of new orcs, each with their own strengths and weaknesses, makes the gameplay even more varied and exciting.

    The story is engaging and well-written, and the characters are compelling. Fans of the series will appreciate the return of fan-favorites such as Talion, Celebrimbor, and Gollum, who are all voiced by excellent voice actors.

    The game also has an incredible soundtrack that complements the action on-screen perfectly. The sound design is top-notch, and the game's atmospheric score adds to the immersive experience.

    Overall, Middle-earth: Shadow of War is a fantastic game that improves upon the already impressive Shadow of Mordor in almost every way. It's a must-play for fans of action games, open-world titles, and the Lord of the Rings franchise. With its compelling gameplay, excellent story, and engaging characters, Middle-earth: Shadow of War is a true gem that should not be missed.    … Expand
  12. thekillerwind
    Mar 30, 2023
    8
    As someone who completed Shadow of War 100%, this is the benchmark Lord of the Ring game with a good story, unique nemesis system, personality orcs that still amaze me, wonderful soundtrack, and all of my playthroughs. I beat the game on Nemesis Difficulty (Hard Mode), and even then, I didn't buy any microtransactions because the game is built on tactic and building the army of orcs to the end.
  13. FangRu
    Feb 6, 2023
    9
    Fantastic game as previous one was! This game is more focused on nemesis systems and orc in general, which is definitely not bad thing but I wish the individual story was a little more polished. Because of this I will rate this as the previous game even if this one was improved. 9/10
  14. Young__fool
    Jan 30, 2023
    6
    I think middle earth shadow of war is an allright game. It can keep you entertained for a few hours but if you have already played shadow of mordor i don't see much of a reason to buy this game. The combat system, the nemisis system and the parkour is the exact same as shadow of mordor even the story is in a lot of ways the same as shadow of mordor. i think monolith should have triedI think middle earth shadow of war is an allright game. It can keep you entertained for a few hours but if you have already played shadow of mordor i don't see much of a reason to buy this game. The combat system, the nemisis system and the parkour is the exact same as shadow of mordor even the story is in a lot of ways the same as shadow of mordor. i think monolith should have tried something a little more new stuff rather than copying the old game.… Expand
  15. panda967
    Jan 18, 2023
    10
    este juego supero y mejora mucho la anterior entrega es un juego extremadamente bueno , a veces se hace un poco repetitivo pero es muy bueno , y el sistema de némesis lo mejoraron muy bien
  16. VOIIIXI
    Jan 9, 2023
    10
    One of the greatest games ever made! I have never been this addicted to playing a game in a long time. The Nemesis is honestly the greatest innovation in any video game ever, to this day. The complexity and thought put into the system are truly commendable and needs to be implemented into games more. I know the game is very known and popular, but it is still underrated in my opinion. It isOne of the greatest games ever made! I have never been this addicted to playing a game in a long time. The Nemesis is honestly the greatest innovation in any video game ever, to this day. The complexity and thought put into the system are truly commendable and needs to be implemented into games more. I know the game is very known and popular, but it is still underrated in my opinion. It is one of the smartest and most fun games I've ever played, and I have the upmost respect for the devs. deserves an 11/10. I almost never write reviews for games, but I said for this one I need to do it. This game needs to be appreciated more. It should've been game of the year and in the top 10 games of all time just because of how intelligent of a game it is.… Expand
  17. goodgriff33
    Dec 24, 2022
    8
    Answer: 75 characters is between 10 words and 19 words with spaces included in the character count. If spaces are not included in the character count, then 75 characters is between 12 words and 25 words.
  18. mikepatyaev
    Dec 21, 2022
    4
    Experience an epic open world brought to life by the Nemesis System. Forge a new Ring of Power, conquer Fortresses in massive battles and dominate Mordor with your personal orc army in Middle-earth: Shadow of War
  19. ion87
    Dec 9, 2022
    9
    Great follow up to a fantastic series. Gameplay is smooth and the characters are intriguing.
  20. DanielGG91
    Nov 15, 2022
    8
    He visto que hay muchas críticas negativas y desconozco por qué. En mi caso me pareció una continuación perfecta del anterior, manteniendo todo lo bueno que ofrecía. Para mí recomendado si eres fan de El Señor de los Anillos.
  21. hector_bcn98
    Nov 15, 2022
    8
    Una vez resuelto el tema de los micropagos, el juego se queda en una notable mejora respecto al primero.
  22. Empyrea
    Nov 6, 2022
    5
    What to say about this game? Stressful, repetitive and frustrating. I only played this game for 6 hours until I saw that I should do unnecessary things to continue. I also played the first game on my ps3 years ago for a few hours and I had the same feelings although at that time I quitted because it used to crush all the time. I'm not giving it a 4 because graphics are decent and althoughWhat to say about this game? Stressful, repetitive and frustrating. I only played this game for 6 hours until I saw that I should do unnecessary things to continue. I also played the first game on my ps3 years ago for a few hours and I had the same feelings although at that time I quitted because it used to crush all the time. I'm not giving it a 4 because graphics are decent and although you'll only see a few secondary characters of the movies and books you can appreciate the effort to make kind of dialogues and intonation from the movies. I'd only recommend this game to those that like "changeling games" (which for more are just stressful games) and like to grind. The gameplay will remind you the latest Assassin's Creed games.… Expand
  23. SirLecram
    Oct 22, 2022
    9
    Really good action game, a lot of moves, many different ways to achieve your goals, great nemesis system and no microtransactions right now :) I recommend to test this game now and have fun.
  24. Universal_Pwner
    Sep 27, 2022
    10
    I can understand the frustration with microtransactions in the early release of this game. I, however, got it on sale after the microtransactions were removed so I've only played this game is it currently is, and should have been from the start.

    With that said, this is the best game that i've played on PS4. It's so polished, deep, and has a ton of replay value even after you beat it.    I can understand the frustration with microtransactions in the early release of this game. I, however, got it on sale after the microtransactions were removed so I've only played this game is it currently is, and should have been from the start.

    With that said, this is the best game that i've played on PS4. It's so polished, deep, and has a ton of replay value even after you beat it. The story mode of the game from what I remember (it's been a while since I beat it) was ok, but just doing the online fortress raids and continuing to strengthen my own armies is where I'm enjoying this game the most.

    The depth of character and ability customization available in this game is impressive. So many different ways to build your character and minions, you can guarantee that your 'Bright-Lord' and his army are truly one of a kind. I played Shadow of Mordor and loved that game, and this one took the series to the next level entirely!

    Shadow of War is a STEAL at the price it's going for these days, and I highly recommend it to anyone, especially fans of the Lord of the Rings movies/books.    … Expand
  25. nfs7379
    Sep 4, 2022
    9
    9/10.......................................................................
  26. Godudu
    Aug 16, 2022
    5
    This game is okay. Weird controls. Cool combat, it does not care about balance, it gives you a fair amount of tools to play and do whatever you want in its world. The nemesis system is awesome, it works perfectly well. The problem with the game is its pacing. Quests appears to you in a weird way, most of them are bad and the game relies on grinding to extend its length.
  27. Sinagrimm
    Aug 12, 2022
    10
    Love this game.its game play and story mod is great. I mean it gives me the experience of middle earth that i cannot describe
  28. drlowdon
    Aug 5, 2022
    6
    Continuing from the events of Shadow of Mordor, Talion (who is still infused with the spirit of the elf lord Celebrimbor) travel to Mount Doom to forge a new Ring of Power. The ring soon falls into the wrong hands however…

    Upon release Shadow of War, rightly, received a lot of criticism for the inclusion of loot boxes and micro-transactions that made levelling up your character to the    Continuing from the events of Shadow of Mordor, Talion (who is still infused with the spirit of the elf lord Celebrimbor) travel to Mount Doom to forge a new Ring of Power. The ring soon falls into the wrong hands however…

    Upon release Shadow of War, rightly, received a lot of criticism for the inclusion of loot boxes and micro-transactions that made levelling up your character to the required level a grind unless you paid real money. Thankfully these have now been removed, but this game still remains a bit of a mixed bag. At the core of the game is the excellent ‘nemesis system’, that has enemies remember your actions, and both the stealth and combat are extremely satisfying. The story missions however just aren’t particularly interesting, and are usually less enjoyable than just trying to take out enemy captains. Shadow of War can also feel overwhelming at times with an almost endless list of quests and collectables being constantly thrown at the player, and as a result the game just goes on for far longer than it needs to. The end result is a decent game, but one that is inferior to it’s more focused predecessor.    … Expand
  29. 3WordReview
    Jul 16, 2022
    8
    8.1/10 Played the game on a PS5, platinum achieved and I played both of the DLC.

    Speed

    Medium

    Creedlike
  30. Mosek1910
    Jul 9, 2022
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Uważam że ta gra dała mi wszystko czego chciałem :
    Smutek a zarazem szczęście przy zakończeniu mnóstwo gniewu na orków Jedynie błędy i bugi mnie irytują z całą chęcią polecam odsłuchać soundtracku Wydawcy naprawdę skrzywdziło tą grę mikrotranzakcjami uważam że zasłużone 10/10    … Expand
  31. Reedsnees
    Jul 8, 2022
    3
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Loot boxes are bad, but unlike most games you can get the same loot by just obtaining it. The story sucks but gollum in it so yeah good game… Expand
  32. frederik1478
    Jun 16, 2022
    7
    A beautifully built game an improvement on the first but maybe just a bit too long on the side. The nemesis system and the Orcs have back and better den before even the combat have gotten some tuna to make it more fun and more varied to you can have your own play style. My biggest gripe about the game is there a lot of missions in the middle of the game that you feel like you're not goingA beautifully built game an improvement on the first but maybe just a bit too long on the side. The nemesis system and the Orcs have back and better den before even the combat have gotten some tuna to make it more fun and more varied to you can have your own play style. My biggest gripe about the game is there a lot of missions in the middle of the game that you feel like you're not going anywhere it just feels like the story stops in the middle and it only really picked up in the end again.And my second nepick about the game is the climbing is awful. It really feels like not fully control where you're climbing. i absolute love how they destroy the Lord of the Rings Canon in this game is it just me but I enjoyed when cannons get f***** with.… Expand
  33. that_eliass
    Jun 15, 2022
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I love Because the physics are good the characters are good and the story is excellent… Expand
  34. Fra-k
    May 15, 2022
    9
    for a tokienhead, a non-canon dream come true.
    and indeed not more noncanon-ish than the exalted Hobbitses films.

    Freeroam, beautiful acrobatics, interesting combat and...orc. more orcs to command like ugly stinky Pokémon.
    and loot microtransactions? all whining. Soon reduced to a child-friendly gambling minigame.

    enjoy it as I did.
  35. Arrow_2234
    Apr 30, 2022
    10
    Stop complaining about micro transactions. They barely even matter since the stuff you buy is **** you can grind for anyway. That being said middle earth Shadow of war is one of the best games I have ever played. It combines brilliant combat with traversal mechanics that are fun no matter how much you play. The story is somehow better than Mordor and I find it ridiculous that people areStop complaining about micro transactions. They barely even matter since the stuff you buy is **** you can grind for anyway. That being said middle earth Shadow of war is one of the best games I have ever played. It combines brilliant combat with traversal mechanics that are fun no matter how much you play. The story is somehow better than Mordor and I find it ridiculous that people are complaining it’s not “lord of the rings enough.” my only problem is that the level up system can get really Grindy at times. Even still you don’t really notice it since you’ll be fighting war chiefs really often anyway.… Expand
  36. Realisti
    Apr 12, 2022
    7
    I think this game is decent time killer. I just finished all the quests and that's enough about this game for me. I don't know what people are raving about microtransactions and loot boxes because I didn't put a single coin in this. If you are into Middle-Earth lore this not it. It has some resemblance but no, it isn't. Mechanics are a bit crappy and there's still some weird glitches butI think this game is decent time killer. I just finished all the quests and that's enough about this game for me. I don't know what people are raving about microtransactions and loot boxes because I didn't put a single coin in this. If you are into Middle-Earth lore this not it. It has some resemblance but no, it isn't. Mechanics are a bit crappy and there's still some weird glitches but nvm. If you get it free or cheap, play, otherwise don't.… Expand
  37. hyunwest123
    Mar 6, 2022
    0
    so boring. also the graphics aren't great considering the times we are in. even tho i love the LOTR trilogy the game is bad. do not get it.
  38. Ebislav
    Jan 29, 2022
    3
    Куча не нужных механик, отвратительные анимации врагов и тупые диалоги капитанов. Не смог закончить и первый акт
  39. dasse666
    Jan 4, 2022
    10
    With the microtransactions gone the game gets put in the light it should have from the beginning. Much has happened sinne Shadow of mordor, the new Shadow of war has a bygger world, better mechanics and depper detail in combat. The voice acting is stunning as an example.
  40. ysp
    Dec 21, 2021
    9
    Лично мне очень понравилась. Там и сюжет интересный, интересные и даже смешные орки. Проработанные персонажи, Шелоб, восхитительна. Четкая, продуманная система прокачки. История, отношения, что есть в реалиях мира, например, как - жажда власти, утрата, жажда мести, отчаяние, поиск и т. п., очень хорошо и тонко показаны. Геймплей, и что главное охота на орков, этим можно заняться и послеЛично мне очень понравилась. Там и сюжет интересный, интересные и даже смешные орки. Проработанные персонажи, Шелоб, восхитительна. Четкая, продуманная система прокачки. История, отношения, что есть в реалиях мира, например, как - жажда власти, утрата, жажда мести, отчаяние, поиск и т. п., очень хорошо и тонко показаны. Геймплей, и что главное охота на орков, этим можно заняться и после прохождения сюжетной линии, чем я и занят. Вообще хотелось бы продолжения, если это возможно, так как считаю, что сетевая составляющая могла быть более продуманной и обширной.… Expand
  41. TonyBoyBR
    Oct 29, 2021
    2
    Muito ruim em relação ao primeiro game, nada evoluiu, muito pelo contrário o gráfico ficou pior, a história é sem sentido, eu particularmente não tive paciência de terminar o jogo, já o primeiro embora seja um pouco repetitivo ainda gera uma gameplay satisfatória, tanto é que pra mim foi uma platina prazerosa.
  42. neko555
    Oct 24, 2021
    3
    Un juego que podría haber sido de 10, se lo cargan completamente por malas decisiones y falta de continuidad.
    Con un input lag que mucha gente considera incluso que lo hace injugable, unos controles que recuerdan a la peor época de Assassins Creed, diría que bastante peor de hecho (como tener un capitán debajo, marcado para atacar con sigilo, y en el momento de darle se cambia a un uruk    Un juego que podría haber sido de 10, se lo cargan completamente por malas decisiones y falta de continuidad.
    Con un input lag que mucha gente considera incluso que lo hace injugable, unos controles que recuerdan a la peor época de Assassins Creed, diría que bastante peor de hecho (como tener un capitán debajo, marcado para atacar con sigilo, y en el momento de darle se cambia a un uruk normal y corriente que está a 3 metros, algo qué pasa muuuuy a menudo).
    Es un juego tremendamente desesperante, no por la dificultad en si, sino porque esta es injusta. Capitanes que te sobrepasan en 8 o 10 niveles empiezan a llamarse unos a otros, en 3 movimientos se han adaptado a todo tu repertorio de ataques, alarmas que no se pueden parar sumando a lo anterior enemigos infinitos (aparecen literalmente de la nada).
    Este sistema némesis del que tanto parecen enorgullecerse tienes demasiados agujeros, lo único que consigue es que avanzar no sea en absoluto satisfactorio. Y no es que no le haya dado una oportunidad, me he pasado el juego, pero me da mucha pena que se hayan cargado un juego con tanto potencial y que no se hayan molestado en arreglarlo con parches ni en las reediciones.    … Expand
  43. Ripper36
    Oct 6, 2021
    9
    I have to say being strickly and Nintendo fanboy, Sony is my 2nd choice. I dustted of my PS4 and Bought both Middle-Earth Games online and i can say " i made a very good choice" Great game, great graphics and battle system keeps me playing for hours on. Runs smooth and plays even smoother. Alot of fun here.
  44. spesini
    Sep 29, 2021
    6
    There's something that didn't click with me. It's by no means a bad game, I just found it bland and repetitive and liked the first one way more.
  45. DrBoom-Boom
    Sep 16, 2021
    3
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I made an account to post this. This game is absolute **** The only redeeming thing about this game is the Nemesis system; without it, this would probably be one of the most uninteresting, uninspired, poorly made games I have played in a long time. The game, even four years out from launch, is still a buggy mess. I have fallen through the world while walking. I have been given the losing grip minigame while standing on a flat surface; I have also had captains disappear and show up dead on the army screen.

    The combat system ripped straight from the Arkham games does not work when your swarm you effectively, rendering your counter and ground executions useless until level 15, when you can finally kill with your counters. Until then, you are better off running away and picking off enemies with stealth kills, and that's only if you can, as some missions force you to sword fight, multiple enemies without being able to break away from combat. This is unacceptable. On top of that, Talion being the primary target for all enemies does ruin any setup or planning while in battle as enemies will run a football field's length to smack Talion for daring to think he can complete a frozen hit stun combo. And god forbid you shoot a Drake bait because if the Drake sees you, it will ignore everyone and attack you. This has ruined so many surprise attacks on enemy captains as I would have to leave the area and come back to try and set up an attack again.

    Also, the tracking for this game is diarrhea doo-doo. There have been multiple times where I will be attacking a captain, get wrath meter, and performing an execution just for Talion to ignore the person he was attacking to waste the execution on a random ork 50 feet away. This happens constantly and can change the way a fight is going; this also goes for Dominating enemy orks as you will always fight with the game so you can try and dominate an ork or log captain only to have Talion try and dominate a **** spider or random grunt that showed up right next to you wasting time and leaving yourself vulnerable to attack, which again can immediately change the way a fight is going. That is one of the most egregious things this game does because dominating orks is the whole point of this game, and if you don't make that process fun, then what's the point of the game?

    The story is only interesting when it is about Talion and Celebrimbor. None of the humans from that act matter in any way; the only person we meet in that act that matters is Eltariel. Idril and Baranor could have died in act 1, and it wouldn't have made a difference. Also, Idril is incredibly insufferable, showing up twice to fight in the Gondorian plotline after act 1, and is the worst at fighting. It just screams that Monolith didn't have enough material with the good story content and shoehorned in the Minas Ithil plot and Gondorian storyline to pad the game's run time. But let me say that The Desolation of Mordor is the best DLC in this game. I wish it weren't timed. I wish we could have just started out dominating orks instead of wasting the entirety of Act 1, the first couple of hours of the game, failing to read visions properly, and wasting time with Minas Ithil.

    This game is good for one time through, and that's it because the first time you play, you will be enamored by the nemesis system, and you will overlook the flaws, but on subsequent playthroughs, you start to notice the mechanics more and more, and that is where this game falls apart. Whenever the Nemesis system spits out something unique and cool, you tend to forget the 30 minutes of frustrating combat, annoying movement, and random bugs that got you there. This is a bad game that you could cut wholely 1/3 of it out, and it wouldn't make a difference. Anyone who tells you that this game is a masterpiece 10/10 is viewing it through rose-tinted glasses while sucking down their favorite brand of copium. This game should have been an expansion pack to Shadow of Mordor, not its own game.    … Expand
  46. LesandroBonucci
    Jun 12, 2021
    2
    one of the worst games i ever played
    just presing one button to kill those orks
    soon all games is gonna be like this
  47. TheTeaMKiLLer69
    Jun 1, 2021
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Boring to death.
    Terrible voice acting.
    Boring quest design.
    Horrible gameplay design.    … Expand
  48. Roost
    May 20, 2021
    0
    Mindlessly repetitive, terrible controls on all levels but especially poor movement through environment controls. Really happy I waited and only spent $10 to buy this game.
  49. Dinerofresco
    May 5, 2021
    10
    This game really feeds off the first game and pretty much perfects it to be honest , great story and im absolutely in love with the Nemesis system from both games
  50. OrcBEOR
    May 2, 2021
    0
    Если кто то думает, что без микротранзакций это стало нормальной игрой, то он заблуждается. Это не игра, это фекалии бабуинов, которые возомнили себя разработчиками. Плохо всё. От перемещения, дизайна уровней, до... Неужели после первого высера 2014 года, кто то сказала бабуинам, что идея с "приветствием" капитанов хороша? Бесит. просто бесит.Если кто то думает, что без микротранзакций это стало нормальной игрой, то он заблуждается. Это не игра, это фекалии бабуинов, которые возомнили себя разработчиками. Плохо всё. От перемещения, дизайна уровней, до... Неужели после первого высера 2014 года, кто то сказала бабуинам, что идея с "приветствием" капитанов хороша? Бесит. просто бесит.
  51. Raios-Rogue
    Apr 27, 2021
    9
    true ending locked beihind grinding forcing players to either spend money on lootboxes or watch it on youtube well i did the dumbest thing ever and i bought the lootboxes just to see the ending i just platinum the game a few minutes ago i'm giving 9/10 because besides the microtransactions and too much grinding also the second DLC you get to play as a human kinda kills immersion we don'ttrue ending locked beihind grinding forcing players to either spend money on lootboxes or watch it on youtube well i did the dumbest thing ever and i bought the lootboxes just to see the ending i just platinum the game a few minutes ago i'm giving 9/10 because besides the microtransactions and too much grinding also the second DLC you get to play as a human kinda kills immersion we don't want to play as a human in a lord of the rings game but anyway i will give the second DLC a shot the first DLC blade of galadriel was good i put like solid 5 hours in it very short DLC which was a bummer all it's left after you finish the story is to grind but other than that there isn't anything else bad to say about this game i had a blast with this game my experience was great with this game i had solid 60+ hours into the main story this is the best Lords of the ring game i have played and it definitely makes me wanna go ahead and play the first game maybe the first game is a lot better and that's why people are so disappointed because they had high expectations for the second game and all those lot boxes microtransactions really pissed people off i went in with low expectations and i had a blast with this game the nemesis system was very unique i hope we get to see an improvement of this game in the future on 9th gen consoles PS5 XSX… Expand
  52. Yitombo
    Apr 23, 2021
    9
    Buen juego, entretenido, una historia interesante para los amantes del mundo de tolkien que reimagina aquellas tierras de mordor que solo conocemos de nombre. Personajes carismáticos, llegué a simpatizar con los orcos.
  53. Goatzjr
    Apr 15, 2021
    10
    For me its a great game. The nemesis system is great, combat is enjoyable and story is amazing. I see lots of people complaining about micro-transactions but i have about 200 hours in game and i didn't pay any money. Im not bored either because every orc has its personality and weaknesses. Overall the game is great its my favourite ps4 game i ever played.
  54. Nalpa
    Apr 13, 2021
    0
    Really bad input latency both on PS4 and PS5. Not playable. I loved the first game and the nemesis system is pretty genius but come on patch that mess!
  55. Chrislzrks
    Apr 7, 2021
    3
    Most uninspired, generic game of the recent years.. There's Nothing "Tolkienish" in this game. Mediocre graphics, meeh gameplay, uninspired world and atmosphere as like quests and storyline...
    A crime against Tolkien and Lord of the rings franchise..
    Abort...
  56. ILoveBF1
    Mar 27, 2021
    4
    Pretty average even if you remove the microtransactions. It gets repetitive. Dominate/Kill Captain, Overthrow overlord, repeat. The story is also too weak. The ending was good though. The map is so big yet so small. It has a large area but there is too little to explore. Overall meh.
  57. kc0321
    Mar 21, 2021
    7
    Although the story is pretty weird, the combat system and graphics still worth noticing.
  58. Asisclo
    Mar 14, 2021
    10
    This game is just amazing.
    Nice combat
    Nice Art
    Nice History
    Everything is awsome in this game!
  59. Chris_Sobb
    Feb 22, 2021
    6
    It was nice, simple game with same nice points in the plot. But to be honest its only a slasher. We can slay a lot of orcs and thats all. Its good that we have a few iconic bosses from movies. And finale is realny good!
  60. Philip02_03
    Feb 20, 2021
    10
    One of my favorite games! Good charakters, nice system, epic raids and so beautiful places!
  61. SPodvohom
    Feb 15, 2021
    0
    Патентую траханье рта издателей этой параши.
  62. Oleksandr_
    Feb 10, 2021
    0
    Patenting the nemesis system, despite your game being created base on others' ideas. The industry is built on innovating of existing ideas.
  63. NemesisBruh
    Feb 7, 2021
    0
    Imagine patenting the nemesis system, despite your game being an Assassin's Creed re-skin. Not to mention that nemesis system itself existed long before this game. The industry is built on innovating existing ideas. Everything is inspired by something that came before it. That's how games, art, music, writing, culture itself and everything else works. Patenting the nemesis system is likeImagine patenting the nemesis system, despite your game being an Assassin's Creed re-skin. Not to mention that nemesis system itself existed long before this game. The industry is built on innovating existing ideas. Everything is inspired by something that came before it. That's how games, art, music, writing, culture itself and everything else works. Patenting the nemesis system is like patenting a color blue, or like patenting an the idea of a powerful corrupting item in storytelling. WB Games needs to back down on this.… Expand
  64. Tru3_Canad1an
    Feb 6, 2021
    0
    **** you WB games **** you WB games **** you WB games **** you WB games **** you WB games **** you WB games **** you WB games **** you WB games **** you WB games **** you WB games **** you WB games **** you WB games **** you WB games **** you WB games **** you WB games **** you WB games **** you WB games **** you WB games **** you WB games **** you WB games **** you WB games **** you WB games
  65. The_Follower
    Feb 1, 2021
    1
    I can’t in good conscience give this even a decent rating. The game itself is mostly fine, but the nemesis system is just straight up ungodly annoying, every time you cone across a captain (which is VERY often) he gives a 20-30 second UNSKIPPABLE speech. For the love of **** god, why would the developers do this? I wanted to give the game a fair go, but I’m probably about an hour in andI can’t in good conscience give this even a decent rating. The game itself is mostly fine, but the nemesis system is just straight up ungodly annoying, every time you cone across a captain (which is VERY often) he gives a 20-30 second UNSKIPPABLE speech. For the love of **** god, why would the developers do this? I wanted to give the game a fair go, but I’m probably about an hour in and just can’t take this anymore.… Expand
  66. clanky9
    Jan 29, 2021
    6
    After completing game on 100 % i was little disappointed, Shadow of mordor was far better i was expecting some puzzles in this game. Story was quite good in my opinion.
  67. Bernaz
    Jan 18, 2021
    2
    One of the most frustrating game I ever played.
    Pit fight are totally stupid, the enemy orc attack and does stuff, mine stand still doing nothing and getting killed.
    The defend missions, at the end game, are stupid as well. You have to defend your castle against orcs lvl 40-50-60 with yours that barely reach lvl 30-40. If you try to find new orcs to recruit, they are always low level.    One of the most frustrating game I ever played.
    Pit fight are totally stupid, the enemy orc attack and does stuff, mine stand still doing nothing and getting killed.
    The defend missions, at the end game, are stupid as well.
    You have to defend your castle against orcs lvl 40-50-60 with yours that barely reach lvl 30-40.
    If you try to find new orcs to recruit, they are always low level.
    The only thing you can do is let one of them kill you and then recruit, but that's doesn't work because 99% of the time one of your orc save you before you die and kill him.
    And of course when you need to be saved, you died.
    When you fight a Captain, there is a high chance that another captain spawned under your feet because yes, there is no sense in this.
    I hate this game.    … Expand
  68. Oliver007
    Jan 13, 2021
    10
    Es muy buen juego, la historia esta mucho mejor estructurada que en el pasado juego, y la jugabilidad es menos repetitiva y muy divertida, y las malas reseñas se deben a que la bola de retrasados le tiran hate porque se me mete con el lore del señor de los anillos aunque sepan de ante mano que el juego no es canon
  69. piuscorvus
    Jan 7, 2021
    5
    Shadow of War offers a bit better gameplay than the previous game, Shadow of Mordor. At the beginning, I thought that it is better than the Shadow of Mordor but at the end… it is not. Maybe it is even worse.

    Apart from smaller graphic improvements and a bit better gameplay there is not much more to see here. There is again the same setup; you are in Mordor surrounded by Orcs and 99% of    Shadow of War offers a bit better gameplay than the previous game, Shadow of Mordor. At the beginning, I thought that it is better than the Shadow of Mordor but at the end… it is not. Maybe it is even worse.

    Apart from smaller graphic improvements and a bit better gameplay there is not much more to see here. There is again the same setup; you are in Mordor surrounded by Orcs and 99% of the time you will just fight them endlessly. Unlike the Shadow of Mordor, this game offers you three difficulty settings. One of them is an easy mode that should let you go through the battles more easily so you can have your focus on the story.

    The problem is, there is no story worth focusing on there. Just like the Shadow of Mordor, this game is a fan-fiction thing and it is on the edge of being completely stupid. It is inspired by the characters and places from Tolkien's Middle-Earth but there is nothing special about it. I do believe, whithout spoiling anything, that the fans of Tolkien and The Lord of the Rings will be completely disappointed after experiencing this "story". People who enjoy endless battles and spend days conquering forts and such things will naturally enjoy this game because it does have a good and challenging gameplay. Some others, like me, will be bored after twenty hours of that kind of gameplay, which at the end is based on going here and killing 30 Orcs and then going there and killing 20 Orcs.    … Expand
  70. ZaPaAl
    Dec 22, 2020
    4
    They squeezed the theme a bit too much now. And this opinion is not even based on microtransactions.

    It's predecessor was simple but delivered fun and this game now had engaging moments at first and looked like a major enhancement in every way. But later on this grew into a major and repetitive grind with a very senseless story and down right unlikeable characters. I could not gather    They squeezed the theme a bit too much now. And this opinion is not even based on microtransactions.

    It's predecessor was simple but delivered fun and this game now had engaging moments at first and looked like a major enhancement in every way. But later on this grew into a major and repetitive grind with a very senseless story and down right unlikeable characters.

    I could not gather enough interest to grind up for the major siege defending part of the story (Shadow War) so I missed out on the real ending and I really don't care anymore. Quite sad what they did to this.    … Expand
  71. MaulScarreign
    Dec 13, 2020
    8
    This is a direct sequel to Shadow of Mordor, which is also a fantastic game. I personally love this game and it's easily one of my top favorite games. There are some issues though, including some that diminish the joy of playing it.

    *****This game no longer has microtransactions, which I believe was a huge issue many players had well before I picked this up.**** PROS + Very    This is a direct sequel to Shadow of Mordor, which is also a fantastic game. I personally love this game and it's easily one of my top favorite games. There are some issues though, including some that diminish the joy of playing it.

    *****This game no longer has microtransactions, which I believe was a huge issue many players had well before I picked this up.****

    PROS
    + Very interesting and engaging story
    + Great voiceovers
    + Fun missions
    + Fast paced, somewhat smooth and fun combat with many different ways to kill and damage enemies
    + The Nemesis system is much the same as in SoM but with more creative ways to manipulate Orcs
    + Genuinely funny dialogue from Orc captains

    CONS
    - The controls are quite honestly the worst I've ever suffered through. I'm not exaggerating. I played Brutal, which is the hardest difficulty, and while challenging, the most difficult part of the game was actually the parkour, especially trying to climb a monument to destroy it. It is incredibly sticky, nonresponsive, and unintuitive. You will climb onto the wrong ledge multiple times, either placing you right in front of an Orc you were trying to avoid or placing you in Orcs' sights while you're trying to evade archers.
    - If you dominate an Orc and move away from him, he'll revert back to hostile. This runs contrary to the idea you're creating an Orc army and doing so is a core mechanic of the game. If I wanted to dominate all archers in a fortress before attacking to give myself an advantage, I should be able to do that. Unfortunately, you can't.    … Expand
  72. ToshLichev
    Dec 7, 2020
    3
    I'm baffled by the positive reviews this game has received. Shadow of War is a horrible amalgamation of Arkham combat, AC traversal and Saint's Row IV-like powers which feels as cheap as it gets. Every aspect of it's gameplay is a bad bargain bin version of something that was astonishing and new 10 years ago. The only original idea it has, the nemesis system from the first game, feels likeI'm baffled by the positive reviews this game has received. Shadow of War is a horrible amalgamation of Arkham combat, AC traversal and Saint's Row IV-like powers which feels as cheap as it gets. Every aspect of it's gameplay is a bad bargain bin version of something that was astonishing and new 10 years ago. The only original idea it has, the nemesis system from the first game, feels like a gimmick at this point - it was cool the first time around, not as cool the second though...

    The story, although I am in no way a LotR fan, is so bland, boring and predictable that you just end up zoning out during most of it. There are a few sort of funny dialogues here and there but 95% of it is the tale of the most generic and characterless warrior in all of the realms, who's personality and appearance you forget immediately after pausing the game, and his annoying warrior friends who never get more than 30 seconds of character development. Together they have to fight millions of orcs to get a thingy.

    When you add the fact that the game is very buggy, it's got idiotic micro-transactions, the graphics are straight up 2008 PS3 levels of unimpressive and the world itself feels both annoyingly big to traverse and too small to be considered even decent - there just isn't anything good to say about the game.

    I usually have a final statement with which to finish my review but since Shadow of War didn't feel the need to have an actual ending and just gave us 20 fort defense missions to grind through for hours, I don't feel the need to summarize my review. Absolute **** 3/10

    P.S: PS+ really keep hitting a new low every month...    … Expand
  73. Hoplita
    Dec 5, 2020
    4
    Got it for free with PS Plus. Event after the end of the highly criticized micro-transactions, it's still a bad game. Only three years in of its release, this game clearly has not aged well. The movement is bad. The combat mechanics are repetitive. The enemies are dumb (stealth mechanic is a joke). The graphics could be better. The story is boring. It's a sloppy game. Perhaps theGot it for free with PS Plus. Event after the end of the highly criticized micro-transactions, it's still a bad game. Only three years in of its release, this game clearly has not aged well. The movement is bad. The combat mechanics are repetitive. The enemies are dumb (stealth mechanic is a joke). The graphics could be better. The story is boring. It's a sloppy game. Perhaps the developers thought they could provide anything to the players since it's a LOTR game and its predecessor was a success (indeed, the first game was pretty good). Unfortunately, this a game made not with love, but with greed.… Expand
  74. mr3kler
    Nov 28, 2020
    10
    One of the best game i have ever played. Now it doesn't have any loot boxes for real money.
  75. Mo_obaid
    Nov 23, 2020
    1
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It’s not worth playing random fighting random mechanics the story line is not good the basics of the game are the worst I spent my time for no thing… Expand
  76. mateusbatatais
    Nov 23, 2020
    8
    Tão bom quando o primeiro, com poucas melhorias. Poderia até ter evoluido um pouco mais, mas já tem bastante coisa nova! É um jogo muito bom.

    História: 8
    Som: 9
    Jogabilidade: 9
    Gráficos:8
    Diversão: 10
  77. KiruaZDK
    Nov 21, 2020
    10
    This game is AMAZING
    Recommanded !
    Its really good for game month PS Plus I LOVE IT
  78. v3nomro
    Nov 15, 2020
    1
    Wwhat a sh game omg... I got it for free and it's still sh. Never ending hordes of orcs... This game is like mario, jump and run. Cheating death orcs... What's the point of this game? I got borred after 2 hours... Just do the same sh over and over again.
  79. omarwach
    Nov 15, 2020
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The game is good, al the microtransactions critics are sh*t because you can enjoy the game without paying, the bad part is the textures aren't so good for the year that has been created, that's all good game… Expand
  80. alank8704
    Nov 13, 2020
    6
    Its a great game but too much grind. Could have been a much better game if they didnt try to force in microtransactions
  81. Gamer33
    Nov 10, 2020
    10
    Gioco fantastico e con microtransazioni praticamente ininfluenti. Non capisco tutti sti commenti di gente che sostiene che senza non si va avanti, io l’ho scoperto solo ora e l’ho finito senza problemi. Evidentemente molta gente che non sa giocare scarica i problemi sul gioco :)
  82. joaopdr
    Nov 7, 2020
    8
    I thought the game was good, I haven't finished it yet, but I liked everything in general, both mechanics, history, narrative, etc.
  83. Rednew
    Nov 1, 2020
    10
    Good game, glad they removed lootboxes, picked up for free on PlayStation Plus, nice month.
  84. Purplebleaf
    Oct 27, 2020
    10
    Played it 3 times and still havin fun with it, every time I'm in some fantasyy mood this is the game to go
  85. pharagonesia
    Oct 10, 2020
    3
    It is very evident the developers didn't play their own game. Try climbing a wall and the game can't determine whether the 'X' button indicates a command to roll or a command to climb. This regression in mechanics was evident right away. The skill upgrade menus are another downgrade from Shadow of Mordor. While the environments in the game look better than the predecessor, the charactersIt is very evident the developers didn't play their own game. Try climbing a wall and the game can't determine whether the 'X' button indicates a command to roll or a command to climb. This regression in mechanics was evident right away. The skill upgrade menus are another downgrade from Shadow of Mordor. While the environments in the game look better than the predecessor, the characters themselves appear more plastic. Orc Captain cut scenes seem to run longer and there is no way to bypass the nonsense dialogue. Arrows no longer need to be manually picked up, but good luck finding them. If you have aim assist turned on, good luck because the feature is mostly broken. Then there's the matter of having to find some bizarre combination of left/right to reveal secrets. The concept sounds cool at face value, but the implementation is rage inducing. And finally - my biggest complaint - is the unresolved input lag that was well documented with Shadow of Mordor. Sometimes the character will just sit there taking hits, not responding to input because, well, apparently the developers don't play their own product. The only improvement in the game was the decision to eliminate plant hunting for health regeneration, but even that doesn't resolve the issue of a fundamentally broken character health system.… Expand
  86. Bonjourette
    Sep 25, 2020
    5
    I kinda enjoyed it but I don't really like the combat style and after I finished it I had no urge of repeating it again.
  87. hyun8801
    Sep 23, 2020
    0
    absolutely garbage. Controls are seriously **** up. 99% of the time their auto targeting is off. **** up camera, missions are all **** chores.
  88. Arnitxe
    Sep 8, 2020
    9
    This is what I call a good sequel.
    WB Games did a good job with this game. The graphics are not as good as other 2017 games but I liked it anyway. The game is so much longer then the first one but it's funnier and has a lot of side stories as well. Easy platinum in my collection :)
  89. HarisBIH9
    Sep 2, 2020
    10
    Don't be intimidated by the user ratings, they are just idiots pissed off about lootboxing in the game (which is absolutely no pay to win, really).
    For the reason I am glad that its a critic and user rating.
    It's an INCREDIBLE GAME !!
    really try it, in my opinion the best fighting system ever !!
  90. LOVEPIZZA
    Sep 2, 2020
    6
    Waited a long time to play this. They patched out some of the more egregious micro transactions and shortened the end game length. Loved the loot system and improved on most other systems form the first game. Maybe a little rushed out, a few rough edges.
  91. DasHotDog
    Aug 28, 2020
    8
    After 3 years i can say: this games mechanics are amazing, I Love the nemesis system! (They also got rid of microtransactions)
  92. Chempion1
    Aug 26, 2020
    6
    В 2014 году прошел Shadow of Mordor, не ожидал такого от Monolith. Сначала прошел на Xbox 360 и это было мучение. Загрузки по 1 минуте при просмотре карты, отсутствующие текстуры, короче ужас. Но позднее перепрошёл её на Рlaystation 4 и оценил достаточно высоко.
    Продолжение ждал. И дождавшись, удивился. Игра была совершенно другой и не скажу, что мне это понравилось.
    Начну с хорошего. И    В 2014 году прошел Shadow of Mordor, не ожидал такого от Monolith. Сначала прошел на Xbox 360 и это было мучение. Загрузки по 1 минуте при просмотре карты, отсутствующие текстуры, короче ужас. Но позднее перепрошёл её на Рlaystation 4 и оценил достаточно высоко.
    Продолжение ждал. И дождавшись, удивился. Игра была совершенно другой и не скажу, что мне это понравилось.
    Начну с хорошего. И это сюжет. Мне он, можно сказать, понравился. Повествование продолжает первую часть. Так же раскрывает судьбы Талиона и Келебримбора, героев мира оригинальной игры, хотя и не совсем героев Толкиена. Ну а финал (конечно общего с книгами не имеет), просто зашибись! Особенно меня "порадовало", что авторы включили Исилдура в число назгулов! Чего, естественно с точки зрения книги, быть не могло.
    Теперь о грустном. В игру добавили эти долбанутые захваты крепостей. Они просто разрушают целостность повествования. Сюжет вроде продвигается и тут на, захвати крепость. На хрен она мне нужна? Не важно. Но самое главное, что бы увидеть истинный конец игры, тебе нужно выполнять хренову кучу жопораздирающих заданий по защите этих самых крепостей от набегов. Полный отстой.
    Ещё из игры пропали полноценные боссы. Остался один, но этого маловато. Их заменили на хозяев крепостей, а это не одно и то же.
    Так же в игре появился этот грёбаный магазин с лутбоксами, который вообще делает всю трудовую прокачку бессмысленной. Кстати последнее задание по защите этих грёбаных крепостей вряд ли получится пройти без покупок лутбоксов (По крайней мере, будет ооочень сложно).
    Что же касается внешнего вида, то визуально я не заметил каких либо отличий от первой части.
    Играть советую только после прохождения оригинала. Будет с чем сравнить, да и история не будет казаться запутанной. При том Shadow of War полностью закрыла историю Талиона и Келебримбора, так что на продолжение вряд ли стоит рассчитывать. К тому же магазин, наконец, убрали!    … Expand
  93. gmzstation
    Aug 26, 2020
    9
    Big fan of this game it must play on my opinion it has new things no other games has
  94. Rocon
    Aug 19, 2020
    10
    I love this game, it's just perfecto the gameplay and very enjoyable, I recommend it a lot
  95. bergcamp101
    Aug 13, 2020
    7
    The game is actually good, it has all features from the first part, adding new ones, and story is good, ending cutscene is totally worth playing it. But. The controls are horrible. It's like you play a dinosaur, or Homer Simpson. Talion is slow as turtle, it takes about second for him to implement your commands. Literally, a second. My favorite feature, is when you're running from orcs,The game is actually good, it has all features from the first part, adding new ones, and story is good, ending cutscene is totally worth playing it. But. The controls are horrible. It's like you play a dinosaur, or Homer Simpson. Talion is slow as turtle, it takes about second for him to implement your commands. Literally, a second. My favorite feature, is when you're running from orcs, then try to open a menu with the options button, and by the time the menu actually opens, Orcs got you and kick you. Never seen this. And grinding is in place... When you finish the game, you actually think, that you've been on the war, and you'll never want to return to this place again.… Expand
  96. Lord_Khey
    Jul 26, 2020
    8
    This game is somewhere between a 7-8 for me, but I rounded up because of the host of undeserved 0-1s. I saw someone complain about the hit boxes. If you don't like the hit boxes here, stay the HELL away from "Jedi: Fallen Order." I digress.

    It's clear that WB Games was the studio behind this because there were lots of things (like loading screens and the occasional taunt screens when    This game is somewhere between a 7-8 for me, but I rounded up because of the host of undeserved 0-1s. I saw someone complain about the hit boxes. If you don't like the hit boxes here, stay the HELL away from "Jedi: Fallen Order." I digress.

    It's clear that WB Games was the studio behind this because there were lots of things (like loading screens and the occasional taunt screens when you die) that were pulled straight from the Batman: Arkham games (hell, some of the Uruks/Ologs look like Joker Titans). There is also a lot of familiarity between this game and its predecessor, which I don't mind because I liked the first game. Some new mechanics, like online Vendettas and fortress assaults, can be fun, but are only minor additions.

    There are lots of complaints about the microtranscations, which, frankly, I didn't even notice. Probably because I don't ever do micotransactions. In console games or in time-waster apps on my phone. That did not subtract for me.

    The combat is still pretty fluid like the Batman:Arkham games, but they pretty much literally throw 40 enemies at you at the same time, which makes aiming your "execution" maneuver at the right baddie pretty difficult at times. The "getting ambushed by a Captain" quirk is cute at first, but sometimes, you get ambushed by one guy...start fighting him, then another shows up, and another. I did think it was cool when I was ambushed by three of my own "converted" captains as part of a "Rebellion," though. Probably because I'd converted every captain on that part of the map.

    The maps are more detailed than the original - which isn't saying a lot because ME:SoM was bereft of pretty much anything resembling structures. The story tries to make sense by introducing Shelob (who looks like Kirstie Alley in her skinny Cheers days when she's not a spider) as a being looking to quell the power of Sauron. The game also throws in the fall of Minas Ithil, which apparently doesn't fit the timeline, Ringwraiths (who are bastards to fight), and traitors in all shapes and sizes.

    The power-up system is far more fun this time around and you don't get all the power-ups by halfway through the game as in ME:SoM. And, you can tailor the power-ups based on your style of play. Personally, as a fan of hide and strike (and then hide again), I had fun winning a lot of my fights by poisoning grog barrels from afar and letting the enemy take itself out.

    I suppose that's why I liked both of these games. If I was overmatched for a time, I could climb a wall or sprint out of the area and hide until I could heal and try again, maybe divide and conquer. This is a mechanic that is sorely lacking in many newer releases where you're pretty much in an arena with no way out and have to win the first time. Only in fortress raids, and in particular fortress throne rooms, is where you encounter the win-or-die...a la boss fight. (On an appropriate aside: the pit fights can be highly entertaining)

    The graug mechanics are still stiff and the drake mechanics are probably a bit worse, while the catagor mechanics probably became a little too forgiving. Still, the standard difficulty is about where it should be and there will be a few frustrating deaths, but none that will make you want to give up on the game.

    How grindy the game is is really up to you. You should be able to fly through the story pretty quickly, but the epilogue (where you have to defend all of your fortresses) DOES get grindy. You have to level up pretty high to be able to have the army of defenders you need. I tend to go around and get all the stuff in games (which helps leveling up), but I still needed a shave over 40 hours to complete the epilogue and get to Talion's ending.

    Voice acting was mostly good again, particularly the leads. The monsters seem to, again, recycle the same 8 voices...and, my God, their monologues are SUUUPER long sometimes. You might be able to finish a captain in less time than it takes him to tell you all about how he's going to feed your guts to a catagor.

    (Something that most folks won't care about but I thought was a nice touch: there is a nice tribute to a team member who passed away during production during the end credits.)    … Expand
  97. HeavyMetalSloth
    Jul 22, 2020
    7
    This was my first Middle-Earth game that i played. I didn't play Shadow of Mordor because players suggested I would be exhausted by the end of Mordor before jumping into this one and they were right because when this game ended i was just exhausted from playing it. Here are my likes and dislikes about the game:

    Likes: - I like how you can drain health from other enemies, though i wish    This was my first Middle-Earth game that i played. I didn't play Shadow of Mordor because players suggested I would be exhausted by the end of Mordor before jumping into this one and they were right because when this game ended i was just exhausted from playing it. Here are my likes and dislikes about the game:

    Likes:
    - I like how you can drain health from other enemies, though i wish it was executed faster seeing how you will have Orcs swarming you most of the time.
    - This game puts Assassins Creed wall climbing and aerial traverse to shame.
    - The skill tree offers a lot of really cool things for you to do.
    - Fast travel, and boy was it needed.
    - The enemy counter system works really well.
    - How the game gives you a couple of chances to live when your health is depleted as long as you hit a well timed button.
    - The different environments were cool.
    - Bruz and Ratbag are hilarious as well as other Orcs I encountered.
    - Building your own Army was cool too.

    Dislikes:
    - I hated how many Orcs would swarm me every time i was either spotted or battling another Orc. Especially when reinforcements arrive because all i was trying to do was get an artifact or something but it seemed like a grind to just get that.
    - For me the story up until the ending was good. Just when i thought the story ended it in fact did not and turns out you have to do more EXTREME TEDIOUS GRINDING which i did not do because I was already in the mindset that the game was already over. So i guess everything i did in the game was kind of pointless unless i were to take over every fortress in order to get to the true ending which is not worth my time.

    Misc:
    - I was overwhelmed earlier on in the game because i had not played Mordor but slowly caught on.
    - The Orcs are super dumb.
    - The game is a grind.

    I enjoyed this game and was about to give it an 8/10, but considering all of the grinding you have to do in Shadow Wars to get to the true ending it just wasn't worth the effort or time.    … Expand
  98. Unicron666
    Jul 21, 2020
    7
    Loved the actual gameplay but I can't give this a high score because it was ruined by greedy people.
  99. ACCELLWORD
    Jul 13, 2020
    10
    Termine la historia principal, me encanto, literal este juego tiene la mejor historia que jugué, todo me gusto, las mecánicas, la inteligencia como si los Uruk tuvieran conciencia, y los que dicen sobre micro transacciones, yo solo compre el juego y desde ahí no eh gastado un peso, así que esa es mi opinión sobre este increíble juego.
  100. CGpancake
    Jul 10, 2020
    10
    I played it after removal of loot-boxes and marketplace, since all of the criticism including pacing of the game was addressed and adjusted according to the changes we are left with a perfect, long and unique game with incredibly satisfying game-play loop. More than worth the price for great fun lasting days.
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Awards & Rankings

65
#65 Best PS4 Game of 2017
12
#12 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2017
13
#13 Most Shared PS4 Game of 2017

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 69 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 53 out of 69
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 69
  3. Negative: 0 out of 69
  1. CD-Action
    Dec 19, 2017
    80
    I was annoyed by various flaws (both technical and design-related) and tedious, dragged out final stages of the campaign, but overall I enjoyed the ride. It looks like the developers wanted to stuff the game with all the best elements Middle-earth has to offer. Shadow of War’s atmosphere is terrific and watching Talion rise in power is surprisingly addictive. [12/2017, p.62]
  2. Cubed3
    Nov 26, 2017
    70
    A handful of issues, some much more annoying than others, do not negate how solid of an action RPG Middle-earth: Shadow of War is. A tremendous achievement for the team at Monolith Productions, this is an exciting, if not sometimes slow, and too often unfair, title that manages to be as impressively fun as it is big.
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  3. Playstation Official Magazine UK
    Nov 20, 2017
    60
    Big, brutal, and - alas - bloated, Shadow of War is a disappointing follow-up, conjuring battles of grand scale and then deadening their impact through grinding repetition. [December 2017, p.79]
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