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. Rednew
    Nov 1, 2020
    10
    Good game, glad they removed lootboxes, picked up for free on PlayStation Plus, nice month.
  2. Asisclo
    Mar 14, 2021
    10
    This game is just amazing.
    Nice combat
    Nice Art
    Nice History
    Everything is awsome in this game!
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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
  6. Rocon
    Aug 19, 2020
    10
    I love this game, it's just perfecto the gameplay and very enjoyable, I recommend it a lot
  7. 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.
  8. 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.
  9. 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
  10. 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
  11. 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
  12. 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
  13. Philip02_03
    Feb 20, 2021
    10
    One of my favorite games! Good charakters, nice system, epic raids and so beautiful places!
  14. 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.
  15. 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
  16. 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
  17. 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
  18. 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
  19. 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
  20. 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
  21. 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.
  22. 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.
  23. 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.
  24. 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
  25. 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
  26. theomegamaster9
    Oct 14, 2017
    0
    This game could have been great, but we should not judge based on potential. I loved the first game and i really felt that the nemisis system could become something truly unique and amazing after a bit of improving. Unfortunately, greed on an unbelievable scale ruined the experience completely. Call me whiner, but i truky believe that we need to take a stand here. This is not acceptable.This game could have been great, but we should not judge based on potential. I loved the first game and i really felt that the nemisis system could become something truly unique and amazing after a bit of improving. Unfortunately, greed on an unbelievable scale ruined the experience completely. Call me whiner, but i truky believe that we need to take a stand here. This is not acceptable. Locking the ending away behind a wall of pay-or-grind is absloutely dispicaple and taints the whole experience. I am sad that a series like this had to be the one to take the fall for the industry's growing greed but someone has to. This needs to stop.… Expand
  27. Psheshlov
    Oct 24, 2017
    0
    No, it's unacceptable. I was really waiting this game. Game, not grind. Boxes in the single player game? Really? And this boxes includes not just skins...
  28. fredhorrigan
    Oct 13, 2017
    0
    Because making a generic AssCreed clone with all of the flaws and none of the (few) strengths wasn't bad enough, now we need to put in a slot machine mechanic into a single player game and also profit from a dude's death.

    Cancer. Absolute cancer.
  29. ArchibaldDuke
    Oct 13, 2017
    0
    Micro-transactions in $60 single player games. $60 single player games with premium editions. With gold editions. With.. well, you understand. The greed obviously knows no limits.
  30. Wallasuko
    Oct 13, 2017
    0
    "I'm starvin. We aint had nothin' but maggoty fans for three stinking years!"
    "Mmmyeah! why cant we haves some money!... what about microtransactions? they're fresh!"
    "THEY ARE NOT FOR SELLING!"
    "What about loot boxes? they need those! Aww they look tasty!"

    "LOOKS LIKE SCAMS BACK ON THE MENU BOYS! RAAAAAHHHHH!"
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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

All reviews »
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.
    Read full review
  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]
See all critic reviews »