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. 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
  2. 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
  3. egaqu
    Aug 7, 2019
    5
    This game is okay mechanically and visually. Combat becomes repetitive due to habitually using the same attacks and counters on basically the same enemies over and over and over and over again. All of Act II is a 15+ hour grind that barely proceeds the story and largely serves to prolong the game. Same with the entirety of Shadow Wars. In a nutshell the only meaningful gameplay to thisThis game is okay mechanically and visually. Combat becomes repetitive due to habitually using the same attacks and counters on basically the same enemies over and over and over and over again. All of Act II is a 15+ hour grind that barely proceeds the story and largely serves to prolong the game. Same with the entirety of Shadow Wars. In a nutshell the only meaningful gameplay to this game is siege conquests, something that can be done in an hour but spread over 30-40 hours.… Expand
  4. silencer
    Feb 9, 2018
    7
    Pros: Fun combat mechanics, moderately entertaining Nemesis system, beautiful environments and a diverse skill / inventory system.
    Cons: Nonsensical story, highly repetitive gameplay and bland characters.
    It's a decent game, but the grind at the end of the game is so annoying that I gave up and just watched the ending on youtube. If it had a cohesive story to support the grind, that    Pros: Fun combat mechanics, moderately entertaining Nemesis system, beautiful environments and a diverse skill / inventory system.
    Cons: Nonsensical story, highly repetitive gameplay and bland characters.

    It's a decent game, but the grind at the end of the game is so annoying that I gave up and just watched the ending on youtube. If it had a cohesive story to support the grind, that would probably be more tolerable, but as it is, it's just unbearable. This game is a "wait for sale", imo (I bought this new but with deep discount).    … Expand
  5. 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
  6. 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.
  7. ghoulrot
    Sep 10, 2018
    5
    Pros:

    Combat system
    Graphics

    Cons:

    Flimsy story
    Very, very repetitive. You will be doing the same thing constantly with no variety. I stopped playing after finishing the story as I couldn't face grinding the same thing over and over for the rest of it.
  8. 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
  9. thryce3
    Nov 9, 2018
    7
    The gameplay is still solid. The story is still secondary to the nemesis system. I really wished they built on that potential and really integrated the two. It's good, it's just more of the same.
  10. Bunterboy
    Jan 13, 2019
    5
    I bought it when then micro-transactions have been removed but honestly it's still kind of boring. There is a lot of repetition and it all feels just a bit less exciting than the first game.

    The main character. So annoying. You start the game thinking that he's all acrobatic but the more you play the more you will realised that actually he's a clumsy oaf who much prefers to continuously    I bought it when then micro-transactions have been removed but honestly it's still kind of boring. There is a lot of repetition and it all feels just a bit less exciting than the first game.

    The main character. So annoying. You start the game thinking that he's all acrobatic but the more you play the more you will realised that actually he's a clumsy oaf who much prefers to continuously roll up against walls than climb them or stubbornly refuse to let go or not climb a wall when you want him too.

    The story. Who cares? Unless you're a direct descendant of JRR Tolkien himself or an actual elf it's not very interesting.

    Yeah, for 13 bucks its tolerable for a period but don't expect to get any long term enjoyment out of this game.    … Expand
  11. 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.
  12. einarpaz
    Nov 23, 2018
    9
    It was a great game. It had improve almost everything from Shadow of Mordor. The game is not true to the original source (books) but it has a good history eitherway. Visual quality is not the best but it is fair when you see the big battles and the quantity of things and characters in screen to take or defend a fortress.
  13. 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
  14. 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
  15. TatsMcGee
    Sep 8, 2018
    6
    I want to start out by saying that I did not finish this game but I did play a lot of it. I just don’t have it in me to keep going. The game is split into 4 Acts and I’m still in the middle of Act 2. I really ended up getting side tracked with the Nemesis System and ended up spending too much time with that.

    The games 1st Act isn’t that great, its all a tutorial and the game really    I want to start out by saying that I did not finish this game but I did play a lot of it. I just don’t have it in me to keep going. The game is split into 4 Acts and I’m still in the middle of Act 2. I really ended up getting side tracked with the Nemesis System and ended up spending too much time with that.

    The games 1st Act isn’t that great, its all a tutorial and the game really doesn’t begin until Act 2 where you can truly start playing the game. The goal of the game is to recruit and army of orcs and then lead that army to defeat Sauron. You can’t even start recruiting until the 2nd act so the first act is kind of pointless. Its setting up a story but its not an overly engaging story and the game would be stronger if you could skip that entire act.

    The games story and premise is not that great, the best way I can describe it is it’s kind of like bad fan fiction of Tolkien’s world. People were upset over the fact that the game took Shelob and turned her into a “sexy” woman. I didn’t care that much because the story isn’t good enough to care anyways. Not to mention, all of the story missions are not fun and poorly designed. Its definitely the worst part of the game.

    Where the game truly shines is how great of a Sandbox game it is. Its very dynamic and completely random. You can get together with 10 different people and you all would have a different story of the Orcs that you fought along the way. The fact that system just works well and nothing feels overly that scripted is great. It feels like you’re creating your own story.

    The problem that I am happening with the game is the Nemesis System is the only part of the game that I’m having any fun with. The scripted parts of the game are not fun and I’ve done everything I can with the Nemesis System and all I have left are story missions. I’m just kind of done with the game.

    I spent 25-30 hours playing around with the systems that its hit a point where I’m done with the combat as well. I think part of the problem is, in the last year and a half I have played Shadow of Mordor and all 4 Arkham Knight games. So I’m just kind of over that combat system. Not to mention, what makes the Arkham Knight games so much better is, they’re not 50 hours games. They’re 15 hour games so you don’t get sick of the combat.

    There is not much more I can say. This is a fun game that overstays its welcome. This is probably going to go down as my favorite game of the year that I didn’t finish.    … Expand
  16. 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.
  17. 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.
  18. 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
  19. 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.
  20. 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.
  21. Radoslavus
    May 22, 2018
    5
    I have a serious problem with this one. On one hand I am a big fan of the series, but on the other hand those big lore mistakes (I could get along with those), and the horror of all gamers, the dreadfull microtransactions. MICROTRANSACTIONS IN A SINGLEPLAYER GAME.!!!

    Let's face it, this game is a 7,5-8/10. They improved basically every aspect of it: - It runs smoother, - the gampley    I have a serious problem with this one. On one hand I am a big fan of the series, but on the other hand those big lore mistakes (I could get along with those), and the horror of all gamers, the dreadfull microtransactions. MICROTRANSACTIONS IN A SINGLEPLAYER GAME.!!!

    Let's face it, this game is a 7,5-8/10.
    They improved basically every aspect of it:
    - It runs smoother,
    - the gampley is better,
    - world bigger,
    - characters well written,
    - boss battles fun and challenging
    - nemezis system and combat improved
    - and of course the siege battles
    There is no major issue, that you can complain about, except Lord of the Rings lore. But if, you are not a hardcore fan of Tolkien's books, you will not notice them.

    And then comes ACT 4 "The Grind Chapter". Act that made everyone furious:
    - pay to win in a singleplayer game
    - boring repetetive waves just to unlock one short ending scene (scene that everyone can check on Youtube)
    - hours of grind to test the gamer, if he is willing to pay extra money to finish the game significantly faster
    - a part of the game that is so lazy in it's design, that it's an insult, not a real chapter
    - pointless act that has done much more harm than WB and Monolight expected it would.

    Because I am a big enemy of microtransactions (not only pay to win but all of them), and despite the fact that I had a lot of fun playing the game I will give it a 5/10. Unfortunately I am again dissapointed about a game that I was waiting for this year.    … Expand
  22. balding
    Jul 5, 2018
    5
    Entretiene hasta que te das cuenta que estás haciendo lo mismo en un mapa sin cohesión alguna pensado para venderte cajas de botín, prolongando el juego de manera artificial y haciéndolo tedioso. Cierto que el sistema némesis ha mejorado y el resto de elementos se han pulido, pero son demasiadas las asperazas que encuentro. No tan siquiera presenta una historia y personajes a la altura delEntretiene hasta que te das cuenta que estás haciendo lo mismo en un mapa sin cohesión alguna pensado para venderte cajas de botín, prolongando el juego de manera artificial y haciéndolo tedioso. Cierto que el sistema némesis ha mejorado y el resto de elementos se han pulido, pero son demasiadas las asperazas que encuentro. No tan siquiera presenta una historia y personajes a la altura del maravilloso universo de Tolkien.… Expand
  23. Yugveer
    Jan 3, 2018
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This game is the best game i ever played , i dont know why people kept on saying microtransaction , i didnt even a single $ on this game and managed to get platinium trophy this game is epic , unique and no1 ever had this idea of produtcing a game like this if you cant play the game dont badmouth it :D .this is the best game i have ever played, better than any game i have played , warner bros and team hats off! 78 hours gameplay , Just marvelous… Expand
  24. XxAlbertoBuzzxX
    Jun 2, 2020
    7
    MIDDLE-EARTH: SHADOW OF WAR
    ....................................................................
  25. 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
  26. BlitZeR_95
    May 19, 2019
    7
    I stopped playing this game back when I saw a lot of microtransactions, but once I heard they removed it I came back to it to try it out. This time it isn't as grindy as it once was and it's a better game. The game was already good but it was the major microtransaction in a single-player game is what held the game down from being a good game. I'm glad it's better now but maybe it's tooI stopped playing this game back when I saw a lot of microtransactions, but once I heard they removed it I came back to it to try it out. This time it isn't as grindy as it once was and it's a better game. The game was already good but it was the major microtransaction in a single-player game is what held the game down from being a good game. I'm glad it's better now but maybe it's too late since everyone already see this as a really bad game… Expand
  27. Br_AgSs
    May 5, 2020
    6
    This game is a huge stepdown from Mordor. The combat is not as fun and fluid as Shadow Of Mordor, the nemesis system is bigger, but wasnt enough to keep me entertained like Mordor did, the story is predictable and cliché,(also, Celebrimbor is terribly bad writen in this game, as well as Talion) the graphics are ok, there is something wrong with the lighting in this game, some places areThis game is a huge stepdown from Mordor. The combat is not as fun and fluid as Shadow Of Mordor, the nemesis system is bigger, but wasnt enough to keep me entertained like Mordor did, the story is predictable and cliché,(also, Celebrimbor is terribly bad writen in this game, as well as Talion) the graphics are ok, there is something wrong with the lighting in this game, some places are dark as hell, and some places are bright as hell, Shadow Of Mordor had much better graphics, character models and enviroment, Shadow Of War even removed that BEAUTIFUL rain Mordor had.
    Dont buy Shadow Of War, buy Shadow Of Mordor.    … Expand
  28. Maarten95
    Mar 4, 2019
    8
    This is actually a good game. I really liked the nemenis system and the story was good until the end. The end requires way to much grinding and disturbes the games pacing. Another great thing about this game is its fortress battles which require a lot of planning and preperations. Its very original. Overal I highly recommand this game.
  29. MathiasVoorhees
    Apr 27, 2020
    5
    A general downgrade from the first apart from the graphics and enemy types.
  30. Berik
    Aug 21, 2019
    5
    Where Shadow of Mordor felt like a combination of other genres, but with a new exciting system (The Nemesis System), Shadow of War seems to completely commit to what other high profile games are doing: Collectibles to fill up play time, large open worlds that are barely utilized in the story, and a lackluster poorly written story.

    To start with the story: Monolith has taken liberties    Where Shadow of Mordor felt like a combination of other genres, but with a new exciting system (The Nemesis System), Shadow of War seems to completely commit to what other high profile games are doing: Collectibles to fill up play time, large open worlds that are barely utilized in the story, and a lackluster poorly written story.

    To start with the story: Monolith has taken liberties with the Lord of the Rings lore in the past, but this time they decided to grab it by the hair and smear its face in a pool of mud. Shelob, which is the big spider from Return of the King, is somehow a future telling swimsuit model that has the power to imprison wraiths. If that sounds completely ludicrous to you, than you are spot on mate!

    Apart from that, the story itself seems to be more of a side objective to the main goal: Recruiting, killing and making captains. Talion has become rather dumb in between the previous game and this one, and does everything your gut tells you NOT to do. Want to learn what a cliché, ridiculous and dumb character is like? Play the story of Shadow of War, because all the characters in this game fit the description.

    As for combat, the game unfortunately takes a step back to its predecessor. Where Shadow of Mordor felt hard but ultimately balanced and precise, Shadow of War is a mess. Battles with groups are now even more like mosh pits. The AI seems to completely ignore you when a captain attacks, yet their IQ will raise by 50 points the moment Talion attacks. Grunts will hit you to the point that you will get stabbed in the back all the time if your finger isn't glued to your triangle button. Also, prompts are sometimes in such ridiculous quick succession of each other that it seems to be impossible to evade, counter or survive for that matter. I can say for a fact that it wasn't like this in Shadow of Mordor, as i've played it four weeks ago before i started playing Shadow of War.

    The amount of traits that Orcs can have are greatly increased. There are more than triple the amount of traits Shadow of Mordor had, and Captains will interact with the player much more. Some will betray or ambush you, and others defy death so often that you will wonder if they aren't wraiths themselves. This is a welcome addition, but it fails to make the Orcs more interesting and less of a number. In fact, some traits are so powerful that it will lead to some very cheap deaths. The traits can be so random among captains that it hardly ever leads to a memorable orc.

    Do orcs have more distinction? No, absolutely not. In fact, every orc now looks like they gathered their weapons and armor at a Lost and Found shelter. Their is rarely a coherent theme in their outfit, nor does it suit them. I've seen orcs wearing golden elven armor (stupid), an orc dressed as a bard (totally taking a dumb on J.R.R Tolkien's lore there) and even a few as pirates... The **** Monolith.

    The size of the game is more of a flaw than anything else. Prepare to switch between the game, the map and the army screen hundreds of times as there is no quick button, and you'll constantly be wondering where you will have to go to next. Orcs are mostly far away, especially if you just met them. They will then 'magically' transport all the way to the other side of the map. Great.

    The new Conquest or Siege mode is fun, but after 2 or 3 times you will really have seen all there's to it. Above the Warchief now stands the overlord, which is the boss of a region. After storming the fort, taking checkpoints and dealing with remaining warchiefs you'll be fighting the Overlord, which is usually a high leveled bullet sponge with minions around him. And somehow you have to fight them solo, even though you brought an army with you ...

    The camera in this game is a disaster, and so is directing Talion. You see, the camera is now more zoomed in on Talion and everything North of him. I say this because, unlike the previous game, the camera will not move with your direction and will even push back against you if you try to turn it! Also, Talion doesn't do actions in the direction you point him to, but rather tries to connect with highlighted targets and ledges. This leads to 80% of your playtime feeling frustrating as Talion pretty much doesn't obey your controller. This pissed me off so much that i considered to stop playing this game.

    Unfortunately the game as a whole has been disappointing and frustrating to me, especially because i really liked Shadow of Mordor. This game is too overstuffed, too incoherent, a mess in combat and a joke to the lore of Middle Earth. It's an average game, which i can only recommend if you like to be frustrated and punished for seeking more Shadow of Mordor fun. I give it a 5/10.    … Expand
  31. Roo182
    Sep 11, 2019
    6
    I initially put this game down right away. It was too repetitive and the fact that I couldn't advance the game without getting stronger orcs (mostly through microtransactions) was the last straw. 2 years later, after they took the heat and removed the microtranactions, I came back. It is still a fun LOTR game, and the Nemesis system is definitely cool. But the story felt soulless and theI initially put this game down right away. It was too repetitive and the fact that I couldn't advance the game without getting stronger orcs (mostly through microtransactions) was the last straw. 2 years later, after they took the heat and removed the microtranactions, I came back. It is still a fun LOTR game, and the Nemesis system is definitely cool. But the story felt soulless and the missions were empty. Definitely not what I wanted, but as a big LOTR fan in general, I put up with it.… Expand
  32. Ebislav
    Jan 29, 2022
    3
    Куча не нужных механик, отвратительные анимации врагов и тупые диалоги капитанов. Не смог закончить и первый акт
  33. 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
  34. 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
  35. 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.
  36. tcole_93
    Jun 4, 2019
    7
    Disclaimer: I just played this game for the first time in mid 2019 and the loot boxes that seemed to have caused a lot of controversy have been removed.

    To sum this game up simply, it's addicting and fun to play though the story never really interested me. I am a fan of the LOTR trilogy but I am no expert by any means. I played Shadow of Mordor a few years back and never really got    Disclaimer: I just played this game for the first time in mid 2019 and the loot boxes that seemed to have caused a lot of controversy have been removed.

    To sum this game up simply, it's addicting and fun to play though the story never really interested me.

    I am a fan of the LOTR trilogy but I am no expert by any means. I played Shadow of Mordor a few years back and never really got into it. I found this game to be more enjoyable. The combat is excellent and the nemesis system works very well. I really took my time building my army up and enjoyed the grind of capturing the different regions. The story fell flat, however. And I would say is my biggest negative.

    Overall, if you're looking for a fun game to play a good 50+ hours on, Shadow of War is a nice pick up. Just don't expect anything mind blowing.    … Expand
  37. 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
  38. Lord-Eagles
    Nov 11, 2019
    4
    Shadow of War fails as an improvement upon its predecessor marring the potential this game had.
    Instead of focusing on a more personalized nemesis system and a larger variation of missions it delivers a clunky mess that just throws you in 5 slightly oversized and poorly tested map areas which should’ve only been 3 but it will try to use as an excuse to build a game that you can play for    Shadow of War fails as an improvement upon its predecessor marring the potential this game had.
    Instead of focusing on a more personalized nemesis system and a larger variation of missions it delivers a clunky mess that just throws you in 5 slightly oversized and poorly tested map areas which should’ve only been 3 but it will try to use as an excuse to build a game that you can play for 90+ hours but after you complete the story and side missions and collectibles about 25-30 hours in you’ll find no reason to stick around.
    The controls to this game feel clunky and not quite as smooth as the previous installment with an absolutely unneeded and unwanted equipment drop mechanic being added which should’ve had an expanded equipment upgrade system instead along with keeping the Gem drops. and an unforgivable OVERLY bloated skill tree that requires you to not have more then one improvement upgrade being activated but allows you to toggle on whenever you want if you go into the menu mid fight. With all of these combined cause this game to eventually dissolve into a tiresome grind.
    Other problems surround the siege missions. their upgrades, your orc army upgrades, and their overpriced expenses which were originally meant to be Microtransactions. But these missions are the big draw to the new installment essentially being A set of either attacking or defending fortresses. Which also ends up being the core Post gameplay loop. Well at its core being fun and intriguing falls short of its glory mixed with the sometimes clunky control mechanics and the Orcs constantly introducing themselves in the middle of the war, it essentially boils downing to orc fortress CTF that’s constantly pausing when your trying to do a combo move.

    All In all a fun experience that should’ve been thought out and executed in a more organized manner. And instead of going bigger it should’ve went more personalized    … Expand
  39. Georgekratos
    Nov 9, 2019
    9
    El mejor combate con espada de la historia de los videojuegos. Me encanta....
  40. 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 !!
  41. 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
  42. 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.
  43. Obligaviews
    Apr 16, 2020
    6
    I think the only compliments I have for this game regard the nemesis system and voice acting. I have no idea where these 10s have been coming from, but to each their own.

    Let's start here. The game handles about as well as you would driving on black ice. I can't assign a value to the number of times the character would get stuck on flat ground, ignore button presses mid-combat, attack    I think the only compliments I have for this game regard the nemesis system and voice acting. I have no idea where these 10s have been coming from, but to each their own.

    Let's start here. The game handles about as well as you would driving on black ice. I can't assign a value to the number of times the character would get stuck on flat ground, ignore button presses mid-combat, attack the complete opposite enemy from where you had the stick pointing, and so on. The normal running speed is about on par with a 90-year-old grandmother (80 would be too fast, and I'm only half kidding, sadly).

    The graphics, while understandably depressing and muddy, are in effect not appealing to look at and it often feels difficult to make out details because, again, just about everything is faded and shades of the same color. There was also some weird blurring effect that made it difficult to see at times.

    Maybe a bigger LotR fan than I would care more about the side-quests and collectibles, but I personally found them boring and tedious to collect and complete. This may have changed if the gameplay was more engaging and, well, worked correctly more than 1/2 the time, but it does not.

    Trying to play this game feels like the few moments of fun you have here and there while taking care of household chores for a couple hours. 5.5 rounded up to a 6.    … Expand
  44. Pibblepunk
    Jun 12, 2020
    1
    Liked the first game well enough, though the nemesis system while cool in concept could sometimes really screw you over in unexpected ways. Sequels are generally expected to build upon the original title, featuring things like improved graphics and gameplay, perhaps a more engaging narrative and complex worldbuilding. Standard stuff. This game however, is in every single respect aLiked the first game well enough, though the nemesis system while cool in concept could sometimes really screw you over in unexpected ways. Sequels are generally expected to build upon the original title, featuring things like improved graphics and gameplay, perhaps a more engaging narrative and complex worldbuilding. Standard stuff. This game however, is in every single respect a downgrade from the original. The graphics and character models look worse, the environments look worse, the combat is worse, the story is more confusing and less interesting. Even the UI has been downgraded. And on top of all that, every single menu page is pushing advertisements for DLC content on you, as if to say, "Hey, you notice how this game is a bunch of cheap and badly made BS? Would like to buy MORE OF IT???" Absolutely disappointed.… Expand
  45. Arthur26670
    Jun 15, 2020
    8
    Uma boa continuação do shadow of mordor, o sistema de orcs ficou muito bom, cada orc com aparência única e personalidade.Podendo trair,Rebeliões,enganar a morte,voltar dos mortos,ressuscitar e diversas mecânicas novas do sistema nêmesis.A diversos mapas e todos diferentes com o objetivo de recrutar e conquistar as fortalezas,que são bem divertidas principalmente o on-line,que funciona bem.Uma boa continuação do shadow of mordor, o sistema de orcs ficou muito bom, cada orc com aparência única e personalidade.Podendo trair,Rebeliões,enganar a morte,voltar dos mortos,ressuscitar e diversas mecânicas novas do sistema nêmesis.A diversos mapas e todos diferentes com o objetivo de recrutar e conquistar as fortalezas,que são bem divertidas principalmente o on-line,que funciona bem. A dublagem está boa e o gráfico é abaixo do esperado pra um jogo de 2017. Comprei 1 ano depois então não tive problemas com as polêmicas de lootbox.Apesar de ser divertido recutrar os Orc fica muito enjoativo fazer as mesmas coisas sempre. No geral é um bom jogo pra fechar a história de Talion mas precisa urgentemente de novos caminhos para não repetir os erros deste game.… Expand
  46. Burattix54
    Jun 26, 2020
    7
    The game got review bombed at launch, but it isn't objectively bad, they even changed the last section of the game to be more bearable, and removed microtransactions. I still advice not playing it because it's the worst part of the game, and just watch the ending on youtube, it's not a great ending anyways.
  47. 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
  48. 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.
  49. 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!
  50. 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
  51. 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.
  52. 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
  53. 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.
  54. 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.
  55. kc0321
    Mar 21, 2021
    7
    Although the story is pretty weird, the combat system and graphics still worth noticing.
  56. 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.
  57. 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.
  58. 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.
  59. 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
  60. 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.
  61. nfs7379
    Sep 4, 2022
    9
    9/10.......................................................................
  62. 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
  63. 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.
  64. 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
  65. 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
  66. 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
  67. 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
  68. Harthik69
    Jul 9, 2023
    9
    Nice Game. Would love to play again in future. Good Graphics and mechanics!!!
  69. 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
  70. 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
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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.
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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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