Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor Reviews

Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor is ranked in the 95th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
83 / 100
Oct 7, 2014

It’s sad to say, but the story of Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor is dismissible, luckily in favor of the facilitating gameplay that does manage to captivate for hours on end, with less need for drab exposition to boot.

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6 / 10
Aug 28, 2017
Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor (2014) Review 6/10 video thumbnail
9 / 10.0
Oct 6, 2014

Shadow of Mordor is an excellent game that is elevated by the Nemesis System and its many other features working together. It's a great tale in Middle Earth that is faithful to the concepts of Tolkien's world and echoes the tragedy of the likes of Hamlet and Macbeth. I highly recommend this game on new-gen platforms and PC where you can truly appreciate the Nemesis System and open world in all its hi-def epic nature.

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9.3 / 10.0
Aug 21, 2017

In conclusion, Shadow of Mordor is the best LOTR game I have played in a long time, it reaches the expectations and although some are very critic on the similarity with the assassin's creed system, I have to say I really enjoyed playing this epic game full of emotion, adrenaline and a soundtrack that will blow up your mind. The challenge of completing the campaing 100% will make you spend hours of fun, as the secondary missions are very attractive and challenging but keeping a balance that makes them achievable for any player investing a moderate quantity of time, it is not just a game that incudes high definition graphics and sound quality, but much more than that.

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8.5 / 10.0
Aug 21, 2017

Middle-Earth: Shadow or Morder successfully delivers an experience that you will enjoy from start to finish. The hours will just fly by as you fight through the detailed land of Mordor. The Nemesis system and Uruk Hierarchy in Saurons Army is something fresh and will keep you entertained throughout the experience. It’s a shame the story couldn’t have been a bit longer. The game is so much fun to play that it’s a real let down when you get to the end of it so soon. This game is a must buy for anyone who is a fan of fantasy hack and slash RPGs. Regardless of your knowledge of the Lord of the Rings franchise you will find your self hooked to this game.

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8.5 / 10.0
Oct 2, 2014

Shadow of Mordor provides Lord of the Rings and high fantasy fans with an interesting take on the Assassin's Creed formula. A visually stunning experience paced well and complimented by the Nemesis system.

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Dec 15, 2014

The sandbox nature of Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor is what makes it such a great game.

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9 / 10.0
Oct 31, 2014

Shadow of Mordor more than qualifies as being one of the most polished and entertaining games to ever bear the Tolkien namesake.

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Apr 28, 2015

From the get go you are introduced to Talion, a Ranger of Gondor as well as Captain of the Black Gate. Who is in the midst of training his son Dirhael and gives you the chance to learn some basic combat moves.

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9 / 10.0
Oct 13, 2014

Every aspect of Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor feels like it was designed to be the ultimate power trip. At the same time, thanks to nemesis, your actions have very direct and visible consequences on the world you inhabit. It's this combination that makes Shadow of Mordor not only an excellent game, but one which sets the standard for all open-world titles to come.

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9.5 / 10.0
Oct 1, 2014

Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor is a stellar open world action adventure experience that, while borrowing from other, more popular franchises, manages to innovate by leaps and bounds through the Nemesis system, elevating the whole game above its standard story. The combat and exploration are fun, and while the game may seem a bit difficult, don't forget that running away is always a good idea.

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GameSkinny
Top Critic
Oct 4, 2014

All I have to say about that final fight: bulls***t

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Mar 10, 2015

Shadow of Mordor is a beautiful game with some sick combat that's geuinely fun. The gameplay is the real star of this show and it's one worth getting at full price.

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Unscored
Oct 14, 2014

Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor is a must own title on any platform and a genuine contender for Game of the Year.

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Oct 10, 2014

I've been a fan of J.R.R. Tolkien since I was a boy. The fantastical world he created never disappointed, regardless of the entertainment medium it was presented in. His books kept me awake long into the night and Peter Jackson's film adaptations often left me breathless. While many of the video games based in this fantasy world have often been hit or miss, it's safe to say that 'Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor' has lived up to my very high expectations as being my most anticipated game (and let's not forget new franchise entry) of 2014. It took everything that I love about the action/adventure genre and brought it to life in wonderfully immersive ways. Monolith Productions has earned some serious bragging rights not only with what they've done for the epic fantasy franchise, but for what they have developed with their Nemesis system. Their many accolades and high praise are both warranted and justified. 'Shadow of Mordor' should not be missed.

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77 / 100
Oct 8, 2014

But the truth is that it is a good game in spite of the fact that it has bones that threaten to burst from the fantasy skin laid overtop; that it is yearning to mutate out of this Lord of the Rings form and into something truly revolutionary.

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Drew Hurley
Top Critic
8 / 10
Dec 3, 2014

Shadow of Mordor shows that the Tolkien licence still has a lot of life in it yet. It falls short a little in that some of the aspects feel like they don't quite live up to what they promised, but this is a great first step for a brand new IP. Hopefully this won't be the last we see of Talion.

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8 / 10
Oct 12, 2014

We can easily recommend Shadow of Mordor to fans of either aforementioned franchise, action-adventure lovers, and to anyone that won't mind spilling gallons of Orc blood. It's one of the year's biggest surprises.

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9 / 10.0
Sep 30, 2014

Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor is the rare Arkham clone that transcends its status. It borrows heavily from Batman: Arkham Asylum but does enough new, interesting and distinctive things that it doesn't feel derivative. The core gameplay mechanics are some of the most enjoyable I've encountered this year, and the game is fun from start to finish. A lackluster plot and odd use of the source material holds the game back slightly but not enough to interfere with the unadulterated fun of the core concept. Shadow of Mordor may not be the deepest or most meaningful game released this year, but it sure is one of the most fun.

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8.7 / 10.0
Sep 30, 2014

Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor is a game that delivers the fantasy goods in spades. The ultra-anal Tolkien lovers might take issue with Talion and how the game is presented, and the AI and frame-rate issues are clear. That being said, this remains a wildly immersive, engaging adventure with an excellent combination of action and platforming elements.

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