Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor Reviews
Monolith Productions has created a new standard for Middle-earth games with Shadow of Mordor. The combat is gratifying, the visuals are gorgeous and the unique features such as the nemesis system combine to create a great action game experience.
Shadow Of Mordor might end up being the surprise hit of the year due to its fantastic combat system, intriguing and original nemesis system, and a whole lot of things to keep you entertained in this amazing open world game. While it does have its similarities to other successful games like Assassin's Creed and Batman Arkham series, it doesn't just copy and paste everything, they put their own special sauce on it and make it even better. One of the only real problems I had with the game was the story wasn't really that good, but everything else is done well making this a must own game!
The Nemesis System is an achievement, one that overshadows any faults Shadow of Mordor otherwise has through sheer fun factor, and I can't wait to see its influence spread.
A fantastic start for what we hope will become a fresh Tolkien franchise. There are some solid (if not borrowed) foundations and the Nemesis surpasses our expectations by providing a fresh experience to enemy design. Improvements next time should see a little more variety added to the combat brawls, but you're going to love taking advantage of an enemy's weaknesses from afar with the rich range of underhanded subterfuge tactics. Well played, Monolith.
The two things stated above do not change the fact that Shadow Of Mordor is amazing game that should be played by any action game fan. While it certainly needs a few tweaks to be a perfect game it has a legitimate shot at game of the year. The journey is well worth taking and you will not regret playing Middle-earth Shadow Of Mordor.
Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor definitely isn't for everyone, but I can almost guarantee that everyone who gives it a shot will find something enjoyable about it, regardless of whether you are a Tolkien fan or not. It perfects the gameplay it emulates, and it opens up an incredible world of forced strategy with the action-adventure genre. I'm sure I don't need to point out how infrequently this happens.
Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor isn't an earth shattering, game changing title. But it does do enough to move the genre on a bit.
Shadow Of Mordor, though, successfully draws on some of that material in a way that is simultaneously engaging for a fan of Tolkien's extended works but not alienating for those passingly familiar with the story.
Shadow of Mordor is a fun action title that continues to sprinkle enjoyable tactical options in front of the player even in the later stages of the game. It keeps a combat heavy, tried and tested formula from becoming stagnant, while borrowing mechanics from a variety of game franchises it nevertheless comes from a gaming pedigree itself. Where Assassin's Creed and Batman are becoming repetitive, Middle Earth Shadow of Mordor has managed to create an open world action fantasy RPG that has new life, albeit, slightly undead.
The bottom line here is that if you have a passing interest in Tolkien's work, and you liked the Arkham or Assassin's Creed games, then you owe it to yourself to give Shadow of Mordor a shot. As for avid fans of Tolkien, the retconning of certain pieces of lore might upset you but this is hardly the first time a Lord of the Rings game has done that, and at least the "game" part is actually good this time. Just don't go in expecting a story on the scale of The Lord of the Rings or detailed environments, they just aren't there.
Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor is a must-play experience for this new console generation.
Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor is a strong foray into the Tolkien universe, backed up by popular combat from other major action series, with its own free-running style to boot.
[E]ven with that level of polish I'd have liked to see, it's difficult to think of any reason you shouldn't play this, because I can't. It's a compelling experience unlike anything else out in the market, despite borrowing heavily from a couple of other big guns. Thoroughly recommend.
Simply put, Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor is the best game based on The Lord of the Rings licence that brings solid combat, good sneaking mechanics and joyful side content, but above all, brings an innovating mechanic to the table that is so often hard to do in this current gaming climate.
More than just a great Lord of the Rings game, Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor marks a new era for the franchise that can be enjoyed by fans and the uninitiated alike.
As a gamer you owe it to yourself to experience Shadow of Mordor if not for anything else other than the Nemesis system because playing a single-player game never made you feel less alone.
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor is the best Lord of the Rings game I've ever played. It's that simple. It takes the gameplay of franchises like Assassin's Creed and Arkham City, throws new gameplay wrinkles into the fold, and adds a good character to make your time in Middle-earth exciting. But it's not all Hobbit stew and potatoes.
Exceptional fun
It's disappointing that Shadow of Mordor couldn't match the originality of its superb Nemesis system with a more engaging world, but the characters which populate it are more than enough to spur you through the campaign. Shadow of Mordor might owe something of a debt to numerous games that have come before it, but by adding its own flavour to the mixture the result is a surprisingly expansive and hearty experience that is more compelling than plenty that have come before it. A hugely entertaining, tongue-in-cheek and fulsome experience, it's a worthy expedition whether you're a Rings fan or not.
With the addition of the Nemesis system, Shadow of Mordor becomes something truly special, giving the player a more dynamic experience, which allows us to have our own unique adventures, with enemies we'll make a personal history with.