Middle-earth: Shadow of War Reviews
I never really got into Shadow of Mordor the way many others did. Shadow of War, however, is another story entirely and is definitely one of this year’s games that you should not miss.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Middle-earth: Shadow of War. I'm a huge fan of the lore and world here, so that should come as no surprise. What ultimately clinches the deal however, is just how much fun this is to play. I'm utterly addicted to the Nemesis system and everything it churns out, not to mention taking part in epic sieges and open warfare. Yes, the soundtrack is honestly a letdown. On top of that, I'm wary of the very idea of lootboxes touching a singleplayer game, even one as content-packed as this. Not to mention, if you aren't enjoying everything the game has to offer, it might feel like a bit of a grind towards the end. Ultimately however, that doesn't take away too much from what Monolith Productions has accomplished here: An epic conclusion to the story that was started in Shadow of Mordor, a legitimately living world that reacts to player decisions or indecision, and a game set in Middle Earth that feels awesome to play.
Unfortunately, while Shadow of War is a decent enough game, it never manages to capture what made the original so special. Bigger isn't always better and in Shadow of War's case its doubly true.
There is a chasm the size of middle-earth itself that separates the ingenuity of the game’s Nemesis system and the snorefest that is the game’s ‘point of interest’ system
Despite the odd lull in gameplay, repetitive objective or feeling as though there's too much scale weighing you down – Shadow of War is completely inspirational in the way it's attempting to further narrative storytelling in videogames. The overarching storyline involving Talion is an engrossing one yet that almost becomes a sub-plot in itself – second to the mini meta-narratives you'll create amongst the factions of Orcs and Warchiefs you meet along the way. The voice acting and motion capture performances are really solid and the presentation is glossy and big-budget; it's as close to actually being in Middle-Earth as you're ever going to get. I'm about as swept up in this game as a Drake riding off into a fiery sunset; fantastic.
This sequel expands on the vaunted Nemesis system in wildly entertaining ways, even as it falls short around the edges.
Shadow of war had a great opportunity to Succeed and reach a level of public success that other games didn't had, but unfortunately with the focus of the studio on the nemesis system and the justification of the micro transactions the rest of the game's sides have been Neglected and dwarfed in favor of the nemesis system which for many times feels that the presence for that system is just unfair to it.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
An excellent sequel that goes on for perhaps a bit too long, just like The Hobbit
If you enjoyed Shadow of Mordor, you'll also enjoy Shadow of War, but if you feel fatigued as I do from this type of formulaic open world game, Shadow of War amplifies the issues with the genre rather than improves upon them.
So, I’m not giving this the recommended sticker. It’s too inconsistent for that. But I will say by ignoring the microtransctions and accepting the story for what it was I did have a blast playing Shadow of War, and found myself constantly going back to track down a few more Captains or to just play around with Nemesis system.
Middle-Earth: Shadow of War is a large game, it provides countless hours of gameplay and consistently brings new twists along the way.
The whole experience feels so utterly soulless it's hard to really care about any of it.
Save for Talion, the characters and story are what make this game worth playing. If you could care less about that, than the Nemesis system is sure to win your heart.
Massive in scope and improving on its predecessor, Middle-earth: Shadow of War is a triumph in every way that matters. While certain aspects are underdeveloped, or simplified to embrace “player choice”, the Nemesis 2.0 system, combat improvements, and genuinely engaging combat system keep things fresh for the 40 hour adventure. If only they hadn't followed the movies and extended the ending well past its welcome.
Monolith did a lot of things right, but didn't know when they should end the game. The best way to play is to finish Act 3, watch the ending and then look for the bonus cinematic on YouTube. This way you'll save your time and spare your nerves.
Review in Russian | Read full review
All in all, as a newcomer, Middle-earth: Shadow of War brings somewhat clunky controls, unnecessary loot boxes and an ending effectively locked behind either paying or grinding leads to a sour first impression. The game looks brilliant, sounds brilliant and really grips you with it’s updated rendition of the Nemesis System… But I can’t help but feel that there’s better out there. It’s a fun walk through Mordor, but a fun game…? Perhaps not entirely.
Middle-earth: Shadow of War is a sprawling action-filled epic adventure with a compelling story and a living, breathing world that creates real consequences for your actions and failures.
The game is fun, wide and well done. The sound makes everything even more appreciable. I enjoyed completing it almost 100% and I spent the last 10 days doing it. I did not regret it and recommend it to everyone. In a video game where you want everything right away, perfectionism is a manna from the sky. However, the game is not free from defects. Some missions, long and especially towards the end, may be repetitive but not a special note. What I did not appreciate was the ability to make micro-transactions by buying the pincers (both real and real money) to find objects and followers as well as bonuses to various experience and token. This was not necessary for me: the game is perfectly feasible without spending a single coin (especially referring to real money), but sometimes it can be a short cut for "lazy" players in finding the strongest object for pure luck without engaging in discovering legendary objects after finishing certain missions. After that, the title really deserves and is a perfect follow-up to L'Ombra di Mordor!
Review in Italian | Read full review