Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™

Hours of gameplay with an entertaining skill building aspect. The gameplay progression is excellent and the developers did a lot to improve the climbing, running, and fighting mechanics since Shadow of Mordor. Huge fan!

Great game! It gets a little monotonous after a while but the quests make it easy to level up fast to get good gear and abilities. Interesting story line that fits well with Lord of the Rings lore. I spent a lot of time on it and had a lot of fun!

congratulations on creating the worst possible boring tech demo to lock the best gaming system behind a patent. warner bros studios is a waste of space and im glad you greedy morons are going out of business

I loved this game! The nemesis system is really cool and honestly, its really not anything particularly special or ingenious, I'm surprised it had not been done before (I'm sure it has in certain capacities). And that is why I leave a negative review. As a developer myself I cannot support greedy practices such as copyrighting a **simple** ass fucking game mechanic and then having the AUDACITY to not even fucking use it again. Fuck warner brothers. And fuck all of you that made this game 'very positive' off the back of their greed. The fact that everyone was fine with this has cost us all greatly as gamers.

tl;dr

I really tried but I can't bring myself to complete this game as the experience is simply too agonizing - while its predecessor was mediocre at best this one is simply a hot mess

Overview:

Regain control of Talion - the Gondorian Ranger on his quest to take the fight up with Sauron. Relative to its predecessor it offers some minor improvements and qol changes, as well as the addition of (5 different) difficulty settings and online features. The general gameplay experience stays more or less the same.

The Good Stuff:

I liked the ability to double jump and the "skill" to auto pick stuff.

The Sorta-Kinda-Grinds-My-Gears-Stuff:

While the glorified nemesis system got some improvements and a bit more depth it is not possible to distract from it being a mundane and repetitive mess. It is still the only thing the game really tries to offer. Relative to Shadow of Mordor, the game is slightly less polished and offers more buggy moments. Also the loot system got a major rework. Instead of having set pieces of gear that you can improve you will get spammed with mostly worthless gear in an incredible shitty UI now.
Some random encounters felt indeed ... random and become rather annoying soon.

The Atrociously-Bad Stuff:

They successfully managed to take every little aspect from Shadow of Mordor that was plain and simple annoying and frustrating and made it even worse. They really doubled down on the uninspired repetitiveness and the agonizingly suffering through nonsense that still can not be skipped. You will now on average get introduced to even more captains. They have even longer voicelines and even more reasons to trigger a battle dialogue. Constantly getting thrown into skirmishes with at least 6 captains, with every single one introducing himself and having a good chance to cross blades with you and to get enraged after a while can lead to 18 mini-cutscene-dialogues that just take you out of the action. In a single battle. God damn, what a painful mess. Taking you out of the game and keeping you from playing is a pattern sprinkled over the entire experience. Like they are constantly trying to stretch the amount of time you will need to finish this game.

Also, the Orc voicelines are an incredible step backwards. They really are atrociously bad, pure cringe at times, and not fitting at all.
The overall less polished experience can get upsetting pretty fast, as the combat moves are also more repetitive and often clunky or inaccurate. Targeting a specific enemy can be a real B in the heat of battle.

Lastly, the story is still just a sorry excuse for a "story". It is forgettable and petty nonsense. Lore hardliners will cry. It doesn't help, that the "story" coerces you to endure probably the worst boss fights in the history of boss fights.

Achievement-Hunter-Things:

Nothing should be too hard or complex, just in part a bit grindy and prolonged. The more you delve into the nemesis/game system the more you will unlock naturally as many cheevos rely on that. BUT it is simply not fun, which makes the achievement-journey probably unbearable.
Proceed with caution.

Conclusion:

Yeah. Don't bother. Just don't. Just not worth your time.

Although it offers several improvements over Shadow of Mordor, the gameplay feels bloated and aimless. There's a lack of focus, and despite the expanded features, it just doesn’t have that addictive hook to keep you engaged. It’s easy to lose interest and drop the game midway.

Personally didn't like the game but either way WB does deserve a thumbs down.

this game made a prince of persia game with everything better.although i am at just at the beginning it hooked me up real good

I LOVE THIS GAME. Its nothing but joy wander around the middle earth

Some good mechanics and a good game but inferior to shadow of mordor

This is how to do a sequel to a game. Very well done. The depth of the Nemesis system shines here. In shadow of Mordor it was just a taste.

There are so many things to do: all side missions, collectibles everything seems so good to do and not like a checklist which so many games have become these days.

While I was playing both these Middle-Earth games, it felt like I was playing Assassin's Creed (parkour), sometimes Batman Arkham (during combat + investigations + dialogues), sometimes Witcher 3 (Sword play). the gameplay and combat and traversal and climbing stuff is a combination of the above mentioned games.

Really impressed with this game. Another game added to my favourite list all thanks to my friend who recommended me this.

Tedious gameplay and awful ccontrols. Skip it.

Great game and defiantly worth getting the DLC
-think the game is no longer supported so be wary of infinite loading screen glitch

Holy fuck i am clicking left ctrl and right click as fast as i can to brutalize and nothing fucking happens. Half the time pressing a button launches you across the map because of the god awful movement system.

There is no valid reason for Denuvo to be used for this 8-year old title, which is no longer under active development. Yet it remains, almost like there is more to Denuvo than just piracy protection.

Amazing game but everytime I boot up the game after saving and quitting, it doesnt load ANY of the models or textures for the orcs and it makes the game unplayable.

I have uninstalled and reinstalled, same issue happens when booting it up again.

graphics drivers are all up to date, same issue happens.

I dont know if its just me but other than that Its easily one of the best games ive played

The nemesis system and online fortress play really make the game. It's a shame the nemesis system can't be used on other projects. LOVE being ambushed by an orc I vivisected, burned, pushed off a cliff and beheaded just to shame him for trying AGAIN and not accepting the miracle that is his continued existence.

it's just a reskined Assassin's Creed in LOTR. The combat is incredibly repetitive. I don't know how this game has such a high rating. It's just boring. The General thing is pretty cool, but like the combat makes it so boring it's just not worth playing. It's either really slow combat, or just button mashing.

I loved this game — definitely a step up from the first game in every aspect. The Nemesis System made every encounter feel personal, and it's honestly one of the most unique systems I’ve seen in a game. It made the world feel alive, full of rivalries and grudges. The story was decent, but I really liked how it all came together in the end. It’s also super cheap on sale — just €4.99. I highly recommend it!

The game is great, but patenting the Nemesis system AND NEVER EVER USING IT EVER AGAIN is a crime against gaming.
We were introduced with something very awesome, and now nobody can have more of it until 2035.
GREAT

I originally didn't like SoW because I felt it lacked direction and instruction for the player - now I see that these are two of its most charming and enjoyable qualities. Have recently started streaming it to my Youtube channel and am thoroughly enjoying getting wrecked by the most basic of Uruk's even on the Nemesis difficulty setting. Huge thumbs up!

Microtransactions were removed from my single-player game, very good. Nemesis system is great, combat has a ton of builds and options, you get your greatest rival and recruit from the first game, somewhat grindy in terms of jewels and legendary gear, but otherwise, you can progress however you want.

The Story IS ATROCIOUS, so if you care a lot about story over gameplay, don't play this game, it butchered everything story-wise. Small spoiler: Ratbag was somehow more entertaining and less annoying then every single human character added in the story. Get the entire package when it's on sale if possible since half of a game is story, and the story isn't worth it

Leaving a negative review for no reason other than the fact that they patented the nemesis system so no other developer can use it. Get your disgusting practices out of my industry you fucking pigs.

This game has interesting ideas like the raid and the nemesis system but the game progression is slowed down to a painful slog by the game not allowing you to dominate captains that are of a higher level to you, denying you what could have been a great reward for taking on a challenge.

Not to mention that the final mission has a a jump in enemy levels of about 10, which makes you need to grind the the hell out.

If you try to take on the that mission while underleveled, you'll likely get killed as soon as you get touched, the way the combat works makes it so that your most optimal aproach to higher level enemies is to keep your distance and don't get engage directly, which becomes quite difficult due to many immunities that high captains have, and you'll also will have to do your best to have captains that can handle themselves, but if your siege fails and your captains die, you'll have to do an excessively laborious grind to find and get units just to get back to the point where you'll get another chance, which is just another strike against the progression of this game.


Remindeer that this game used to have microtransactions that were removed about months after it's launch due to public outcry. It is very likely that the poor pace of the game was designed entirely so you'd feel compelled to spend real money on stronger units, making any player who doesn't pay extra to have to go through a intentionally poorly paced progression.

Due to that and the fact that Warner bros. patented the Nemesis system despite making a game built with it's inspiration on games that came before it, i cannot recommend this this game.

WB Copyrighted the nemesis system then closed down monolith productions so it's extremely unlikely we'll ever see another game with this kind of features ever again. 100% screw you WB. Thanks for your contribution for making gaming in general worse.

they had to do recent sale because people are boycotting their game since they holding rights to the nemesis system and preventing other companies from making great games with it as well, and they even renwed their patent recentl for it so we have to wait almost 20 years for another great nemesis system game since WB isnt making a new one .....they are no better than scalpers at this point especially after siding with amber turd

WB is an absolute clown company, that ruins every single one of their IPs, from Batman, to Lord of The Rings, to Fear, to Looney Tunes. Great game that had its studio shut down, and due to ridiculous legal problems, the nemesis system cannot be used in other games.

The nemesis system is what made this game good, but I cannot recommend this game since Warner patented it and refuses to allow any other devs use any iteration of it. They're gate-keeping game mechanics and that is a disgrace and entirely why I don't recommend this game.

Reminds me of the days i used to game on the console. recommend if you like open world rpg

Great game but who is the idiot who decided to put sprint, jump, dodge and climb on the same button....MORON....other than that no complaints really very good hack and slash but terain traversal is sometimes a nightmare X100000 during combat

really great game with awesome combat and a great story

The game is fun, although the Ai in the fighting pits are atrocious

Nemesis system is truly one if a kind and is amazing.
The game has its flaws, but the combat and nemesis system are so good that it makes up for it.
The story is ok, not the best not the worst.

could have been remembered as innovative, genre-pushing games. Instead, they will forever be tainted by Warner Bros.' decision to patent the Nemesis System, a move that is anti-consumer, anti-innovation, and downright harmful to the gaming industry.

Why This Patent is a Slap in the Face to Gamers
Stifles Creativity – Gaming thrives on innovation. By patenting a gameplay mechanic, Warner Bros. has set a dangerous precedent. Imagine if Ubisoft patented towers revealing maps, or Bethesda patented radiant AI. The industry would be worse for it.

Pure Corporate Selfishness – The Nemesis System isn’t some proprietary tech; it’s an evolution of emergent storytelling that could have been expanded upon in RPGs, strategy games, and more. Now, we’ll never see its full potential.

Wasted Potential – The system itself is underutilized in Shadow of War, mostly serving as a gimmick rather than a deep narrative tool. Instead of letting better developers refine it, WB hoarded it like Smaug hoards gold.

Better than Shadow of Mordor in every aspect, story, gameplay, exploration, nemesis mission, dlc, etc. Great nemesis system makes every mission feel unique and different from other missions. Like Shadow of Mordor, this is the type of game that is easy to learn, hard to master. 10/10

i love this game and nemesis system that is so fascinated for long term game

I'll let the number of hours speak for itself....I was scrolling through the reviews and was a little bit surprised as only a couple came close to mine with 300+ odd hours in the game. But then I came across Painmaker! (1800+ hrs), I take a bow :)

The Nemesis system is really fun to play around with. Great combat system and variety of opponents. The adaptability system is kinda running rampant in my opinion and sometimes Uruks will adapt to my moves after just one or 2 vaults/dodges off them.

really really good. can sink hours upon hours upon hours without even touching the story of the game, and that, is the nemesis system for you. sucks the copyrighted it, but im just glad i get to play it here

This is a amazing game, not much else to say the game speaks for itself

Improves on the first game in almost every aspect, I cannot stop playing this game

I highly recommend this game, it allows you to truly understand the art of war. With the nemesis system, you truly get to know your enemies, and you get to make wonderful friends! If you do end up playing this game, you should shame all your orcs, it'll be beneficial no matter what

I've played Shadow of War for over 20 hours, and I can honestly say it's one of the best story experiences I've had in a solo game. The story is suspenseful and constructed in an emotional and epic way at the same time, especially the relationship between Talion and Celebrimbor, and the events that make you think about the meaning of power and control. The most creative thing the developers have been with is Nemesis — in fact, this system has redefined encounters in action games, and gives you a sense that every enemy has a story and history with you. Every Orc you meet can become a sworn enemy or ally later, depending on your decisions. The game is large, varied, and each region has its own character and challenges. The combat is fun and smooth, and the mechanics of controlling the forts give you a real sense of accomplishment.

My message to the developers: This type of game is what we miss a lot in the market today. Games with a powerful story, drawing you from start to finish. Great work, and deserves to be an example for other companies to follow. I would recommend it to anyone who loves action and adventure, or just wants to live an epic story in the true sense of the word. Thank you and the team

Killed one uruk 5 times in shadow of mordor. The basterd came back to haunt me in this game. 11/10

Insane replay value, really good game, recommend to every tolkien fan.

the first few hours of this game suck because it locks you out of the nemesis mechanic, but after that it's pretty good

After playing this game for 100+ hrs i broke up with my gf because my Orcs showed more love than her + Orcs don't say to me your not man enough every night.
The Nemesis system gives each Orc a unique personalty (Better than mine IRL)
The Gameplay and Graphics are more than perfect.
I enjoyed playing the side missions more than the main missions. I highly recommended Buying Baranor DLC it's awesome.

This game is the definition of PERFECTION. 10/10

The "Nemesis System" is very awesome and something that makes this game not only unique but Very enjoyable for replayability something that reminds me of Witcher 3 and Fallout New Vegas but it more "enemy focus personality" on top of that having your own Orc army is awesome!

Truly recommend it, get the game when its on "special offer" sale like i did in order to save money.

this does nothing to upgrade the SoM experience
its like this is a game from a different universe and somehow made it here

The nemesis system in this game is BEYOND fun with a different interaction and play style every time. The story is also amazing in my opinion. The orcs always look different, some plain and some so unique it might be the only time you'll see him, although Shadow of MORDOR orcs i think look overall SCARIER, this games orcs look so cool.It takes a lot of grinding especially with its max level being level 80, but its a fun grind at times.

The only thing that annoys me at times is the movement, NOT the combat, but the movement can sometimes be faulty and makes me mad but its not an enormous glitch and doesn't happen all the time, just sometimes can be annoying.