Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor Reviews
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A fistful of new reviews for Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor hit the Internet this weekend, and as fate would have it, the action RPG continues to receive high marks across the board.
Forbes hasn't scored it yet, but part one and part two of their critique are favorable:
As a video game and on its own merits, Shadow of Mordor is remarkably satisfying. It's one of the best experiences I've had on PS4 to date, and something that any fan of open-world action-adventure games would do well to play. It may draw inspiration from other titles, but it does enough to innovate within the genre that any future open-world action game will need to at the very least take notes.
GameRant gives it a 4.5/5:
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor seems like a clear winner for best Tolkien-inspired video game ever. The game respects the lore of the universe, but doesn't require that players come in with an encyclopedic knowledge of Tolkien to feel attached to the characters. The combat and leveling systems are familiar in a way that there is a low learning curve, but they are both unique enough that it doesn't feel like you are just playing Batman with a new skin. Whether you're a Tolkien junkie or not, you won't want to miss this one.
The Telegraph gives it a 4/5:
None of this is to say that Shadow of Mordor isn't a great time, especially once you get to the second half of it, but it definitely feels more like a proof of concept more than a fully accomplished idea. The withholding of the uruk turning mechanic until the second half makes no real sense to me, and hurts the game pretty significantly, leaving the first half feeling slightly purposeless and confusing in terms of what you're supposed to do with all these systems. But once it gets going it offers something fresh and original, and at the same time something only a game with the budget of Shadow of Mordor could really accomplish, and that's extremely laudable.
ABC News doesn't score it:
The missions are nicely varied: Sometimes you need to be stealthy, sometimes you need to be aggressive and sometimes you need to be able to tame wild animals. The result is an addictive mix of strategy and fast-paced action. It may not be everything you'd expect from a "Lord of the Rings" game, but it's quite rewarding. Three-and-a-half stars out of four.
GamerCrowd gives it an 85%:
Overall, Shadow of Mordor is an amazing experience. You really feel involved in the story, and Mordor really comes across as it does in the films. This game took us by surprise, as most film based games, or tie ins to franchises don't often live up to the universe they are set in, but Shadow of Mordor really lives up to expectations and fits in the franchise well. Minor quirks aside, this game is really expansive, and the fact it will be expanded with a season pass, is amazing news. It is a must own for any current generation gamer, and has the ability to be constantly played with the nemesis system ensuring you never run out of targets.
Starburst gives it an 8/10:
If there is a truly notable failing for this title, it's that the side-quests are unfortunately repetitive. While the title's content is excellently paced, the final few hours do start to wear thin. This is something not helped by the story ultimately boiling down to a surprisingly generic tale of revenge despite the lavish mo-capped cut scenes. Better diplomatic mechanics and relying less upon the game's codex for in-depth lore would have significantly helped in both regards.
And The Times of India gives it a 4/5:
Finally a Lord of the Rings game done right. Shadow of Mordor is a fantastic game, that will last you quite a while, and the Nemesis system will make you keep coming back for more. Highly recommended on beefy gaming PCs or next-gen consoles.
