I'll start off by saying that this is the Lord of the Rings video game I've always wanted. Although the game doesn't share any title with the books or the films, the game takes place in between the events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, and is set in the very same Middle Earth. So, for me, this is a Lord of the Rings video game. Albeit, a very different one from what we're all used to playing. This game doesn't follow the events of the films or books at all, but is an entirely new story brought to us by developer Monolith Productions. The same people who made one of my favorite shooters of all time: FEAR. They were also responsible for both Condemned games that came out in 05' and 08'. Needless to say, they've made some great games and Shadow of Mordor is no exception.
The game looks absolutely incredible and the aesthetic does a great job of creating a gritty, believable Mordor. The character models of Talion, the main character, and the Uruks you fight throughout the game all look spectacular. All rendered in a crisp 1080p on PS4. The games framerate is also surprisingly stable, whether you're fighting three enemies or thirty enemies at once, you'll get a smooth experience all of the time. Whenever you're roaming Mordor the weather system does a good job of making you feel the harsh reality of the place you're in. Rain and sometimes even hail will fall down on you in spectacular fashion soaking your clothes and dropping visibility significantly, especially during the night. All of these things, coupled with the dynamic lighting, awesome animations and high quality voice work make Mordor really come to life in a way I thought it wouldn't.
My motto when it comes to video games is simply this "Gameplay is King." You can have all the flashy visuals and best writing money can buy, but if you're game isn't fun to play, it's failed. Luckily, Shadow of Mordor does not fail in this category. This is a game that doesn't reinvent the wheel by any means. It uses mechanics that have been used in other games, almost to controversial effect, and it won't blow you away with it's narrative, but this title contains some of the best fun I've had in a game in a long time. It's simply fun to play. You can pick it up, learn it's simple control scheme in no time, and start your own onslaught through Mordor with devastating effect. The combat is brutal and visceral and truly makes you feel empowered as you level up abilities and upgrade your weapons. It's so fun to simply run around Mordor engaging in skirmishes with Uruks, while freeing human slaves kept captive, and taking out high targets within the Uruk society. I lost hours to exploration of the surprisingly big (but not too big) game world, finding artifacts and other collectibles. The world seemed to be just the right size. Not too small to where it seemed limited in possibilities, and not too big to where it appeared to be lifeless and underpopulated. Next to the vibrant world, another gameplay system caught my attention. The Nemesis System. This system makes every encounter have a sense of weight to it, and a sort of unpredictability. Every enemy you face in the world has the potential to kill you and move up within the Uruk hierarchy, getting promoted and remembering your encounters. They're all given a random set of personalities, strengths, and weaknesses, which allows you to really created your own memorable villains and showdowns. Since every foe you face has the potential to become a War Chief, the highest rank in the Uruk society, every kill you earn is satisfying and rewarding. The game has a very addictive nature to it, and you have to get your hands on it to truly experience it. All the videos and articles about it simply don't do it justice, including this one. This game is completely successful in creating a fun gameplay experience that is rewarding and keeps you coming back for hours on end.
I really enjoyed Shadow of Mordor, and this stands as one of the best licensed titles in a long time next to Arkham City. If I have any gripes with the game it's that the story wasn't all that interesting. I would often ignore the story and opt to run around and cause more chaos within the well crafted world. I had many more memorable experiences doing that than I did with the story, even though it's well acted and has it's high points. If you enjoy a solid single player experience that is consistently fun and rewarding check this game out immediately.
+ Great Visuals and Performance
+ Brutal and Rewarding Combat
+ The Nemesis System
-Story Couldn't Keep Me Engaged
9 out of 10
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