A far better game than many would've imagined, not just in terms of its action and Lord of the Rings authenticity – but in bringing a genuinely new idea to gaming.

The Nemesis systems is a great concept that works extremely well for the most part; Solid action and stealth, with an enjoyably varied skill tree to unlock; Decent graphics

The nature of orcs and uruk-hai means repetition in the Nemesis system does set in before the end; Parkour and beat-riding aren't very good; Open world is fairly small

We really enjoyed Shadow of Mordor when it launched back in 2014. It wasn't a perfect action-adventure, but the Nemesis system brought dynamics to the table that we'd never experienced before, and really haven't experienced since.

Middle-earth: Shadow of War is an extraordinary game: in its complexity, in its ambition and perhaps most of all, in its undeniable messiness.

I scale up a tower I have never climbed before and survey the land. There are new events in which to participate now, and new adventures to undertake. I leap to the ground below from this dizzying height, landing safely and breaking multiple laws of physics in the process.

Challenging combat encounters make every skill feel useful; Fluid locomotion makes interacting with the game a joy; Nemesis system is fun to mess with; Outstanding sound design enhances the sense of otherworldly peril

Erratic story that concludes with anticlimactic battles; The most interesting mechanics don't appear until halfway through the story

Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor is one of the big surprises of 2014. During a crowded release time in gaming, Shadow of Mordor is able to offer an interesting experience due to its Nemesis system, combat, and stealth mechanics.

The game starts kinda slow, at first it actually reminder me of red road redemption, but then it started getting ready intense as you begin to control the order of the Orks

The Short Version: 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.

Nemesis system adds unique personality to enemies; Can approach targets in multiple ways; High production values

Melee combat feels limited; First map is a little dull; Talion is super boring

Shadow of Mordor is the best Lord of the Rings game for nearly a decade, though considering the competition, that isn't really saying much. More importantly, it's a whole lot better than you might expect.

Solid open-world gameplay; Challenging; counter-heavy combat; The brilliant nemesis system; Good use of the license

Mordor isn't known for scenic beauty; Getting overwhelmed can be frustrating

Within the first 30 minutes of playing Shadow of Mordor, its core DNA is clearly apparent. This is a game that doesn't hide its roots; it's not embarrassed about where it has borrowed mechanics from other games that have inspired it.

I've recently just got around to finishing this game and I enjoyed every second of it. I would recommend this to any RPG fan that loves progression as this game does that so well.