Middle-earth: Shadow of War
2017 · Action-Adventure · PC / Steam
Middle-earth: Shadow of War takes the Nemesis System that made its predecessor special and builds something larger, louder, and more ambitious around it. The expanded orc dynamics and fortress sieges deliver emergent gameplay moments that no other action title has matched, and the sheer variety of combat options keeps the fighting entertaining for a long time. But the game overplays its hand with a bloated world, a weak story that frustrates Tolkien fans and casual players alike, and an endgame that tests patience more than skill. With the microtransactions stripped out and the final act reworked, Shadow of War is a better game now than it was at launch, but the core tension between its best ideas and its worst instincts remains.