Despite playing this game for so long, I cannot recommend it. Part of it is due to the stupid rating system Steam has. So, if I have to choose between a yes or no, it's gonna be a no.

The game is painfully repetitive. You keep doing the same ♥♥♥♥ over and over again. Defeated enemies rise again and again. This leads to there being no sense of accomplishment whatsoever.

You need to upgrade various things, and to get the currency for it, you're gonna need to grind like hell. This is especially true in the last part of the game. And how do you grind? You guessed it! By doing the same ♥♥♥♥ over and over. This made me quit it in the end.

The lore of this game is non canon! And it's even lore breaking! Whenever you learn something, you're gonna be asking yourself if it's actually part of the LOTR world at all. I am a story driven person, and this game is simply horrible at it. The story is mediocre at best and for the LOTR fans it's gonna make no sense, and just make you mad about how lore-breaking it is.

I suppose the best part of the game is the combat. But even that is kinda ruined since you're almost always outnumbered hard. Not to mention there's no way to counter ranged attacks, and those bastards will keep killing you randomly simply because you're unaware of them.
It has the assassin's creed mechanics, and let no one tell you otherwise - it is heavily inspired by the assassin's creed series. Calling it a copycat wouldn't be far off either.

The captains keep popping out of nowhere all the time. And every time they pop up, YOU NEED TO LISTEN TO THEIR DIALOGUE. Which is completely meaningless. It's trying to be funny, and maybe it is the first time you hear it. BUT YOU'RE GONNA HEAR IT A DOZEN TIMES EACH. I must have wasted an hour on those dialogues alone.

And finally, the nemesis system... It's the crown jewel of the game. It's so complex, and filling the game with so many repetitive mechanics, I just stopped caring pretty early on. You do one of those quests and the army structure changes. You kill a warchief, only to have it replaced immediately by another one.

So, there you have it. It started as being super fun, but the more I played it, the more infuriating it became.
It's a heavily gameplay/combat focused game. If you enjoy combat before all, it is probably going to be a fun game for you.
If you enjoy good stories, rich lore, consistency in the world building... stay away. You're not missing on anything.

Better than the rings of power show.

copyrighting game mechanics is bad

i abused a orc until they became deranged and i let him kill me then i shamed him again and i killed his blood brother and i recruited him and then i shamed him i killed him accidentally some time later he came back and now i have a badass deranged permanently damaged kinda good orc slave
update he killed someone i wanted to recruite so i shamed him and killed him he did not come back :(

9/10
Should buy if on sale you like LOTR universe
even if you don't like LOTR i recommend it

Doesn't try to have an interesting story but the nemesis system more than makes up for it

Never before has a game managed to engrage me on so many levels at once.

From endless, unskippable monologues, to needlessly long death animations, this game managed to turn 2 minute mini-quests into agonizing eterneties of frustration.

I don't know why every single captain in this game needs to tell me their entire lifestory or why i have to listen to it mid fight, whenever 2, 3 or even more captains spawn from out of nowhere just to tell me how nice it will feel to kill me, but this fact alone manages to be even more anoying, than all of the broken mechanics.

- Bosses either die instantly after a single arrow shot, or take 30-40 "ground executions" (what does that term even mean to you?)
- Battles are being interrupted literally every 5 to 10 seconds for cut scenes that no-one asked for
- decent Ambushes are near impossible, since every single captain you kill somehow cheats death just to spawn behind your back at random
- bosses adapting to repeated moves are a nice mechanic, until that boss has dozens of immunities to begin with and becomes basically undefeatable.

It seems like WB Games looked at the most annoying aspects of Shadow of Mordor and combined it with weird story telling, worse graphics and an obnoxiously fetishized version of shelob

Almost 9 hours in and I already know the next 4-12h (depending on how many cut scenes it is gooing to take) of collecting achievements to satisfy my completionism are going to be a nightmare.

Killing orcs never gets old

it is a very good game and it is really fun to play when your board

i like the bit where you press X

Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™: A Journey Through Mordor

In the pantheon of high-fantasy video games, Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ stands as a colossus, casting a long shadow over its contemporaries. Developed by Monolith Productions, this sequel to the critically acclaimed Shadow of Mordor™ invites players back to the dark and treacherous lands of Mordor. As of 2024, the game continues to be a subject of discussion and analysis among the gaming community.

The World of Middle-earth™

Shadow of War™ takes players on an epic journey through a Middle-earth™ that is both familiar and fresh. The game expands upon the lore of J.R.R. Tolkien’s universe, albeit with creative liberties that have sparked debate among purists. The narrative explores the origins of the ring wraiths and the Balrog, adding depth to the saga’s mythology.

The Nemesis System: A Legacy Refined

The heart of Shadow of War™ beats with the Nemesis system, an innovative mechanic that personalizes the player’s experience by creating unique orc adversaries with their own personalities and stories. This system has been refined and expanded, offering a more dynamic and immersive experience. Orc leaders now defend or attack large forts, adding a strategic layer to the game’s combat and conquest.

Siege Battles: The Art of War

One of the game’s most exhilarating features is the epic siege battles. Players must employ strategy and cunning to conquer the fortresses that dot the landscape of Mordor. These sieges are not just battles; they are narratives in themselves, each with its own ebb and flow, triumphs, and tragedies.

A Tale of Two Halves: The Storytelling Dilemma

While Shadow of War™ excels in its gameplay, the storytelling aspect has received mixed reviews. The game attempts to weave a complex tale but often gets entangled in its own ambition. The focus on the story sometimes overshadows the gameplay, leading to a disjointed experience where the narrative feels like an interruption rather than an enhancement.

The Lure of Loot and the Challenge of Balance

The game features a vast array of loot and challenges, enticing players to delve deeper into the world and master their skills. However, this abundance can sometimes feel overwhelming, as the game strains under the weight of its own content. The balance between offering a rich experience and maintaining gameplay focus is a tightrope that Shadow of War™ walks with varying degrees of success.

Conclusion

Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ is a bold and ambitious game that seeks to capture the essence of Tolkien’s world while charting its own course. It is a game of contrasts, where brilliant gameplay mechanics stand side by side with a narrative that strives for greatness but occasionally falters. Despite its imperfections, Shadow of War™ remains a testament to the potential of interactive storytelling and the power of player agency in the vast digital landscapes of modern gaming.