If you are reading this, you know Middle-Earth: Shadow of War is on Sale. Not just any sale; it’s 85% off Sale. So, you want to buy the game but need clarification about whether Middle-Earth: Shadow of War worth buying in 2023. Don’t worry; keep reading, and you will find the answer.
Middle-Earth: Shadow of War Review
Middle-Earth: Shadow of War is the sequel to the critically acclaimed Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor. The attempts to build on everything Shadow of Mordor did right and fixed some negative aspects of Shadow of Mordor.
Shadow of War was released in September of 2017 and was met with mixed reception due to the microtransactions that were present at launch but removed later. Now, I will go through each part the game offers and give you an idea so that you can decide whether to buy it. In other words, this is somewhat Middle-Earth: Shadow of War review.
Narrative
Shadow of Mordor was never praised for its narrative or at least its traditional narrative. The game’s architecture is fairly linear and mission-based, and the limited amount of law took away developers’ ability to craft an interesting plot. As a result, the narrative in both games is basic and needs better writing.
Story In A Nutshell
The story of “Shadow of War” is a direct sequel to “Shadow of Mordor.” If you haven’t played “Shadow of Mordor,” it’s recommended that you do so first, as the story of “Shadow of War” picks up right where “Shadow of Mordor” left off.
After playing the first game, understanding what’s going on and who the characters are clearer. Without the first game, it’s like watching the last episode of a TV show without any of the episodes beforehand.
Main Theme of the Story
In “Shadow of War,” the main story is quite short, and not many interesting things happen until the end. You will meet a few side characters who help advance the ultimate goal of destroying Sauron.
However, these side characters are not too memorable or interesting, except for a few colorful and entertaining orcs like Ratbag from “Mordor” and Brûz.
Orcs Are Amazing
One of the highlights of the game is the performances of the orcs. There are so many orc captains with different personalities and themes, and their dialogue either had me laughing or feeling disturbed. The voice work on the orcs is fantastic, so over-the-top and creepy that they make for the perfect enemies or even allies.
Story Freedom
Another aspect of the story I loved was the freedom it gave you. You could finish the main story in any order and at any pace, you’d like. However, like “Shadow of Mordor,” the main story is not the most interesting part of the game, except for the ending, which was extremely shocking and very unexpected.
Story Ratings:
My Opinion on Narrative
When crafting a story, the author’s vision is of utmost importance, especially when dealing with a franchise as rich in lore and complexity as “Shadow of War.”
Unfortunately, certain constraints, such as narrative length and budget restrictions, prevented the authors from fully realizing their creative potential.
However, the stunning gameplay makes “Middle Earth: Shadow of War worth buying.”
Gameplay
Among video games, “Shadow of War” provides some of the most satisfying experiences. What was already fantastic in “Shadow of Mordor” has been vastly improved, resulting in a more streamlined and graphically spectacular experience.
Nemesis System
The nemesis system is the game’s main draw since it gives players agency over the story and lets them tell it as they want.
This unique mechanism makes “Shadow of War” stand apart from other open-world games, and Warner Bros. has claimed it as their own, which has generated a lot of debate in the gaming industry.
Fast-traveling to each city and wiping out whole orc armies to take control of the area is the game’s primary gameplay element, which revolves around the nemesis system.
More Features in “Shadow of War”
The game becomes harder as you go on, so you’ll need to resort to strategies like brainwashing your adversaries and sending in spies to expose their leaders.
The improved fighting animations and interesting narrative produced by the nemesis system make this a fantastic game. In addition, the game’s many trinkets typically come with enhancements, setting it apart from others.
As a whole, “Shadow of War” is recommended if you’re seeking a game that stands apart from the crowd while providing a satisfying and original experience.
Gameplay Ratings:
Combat
Compared to its predecessor, Shadow of Mordor, Shadow of War features almost the same gameplay. It is good since Shadow of Mordor received accolades for its fluid Batman: Arkham inspired fighting.
Players will feel formidable as they slaughter their way through the hordes of opponents in Shadow of War, thanks to the game’s harsh executioners and finishers.
Engaging and satisfying fighting is the main draw of this game. It’s easy to pick up the basics yet has plenty of depth to keep players interested and make it difficult to master.
Drawback in Combat
One thing I didn’t like about Shadow of Mordor’s fights was how easy they were. Shadow of War’s increased challenge convinced me to play in the hardest setting, where I experienced a satisfyingly difficult challenge.
When set to the hardest difficulty, any orc will be able to two-hit kill the player, giving the fights an intensity and tension that was lacking in the normal mode.
Hit the Sweet Spot
It gets easier to fight as the player gains access to better weapons and abilities. This is positive since it gives the player a sense of increasing strength as they continue through the game.
But if they are murdered, the orc who did it will gain experience and maybe be promoted, making the game much more difficult.
Keeping everything in mind, you won’t get bored while playing the game, and the fights are fantastic and entertaining.
Combat Ratings:
Skills
Shadow of War’s improved skill tree significantly elevates the experience. With a wide variety of new learning abilities, players may approach conflicts more tactically than ever before.
There’s a ton of variety and excitement, from instantaneously killing adversaries with a counterattack to discovering a wide variety of secret powers.
I won’t give away all of Shadow of War’s unique elements, but playing it for the first time is an amazing experience.
You’ll get access to amazing new skills as you play through the sequel. The depth of the skill tree’s customization lets you make your character fit your preferred play style.
Drawback in Skills
The only little annoyance was re-unlock all my abilities in the new game. Once I unlocked all the skills in Shadow of Mordor, I had to do it again in the new game.
It wasn’t a huge problem, but it did dampen the sense of development. There would have been a stronger feeling of accomplishment if I had begun the game with the abilities I had uncovered in the previous game and continued to improve my power through new abilities.
It wasn’t too much of a problem, though, because it took little time to learn everything again. Experimenting with the wide array of new abilities at your disposal is entertaining. Despite my initial dissatisfaction with the re-unlocking procedure, this made up for it.
Skills Ratings:
Final Verdict
Overall, the game is really good. I enjoyed my time playing the game. I rate the game 4.5 out of 5. If the story intrigued me enough, the game would have gotten 5 out of 5.
Total Ratings:
Shadow of War is a great choice to try something new and different. Playing it for yourself will leave you breathless despite certain problems with the story. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a seasoned player or just getting started; Shadow of War will blow your mind. This is my Shadow of War review. Now, the ultimate question.
Is Shadow of War worth buying? Yes, Shadow of War is worth buying. Moreover, you will experience one of the best games in your life.
Another review you should read, Honest Forspoken Review.