Middle-earth: Shadow of War

The opinions on the story of Middle-earth: Shadow of War are quite diverse among critics. Positive aspects highlighted by reviewers include engaging storytelling, character development, and twists in the narrative. Critics like COGconnected, Critical Hit, and Cubed3 appreciated the engaging and thought-out story, filled with memorable moments of conquest, betrayal, and personal connections with characters. They found the narrative to be immersive, with a sense of being part of a massive war, showcasing improvements over the previous game. GameCritics, on the other hand, felt that the story was weak and disconnected, with outlandish events and iconic Lord of the Rings moments that didn't feel properly connected. On the negative side, some critics expressed concerns about the story deviating from Tolkien's lore, leading to inconsistencies and questionable decisions. Destructoid criticized the story for being far-reaching and truncated, losing tension due to knowledge of events between The Hobbit and The Fellowship of the Ring, becoming nonsensical and over-the-top. Easy Allies found the story to be thin and lacking emotional depth, with repetitive characters and dialogue. The Sydney Morning Herald mentioned that the narrative played fast and loose with Tolkien's lore, resulting in an incomprehensible and boring storyline, despite the player's own engaging struggle against powerful orcs. Overall, the consensus among critics seems to be mixed regarding the story of Middle-earth: Shadow of War. While some appreciated the engaging narrative, character dynamics, and immersive world-building, others criticized the deviations from Tolkien's lore, lack of emotional impact, and inconsistent storytelling. Positive feedback from reviewers like XboxAddict, who described the story as one of the best experienced in a long time, contrasts with the concerns raised by critics like Game Informer, who mentioned that the storyline launches in its own over-the-top direction. Ultimately, the reception of the story appears to vary based on individual preferences for narrative depth, adherence to source material, and overall engagement with the world of Middle-earth.

The majority of critics praised the gameplay of Middle-earth: Shadow of War, highlighting several positive aspects. COGconnected commended the fluid and satisfying combat system, with a wide range of abilities to unlock, as well as the addition of riding dragons and the depth brought by the loot and level system. Critical Hit appreciated the improvements in combat, exploration, and character progression, emphasizing the freedom of choice in approaching targets and the strategic depth in conquering fortresses. Game Informer found the combat rich and rewarding, offering numerous ways to engage with the denizens of Mordor, while also acknowledging the tremendous variety of adversaries presented by the nemesis enemy system. On the other hand, some critics pointed out certain negatives in the gameplay of Shadow of War. Easy Allies mentioned that the gameplay could become repetitive, especially for those who played the previous game. AusGamers criticized the movement, combat, and camera controls on the Xbox One version of the game, highlighting areas that could have been improved for a smoother experience. However, despite these criticisms, the overall sentiment from the critics leans heavily towards the positive aspects of the gameplay. Overall, the consensus among the critics is overwhelmingly positive regarding the gameplay of Middle-earth: Shadow of War. The engaging combat system, strategic depth offered by the Nemesis System, diverse skill trees, and the ability to dominate orcs were highlighted as standout features by various critics like GameCritics and Impulsegamer. The game's addictive nature, satisfying combat mechanics, and the dynamic battles facilitated by the Nemesis System were widely appreciated. Despite minor criticisms such as occasional repetitiveness and control issues, the majority of critics found the gameplay experience to be very good, making Middle-earth: Shadow of War a highly recommended title for fans of action-adventure games with deep gameplay mechanics.

The opinions of the critics regarding the Graphics and Visual Design of Middle-earth: Shadow of War are varied but generally positive. Critics like Game Informer, USgamer, and GameGrin praise the game for its visually appealing environments, diverse landscapes, and detailed character designs. Game Informer specifically mentions the "visual treat" of the game's five regions, while USgamer appreciates the beautiful visuals and character designs that enhance the sense of place in each region. GameGrin highlights the gorgeous art style, beautiful environments, and immersive visuals, especially during sieges. On the other hand, some critics pointed out certain negatives in the game's graphics and visual design. Critics like Cubed3 and Hardcore Gamer mentioned occasional texture popping, graphical issues such as texture pop-in and animation glitches, and low-res textures on certain platforms. Cubed3 also noted that while the game is visually impressive overall, there are areas where the visuals could be improved. Hardcore Gamer highlighted the breathtaking artistic direction but pointed out the technical issues that hinder the overall experience. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that Middle-earth: Shadow of War offers a visually stunning experience with attention to detail in its environments and character designs. While there are occasional technical issues and inconsistencies in graphical quality across different platforms, the game's vast and varied world, diverse landscapes, and immersive visuals have been appreciated by many critics. Critics like Game Informer, USgamer, and GameGrin emphasize the game's strengths in delivering visually appealing environments and character designs, despite some minor shortcomings mentioned by other critics. The game's ability to create a visually arresting world with attention to detail and diverse environments seems to have left a positive impression on most reviewers.

The majority of the critics praised the Sound Design and Music of Middle-earth: Shadow of War, highlighting various positive aspects. Cubed3 commended the game for its immersive sound effects and voice acting, stating that they added to the overall experience. DarkStation was impressed by the exciting symphonic score, describing it as worthy of stand-alone listening. GameGrin noted that the audio was superb, with a standout score that felt like it was taken straight from The Lord of the Rings, contributing to immersion and creating a sense of being in the world. Impulsegamer specifically mentioned the pleasing use of pianos and violins in the score, further emphasizing the positive reception towards the music in the game. On the other hand, some critics did point out a few negatives regarding the Sound Design and Music of Middle-earth: Shadow of War. PlayStation Country mentioned that while the amount of recorded dialogue for orcs was impressive, some lines and voice actors were repeated, which could potentially detract from the overall experience. Windows Central highlighted that some elements felt repetitive from the previous game, indicating a lack of innovation or freshness in certain aspects of the audio design. These criticisms suggest that while the overall quality of the sound design and music was highly regarded, there were some areas where improvements could have been made to enhance the experience further. Overall, the consensus among the critics is overwhelmingly positive towards the Sound Design and Music of Middle-earth: Shadow of War. XboxAddict praised the game for setting a high standard rarely seen in other media, with tribal drums for Orcs, horns of men during war, and a symphonic score that enhanced the unique levels. TheXboxHub and GameSpew also highlighted the well-done voice acting and sound effects that brought the characters to life and added to the combat experience, respectively. Despite some minor criticisms regarding repetition and reused assets, the general sentiment is that the sound design and music greatly contributed to the immersive and engaging nature of the game, resonating well with fans of the Middle-earth universe and fantasy gaming in general.

The voice acting in Middle-earth: Shadow of War has received high praise from multiple critics. Cubed3, DarkStation, GameSpew, Hardcore Gamer, PlayStation Country, Push Square, TheXboxHub, GameGrin, VideoGamer, and Windows Central all commend the voice acting for enhancing the immersive experience of the game. Critics like DarkStation and TheXboxHub specifically highlight the incredible job done by the voice cast in bringing the diverse range of characters, including Orc Captains and Warchiefs, to life. GameSpew and Push Square appreciate how the excellently performed voice acting adds depth to characterisation, making the cutscenes more enjoyable. The regional accents given to orcs, as noted by VideoGamer, also contribute to adding personality and uniqueness to the game. On the flip side, there are some criticisms regarding the voice acting in Middle-earth: Shadow of War. NZGamer points out issues with understanding some characters, recommending the use of subtitles for clarity, especially during encounters with Carnan in Act 2. Hardcore Gamer expresses disappointment in the lack of personality in secondary characters, suggesting that most of the charm comes from the random orcs encountered during gameplay. PlayStation Country mentions that some voice lines and actors are repeated, which can lean towards the zany side, potentially impacting the overall immersion for some players. Overall, the consensus among the critics is overwhelmingly positive regarding the voice acting in Middle-earth: Shadow of War. The majority of reviewers appreciate the efforts put into the voice performances, noting that it enhances the characterisation, immersiveness, and believability of the game world. While there are minor issues highlighted by some critics, such as clarity and repetition, the general sentiment is that the voice acting significantly contributes to the overall enjoyment and engagement of the gaming experience. The diverse range of accents, the depth of characterisation, and the ability of the voice cast to breathe life into the various characters are widely praised, making the voice acting a standout aspect of the game according to the critics' opinions.

In terms of technical performance on the PS4, multiple critics highlighted positive aspects. Cubed3 found the performance to be solid and impressive overall, while PlayStation Country mentioned that the game runs well with no major issues. Push Square also noted solid framerates and no major technical issues, indicating a smooth experience for players on this platform. However, DarkStation pointed out potential stuttering on certain hardware, which could impact the gameplay experience. Despite some minor issues like loading screens and performance hiccups, the general sentiment among PS4 reviewers leans towards a satisfactory technical performance. On the other hand, when it comes to the Xbox One platform, there were mixed opinions regarding technical performance. CGMagazine praised the absence of stuttering or framerate drops during combat, essential for precision gameplay. Windows Central highlighted the game's well-polished state, with no crashes or performance issues even during intense battles. However, Stevivor encountered glitchy Nemesis System and other bugs, while Trusted Reviews mentioned struggles with auto-targeting issues and navigation challenges. TheXboxHub also noted some minor issues with mechanics, though they did not significantly impact the overall enjoyment of the game. Despite the positive feedback on performance stability, the Xbox One reviews indicate a more varied experience in terms of technical issues. Overall, the consensus among the critics regarding the technical performance of Middle-earth: Shadow of War is somewhat mixed. While some reviewers like Cubed3 and Push Square praised the smooth performance on the PS4, others such as DarkStation and Hardcore Gamer pointed out specific issues like stuttering and graphical glitches. Similarly, on the Xbox One, opinions varied from CGMagazine's positive feedback to Stevivor's encounter with bugs. Despite these differing experiences, most critics acknowledged that the game generally runs smoothly with only minor technical hiccups, with efforts like day one patches planned to address any rare issues, as mentioned by PlayStation Lifestyle. The overall sentiment suggests that while there are some technical imperfections, they do not significantly detract from the overall gaming experience.

The Replay Value of Middle-earth: Shadow of War has been widely praised by critics for its various elements that contribute to extended gameplay experiences. Critics like COGconnected, Critical Hit, and The Sydney Morning Herald highlight the game's diverse content, including collectibles, story missions, side quests, and the Nemesis System, which offer players multiple avenues to engage with the game world. The Nemesis System, in particular, as noted by DarkStation and CGMagazine, adds depth and unpredictability, creating unique player experiences and emotional attachments to the randomly generated Orc Captains. The presence of activities like fortress attacks/defenses, online modes, and the ability to build an army of orcs, as mentioned by PlayStation Country and GameGrin, further enhances the replay value by providing players with a variety of gameplay options to explore. On the flip side, some critics express concerns about certain aspects of Middle-earth: Shadow of War that may impact its replayability. Cubed3 and PlayStation LifeStyle mention that while the game offers a variety of missions and activities, there is a risk of repetitiveness in later hours, potentially limiting long-term engagement. Additionally, GameCritics and Video Chums point out that engaging with endgame modes like 'Shadow Wars' may require grinding and can feel like a slog, which could deter some players from fully exploring all the content the game has to offer. The presence of loot boxes and microtransactions, as highlighted by various critics like The Sydney Morning Herald and PCGamesN, also raises concerns about their impact on the overall experience and potential hindrance to replay value for certain players. Overall, the consensus among critics is that Middle-earth: Shadow of War offers a substantial amount of replay value through its diverse content, particularly the Nemesis System, which provides players with unique and personalized experiences. Critics like Game Rant and Trusted Reviews appreciate the game's blend of action-adventure and RPG elements, offering dozens of hours of entertainment for players. While some critics acknowledge the potential for repetitiveness and the controversial inclusion of loot boxes, the majority recognize the game's strengths in providing engaging gameplay experiences that cater to both fans of the series and newcomers. Ultimately, Middle-earth: Shadow of War's Replay Value seems to be a standout feature that keeps players invested in the rich and dynamic world of Mordor.