After 20 hours I am so tired of Assassin's Creed: Shadow of Arkham that I am uninstalling it. I have no intention to return to the game and regret the time I spent with it.
Gameplay
Gameplay-wise, Shadow of Mordor is an exhibition of achievements of game development of the past few years. Roughly speaking, it's 49% Assassin's Creed, 49% Batman Arkham series and 2% of its own.
The Assassin's Creed part is effortless parkour, climbing towers and “synchronizing” for fast-travel and stealth with a few ways to distract and eliminate foes. Although I must admit that stealth here is more inventive than in AC, it's not just whistle, wait, one-button kill, rinse and repeat. At least later in the game you'll be given more tools to assassinate: such as poisoning the beverage and controlling uruks.
If you fail at stealth, here comes the Batman Arkham part. The combat is a shameless copy-paste and works like this: counter every time you see a prompt, attack every time no one is attacking you, perform a special attack every 5 blows, rinse and repeat.
Nevertheless, I must give credit that the combat is actually fun and made me stay with the game for so long. It feels good to chain combos, the killing animations are satisfying and varied and there are quite a few special moves that you are going to like to perform. But when it's the only thing that makes you stay, it starts feeling repetitive after a while too. I can ruin this for you before you play, just watch the 404 hits combo below and you'll know just about everything the combat has to offer.
The 2% come in the Nemesis system, the gimmick that journalists went on and on about and that actually made me play the game. It generates random uruks for each playthrough, bestows unique strengths on them and cripples them with unique weaknesses. These uruks have been fighting for power and will always be, and you act as a disrupting force which shakes up their hierarchy as you please. The problem was that I didn't want to.
I read dozens of nemesis stories on the web before playing Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor, and all claimed what a unique experience it was to gain a mortal enemy that kept coming back from the dead to face you once again or to bind with an uruk and stay in this love-hate relationship for hours. Perhaps I was too good at the game, was I? I never had an uruk to live long enough for me to get to know him. They all were just expendables, and I cut through the cannon fodder of Mordor with ease. To be honest, I died more from the deadly fauna of Mordor than uruks. At the same time, bumping up the difficulty seemed strange as I understood that more hit-points would not be likely to breathe in more personality into random-generated uruks.
What's left from Shadow of Mordor if you remove the “make your own story” gimmick? Not much, I must say. The characters were uninspired, the storyline was hard to follow and slow to progress, and the twists were simply not there. The story is pieces of Tolkien fan service scattered around the dull bloody cursed land. The first major character you meet is, of course, Gollum with the exact voice, moves, and looks of that from the film. I completed more than half of the storyline and Shadow of Mordor was a parody of Tolkien which distorted every stylistic or narrative trope of the source material. It's not necessarily a bad thing and I, in fact, have never been a fan of the Lord of the Rings universe, but it was a weird mix of fan service and negation of Tolkien at the same time.
Atmosphere
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor is a very stressful game. It has no ups, the music is always tormented strings and dark ambient effects. It makes you paranoid, you scout for safe places when you start playing but soon you realize that the only places where you can rest are forge towers (fast-travel points) and the pause screen.
Does it make you FEEL like you are in Mordor? Yes, and this is a good thing. Does it make a game enjoyable? No.
This was, perhaps, the main reason I am dropping the game with no intention to play it. I don't mind repetitive and plagiarized gameplay, after all, there are only so many things you can do in action-adventure games targeted at a wide audience. I can tolerate the dull story and even no story at all in an action-adventure game. But I can't play something that is so hostile, unwelcoming and unrewarding. You can't conquer this world, you can only make a dent in the army of Sauron, which will soon be replenished by new random-generated uruks.
Gameplay
Gameplay-wise, Shadow of Mordor is an exhibition of achievements of game development of the past few years. Roughly speaking, it's 49% Assassin's Creed, 49% Batman Arkham series and 2% of its own.
The Assassin's Creed part is effortless parkour, climbing towers and “synchronizing” for fast-travel and stealth with a few ways to distract and eliminate foes. Although I must admit that stealth here is more inventive than in AC, it's not just whistle, wait, one-button kill, rinse and repeat. At least later in the game you'll be given more tools to assassinate: such as poisoning the beverage and controlling uruks.
If you fail at stealth, here comes the Batman Arkham part. The combat is a shameless copy-paste and works like this: counter every time you see a prompt, attack every time no one is attacking you, perform a special attack every 5 blows, rinse and repeat.
Nevertheless, I must give credit that the combat is actually fun and made me stay with the game for so long. It feels good to chain combos, the killing animations are satisfying and varied and there are quite a few special moves that you are going to like to perform. But when it's the only thing that makes you stay, it starts feeling repetitive after a while too. I can ruin this for you before you play, just watch the 404 hits combo below and you'll know just about everything the combat has to offer.
Story
The 2% come in the Nemesis system, the gimmick that journalists went on and on about and that actually made me play the game. It generates random uruks for each playthrough, bestows unique strengths on them and cripples them with unique weaknesses. These uruks have been fighting for power and will always be, and you act as a disrupting force which shakes up their hierarchy as you please. The problem was that I didn't want to.
I read dozens of nemesis stories on the web before playing Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor, and all claimed what a unique experience it was to gain a mortal enemy that kept coming back from the dead to face you once again or to bind with an uruk and stay in this love-hate relationship for hours. Perhaps I was too good at the game, was I? I never had an uruk to live long enough for me to get to know him. They all were just expendables, and I cut through the cannon fodder of Mordor with ease. To be honest, I died more from the deadly fauna of Mordor than uruks. At the same time, bumping up the difficulty seemed strange as I understood that more hit-points would not be likely to breathe in more personality into random-generated uruks.


Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor is a very stressful game. It has no ups, the music is always tormented strings and dark ambient effects. It makes you paranoid, you scout for safe places when you start playing but soon you realize that the only places where you can rest are forge towers (fast-travel points) and the pause screen.
Does it make you FEEL like you are in Mordor? Yes, and this is a good thing. Does it make a game enjoyable? No.

«Waste of time»
2 comments
Other reviews18
Neospin Review
When playing at online casinos, it may seem to be hard to locate the games that have the most potential for financial gain. We at Neospin aim to ensure that you get the most out of your gaming experience by supplying you with information on the casino games that provide the most potential for financial gain. Regardless of whether you are playing a game with big stakes, such as poker or slots, or a game with modest stakes, such as blackjack, you are required to have a solid understanding of the odds and techniques involved. Following the completion of our analysis, we will determine which Neospin games have the most chance for winning. Neospin mobile games Thanks to Neospin’s user-friendly mobile platform, you can experience all of the thrills and excitement of a genuine casino without ever having to leave the comfort of your own home. You may play a wide variety of games https://payidgambling.com/casino/neospin/ that have been developed specifically for mobile devices, regardless of whether you are at home or on the go. Because the navigation is straightforward and the layout is easy to understand, you will have no trouble locating the slot machines, table games, and live dealer alternatives that match your preferences. Among the various games that are accessible to players, some of the more popular ones are slot machines, table games, and live dealer alternatives. using encrypted connections in order to provide a gaming experience that is both dependable and safe. A responsive design makes it possible for any mobile device to enjoy an experience that is totally immersive. You may play games of the highest quality and without interruption whenever and wherever you choose. An instrument for doing market research, Neospin Neospin provides gamers with the exciting option to explore a broad variety of marketplaces so that they may tailor their experience to their own interests. With Neospin, you may have a gaming experience that is both diverse and interesting, regardless of whether you are dying to go out or you are yearning for older games. Because of the extensive game library, the user-friendly navigation system, and the secure connections, you will be able to play in an environment that is both reliable and inventive. By making it easier to sign up for and participate in worldwide gaming marketplaces, Neospin puts the ability to have fun without leaving your comfort zone. The greatest new player incentive Neospin When new players sign up for an account at Neospin, they are eligible to get a sizeable bonus, which kicks off an incredible gaming journey. Taking advantage of the Best New Player Bonus may improve your odds of winning, make your gaming experience more enjoyable, and increase the amount of money you get back on your investment. It is possible that your experience might be improved by making advantage of individualised incentives such as large match bonuses, free spins, and other similar offers. Match Bonuses That Are Extraordinary: Playing for longer periods of time and increasing your chances of winning may be accomplished by increasing the amount of money you put into your account by a specified amount. Put the risk-free spins on well-known slot machines to use so that you may test them out and perhaps win a significant amount of money. Exclusive deals and marketing campaigns: You will have access to unique deals that have been developed just for new players, which will result in an enhanced gaming experience overall. You may play at the online Neospin Casino Neospin guarantees that every player will have a gaming experience that is uncomplicated and simple to use. The design of the website makes it simple to use, regardless of whether you are wanting to explore games or maintain your account. In addition to having a strong performance on desktop PCs and mobile devices, Neospin is renowned for its lightning-fast loading times and user interfaces. Because of their dedication Neospin Casino to usability, you will be able to concentrate on playing your preferred games to the fullest extent possible. Have fun with your gaming talents, and keep in mind that all you want is there at your fingertips.
When playing at online casinos, it may seem to be hard to locate the games that have the most potential for financial gain. We at Neospin aim to ensure that you get the most out of your gaming experience by supplying you with information on the casino games that provide the most potential for financial gain. Regardless of whether you are playing a game with big stakes, such as poker or slots, or a game with modest stakes, such as blackjack, you are required to have a solid understanding of the odds and techniques involved. Following the completion of our analysis, we will determine which Neospin games have the most chance for winning. Neospin mobile games Thanks to Neospin’s user-friendly mobile platform, you can experience all of the thrills and excitement of a genuine casino without ever having to leave the comfort of your own home. You may play a wide variety of games https://payidgambling.com/casino/neospin/ that have been developed specifically for mobile devices, regardless of whether you are at home or on the go. Because the navigation is straightforward and the layout is easy to understand, you will have no trouble locating the slot machines, table games, and live dealer alternatives that match your preferences. Among the various games that are accessible to players, some of the more popular ones are slot machines, table games, and live dealer alternatives. using encrypted connections in order to provide a gaming experience that is both dependable and safe. A responsive design makes it possible for any mobile device to enjoy an experience that is totally immersive. You may play games of the highest quality and without interruption whenever and wherever you choose. An instrument for doing market research, Neospin Neospin provides gamers with the exciting option to explore a broad variety of marketplaces so that they may tailor their experience to their own interests. With Neospin, you may have a gaming experience that is both diverse and interesting, regardless of whether you are dying to go out or you are yearning for older games. Because of the extensive game library, the user-friendly navigation system, and the secure connections, you will be able to play in an environment that is both reliable and inventive. By making it easier to sign up for and participate in worldwide gaming marketplaces, Neospin puts the ability to have fun without leaving your comfort zone. The greatest new player incentive Neospin When new players sign up for an account at Neospin, they are eligible to get a sizeable bonus, which kicks off an incredible gaming journey. Taking advantage of the Best New Player Bonus may improve your odds of winning, make your gaming experience more enjoyable, and increase the amount of money you get back on your investment. It is possible that your experience might be improved by making advantage of individualised incentives such as large match bonuses, free spins, and other similar offers. Match Bonuses That Are Extraordinary: Playing for longer periods of time and increasing your chances of winning may be accomplished by increasing the amount of money you put into your account by a specified amount. Put the risk-free spins on well-known slot machines to use so that you may test them out and perhaps win a significant amount of money. Exclusive deals and marketing campaigns: You will have access to unique deals that have been developed just for new players, which will result in an enhanced gaming experience overall. You may play at the online Neospin Casino Neospin guarantees that every player will have a gaming experience that is uncomplicated and simple to use. The design of the website makes it simple to use, regardless of whether you are wanting to explore games or maintain your account. In addition to having a strong performance on desktop PCs and mobile devices, Neospin is renowned for its lightning-fast loading times and user interfaces. Because of their dedication Neospin Casino to usability, you will be able to concentrate on playing your preferred games to the fullest extent possible. Have fun with your gaming talents, and keep in mind that all you want is there at your fingertips.
I expected more from this game, but honestly I felt like I was on any map with touches of the Lord of the Rings. The nemesis and substitution system really tired me out. Yes, there is a challenge and room to improve your skill and strategy, i wish i could recommended to much better games
Hey, Warner Brothers, you got a bunch of properties, right? and a pretty successful track record making games, right? So, let's talk about other games where you could implement the nemesis system.