Middle-earth: Shadow of War is an action-adventure from Monolith Productions, continuing the struggle against Sauron with a new ring of power and a growing army. The complete run spanned the four regions, the fortress sieges and the lengthy post-game epilogue.
The fortress sieges are the highlight of the whole experience, with the assault and defence of the strongholds delivering the siege spectacle. The Nemesis system and army-building stay central, with the named orcs and their ranks driving the whole campaign.
The combat carries the third-person action, with the sword, bow, stealth and executions forming the core toolkit. The mounted combat, the drakes and the wraith abilities expand the options across the four regions.
The four regions each have a distinct character, with Mordor’s dark fantasy tone staying consistent with the source material. The skill tree and the gear sets offer meaningful progression, though the most useful skills are gated early.
The enemy adaptation is a recurring caveat, with the orcs developing immunities and counters to the tactics used against them. The early gating of the useful skills is the other persistent frustration throughout.
The story stays engaging enough to push through the lengthy post-game, with the ring and the army framing the entire campaign. The two expansions add distinct playstyles, each reshaping how the combat works in distinct ways.
Overall, the fortress sieges, the Nemesis system and the army-building make this a hell of a game through and through. The enemy adaptation and the early skill gating are the caveats.