- Nemesis System Enhances Gameplay
- Fluid and Satisfying Combat
- Engaging and Compelling Story
- Numerous bugs and glitches
- Excessive and unskippable cutscenes
- Repetitive gameplay elements
Emotions
Verdict
Mostly positive
Summary
Positive 78% · Negative 22%. Score: 22 / 100
Verdict
Predatory Monetization
Summary
The game has a history of predatory monetization practices, including pay-to-win mechanics, real-money gacha, and intentionally frustrating design to encourage spending. While some of these issues have been addressed in later updates, the initial presence of these elements has left a negative impression on players. Additionally, the game and its additional content are seen as overpriced, creating a fear of missing out for players who want the complete experience. Score: 85 / 100
Top points
- Pay-to-Win and Real-Money Gacha - High
- Aggressive FOMO and Overpriced Content - Medium
- Intentionally Frustrating Design - High
- Removed Microtransactions - Positive
Verdict
Mixed User Experience
Summary
The game has received mixed reviews regarding its mechanics, UI/UX, and navigation. While some users appreciate the detailed and user-friendly interface, others find the controls and UI to be poorly designed. The complex mechanics and difficult missions require additional practice or external research, which can be frustrating. Navigation and guidance also present a challenge for some users, particularly those unfamiliar with the series. Score: 50 / 100
Top points
- Complex Mechanics - Medium
- UI/UX Issues - High
- Navigation and Guidance - Low
Verdict
Playable with Notable Issues
Summary
The game generally performs well on the Steam Deck with good frame rates and visual settings. However, significant issues include the presence of Denuvo DRM, which causes technical barriers and frustrations. Control issues, particularly with keyboard and mouse setups, and frequent crashes also negatively impact the user experience. Text readability on the Steam Deck's screen is a mixed bag, with some users finding it too small while others report no issues. Score: 60 / 100
Top points
- Performance and Stability - Positive
- DRM and Technical Issues - High
- Control and Input Issues - Medium
- Crashes and Technical Problems - High
- User Interface and Text Readability - Medium
Positives:
- The Nemesis System is widely praised for creating unique, memorable, and personal encounters with enemies. It adds depth, replayability, and a dynamic sandbox experience, making the game highly engaging and non-repetitive.
- The combat system is described as fluid, brutal, and satisfying. It is fast, responsive, and highly polished, offering a deep and engaging experience with interesting upgrades and mechanics.
- The story is engaging, compelling, and well-written, with depth in lore and character development. It captures players' interest and adds emotional weight to the gameplay.
- The graphics are improved and hold up well, providing a visually impressive and enjoyable experience. The game is graphically polished with beautiful graphics.
- The game offers high replayability with tons of content and variety. Players can spend hundreds of hours enjoying the addictive and varied gameplay.
Negatives:
- The gameplay, including missions and side quests, becomes repetitive, especially at higher levels, which detracts from the overall experience.
- The game is plagued with various bugs and glitches, some of which make the game unplayable or excessively frustrating.
- The game features long, unskippable cutscenes that can be tedious and frustrating, especially during captain introductions and orc monologues.
- The game features a significant amount of repetitive grinding, which many players find tedious and stretched out, particularly in the endgame.
- The game faced initial controversy due to its microtransactions and loot box system, which many players found intrusive and greedy.
Gameplay:
- The Nemesis system allows enemies to remember and adapt to the player's tactics, creating unique and personalized enemy interactions. It features evolving enemies, strategic planning, and dynamic rivalries, making each encounter engaging and complex.
- The combat system is well-designed with various abilities, fast-paced action, and fluid mechanics. It is inspired by the Arkham series, offering a mix of Batman and Assassin styles.
- The game offers a variety of enemies, locations, and activities, including story missions, fortress capture, and nemesis missions. It also features well-crafted quests, engaging cutscenes, and diverse combat strategies like stealth and poisoning.
- The game features online fortress sieges and large-scale battles, including capturing fortresses and epic sieges with tactical gameplay. These mechanics add a layer of strategic depth and unique experiences.
- The game is set in an expansive open world with fluid combat and fun movement mechanics. It includes detailed environments and unique character stories, providing a rich exploration experience.
Performance:
- The game is praised for its good optimization and technical quality, including decent graphics that hold up well.
- Several players have reported minor bugs that are somewhat annoying but do not significantly impact gameplay.
- Some players have experienced the game freezing randomly, which can be a significant issue affecting gameplay.
- There are reports of the game not launching even after reinstalling, which is a critical issue for affected players.
- There are instances where characters and NPCs get stuck, which can be frustrating for players.
Recommendations:
- The game is highly recommended for fans of the Lord of the Rings universe, including those who enjoy Tolkien's lore, action-RPG genre, and the Middle-earth setting. It is suggested for both casual fans and those deeply interested in the lore.
- The game is praised for its unique and challenging gameplay, including the Nemesis System and combat mechanics. Reviewers highlight its engaging content, replayability, and overall quality.
- Many reviewers suggest that the game is worth purchasing, especially when it is on sale. This indicates that while the game is valued, it is best bought at a discounted price.
- Some reviewers recommend playing or getting a bundle with Shadow of Mordor, suggesting that it might be a better or complementary experience.
- The game is recommended for fans of open-world action games, featuring interesting characters and a cool story. It is ideal for those who enjoy exploring different locations and biomes.
Miscellaneous:
- There is a notable bug in the Blade of Galadriel DLC where players encounter an infinite number of unique orcs, which disrupts the gameplay experience.
- The MOD community is actively contributing to the game, providing additional content and improvements that enhance the overall gaming experience.
