After the success of Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor it was crystal clear, that Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment would punch out another Middle-Earth title based on their celebrated Nemesis system. The not very originally named “Shadow of War” sequel is a challenging, well constructed action-RPG with stunning visuals.

Talion, the games main protagonist, is hiding in a bush. Waiting for the right moment. Slowly a troll is shuffling by and gets silently back-stabbed by Talion. He quickly disappears again into hiding before the other trolls get suspicious or even alert. The story of Middle-Earth: Shadow of War takes place straight after the events of Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor. With the help of the ghost of the dead elf Celebrimbor Talion has forged a new ring of power to bring down Sauron. This doesn’t sound like much of a story, but it jumps to life with well designed details and encounters with well know characters like Gollum, who lend their preciousss little charm to the game.

Choose your enemies wisely

I like to charge ahead into battle. Hack’n’slash my way through enemy throngs. Ripping apart the fabric of opposition. I love the whooping ballet of the Batman Arkham series, where chaining together blow after blow adds to the fun. But with the Nemesis system in place, this approach is quickly doomed. To make your way to Sauron’s to layer of trustees and soldiers, you need to weaken and cut out the lower ranks first. If you lose your opponent will rise in the ranks. He can only be attacked again, when his subordinates have been dealt with.

The beauty of evil in Middle-Earth

Trolls, Orcs and Olog-Hais as well as the creepy Nazgûl have been beautifully rendered by the artists of Monolith Productions. The landscapes and venues are stunning. Quite often the player’s character appears to be tiny. Lost in gigantic caverns or valleys teaming with enemy crowds. The atmosphere in Shadow of War is a fine virtual construct. Monolith have a lot of Tolkien experience that they can build on. Not only have they developed the bestselling Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor (2014), but the Guardians of Middle-Earth game as well. Prior to that the studio struck fear into gamer hearts with titles like Condemned 1&2 and F.E.A.R. 1&2.

Middle-Earth: Shadow of War is a well-designed successor of the award-winning Shadow of Mordor and a worthy expansion of the great fantasy by J.R.R. Tolkien.