Heaven knows what Tolkein would make of the ongoing saturation of his works in the realms of gaming, but even he (at 122 years old, granted) would have time for a few hours of wholesale orc slaughter that Shadow of Mordor presents.
It’s not going to win awards for variety, this one, but there are buckets of short-term death-encouraging here that will have the avid hack-and-slash gamer dribbling into his controller.
Stuffing the story between Tolkien’s two most famous works opens the door for cameos from Middle-Earth’s most reputable inhabitants. Our dark and brooding hero Talion is on the road for revenge after a particularly nasty family tragedy that also resulted in some sorcery befalling his grumpy self.
Mowing down legions of the ugliest beings Mordor has to offer is jolly good fun, and the ability to scale buildings and drop down on your enemy from utterly ludicrous heights will please Assassin’s Creed addicts no end. Persuading grubby hordes to change sides is also a refreshing touch.
Ultimately though, perseverance will depend on your patience in the face of monotony.
Out on PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
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