3.5/5 ★ – MechaniChris's review of Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor.

I’m coming to this after playing the sequel, so my perception is very colored by that. I would have played this first, but I’m kind of glad I didn’t. The shock of how great the sequel was reinvigorated my interest in these games to begin with. Any way, this is still a good game. In fact, it’s the same as it’s sequel, but worse in every way. That’s not it’s fault! Games SHOULD improve with every incarnation. Obviously this should look and play worse and have less areas and features to explore. That said, it has been made obsolete. I listen to a podcast that talks about what games they would keep or delete to show future generations, and I think this is a perfect example of a game that can just be skipped in favor of the next one. My enjoyment was not hampered at all by not playing this first and the story is really nothing you can’t summarize in 2 minutes. Not a lot actually happens in this game! I’m glad I played it for my own curiosity, but I definitely don’t see myself revisiting it when the sequel exists. Also since I didn’t mention it in my review of the second game, I’ll say it here: My biggest gripe with these games is how ultra dark it tries to make Tolkien’s world. I understand it’s in Mordor, but come on guys. These stories were not meant to be grim ALL the time. Talion is also a boring character, but that’s just the nature of being a video game protagonist.