Read our full Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor review.
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor is set to arrive for PlayStation and Xbox consoles on September 30, with a PC release (via Steam) following a couple of days later on October 2, publisher Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment confirms. That’s forward shift from the game’s previously announced October 7 launch.
While there was some initial skepticism over Shadow of Mordor reviving a license that hasn’t always fared so well in the realm of video games, developer Monolith Productions’ efforts have won over virtually everyone who’s tried the game in previews.
Mordor sets itself apart with its so-called “Nemesis system,” which introduces a layer of procedural generation into the make-up and hierarchy of the enemy forces you face off against. It seems like a perfect complement to the game’s exploration-heavy Mordor setting and open-ended approach to progression.
It’s unfortunately the sort of thing that plays better in practice than it does in a text description, but check out our most recent hands-on for a blow-by-blow rundown of how the Nemesis system plays out in practice.
This isn’t the first shift away from a release-heavy October 7. Electronic Arts had Dragon Age: Inquisition set to arrive that day as well, until the game’s launch was pushed back one month, to November 18. You’ll still have plenty to play on October 7 though, what with Alien: Isolation, NBA 2K15, NBA Live 15, and Driveclub all still confirmed for that day.
