Surely you've heard of Middle-Earth: Shadow of War by now. It was a very difficult release to miss, but shortly following its launch, the hype fizzled away. Today, about two years after the release of Shadow of War PC, we're left scratching our heads as to why. The game's direct predecessor, Shadow of Mordor, is objectively a worse game. Not a bad one! Just not as good and polished and content-complete as Shadow of War turned out to be. Yet, what amounts to proof-of-concept for the Nemesis system received more attention than the actual full-bloodied sequel.

The purpose of this article is obvious. We'd like to convince you that Shadow of War PC is more than worth your time. This incredible ARPG has provided us with dozens of hours of fun, and it'd be a right shame if a potential player ignored it for its perceived, yet non-factual downsides.

Is Shadow of War really that good?

Right off the bat, Shadow of War is everything its predecessor was, and so much more. Even the majority of Shadow of War reviews said so from the get-go. The only real downside that War has compared to Mordor is that it's a streamlining and expansion of the original feature concept, which makes it less interesting by default. Since game franchises thrive on iterative development, this shouldn't be a problem.

Of course, the flagship feature of both games has always been the Nemesis system. Confusingly, very few developers have attempted to incorporate a feature such as this in their games since. Off the top of our heads, Warframe is the only game that even tried to do so (Kuva Liches). With that in mind, this remains a heavily underserved niche. One that Shadow of War still very easily presides over.

The sheer number of possible Orc characters that the Shadow of War Nemesis system can generate is staggering. Even 50 hours in, you'll still be seeing all-new traits, weapons, and armor on your enemies. This speaks volumes about the amount of content present in Shadow of War PC. That's not where content stops, though.

Instead of limiting you to a precious few weapons and items, Shadow of War features dozens of unique items to loot. Think armor sets, swords, daggers, bows, and runes to customize them with. Less an adventure game than it is a proper action RPG, Shadow of War doesn't let up. Not even a bit.

What is there to do in Shadow of War?

It's important to mention that randomly-generated Nemeses are the main draw of Shadow of War PC. The protagonist is mostly forgettable, as is the majority of the story, but it's passable enough to serve as a vehicle for the Nemesis system. This alone makes up for all of the game's narrative faults.

The vast majority of interactions you'll have with the game's NPCs will be randomly generated, as per a wide variety of aspects. For example, you may burn a random Uruk-Hai chieftain during a combat sequence you would never think twice of, only for the bugger to jump you later on. This particular Nemesis will be affected by his encounter with fire in this or that way. He may develop an extreme resistance to it. He may develop a phobia to it. It's randomized, but you catch the drift. The enemy will also come back more powerful than before, and with scars and equipment to match his experience.

To call Shadow of War's Nemesis system decent would be an understatement of the century. This feature celebrates player agency and engagement, and it really drives home what influence the player character has on this particular game world and its inhabitants. For those who've played Shadow of Mordor, expect more of everything that made that game good. Also, add dragon-riding, castle sieges, and a selection of other awesome stuff to the mix, too! The variety of locales, items, and Nemeses has greatly increased as well. You'll find deserts, snowy wastes, forests, and mountainous areas in Shadow of War.

Perhaps most importantly, the enemies you encounter as part of the Nemesis system have some real character to them. They are, without a doubt, the stars of the show here, and they will provide a unique experience to every single player enjoying Shadow of War.

Where to Get a Good Deal on Shadow of War PC?

Now, you might be wondering - is there even a good deal on Middle-Earth Shadow of War on PC? If you're reading this at the time of writing, boy are you in luck! Check out our Black Friday deal:

• Middle-Earth: Shadow of War - 79% discount - £7.49
• Definitive Edition - 79% discount - £8.49

These are a steal. If you're going for the Definitive Edition, know that you're getting loads of additional content with two additional mini-campaigns and a number of further Nemesis characters, customizations, and traits.

If you're looking for an incredible systems-driven game that will easily supply dozens of hours of fun, look no further than Shadow of War. It really is every bit as good as it says on the tin! Do you know what the best part is, though? All microtransactions have been removed from the game. 

Enjoy!