Metareview: Middle-earth Shadow of Mordor

Our five-star review of Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor reassured players that an appreciation for J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings universe isn't necessary to enjoy the deep action game. "What would have otherwise been a competent sandbox game with solid combat mechanics and an interesting twist on a known fantasy world is elevated by the Nemesis System," which greatly personalizes your experience.

The game's unique systems means our Nemesis in Shadow of Mordor differed from that of other critics, yet reviews around the web are mostly positive about the game. Head past the break to get a better sense of the collective opinion on the game, which launches next Tuesday, September 30 for PS4, Xbox One and PC. The PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of the game were delayed to November 18 earlier this month.

• IGN (9.3/10): "Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor stands out from other open-world action games by putting a great new layer on top of the trail that Batman blazed."

• The Escapist (4.5/5): "The absolute best part of the game is the open-ended sections in which you interact with Sauron's army - that's where every component feels unique and wonderful. Outside of that, Shadow of Mordor is still an excellent game but not quite sublime."

• Game Informer (8.25/10): "Even with these and other features that rubbed me the wrong way, I can't help but cheer for Monolith's ambition."

• Eurogamer (8/10): "There's plenty to see and do in Mordor when you're dead; all that's left, in the words of a wise old wandering wizard, is to decide what to do with the time that is given to you."

• Destructoid (6/10): "It isn't a bad game, it just feels far too repetitive for its own good."

[Image: WBIE]