Get revenge in the land of shadow
In "Middle Earth: Shadow Of Mordor" (Warner Bros., PlayStation 4, Xbox One, $60; rated M), you set out across the land of shadow on a mission of revenge, and cut a bloody swath through Sauron's army. The variety of enemy character models is the stand-out visual feature, but the environments, weather effects and animation are all outstanding. The score is at its best in its most reserved moments, including several memorable melodies. The voice work sounds as though it's drawn out of Peter Jackson's deleted scenes and showcases some sophisticated emotional range for such a violent tale. A multilayered set of in-game upgrade systems all interact with one another, and the complex controls take hours to master. Not recommended for beginners.
Game Informer magazine
