After hearing that WB was shutting down Monolith, I came back to pay tribute to an old friend (Monolith, not WB) by replaying the Middle-earth games. I first played Shadow of War on PlayStation when it launched, excited after loving the first game—but my enthusiasm soured thanks to the infamous microtransactions and loot box fiasco that plagued the endgame.

Now, in 2025, with all that monetization removed, I’m glad to finally experience the game as it was meant to be. Beneath all that corporate greed was always a solid game. Playing both Shadow of Mordor and Shadow of War back to back, I appreciate their evolution—the improved combat, tactics, and enemy variety, even if some aspects can feel repetitive. But ultimately, it’s the Nemesis System that truly carries the experience.

The main story is fairly forgettable, but the personal stories forged through battles with the Orcs make it all worthwhile. One of my favorite moments?

I killed an Orc named Krakhorn. He came back as "Krakhorn the Machine," now sporting mechanical limbs after I had previously mutilated him. Naturally, I killed him again—only for him to return once more, taunting me for failing to finish the job. This time, he managed to kill me and was promoted to Warchief. Determined to put an end to him, I tried again… and again… but he kept returning. Eventually, I attempted to recruit him, but his Iron Will resisted, so I resorted to shaming him repeatedly.

That backfired spectacularly. Instead of breaking, he became a Maniac, growing even stronger and capable of one-shotting me if I so much as slipped up. He climbed the ranks until he became Overlord, and at that point, I knew I couldn't take him down alone. So, I planted four bodyguards in his inner circle, waiting for the perfect moment to betray him. When the time came, my minions turned on him mid-battle, while I spent the entire fight dodging like my life depended on it—because it did. Eventually, my conspirators took him down, and I made his killer the new Overlord of Gorgoroth. So far, he hasn’t betrayed me… yet.

Looking back, Shadow of War is a flawed but truly special game. Even after all these years, nothing quite compares to the chaos and emergent storytelling that the Nemesis System creates. Monolith’s work here was remarkable, and their innovation will leave a lasting impact on gaming. It’s a shame to see such a talented studio go, and their Nemesis system locked behind a patent, but their legacy lives on in the stories we’ve all created.

Thank you, Monolith. You deserved better.

Kill orcs. Behead orcs. Roundhouse kick an orc into the concrete. Slam dunk an orc baby into the trashcan. Crucify filthy orcs. Defecate in an orc's food. Launch orcs into the sun. Stir fry orcs in a wok. Toss orcs into active volcanoes. Twist orcs heads off.

I was never a fan of LOTR, This game is an absolute gem, its sad the studios of this game has been shut down.

everything is upgrade from previous game