When comparing The Evil Within 2 vs Middle-earth: Shadow of War, the Slant community recommends The Evil Within 2 for most people. In the question“What are the best single player games on PS4?” The Evil Within 2 is ranked 46th while Middle-earth: Shadow of War is ranked 55th. The most important reason people chose The Evil Within 2 is:
As you explore the nightmarish world of The Evil Within 2, you'll almost never feel safe due to a variety of reasons. First, the disfigured nightmare monsters are very dangerous, so messing up usually equates to your death. Even when you get used to the controls and combat, you can mess up very easily. This uncertainty of success slowly creeps into your mind, being more effective than any jump scare. Second, resources are very scarce, so every shot counts. If you spend too many bullets in one section, you probably won't have enough for the next. If you miss a headshot, the monster will probably get to swing at you. As a result, you might constantly weigh your options, whether to attempt a direct confrontation or go for the riskier stealth kills in an attempt to conserve ammo and health. Third, the world is very open, removing some of the predictability found in linear survival horror games. You never know when or where the monsters will be, causing you to always look in every direction. This uncertainty can be really nerve wracking. The Evil Within 2 is a great example of survival horror done right.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Great feeling of suspense
As you explore the nightmarish world of The Evil Within 2, you'll almost never feel safe due to a variety of reasons.
First, the disfigured nightmare monsters are very dangerous, so messing up usually equates to your death. Even when you get used to the controls and combat, you can mess up very easily. This uncertainty of success slowly creeps into your mind, being more effective than any jump scare.
Second, resources are very scarce, so every shot counts. If you spend too many bullets in one section, you probably won't have enough for the next. If you miss a headshot, the monster will probably get to swing at you. As a result, you might constantly weigh your options, whether to attempt a direct confrontation or go for the riskier stealth kills in an attempt to conserve ammo and health.
Third, the world is very open, removing some of the predictability found in linear survival horror games. You never know when or where the monsters will be, causing you to always look in every direction. This uncertainty can be really nerve wracking.
The Evil Within 2 is a great example of survival horror done right.
Pro Excellent crafting system
As you explore the world you'll find various materials that can be used for crafting ammo and health items. You can either use a crafting table or craft items while you're out in the field at double the cost. This gives the crafting system a fair amount of flexibility and depth, allowing you to quickly craft something in case of an emergency, while also rewarding careful resource management and planning.
Pro Interesting story
The Evil Within 2 at its core is a story about a father looking for his long-lost daughter in a nightmarish artificial world, generated within a computer system. Its inhabitants have succumbed to the negative influences of the world, turning them into monsters, which leaves you to take them out. It's a really good mix of great plot elements, drama, interesting characters with a slight touch of conspiracy. On top of that, the story has a fairly satisfying conclusion without trying to set up for a sequel.
Pro Character connections make for a compelling experience
Shadow of War uses the Nemesis system to create a more immersive and alive-feeling world. Thanks to it, orc leaders have names, ranks, titles, tribes they belong to, and most importantly, connections to other orc leaders.
For example, an orc leader might be at war with another orc leader. This conflict won't end until one of them dies. There are also orcs that are considered blood brothers, having unwavering loyalty to each other. Because of this, don't be too surprised if you ever get betrayed by one of your followers that's trying to do right by his blood brother.
Additionally, the leaders you fight will also develop connections with you. Orcs that you've killed or spared, may come back with scars, recalling your previous encounter and vowing to exact vengeance. Orcs that you've escaped from will mock you for being a chicken, and so forth. The gradual creation of this web of connections is very enjoyable and sometimes even more compelling than the game's main story.
Pro Addictive gear collection fuels your thirst for orc blood
As you kill orc leaders, they'll drop random quality gear items, ranging from common rarity every-orc weapons/armor to legendary rarity artifacts with unique names. Each item serves to improve your character, providing various stat increases and damage bonuses. You can also upgrade gear with gems or via challenges that usually involve killing orcs, bolstering your strength even further. On top of that, there are set bonuses for legendary items, giving you special abilities such as your hits applying explosive poison on regular enemies. It's very exciting seeing what gear piece an orc leader will drop once you lob his head off, causing you to constantly seek out new victims.
Pro Satisfying combat
Shadow of War gives one of the better feeling combat systems in recent times, allowing you to be either stealthy or go for direct confrontations.
If you choose to be stealthy, you can skewer unsuspecting orcs from behind with your dagger, drop onto them from a building while impaling them with your sword, or just pierce them from afar with your bow.
If you choose a direct confrontation, it's a really quick-paced and brutal showdown against your enemies with your chosen melee weapon. You weave combos against enemies, dodging, parrying, and countering enemy attacks, which ends in a devastating finishing move, resulting in a mutilated or decapitated orc.
Whichever method you choose, the combat flows really well and you always feel like a force to be reckoned with.
Pro You can lead an orc army and expand your own dominion
As part of the Nemesis system, you can recruit orc leaders after you've bested them in combat. Each one has his own unique strengths and weaknesses, so making the best possible army for conquering enemy territories might take a while.
For example, an orc leader can be completely immune to ranged attacks, but can take increased damage from explosions. You should take such an orc leader on assaults against fortresses filled with archers but be wary of the slightest hints of any bombs.
Once you've finished building a sizeable force, you can assault a fortresses. If you succeed in the assault, you'll take over a territory, allowing you to install your own orc leader as the ruler. With enough effort you'll gradually take over Mordor and its surrounding lands.
Shadow of War makes you feel like a recruiter, general, and a ruler, which is very empowering and a lot of fun.
Cons
Con Might not be that scary for hardened horror fans
While there is a fair share of grotesque imagery and creepy moments, the scare factor isn't that high. You'll encounter the ocasional jump scare, but nothing ever gives you an impending sense of doom, which can be pretty disappointing for horror enthusiasts.
Con Can get repetitive
The overall gameplay formula doesn't change much over the course of the game. You fight orcs, take over strongholds, upgrade your character, and collect blips on the world map. After a while it can start feeling like a grind, especially during long play sessions. This is made worse in the final stretch of the game where you have to fight through 20 consecutive stronghold battles without any story segments or exposition.
Con Unskippable cutscenes disrupt the flow of the gameplay
Every time an orc leader enters the screen, there is an unskippable cutscene where he rambles a bit, focusing the camera on him and halting combat until the cutscene ends. This usually happens as you're fighting another enemy, potentially disrupting your rhythm, which can be really frustrating, especially if mess up your combo or take an unnecessary hit after the cutscene.