When comparing MLB The Show 18 vs Middle-earth: Shadow of War, the Slant community recommends Middle-earth: Shadow of War for most people. In the question“What are the best single player games on PS4?” Middle-earth: Shadow of War is ranked 55th while MLB The Show 18 is ranked 108th. The most important reason people chose Middle-earth: Shadow of War is:
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.
Specs
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Pros
Pro Great handling in the gameplay systems such as hitting and catching
While the baseball ruleset has been kept intact perfectly, the most noteworthy aspect is how well the player characters control and handle. Whether you're hitting a homerun, pitching a curveball, or making a diving save in the outfield, the input feels great and responsive. Hitting feels natural and challenging, without being easy enough to feel cheap. A feedback system allows you keep an eye on your swing timing and contact. Connecting just right and watching the ball soar is one of the game's biggest thrills.
In the field, players move realistically in terms of speed thanks to the redesigned physics engine. To catch the ball, you'll have to pay attention and time your movements so you can be in the right place at the right time. If you miss the catch and the ball goes bouncing off a wall or tumbling through the field, you'll need to react fast so baserunners don't get extra time.
The great handling comes together in an exciting and realistic way that makes MLB 18 one of the best representations of baseball in video games to date.
Pro Highly enjoyable and rewarding Road to the Show mode
One of the most fun and interactive modes is Road to the Show. After creating and customizing your own character, you'll start out as an underdog in the AA and AAA leagues.
Skill are handled in an RPG style where your skills improve or decline based on your performance. Hit too many foul balls or accumulate too many strikeouts, and your batting performance will suffer. Failing to catch balls in the outfield or throwing them your infielders will further damage your abilities. On the flip side, hit enough home runs or make some incredible plays and you'll start to get noticed by scouts. Since it's incredibly challenging to get noticed by a scout and drafted into the big leagues, there's a distinct sense of accomplishment when you finally go pro. This makes it a very satisfying mode to play.
Besides the onfield action, you'll also have talks with your manager from time to time. These talks include dialogue choices that may effect your career. For example, you may be asked to switch from infielder to outfielder. You can agree and attempt to build your skills in the new area, or you can outright refuse. If you constantly decline or give your coaches a hard time, you may be benched or even traded.
Between improving your abilities through skillful play, watching your career evolve over time, and playing your heart out to get drafted into the big leagues, Road to the Show mode is a highly enjoyable and rewarding experience.
Pro Great variety in the play modes
There are 3 game modes, tackling various aspects of baseball. Franchise mode allows you to make all the managerial decisions that go into making a team such as trading players. Diamond Dynasty mode allows you to earn collectibles such as cards by playing ranked head to head matches online or a draft based multiplayer ladder. Road to the Show is a career mode that has you playing as a character in his attempt to rise to the top.
Pro Extremely polished baseball experience
It's easy to get into the action when everything looks and sounds incredible, down to the smallest detail. The graphics are breathtaking, with a photo-realism in the field and players that's hard to find in other baseball games. Uniforms have more textures and the numbers on the back have a defined shine to them.
The animations of players hitting with a bat, pitching, and throwing are smooth and consistent. Ball physics are spot on, and the camera and replay shots look beautiful. Even the number of attendees in the crowd change based on your wins, losses, and day of the week.
The commentary is also excellent, featuring popular commentators. They recorded the dialogue together in the studio, so that when played out in-game, comes off as real and organic banter instead of copy and pasted lines.
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 Online play is laggy
The online play is plagued by input issues and lag. There is sometimes a delay between the pitcher winding up to throw the ball and when the ball actually leaves his hand. There's also some lag between the batter's swing and connecting with the ball. This can make pitching and hitting an exercise in frustration. Input delay persists in other cases as well, such as when throwing the ball from the outfield to tag out a base runner. All of these issues add up, making MLB 18's online play a sloppy experience.
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.