When comparing Knack 2 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 Knack 2 is ranked 68th. 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 co-op mode
Having two players on screen amps up the action and adds some fun new gameplay mechanics. You'll add a few new moves to your arsenal such as kicking your friend around, or bodyslamming them into enemies. Pushing your friend off the edge or watching them miss a platforming jump can also be quite funny. Thankfully, they respawn right next to you so you'll never have to wait for them to catch back up to you. If one player is having a particular issue with a tough section of platforming, you can just complete it and then warp your friend to your location. Nobody has to feel left out, and it keeps the action moving along at a steady pace.
Pro Difficulty level feels just right
The platforming and puzzle solving feels like just the right amount of difficulty without being overly frustrating. Most environmental puzzles and challenges have pretty clear solutions while still requiring you think a bit. Most of the challenge stems from being able to execute the jumping or other platforming mechanics just right, as opposed to trying to decipher cryptic or unintuitive jumping schemes. If you fail, checkpoints are usually nearby, so you rarely ever have to replay much.
Pro Solid gameplay with interesting platforming elements
Knack 2 has all the goodies and puzzles of most platformers - moving platforms, traps, tricky jumps, and pushing blocks onto pressure switches. But, what makes it interesting is that Knack can change his size and use various elemental armors to solve the environmental puzzles you encounter.
If there's a small doorway or opening, you can shrink yourself to fit. If there's moving gear puzzles, you can freeze them in place with your ice armor to open and close passageways. You can also make a stone version of yourself to depress pressure plates. You can only jump so many platforms before gameplay starts to feel stale, so the addition of these clever mechanics is a refreshing change and helps keep you interested until the end.
Pro Engaging mix of enemies
There's a good mix of enemies, and the game likes to change them up often enough to where adjusting your strategy is necessary. For example, some may have an electrical shield that will have to be disabled before you can hit them. Other enemies will throw projectiles at you which have to be dodged. Some carry heavy shields that you have to break before you can damage them. Each one requires a different strategy and use of your abilities. All in all, there's enough variety in enemy types to keep you engaged and keep the fighting fresh throughout your run.
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 Characters are underdeveloped
Knack, the main playable character, seemingly only serves to pummel enemies and platform around the levels. He has very little personality, oftentimes only uttering generic lines such as "let's do this!". Additionally, he never seems to build up any kind of relationship with his human buddy, the protagonist Lucas. In fact, there's barely any meaningful interaction or dialogue between the two at all. This underdevelopment makes it really hard to have any connection with the characters.
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.