Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor - anyone here excited about this game? update-reviews!

[TheUnk]

I don't recall seeing anything in the patch notes about Shadow of Mordor, and I'd be surprised if there was anything in the 14.9 update. Hopefully AMD has some optimization soon though! I have CF 7970s in 1080p Eyefinity. No idea how it is going to run & haven't had the chance to test yet. I may skip Eyefinity altogether with this title though if it runs poorly enough.

Edit: I heard there's a benchmark utility. What are people scoring with their setups?

It doesn't work with Nvidia Surround so I'm guessing the same goes for Eyefinity. It lets you select the resolution but it only uses a small section (in my case like 3") of the other screens.

 

[dmoney1980]

I ran some benchmarks this morning, and it's obvious that this game is not using SLI at the moment. I provided some screenshots below that validate these observations. The second GPU isn't being used, and the primary GPU does all the work. RAM usage between Ultra and High texture sets does go up, with Ultra maxing out the vRAM.

I also installed the ultra textures and did 2 benchmark runs comparing Ultra and High texture sets, which you can see below. Ultra does max out the RAM on the GPU, but it has little to no affect on FPS. I'm beginning to wonder if the 6gb recommendation is a valid one.

Please note that this was set to 1440p, vsync off, all other settings maxed out.

High Texture Quality

Ultra Texture Quality

 

[cbrunny]

It doesn't work with Nvidia Surround so I'm guessing the same goes for Eyefinity. It lets you select the resolution but it only uses a small section (in my case like 3") of the other screens.

Oh good to know. I'll try it out tonight and post back with my Eyefinity results.

 

[sam_816]

Will I b able to run on higher settings at 720p(60htz plasma tv) with gtx 780 classified?

 

[dmoney1980]

Will I b able to run on higher settings at 720p(60htz plasma tv) with gtx 780 classified?

I think that you can easily run it maxed out with a 780 classy at 720

 

[Dahak]

I just did as quick benchmark my self on my rig, selected the Ultra Preset and change nothing
I7 4770, 16GB Ram, 770 4GB GTX, resolution 1280X1024

Average 82
Max 150
Min 51

**EDIT**
This was before finding that the Ultra Textures are not in the initial download.
I had to do the following to get them.
Open https://steamdb.info/app/311670/ in your web browser and click on install.
It might give an error
then right click on the game, click on DLC tab, put a checkmark beside the HD Content.
Click Close
and wait for teh ~3.8GB download to finish
**EDIT**

Will run again once I get the HD content

 

[cbrunny]

I just did as quick benchmark my self on my rig, selected the Ultra Preset and change nothing
I7 4770, 16GB Ram, 770 4GB GTX, resolution 1280X1024

Average 82
Max 150
Min 51

**EDIT**
This was before finding that the Ultra Textures are not in the initial download.
I had to do the following to get them.
Open https://steamdb.info/app/311670/ in your web browser and click on install.
It might give an error
then right click on the game, click on DLC tab, put a checkmark beside the HD Content.
Click Close
and wait for teh ~3.8GB download to finish
**EDIT**

Will run again once I get the HD content

Can you please confirm the resolution? You ran it at 1280x1024?

 

[Attic]

Can anyone test on i3 haswell or better the Intel G3258 when OC'd.

Game looks good, but I don't want to jump into 30fps average with my CPU.

 

[slatr]

Is this the same team who made SHOGO: Mobile Armored Division?

 

[Dahak]

Can you please confirm the resolution? You ran it at 1280x1024?

Yes its is at 1280X2014,(4:3 ratio) its an older 19 Inch LCD.
Still something about widescreen(16:9 ratio) monitors that irk me, cant seem to find one I like
although the 16:10 ratio ones look better, plus this monitor is what I used on my old system before upgrading to the current specs that I listed

 

[sam_816]

I think that you can easily run it maxed out with a 780 classy at 720

Aah that's good news. Thanks my first game on my first pc lol

 

[Fallen Kell]

Yes its is at 1280X2014,(4:3 ratio) its an older 19 Inch LCD.
Still something about widescreen(16:9 ratio) monitors that irk me, cant seem to find one I like
although the 16:10 ratio ones look better, plus this monitor is what I used on my old system before upgrading to the current specs that I listed

I hear you there. Took me a while to find ones I liked, and settled on 1920x1200. I wouldn't mind getting something higher resolution, but I can't stand the loss in vertical space.

 

[ImpulsE69]

I'm confused..there are very little cards with 6GB of ram? Are they expecting SLI/Crossfire?

My piddly 1.5GB Even the new cards I'm looking at max out at 4GB...

 

[Zenoth]

I think that they've created such high resolution textures for "future proofing" the game's visuals for two or three years from now, but that's just how I see it. If that's the case I like their decision.

Anyway I've been playing it for 3 hours or so, and so far I like it. I'm running the game on the 70% resolution setup, it's a weird resolution number but it's close to my 1400x1050 setting (it's actually a little higher in the game video options but not by much). All settings are at their highest, except for 1) Textures, which I run at the Medium setting (2GB video ram), and 2) Ambient Occlusion, which I turned Off (since I just don't like how it looks in pretty much all the games I've seen it used in).

With those settings I get a satisfying (smooth) performance and the game overall looks pretty good, although the environments are somewhat bland in general (or simply barren of features in some areas). The character animations (and the Orcs' / Uruk's) are very good, smooth and seamless, it reminds me of Assassin's Creed a lot (as pointed at in the reviews, and I definitely see the inspiration coming from that series, it's just obvious). The geographical layout and ground layers of the map were obviously crafted to accomodate the "I'm able to climb almost any surface at almost any angles imaginable" feature... and sometimes it's just exaggerated, but I can understand why in terms of game-play (purely game-play, regardless of the "plausibility" of it) they decided to craft the map the way it is, simply because it gives more freedom of movement and you very rarely run out of "exit routes" or encounter a dead end wall that you *finally* can't climb.

The sounds are good too, and the music while a bit repetitive (maybe I just haven't explored enough or done enough different missions to hear more of the soundtrack) fits the game well and fits the Lord of the Rings leitmotiv (in my opinion anyway). And I like the atmosphere in general (visually, mostly). I also love to break open those cages and let the contained beasts on the loose, then seeing those Uruks get chased is priceless.

Also, my system's specs are in my signature, not exactly a "modern" gaming PC anymore, but it gets the job done. I was afraid that I'd be stuck at running almost everything on lower settings, but I'm pleased to see that I can basically just turn almost everything up to max with the exception or three settings (textures, screen resolution and ambient occlusion). I'm happy to see that there's ultra textures settings coming with the game, on release, without having to wait for modding communities to do it, more developers should do that. That way, in about two or three years from now when I decide to upgrade to a high-end card I'll be able to turn up them textures and enjoy a still-looking-good game that didn't seem to age at all.

 

[cbrunny]

Not only does this game not support Eyefinity, it outright hates it.

I started up the game for the first time in 1080p Eyefinity. It did what the internet says it does - uses only three inches or so on either side panel. I tried adjusting the resolution. There isn't even an option to scale it to 1080p!! So after fiddling with those settings for a few minutes I returned to the main screen and crashed to desktop. Now any time I load the game, when I get to the spot that should be the main menu it crashes to desktop. Verified game cache with no errors. Uninstalled & re-downloading now. What a waste. Pretty frustrating. That's bush league.

 

[Eric1987]

Without the ultra texture pack everything maxed at 4k I get 34 FPS average.

 

[sam_816]

Without the ultra texture pack everything maxed at 4k I get 34 FPS average.

What's ur pc config?

 

[Eric1987]

290x at 1100/1550 2500k at 4.3GHz 16GB 1600MHz RAM and its on a Samsung 840 Evo 250GB.

 

[richierich1212]

I'm downloading this now. How's the gameplay with keyboard and mouse? Or are you guys using a controller?

 

[Zenoth]

I'm downloading this now. How's the gameplay with keyboard and mouse? Or are you guys using a controller?

Keyboard + Mouse for me, and I find the KB+M controls to be good-enough (by default, and I haven't checked to see if we can adjust them yet). Using the WASD keys for movement, which is the usual default configuration. The only thing I sort of dislike so far is that the left CTRL key is used for gathering (herbs), picking up Runes and I think one or two other functions.

I generally don't like having to use that key while using a WASD configuration since I have to do all sorts of left side hand contortions to reach it, but maybe that's just me (I.E., my hand, I guess), or it's me + my Keyboard's own keys layout that's not efficient enough (very generic Logitech keyboard, nothing special about it).

But, yeah, so far the default controls are generally good enough for me, nothing to complain about and it gets the job done. There's a lot of automated moves anyway from the character, often it's just one-clicks that lead to a succession of character animations and actions (sneaking, grabbing the enemy from behind, cutting throat, etc, all done automatically). And all those automated moves do help reduce the amount of physical key presses needed to... well to basically play the game.

 

[Eric1987]

It runs just fine with the ultra textures at 4k I dunno why they say 6GB. I have just 1 card too.

 

[cbrunny]

Follow up from post #90.

This is buggy garbage. Extremely unimpressed. After wiping the game off my drive completely and redownloading, starting the download with just one monitor active and trying to run the game with two of three disabled, I have yet to see the main menu without a crash to desktop.

Specs: i7 4790k, 2 x 7970, 8GB ram, 128 GB 840 EVO, Win 8.1.

Should work. No reason for it not to. Even with CF disabled it still crashes to desktop.

 

[davie jambo]

Follow up from post #90.

This is buggy garbage. Extremely unimpressed. After wiping the game off my drive completely and redownloading, starting the download with just one monitor active and trying to run the game with two of three disabled, I have yet to see the main menu without a crash to desktop.

Specs: i7 4790k, 2 x 7970, 8GB ram, 128 GB 840 EVO, Win 8.1.

Should work. No reason for it not to. Even with CF disabled it still crashes to desktop.

Something wrong there with your system maybe , runs fine for 99.9% of people

 

[cbrunny]

I got it working. Google said to delete the config files in the WB games folder in my Documents folder. Worked first try.

Ran benchmark maxed (except ultra textures) with good results. min frames was around 23 with an avg of ~50. Obviously it isn't using crossfire but still plenty playable.

"You are banished from death" <- awesome. Voice acting is pretty good, esp the wraith.

Gameplay is not as "Assassin's Creed"-like as I was expecting, at least not in the first 45 minutes or so. Still fun though.

 

[Dahak]

I will add to Zenoth's impression too.

For me, on my system I have it running all on the ultra preset, the only thing I turned off was Motion Blur, and another option i cant seem to remember right now.

For gameplay, the easiest way to explain it is Assassin's Creed meets Batman Arkham series
Navigation feels like AC, in that you can pretty much run/climb anywhere.
Combat fells pretty much like a Batman Arkham game, with basic attacks and blocks, you have a stun ability, the bow, and can get more, so far I have unlocked Finishers.

Nemesis System - I am rather enjoying it. Near the beginning there as a collectable I wanted to get, so I sneaked around killing the orcs that are in the way went to grab the collectable and got notices by one orc that was a Captain. After getting my butt whopped as 3 more captains showed up with more orcs I died.

So then it shows the Saurons Army screen, that been in the screenshots and seen the main captain level up and take the place of another one that he killed, the other 3 gained more power too.

Ran into these 3 or 4 a few times, and they got more powerful, ran into a few new ones in a different area as well.

Each time running into them, they will remember and taunt you, or if you have done some damage to them they will make a remark about it in some way.

So far I am really enjoying it, it looks pretty much like it does in the preview videos. You can interrogate any orc to reveal the name and general area of any unknown captains or with certain orcs or chance when you kill you can get details of the strengths and weaknesses of the captains too.

Now I have not gone to far into the story so far, but have been doing a lot of collectables hunting. Which is the usual, herbs for map challenges, parts of a door like the door into moria,
artifacts that have a little story to it.

All in all I am really enjoying this so far, unlike Watchdogs which even finished the game still left me wanting more.