First off, this game has been out for quite awhile so I know I am late to the game here.
Secondly, if you're like me and you rarely if ever buy your games at release, I strongly recommend that you pick this up. The gameplay is akin to Assassin's Creed, really. It can be kind of tedious at times, and it isn't necessarily all that challenging. Where this game shines, however, is in the Nemesis System.
I've only sunk a couple of hours into the game, but already I've had a thrilling experience with it and it apparently is only going to get better. To be frank, this game would be only a shell of what it is now without Nemesis, and another otherwise forgettable game in the LOTR universe. Thus far, I've been killed a couple of times, and the interactions with the Uruks who killed me has been awesome. (Sometimes they're confused, another Uruk was pissed that I somehow managed to live.)
The most important part of the system is that I am yet to encounter a "recycled" phrase. They react either to a previous encounter, or in regards to the current situation. As an example, I burnt one Uruk by throwing him into a campfire, and he came back pasty-white with pale white eyes, screaming that all he smells is burnt flesh now. Another Uruk called me out as a coward for riding on the back of a Caragor, (a giant cat-like predator). Better yet, you even get to do some "orc politics." I haven't made it that far in the story, (spent most of my time tormenting captains), but from what I understand you can get orcs to fight for/with you if you play your cards right. A system like this is totally unprecedented in video games and I welcome to see what it can do in the future.
Who has played it? What's your thoughts? If you haven't played it and it interests you in the slightest amount, I strongly recommend buying/borrowing a copy ASAP. You will not be disappointed with how much fun it can be.
Edited by Draznar, 06 May 2015 - 12:18 PM.