SHADOW OF WAR DECIDEDLY AND OFFICIALLY TAKES 'GAME OF THE YEAR 2017' GOLD MEDALIST br A LOT TO BE SAID HERE: br FROM SHADOW OF MORDOR THERE WERE DRAMATIC IMPROVEMENTS AND EVEN MULTIFACETED MODES LIKE SIEGE UPGRADES, INVASIONS, AVENGING A FALLEN ALLY ONLINE- br WHEREAS THE VAST MAJORITY OF GAMES HAVE MAJOR POINTS TAKEN OFF FOR 'GAME MECHANICS', SOW GETS IT DOWN VERY VERY WELL; THERE'S JUST SOME ISSUES WITH ABRUPT STOPPING FOR WALLS OR CLIFFS ETC. br FUN-O-METER WAS AT A CONSTANT 8.5 - 10; THE ONLY PROBLEMS I HAD- AND THESE WERE SO INSIGNIFICANT COMPARED TO EVERYTHING ELSE THE GAME GOT AN A+ FOR, WAS THE DRAKES AND AT THE END FOR A BONUS TO DEMONSTRATE REAL MASTERY OF THE GAME WHEN YOU HAVE TO HOLD OFF INVASIONS, IT GETS A LITTLE TOO OVERWHELMING AND BY THAT I MEAN TOO MANY ENEMIESALLIES ON THE BATTLEFIELD AT ONCE SO YOU CAN'T REALLY DO ANYTHING SINCE YOU'RE ABOUT TO GET HIT EVERY QUARTER-SECOND br AN INHERENTLY VERY VERY CHALLENGING GAME BUT PERHAPS MOST IMPRESSIVE START-TO-FINISH GAMEPLAY IN A LONG LONG TIME BY VIRTUE OF THE FACT THAT THERE WERE NO DEATHS!!! SOME REALLY CLOSE-CALLS BUT NO DEATHS!!!!! WELL AS I TYPE THIS THERE'S ONE LAST DEFEND TO DO UNTIL DONE COMPLETELY (MAYBE WIL LCOME BACK FOR DLCs WHO KNOWS) br PERSONA 5 I KNEW WAS GOING TO TAKE SILVER AND NOT GOLD BECAUSE P5 HAD MANY MANY MOMENTS OF 'DOWN-TIME' BORING MOUTH FLAPPING WAITING FOR THE ACTION (AND WHEN IT WAS ACTION TIME IT WAS 9+10 CONSTANT UNTIL DOWNTIME); SHADOW OF WAR GOES STRAIGHT TO THE ACTION AND KEEPS IT THAT WAY BUT FOR A LONG GAME SOMEHOW MASTERFULLY KEPT IT AT A 9-10+!!!! br br 9.