Shank 2

64%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,465 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Shank 2 Game Cover
If you are a LOTR fan, chances are that you already bought this game. But for the people who haven’t, this is a perfect rent if I ever saw one. The game is not that bad, but it isn’t that good either.
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Shank 2 is a 2D side-scrolling brawler, playable in single-player or co-op mode for up to two players. Ex-mob hitman Shank uses an arsenal of weapons to protect those close to him from attack, in an open world with fantasy elements and a humorous tone. Despite outstanding game mechanics and pretty visuals, it suffers from poor optimization and grinding, with some bugs. The game improves upon its predecessor's combat system and visual style.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Cloud
  • Linux
  • NVIDIA GeForce NOW
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station 3
  • Xbox
  • Xbox 360
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

64%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,465 reviews
story185 positive mentions
stability75 negative mentions
  • Engaging storyline that expands on the Lord of the Rings lore.
  • Fun combat mechanics with satisfying hack-and-slash gameplay.
  • Great co-op experience, especially with friends.
  • Frequent crashes and bugs, particularly on AMD graphics cards.
  • Linear gameplay with limited exploration and repetitive combat.
  • In-game voice chat cannot be disabled, causing issues with external communication.
  • story529 mentions

    The story of "Lord of the Rings: War in the North" is generally viewed as a mixed bag, with many players appreciating its attempt to weave a new narrative alongside the established lore of Tolkien's universe. While some find the plot engaging and the characters likable, others criticize it for being simplistic, linear, and at times derivative of the original trilogy. Overall, it offers a fun, if not groundbreaking, side story that enhances the lore of Middle-earth, particularly for fans of the franchise.

    • “The game tells a new story with new characters while remaining faithful to the lore and weaving in characters we all know and love.”
    • “The story is amazing.”
    • “The story fits well into the LOTR story.”
    • “The story is weak; while I appreciate it trying to add to the lore of LOTR, it feels forced and unconnected to everything else going on in Middle-earth.”
    • “The story is very basic and bland.”
    • “The story is so linear and full of clichés it actually hurts.”
  • gameplay241 mentions

    The gameplay of the game is generally described as solid and enjoyable, particularly in co-op mode, with a straightforward hack-and-slash combat system that appeals to fans of the genre. However, many reviewers noted issues with repetitiveness, technical glitches, and simplistic mechanics, which detracted from the overall experience. While the game offers a fun adventure set in the Lord of the Rings universe, it lacks depth and polish, making it more suitable for fans seeking nostalgia rather than a groundbreaking gameplay experience.

    • “The gameplay is a great fun due to balanced characters and cool combat skills and cinematic finishing moves; you get 14-15 hours to play in which you visit many different locations and everything is set in a great LOTR environment, influenced by both books and movies.”
    • “The gameplay is straightforward but engaging.”
    • “Great gameplay, fun with friends, impressive storyline.”
    • “The gameplay is some of the most repetitive and bland I have ever experienced—the vast majority of it consists of killing the exact same orcs over and over, just with a different environment.”
    • “The lotr-lore carries the game only for a while before the repetitive and boring gameplay kicks in, toppling it to the 'played once - forgotten forever' pile.”
    • “Repetitive, average hack-and-slash gameplay, unfair checkpoints, bad-barebones dialogue; on top of that, the game suffers from major technical issues: this game keeps crashing to desktop and features poor graphics, it's basically unplayable if you don't downgrade your video card controllers.”
  • graphics220 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that they feel dated, especially for a title released in 2011. While some appreciate the art style and character models, others criticize the visuals as mediocre or poor, particularly on AMD graphics cards, which can lead to significant performance issues. Overall, the graphics are considered acceptable for their time but do not meet the standards of more recent games, often detracting from the overall experience.

    • “The graphics are amazing, the voice acting is beautiful, and the story is just...amazingly well done.”
    • “With the game working well, I was able to see and admire the detail of graphics put into this game, which certainly has held up over the years - the detail and articulation of the great eagles were well done.”
    • “The graphics are nice for the time that the game was released, and they still hold up okay today.”
    • “The graphics are a sore point for a 2019 gamer.”
    • “Definitely won't recommend this game, I don't know what happened with the devs but they never truly had after-release patches to fix the many graphical problems with it (the fact that it crashes the whole computer if you're using an ATI graphics card, not to mention its poor optimization).”
    • “The graphics are like putting battery acid in your eyes.”
  • stability75 mentions

    The game is widely criticized for its numerous stability issues, including frequent crashes, glitches, and bugs that significantly hinder gameplay. Players report game-breaking errors, particularly in specific chapters, and many have experienced frustrating freezes and performance drops. While some find the game enjoyable despite these problems, the overall consensus is that its lack of polish and stability detracts from the experience.

    • “Great game, but it loses your data frequently, crashes, glitches, bugs, freezes, etc.”
    • “The real nail in the coffin for me... nothing annoys me more than enjoying a game all the way up to the last level then experiencing constant crashes, glitches, and graphical errors.”
    • “War in the North is a very buggy game and has many problems.”
  • music33 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its ability to enhance the atmosphere and evoke emotions, particularly in key scenes reminiscent of the Lord of the Rings films. However, many critics find the soundtrack underwhelming and generic, lacking the epic quality expected from a game set in such a rich universe. Overall, while the music contributes positively to the experience, it falls short of the high standards set by its cinematic counterparts.

    • “And yet, when you visit Bree and feel the melancholy that permeates the scene, or the peace of Imladris, when you fight orcs on top of mountain peaks, or travel the Coldfells infested by trolls... it just works... the art direction is perfectly honorable, the scenario, well, not amazing but fits properly within canon, and the music is lovely.”
    • “The soundtrack is pretty good, and none of the levels are exactly impossible, though in some cases it can get that way pretty easily.”
    • “Very decent gameplay, beautiful environments, high quality music, interesting story moments.”
    • “I was astonished at how forgetful the soundtrack for this game was, especially considering it was composed by one such as Inon Zur!”
    • “I've never liked the term 'generic' when labeling music in video games, but damn, that's the only word that comes to my mind.”
    • “An entirely lackluster, anticlimactic game, with extremely underwhelming technology, controls, and a heavily uninspired soundtrack.”
  • replayability30 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating the rewarding skill and leveling systems, character customization, and the availability of new game+ modes that enhance replay value. However, some reviewers noted limitations due to the game's linear nature and lack of content, leading to a perception of diminished replayability for solo play. Co-op gameplay offers additional fun, but glitches and a short campaign can detract from the overall experience.

    • “The skill and leveling system is satisfying and rewarding with plenty of replay value, and gear is so much fun to level up.”
    • “The new game+ and new game++ give the game pretty good replayability.”
    • “Replayability is high as it is a good length dramatic story which gives you the chance to try again at higher levels with interesting equipment.”
    • “Not a whole lot of replayability unless you want to just smash some orcs in the face with a stick or something.”
    • “There is no replay value in a game as tedious as this.”
    • “That said, the game is rather short, and can be beaten in just a few days worth of gameplay, and the replay value is not extraordinarily high due to the game's linear nature.”
  • optimization29 mentions

    The game's optimization has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many players reporting severe stuttering, frequent crashes, and poor performance, particularly on AMD graphics cards. While a few users claim to have experienced smooth gameplay, the consensus is that the developers have not adequately addressed the numerous technical issues since release, making the game largely unplayable for many. Overall, it is recommended to approach this title with caution, especially if performance is a priority.

    • “I haven't experienced any crashes in my gameplay, and it is pretty well optimized. I don't know what people are talking about...”
    • “Runs smoothly and is your all-around awesome hack and slash game!”
    • “Graphics performance on R9 280X at 1080p max settings: 60 fps (v-sync) all the time except for a few stutters when loading new textures.”
    • “Definitely won't recommend this game. I don't know what happened with the devs, but they never truly had after-release patches to fix the many graphical problems with it (the fact that it crashes the whole computer if you're using an ATI graphics card, not to mention its poor optimization).”
    • “An excellent game if you can make it work, but unfortunately for me and many others, it has so many stuttering and crash issues that the game is unplayable.”
    • “The game is so unoptimized for these cards that it becomes practically unplayable.”
  • grinding19 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious and monotonous, with many players finding the combat basic and unsatisfying. While some enjoy the loot and item collection, the overall experience is marred by clunky interfaces, buggy mechanics, and a lack of engaging character progression, leading to a sense of frustration, especially in solo play. Despite its potential for cooperative fun, the grinding often feels like a chore rather than an enjoyable part of the gameplay.

    • “Grindy combat, unsatisfying kills, and lackluster character progression.”
    • “Hours of grinding, 'gathering' and upgrading just [saquishhh!!!... blub blub blub blub] down the toilet.”
    • “You hack at enemies with staggering melee chains to deplete their tediously large amounts of health, and eventually score a 'critical' slow-motion kill, with all such finishers being seen in the first five minutes.”
  • humor15 mentions

    The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with many players finding it entertaining due to funny character interactions and amusing glitches, particularly when playing cooperatively. While some appreciate the comedic elements reminiscent of the LOTR franchise, others note that the game's numerous bugs can lead to both hilarious and frustrating moments. Overall, it offers a lighthearted experience, especially when enjoyed on sale, but may not appeal to those seeking a polished gameplay experience.

    • “Good story and funny characters for a cheap hack and slash, worth the buy when on sale.”
    • “It has its fun moments and can honestly be hilarious at times with its many bugs.”
    • “Biggest con is the glitchiness that occurs when a lot of stuff is on screen but it's generally a funny glitch, not a game-breaking glitch.”
  • atmosphere12 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is a mixed bag, with some players praising its immersive Lord of the Rings feel and beautiful visuals, while others criticize it for lacking depth and cohesion, particularly in audio effects. Despite dated graphics, many appreciate the atmospheric settings and engaging storyline, though some feel it falls short of truly capturing the essence of Tolkien's world. Overall, the atmosphere is enjoyable but inconsistent, with moments of brilliance overshadowed by mediocrity.

    • “Veritable Lord of the Rings atmosphere.”
    • “They nailed the atmosphere for that area, and looking out at all the outstanding crags and jagged rocks planted in the rolling green hills gave me chills.”
    • “I enjoy a lot the graphics, especially the great 3D vision support, the music, and the unique Lord of the Rings atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere is bad; it doesn't feel like Lord of the Rings.”
    • “Voice acting and world atmosphere are also mediocre.”
    • “The atmosphere for that area is nailed, but overall it lacks the essence of Lord of the Rings.”
  • character development7 mentions

    Character development in the game is largely criticized, with many reviewers noting a lack of depth and personality in the characters, despite some appealing design elements. While there are systems in place for character progression, such as the "3-tree" system reminiscent of Diablo 2, the best choices are often obvious, leading to a feeling of stagnation. Overall, the absence of meaningful character development detracts from the experience, leaving players wanting more options and depth.

    • “Except for occasional characters with bad voice acting, the game really makes you feel like you're in Middle-earth, with all the place and people names mentioned, sentence structures reminiscent of Tolkien, and good character design.”
    • “If they just had added some more ways to do the quests... if they just had added some more options in character development.”
    • “Audio/visual: the landscapes and character design are extremely well done for a 2011 game with details such as seeing the weaves in Elrond's shirt, rock patterns in the background, and blood splatter as you chop off the orc's head.”
    • “The premise is good, but the game itself is a crappy mess... horrible controls, poor story, and no character development.”
    • “You control one of three characters with no personality or character development, trying to chain as many finishers as possible until you unlock Farin's explosive arrow and trivialize the game.”
    • “Also, there is absolutely no character development, and I think that if it wasn't for the good gameplay, I would have quit this game.”
  • emotional3 mentions

    While some users find the game evokes strong emotions, others criticize its storyline as banal and unoriginal, suggesting that the emotional impact is undermined by a lack of depth in the narrative.

    • “It makes you feel emotional.”
    • “The story evokes deep feelings and resonates with personal experiences.”
    • “The characters' journeys are profoundly moving and leave a lasting impact.”
    • “The emotional depth of the characters is lacking, making it hard to connect with their struggles.”
    • “I expected a gripping narrative, but instead, I was met with a predictable and uninspired plot.”
    • “The game fails to evoke any real feelings; it feels more like a chore than an emotional journey.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game is perceived as a cash grab, lacking originality and primarily aimed at profiting from the popularity of the movies.

    • “This is nothing special, just another quick cash grab to capitalize on the success of the movies.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

64% average critic score

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Play time

13hMedian play time
18hAverage play time
4hMain story
19hCompletionist
10-28hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 9 analyzed playthroughs

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