What is the difference between Middle Earth Shadow of War and Definitive Edition?
The key difference between Middle Earth: Shadow of War and the Definitive Edition comes down to additional downloadable content (DLC). While the base game offers dozens of hours of gameplay, the Definitive Edition packages in all major DLC releases – significantly expanding the scope of the experience.
DLCs Included in the Definitive Edition
Specifically, the Definitive Edition contains the following major DLCs:
- Slaughter Tribe Nemesis Expansion
- Outlaw Tribe Nemesis Expansion
- Desolation of Mordor Story Expansion
- Blade of Galadriel Story Expansion
Let‘s break down what each of these adds to the game:
Slaughter Tribe Nemesis Expansion
The Slaughter tribe orcs specialize in traps and bombs, adding a new layer of challenge and complexity to fortress assaults. As a passionate gamer, I loved encountering these tricky new enemies that could quickly turn the tables if you‘re not careful!
This expansion includes:
- New Slaughter tribe orcs with traps and bombs
- New fortress upgrades and assaults
- New missions, gear, followers, and abilities
Based on fan reviews, the Slaughter Tribe orcs stand out for testing even seasoned players with their ruthless tactics.
Outlaw Tribe Nemesis Expansion
Meanwhile, the Outlaw tribe focuses on ranged attacks and stealth, featuring sly new uruk tribesmen and ologs. Their hit-and-run tactics force you to rethink your approach.
This DLC includes:
- New Outlaw tribe orcs with stealth and ranged attacks
- New fortress upgrades and assault opportunities
- Additional missions, equipment, followers, and abilities
As a gamer, I love how the Outlaw tribe delivered an entirely fresh combat experience centered around trickery and evasion. Their guerrilla tactics are no joke!
According to fan reviews, the Outlaw Tribe expansion is on par with Slaughter in terms of enjoyment and challenge introduced.
Desolation of Mordor Story Expansion
Perhaps the most significant Shadow of War DLC is Desolation of Mordor, which takes place after the main story concludes. This expansion lets you continue the adventure with new narratives set in the gloomy eastern reaches of Mordor.
Desolation of Mordor introduces:
- New story campaign set after the main game
- Baranor as a new playable hero with unique skills
- Thrilling new plots that enrich Shadow of War‘s lore
- Dozens of new missions across the depressing eastern reaches of Mordor
For hungry fans like myself, Desolation of Mordor was a welcome chance to extend our stay in Middle Earth. And the new eastern regions of Mordor proved to be full of surprises!
Overall, this story expansion has been enthusiastically received for delivering 10+ hours of fresh adventuring.
Blade of Galadriel Story Expansion
Last but not least, the Blade of Galadriel expansion enables you to play as the elite elven warrior Eltariel. With her own unique combat abilities and gear, Eltarriel makes for a very distinct experience compared to the base game.
Blade of Galadriel introduces:
- Eltariel as second playable hero with new skills and weaponry
- Additional storyline focused on the titular Blade of Galadriel
- Exclusive gear, enemies, missions befitting an elven assassin
- 6+ hours of new narrative content and adventures
Based on community feedback, Blade of Galadriel earned praise for the sheer enjoyment of embodied this lethal elven warrior. The refined combat and storyline also set it apart from previous content.
Gameplay Statistics and Data
Overall, the additional content included with the Definitive Edition represents a 150%+ increase in gameplay opportunities compared to the base version of Shadow of War:
| Version | Main Story Length | Completionist Length |
|---|---|---|
| Base Game | 20.5 hours | 55 hours |
| Definitive Edition | 55+ hours | 100+ hours |
In other words, you‘re essentially getting the equivalent of two full Shadow of War experiences rolled into one with the Definitive Edition.
Review aggregators like OpenCritic also show slightly higher average review scores for the Definitive Edition vs. original release:
- Shadow of War (2017): 84% average, 75% recommended
- Definitive Edition (2018): 86% average, 81% recommended
So by and large, critics felt the additional content enhanced and expanded upon the strengths of the base game in enjoyable ways.
Additional Differences
Beyond the sheer volume of extra content unlocked, the Definitive Edition also makes some subtle quality-of-life tweaks:
- Photo Mode added to pause and line up epic shots
- Improved combat balancing and progression
- Graphical enhancements on capable platforms
- Miscellaneous skill tree and UI improvements
So players can expect both major expansions and helpful gameplay refinements compared to launch.
The Verdict?
As both a Tolkien fan and experienced gamer, I heartily recommend the Definitive Edition to fans hungry to explore every inch of Middle Earth: Shadow of War.
The two new story arcs offer thrilling new perspectives, while the additional Nemesis Tribes enhance tactical diversity across sieges, missions and open world roaming. Meanwhile, the sheer wealth of extra content doubles total playtime for truly devoted fans.
Simply put, the Definitive Edition is the ultimate package for experiencing everything this modern Tolkien epic has to offer! While Shadow of War remains an outstanding game on its own merits, the Definitive Edition cements its place among the genre greats.
