![]() ![]() I loved being ambushed by a group of captains whilst on another missions. It”s absence wouldn’t make the game bad, but it would be a big loss, as it permeates so much of the gameplay. It’s a brilliant system, and one that’s a real core element, a not a simple gimmick. So, you’ll often see updates of captains attacking each other in an effort to get promoted, and some side missions task you with interfering with these struggles in order to upset the balance of power. ![]() The orcs also don’t exactly get along with each other either, and are constantly fighting amongst themselves, vying for power and promotion. It’s really refreshing, and a great way to make Mordor‘s enemies and combat stand apart from the rest.Ī foe that kills you numerous times becomes your current Nemesis, shown on the Sauron’s army screen, keeping you focused on getting revenge. What’s more, even orcs who are killed sometimes return, disfigured and adorned with metal plates covering their injuries, and the rivalries work both ways. You actually build rivalries with these orcs, and eventually killing that elusive coward who you let slip away, or the powerful foe who kept killing you, make combat feel so unique. This works brilliantly, and is not only impressive, but it makes for enemies that are much more than simple foes to be killed. ![]() They’ll also remember the encounter, and when you next meet, will taunt you. If you’re killed by an officer, that officer will gain power, including more strengths and less weaknesses, and could be promoted in the army. This is great, but the best part comes from losing. Dead officers will upset the strength Sauron’s army, but will be replaced by others soon enough. When you come up against them, which can be any time, including missions or whilst wandering around the world, you’ll have a chance to kill them off to earn runes for your weapons. By finding information, or interrogating others to get it, you can reveal the identities of these officers, and discover their abilities, strengths and weaknesses. These captains are stronger and more powerful than their normal counterparts, and they have their own strength’s and weaknesses, such as being immune to stealth attacks or using ranged tactics, or being afraid of Caragor’s (a large, dog-like beast) or generally avoiding combat in a cowardly way. Along with the endless stream of minor warriors that make up the army, there are higher-ranking officers that serve as mini-bosses. The army of Sauron is made up of Uruks, powerful orcs that function in a combative hierarchy. Surely the stand out feature of the game, the Nemesis system is a work of genius, and a feature that’s sure to be stolen and cloned by many more games to come. In fact, there’s a surprising amount of content here, even early on into your quest the map soon grows replete with missions, side quests, challenges and more, and at all times there’s the ever-present Nemesis system. There’s are no restrictions in place, and although the world is smaller than many other open world titles, it’s still an expansive playground for you to adventure in, and one that’s chock full of foes to fight and things to do. There’s also the matter of finding out about the wraith’s past, which is root in the series’ lore.Īs Talion, you’re free to roam around the world, and you can take on missions and side quests as you see fit. The two set out on a quest to find and kill The Black Hand of Sauron, the person who killed Talion and his family. Instead of dying, however, he’s pulled from the abyss by a mysterious and powerful Elven wraith, and is bound to him, making him an immortal, of sorts. Set between the events of The Hobbit and Lord Of The Rings, Shadow Of Mordor tells the tale of Talion, a Ranger of Gondor, who is killed, along with his wife and son, during Sauron’s return to Middle-earth, as the army of Sauron assaults the Black Gate. And, we’ve had plenty of examples thus far, including fighting games, RPGs and, the MMO, and now the series is moving into open-world, third-person territory with Middle-earth: Shadow Of Mordor. A large fantasy world, rich lore, great characters, and a classic villain make the ultimate ingredients for just about any gaming genre. Tolkein’s beloved fantasy epic is not only a great story, and a stalwart of the genre, but it’s also perfect material for gaming. The Lord Of The Rings series has had it better than most when it comes to videogame adaptations. ![]()
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