This is both thanks to the improved power of the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One as well as the amount of variety Monolith has tried to cram in. On new consoles Shadow of Mordor looks a real treat. Stealth gameplay may be a little on the easy side but at the same time it feels empowering even more so thanks to Talion’s suite of Wraith abilities that come to the fore in a number of situations. As with combat, things are made a little easier: enemies will only be able to spot Talion when fairly close and, even then, their alert gage won’t trigger until after a few seconds of exposure. The game’s stealth mechanics also feel like a refinement of what’s come before and by simply holding the stealth button players reduce their profile, allowing them to bypass Uruk patrols quickly and efficiently. Shadow of Mordor’s fighting isn’t completely identical, however, and feels much more fast-paced and forgiving compared to Batman’s rhythmic waltzes. Using a combination of attacks, counters, and dodges, you’ll weave your way through crowds of enemies while building a combo meter. If you’ve played any of the Batman Arkham games then melee combat will feel instantly familiar. From scare tactics, subterfuge and manipulation to bow sniping and straight up sword-fighting all are viable methods that can be used in-game. Combined, these elements provide players with the tools to approach any encounter as they wish. Focus will always shift between stealth and melee encounters with navigation and ranged combat filling the gaps in between. To seasoned gamers, the best way to describe Shadow of Mordor’s core gameplay is a cocktail of one part Assassin’s Creed, one part Batman, and a sprinkling of other familiar gubbins. Although side missions are still present (in quite an abundance) it’s ultimately the Nemesis system that will keep players coming back for more, long after the ten-hour campaign. This basically turns them into allies who can be used to cause even more havoc among the ranks. As touched on before, Talion will eventually tap into Celebrimbor’s ability to dominate Uruk captains. Think of them as mini bosses who can remember your actions as well as your combat tactics, steeling them for subsequent confrontations. As in Peter Jackson’s original trilogy, these superior orc specimens are hard-skinned and always up for a good scrap, even if that means the occasional bit of infighting.ĭuring your travels through Mordor, you will encounter a number of scenarios allowing you to intimidate, kill, and even manipulate the numerous captains and warchiefs beyond the Black Gate. Through adaptive AI, this adds a whole new layer to the way in which players interact with enemy NPCs thanks to a persistent Uruk hierarchy. What we’re referring to, of course, is the game’s Nemesis system. It’s an impressive feat considering the density of open-world game releasess there have been in the recent past. Many of its elements are lifted directly from other popular series yet, when combined with Monolith’s own bag of tricks, they’re not only refined but refreshing too. Though in no way a bad thing – both games were actually pretty solid – those of us who grew reading the novels and watching Jackson’s original trilogy have been pining for something a little more grounded and visceral.įor this sizeable chunk of the Middle-earth fandom, Shadow of Mordor is a near-perfect slice of gaming goodness. With Monolith’s Guardians of Middle-earth also failing to impress, for the past few years Tolkien fans have had to gorge themselves on two LEGO tie-ins. Though serviceable enough and chock full of content, Snowblind’s action RPG fell short in too many areas despite its apparent ambition. The closest we’ve come to a proper crack at the Middle-earth license in recent years was 2011’s War In The North.
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