MIDDLE EARTH SHADOW OF MORDOR REVIEW FULL
MIDDLE EARTH SHADOW OF MORDOR REVIEW PS2

There was one uruk who had killed me so many times his motive description changed to ‘weary at the thought of another battle with Talion’, I then made it a point to turn up and annoy him just by my being alive. The game world advances upon player death making each death feel relevant and meaningful. I cannot overstate how awesome it was to re-encounter an uruk who had previously handed my ass to me, to have him reference it when next we met. This is where the Nemesis system really shines, if your target escapes or should kill you they will then advance in power and remember their encounter with you when next you meet. Each uruk in the hierarchy has a character specific title and the character models are so varied I never came across a duplicate, likewise with the dialogue, I encountered no repetition from the captains when I confronted them. Due to the random nature of the strengths and weaknesses it helps to make each target feel unique and more alive. Gaining this intel allows players to plan the most effective way to eliminate their targets. Each uruk has randomly generated strengths and weaknesses that players will have to discover by interrogating other uruks.

Uruks will compete with each other in order to ascend to higher levels in the hierarchy, players can directly influence how this plays out deliberately targeting particular uruks to weaken Sauron’s army. Each map has a hierarchy screen like this so you can effectively manipulate the uruk inhabitants.Įach map has a hierarchy of uruks and their war-chiefs, all controlled by the Nemesis system which forms the crux of the SOM experience. Set between the events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, Mordor is for the most part still green, with large stretches of grass and fields, the environments are beautifully rendered and encouraged me to spend as much time as I could exploring all that Mordor had to offer.

Mordor consists of two large maps filled with uruks and wild beasts, and has yet to become the blackened scorched environment of the LOTR trilogy. The intro to the game is very cinematic and introduces the basic player control well, and quickly drops players into the first open world section of Mordor. Talion then awakes to find himself bound to the spirit of the elf-wraith, Celebrimbor, who promptly informs Talion that he is henceforth ‘banished from death’ until they defeat the Black Hand of Sauron to break the curse that binds them together.

MIDDLE EARTH SHADOW OF MORDOR REVIEW FULL

The three main villains of the game invade Talion’s home and promptly execute both Talion and his family in full throat slitting fashion. Whilst set in Peter Jackson’s film universe, SOM is a violent 18+ experience throughout. Right off the bat SOM establishes that this is a very violent and dark depiction of Tolkien’s Middle Earth. Players control a ranger named Talion who is stationed on the Black Gate and his whole world goes to s*** within the first five minutes. The Nemesis system ensures that everyone’s experience of SOM is subtly unique to each player, creating new and interesting relationships between the player and their enemies. It’s been a long time since I thought to myself ‘this is a genuinely new feature I haven’t seen before’. Much of my enjoyment stemmed from the introduction of the Nemesis system which is at the very heart of this game.

MIDDLE EARTH SHADOW OF MORDOR REVIEW PS2

Not since The Two Towers and Return of the King on the PS2 have I enjoyed a LOTR game this much. Shadow of Mordor (SOM) is easily the best entry in the LOTR franchise and is a great action game in its own right. …for the better! We finally have a LOTR game that surpasses all that came before it.

Middle earth shadow of mordor review