Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor

Editor's Notes

Disc version reviewed. Another take on 'Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor' is available here.

Introduction

'Middle Earth' is a vast and expansive world created nearly three quarters of a century ago from the imagination of English writer, poet, and World War I veteran, J.R.R. Tolkien. His stories and characters span thousands of pages, dozens of cinematic hours, and numerous video game interpretations. The newest entry into the video game medium, 'Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor' is poised to be one of the most ambitious and creative uses of the property to date. Developed by Monolith Productions, most notable for their contribution to horror genre with the likes of the 'F.E.A.R.' and 'Condemned' series, 'Shadow of Mordor' is a follow up to their multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) 'Guardians of Middle Earth'.

With a greater focus on the single player experience and boasting an entirely new AI mechanic in their Nemesis system, the build-up and support from publisher Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment resulted in one of 2014's most anticipated new IPs. However, just prior to the release of 'Shadow of Mordor', news spread that the title would initially only be available on the current generation consoles and PC, delaying its release on last generation hardware. As might be expected, concern for the game's quality and questions of an unfinished product were understandably posed. Is 'Shadow of Mordor' the one 'Middle Earth' game to rule them all, or is it better off cast into the fires of Mount Doom?

The Game Itself: Our Reviewer's Take

As is the case with many of Tolkien's stories, 'Shadow of Mordor' begins in a most dramatic (and tragic) fashion – with the brutal murder of the wife and son of playable character, Talion the Ranger. Denied the embrace of his loved ones in the afterlife after his own life is taken, Talion is provided with an opportunity for revenge when a ghostly Wraith binds their spirits together. This union not only prevents Talion from dying (more on that later), but also provides him with the otherworldly abilities needed to seek justice and revenge upon those who took his family from him – the disciples of the Black Hand of Sauron.

From a third-person perspective, fans of Rocksteady's 'Batman: Arkham City', as well as Ubisoft's 'Assassin's Creed' series, will undoubtedly feel right at home with the exploration, combat, and stealth mechanics of 'Shadow of Mordor'. Undeniably familiar, each mechanic feels fresh and refined, upgraded and improved. Attacking and countering, when surrounded by dozens of blood-thirsty Uruks, is as fluid and graceful as it is bloody and brutal, allowing for combat finishers that deliver slow-motion beheadings and animalistic savagery that satisfies on a slightly disturbing level. Stalking your victims - hiding in the shadows and effortlessly climbing to the highest peak of a war-ravaged compound – unleashes your inner assassin while opening an abundance of opportunities to take your revenge.

With the end game focused on the assassination of the Uruk War Chiefs, 'Shadow of Mordor' leaves the door hanging off its hinges with the variety of options available to succeed. Not the least of which is the game's Nemesis system. Unlike anything I've experienced in a video game before, it prompts the player to explore further and strategize in ways otherwise not considered when preparing for forthcoming battles.

Through the gathering of intel, or the interrogation of lesser Uruks (think Spock's mind-meld), the Nemesis system reveals the individual strengths and weaknesses of those that you hunt. Perhaps your victim has a fear of fire, or is immune to ranged attack. Maybe they are cowards when faced alone, or become enraged when taking damage. How that information is ultimately used is up to the player. If used to your advantage, it will likely result in great success. If thrown to the wind and ignored, prepare for epic failure.

But here's the thing about failing in 'Shadow of Mordor' - Talion cannot 'die'. Instead of forcing game replay, 'Shadow of Mordor' punishes the player in more creative and 'realistic' ways. With each death blow that Talion receives (before being subsequently resurrected) the Nemesis system opens up to reveal the true consequences of your failed attempts – the powering and ranking up of the Uruk(s) that struck you down. Where once there was a lowly grunt, these death-dealers now command a pack of hunters as a Captain among the ranks.

As impressed as I was seeing the highly talked about Nemesis system in action, there was the rare event that seemed a bit off kilter. On several occasions early on in the game I bit off more than I could handle and fell to a random attack of Caragors – four-legged beasts that roam the landscape of Mordor. With not an Orc or Uruk in sight, Talion's brief death resulted in the ranking up of numerous enemies. I'm still scratching my head and pondering those repercussions.

Fear not, Orcs aren't the only creatures in Mordor that grow stronger with experience. Talion has an abundance of Ranger and Wraith abilities to choose from that provide greater strength, quicker reactions, and interesting weapon upgrades. And with a world as large as Mordor, the map consistently radiates with side missions and hidden treasures to help you realize Talion's true powers that much quicker. Challenging and defeating higher ranking Uruks will drop runes specific to one of your three weapons: bow, dagger, and sword. Attaching these runes to unlocked and available slots within these weapons can dramatically alter your style of gameplay. Having the option to swap out runes and not be tied to your initial decision is a nice touch and speaks to greater replay value.