Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
Monolith
Xbox One, PS4, PC
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As a lover of all things Tolkien, Shadow of Mordor grabbed my attention the minute it was announced. As I mentioned in a previous post, Shadow of Mordor kind of came out of nowhere when it was released to become one of the best games of the year, as well as the first, true next-gen gaming experience. Steeped in the lore of Tolkien's Middle-earth, Shadow of Mordor spins a classic revenge yarn that takes place between the events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, and fits in perfectly. The gameplay is a blend of the open-world exploration and mission structure of the Assassin's Creed series and the combo-heavy, smooth flowing combat of the Batman Arkham games. While it doesn't reinvent the wheel in anyway, Shadow of Mordor's gameplay does its job and provides a fun and challenging experience.
But what makes Shadow of Mordor really special is its Nemesis System, which allows the player to craft their own story within the game. Every so often you will run into an orc who holds high rank among the horde, and if you challenge him to a fight and lose, his power will rise and he will continue to hunt you until you kill him. Later in the game you gain the power to control orcs and convert them to your cause, where you can capture a lowly orc and help guide him up the orc ranks and become chieftain. There's an incredible strategy to the Nemesis System, but the real draw is how it makes each game experience different, giving you your very own villain to battle. Filled with tons to explore and do, Shadow of Mordor is a meaty experience, as well as an incredible well-crafted one. It's a very special game and one of the year's very best.
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