The sequel to the great Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor has been revealed after months of speculation, perhaps nudged along by an accidental early leak.
Monolith and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment have released 16 minutes of gameplay footage for its next Tolkien adventure, presenting new additions to the nemesis system throughout an epic open world. Shadow of War aims to build upon the original’s brilliant combat, varied open-world and innovative nemesis system with even more fantastical creatures to slay.
Trusted Reviews has compiled everything you need to know about Middle Earth: Shadow of War including the release date, trailer, gameplay, news and more.
MIDDLE OF EARTH: SHADOW OF WAR AT A GLANCE
- Middle Earth: Shadow of War release date: August 25
- Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Scorpio, PC
- Developer: Monolith
- Publisher: Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment
- Genre: Action RPG
- Latest news: Extensive gameplay presentation
WHAT IS MIDDLE EARTH: SHADOW OF WAR?
Acting as the sequel to 2014’s Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor, this new entry in the on-going series will see the return of Talion and Celebrimbor as they wield an all new Ring of Power capable of dispatching thousands upon thousands of ferocious orcs. Crafting an original story inside Tolkien’s iconic universe, we’ll even find ourselves up against Sauron himself and his utterly terrifying Nazgul.
MIDDLE EARTH: SHADOW OF WAR RELEASE DATE – WHEN IS IT COMING OUT?
Middle Earth: Shadow of War will be launching for PS4, Xbox One and PC on August 25, 2017. An enhanced version is also in development for Project Scorpio, although this’ll be coming when the console launches later in the year.
Shadow of War will support Microsoft’s Xbox Play Anywhere service across Xbox One and Windows 10. Those purchasing a digital version of the game on either platform will get a second free, carrying over all their saves, achievements and DLC along with it.
Shadow of War will launch in three unique variants: Standard, Silver and Gold. The Gold Edition will grant players access to the following extra content:
- Slaughter Tribe Nemesis Expansion
- Outlaw Tribe Nemesis Expansion
- The Blade of Galadriel Story Expansion
- The Desolation of Mordor Story Expansion
- Gold War Chest
MIDDLE EARTH: SHADOW OF WAR STORY – WHAT’S IT ABOUT?
As we mentioned earlier, Shadow of War will once again put you in the muddy boots of Talion, who happens to share his body with Celebrimbor, an infamously dark spirit capable of providing our hero with a range of mythical powers. Having recently crafted a new Ring of Power, Talion finds himself in the midst of a monumental battle for Middle Earth that will see armies of thousands collide.
We’ve yet to discover much about narrative specifics beyond the usual mixture of brave heroes and world-risking wars, but we do know Sauron himself will be going up against Talion this time around. Of course, there will be plenty of Orcs and other beasties to contend with as well. Cameos from beloved Lord of The Rings characters wouldn’t go amiss, either.
MIDDLE EARTH: SHADOW OF WAR GAMEPLAY – HOW DOES IT PLAY?
The Nemesis System that arguably defined the last game is back and potentially better than ever in Shadow of War. No longer satisfied with only influencing the enemies you fight, the mechanic now has an effect over the entire game world. The robust personalization of the first outing now reigns over the entirety of Middle Earth. Environments and characters are now notably morphed by your actions, shaping the unfolding narrative in conjunction with moment-to-moment action.
The Nemesis System is something we’ve rarely seen iterated upon since Shadow of Mordor, and it’s great to see it return. We see its newly improved iteration shown off in the latest gameplay showcase, which you can check out below. One new feature to debut in Shadow of War is the ability to recruit specific allies. These can be used for a slew of different tasks, whether it be breaking down the enemie’s defenses or sniping danger from afar. This system could possess the same if not even more depth than the lauded nemesis system. Be careful, though, they could betray you at any time.
It seems a lot of focus will be placed on forming your own personal army in Shadow of War. By taking over large fortresses you’ll conquer regions, gaining additional soldiers and potential skills for Talion to wield. Of course, all of these decisions will have a consequence, forging a story that will be unique to each player as you set about leaving your own personal mark on the dark lands of Mordor.
MIDDLE EARTH: SHADOW OF WAR TRAILER – HOW DOES IT LOOK?
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment has released an extensive gameplay presentation showing off the game’s open world, combat and new and improved nemesis system.
We’ve also got the initial reveal trailer:
Sоurсе: trustedreviews.com
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