Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor is an
action role-playing video game set within
Tolkien's legendarium, developed by
Monolith Productions and released by
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment.
[1][2] The story of the game takes place between the events of
The Hobbit and
The Lord of the Rings. It was released on
Microsoft Windows,
PlayStation 4, and
Xbox One in September 2014 and released on
PlayStation 3 and
Xbox 360 in November 2014.
[1][2]
is an open world video game, where the player controls a Ranger by the name of Talion who has wraith-like abilities.[1] Besides the main quest, the player also has the freedom to pursue side quests and roam around Mordor.[3]
Gameplay screenshot of Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor showcasing the nemesis system
The game allows people to customize Talion as he starts his journey
through Middle-earth by using the "Nemesis System", which remembers the
player's interactions with specific types of characters they encounter
and adjusts the manner in which these characters react to the player
throughout the game.
[1]
Enemies also develop as Talion interacts with them; for example, an
Uruk who was thrown into a fire by Talion might want revenge on him for
being disfigured.
The player has the option to level up the abilities of Talion both as a ranger and as a Wraith through two distinct skill trees.
[3]
Ranger abilities allow Talion to move silently through environments
without attracting attention, while Wraith abilities allow him to impose
his will on enemies and have them fight other captains or assassinate
their leaders.
In February 2014, Monolith Productions announced that the Nemesis System, being a large system, will be reduced in the
PlayStation 3 and
Xbox 360 releases, also stating that they were "focusing on the next-gen platforms," meaning the
Microsoft Windows,
PlayStation 4 and
Xbox One
systems. Furthermore, they stated that they are "going to do whatever
we can to get as much as possible on current-gen." Monolith Productions
also stated that "some of the stuff," meaning the "core mechanics,"
which are combat, stealth, ranger abilities and movements, the basic
control and gameplay, will be the same on both generations of gaming
consoles.
[4]
Talion, a ranger captain, serves within a Gondorian garrison stationed at the Black Gate of Mordor. The garrison is attacked by
Sauron's Orc forces led by three
Black Númenórean captains; the Hammer of Sauron (
John DiMaggio), the Tower of Sauron (
J. B. Blanc), and their leader, the Black Hand of Sauron (
Nolan North).
Talion, his wife Ioreth, and his son, Dirhael, are captured and
ritually sacrificed by the Black Hand in an attempt to summon the wraith
of the Elf Lord
Celebrimbor.
However, Celebrimbor (who suffers from amnesia due to his status as a
wraith) instead merges with Talion, preventing him from dying alongside
his family. Talion and Celebrimbor then depart to uncover Celebrimbor's
identity and avenge the death of Talion's family.
Over the course of their travels, Talion and Celebrimbor encounter
Gollum multiple times. Gollum possesses the ability to see and speak with Celebrimbor due to his prior contact with the
One Ring.
Hoping that Celebrimbor might lead him to the One Ring, Gollum leads
Celebrimbor to relics of his past, each of which restore parts of his
lost memories. Celebrimbor gradually recalls how Sauron, disguised as
Annatar, the Lord of Gifts, deceived him into forging the Rings of
Power. Celebrimbor ultimately assisted Sauron in forging the One Ring,
but was able to steal it from him. Celebrimbor proclaimed himself the
Bright Lord of Mordor and raised an army of Orcs against Sauron.
However, the Ring ultimately betrayed Celebrimbor and returned to
Sauron. Sauron then punished Celebrimbor by executing his wife and
daughter and, finally, by killing him with his own smithing hammer.
In his search for the Black Hand, Talion allies himself with Hirgon, a
ranger deserter who leads a community of Gondorian outcasts choosing to
settle in Mordor, and Ratbag the Coward, an
Orc
who offers to bring Talion closer to the Black Hand in exchange for his
assistance in military hierarchy. Talion helps Ratbag ascend the ranks
to the level of warchief by killing each of his immediate superiors,
finally becoming Warchief himself. Talion then goes after the other
Warchiefs in Udun, weakening Sauron's forces in that area. Soon enough,
Hirgon has a plan to draw out the black captains. Using acquired grog
and blasting powder, Talion helps the Outcasts destroy a statue
dedicated to Sauron. Instead of the Black Hand answering the "message",
the Hammer of Sauron is sent, promptly executing Ratbag for not
answering his duties to kill the ranger. Talion and The Hammer then face
off, with a pack of Uruk joining the fight, but The Hammer is
ultimately defeated.
Talion is then sought out by the warrior Lithariel, the daughter of
Queen Marwen, who claims to be able to assist Celebrimbor with his
mission. Marwen is the ruler of
Núrn,
a kingdom of sea raiders located in the south of Mordor. She uses
prophetic powers to guide Talion and Celebrimbor to another of
Celebrimbor's relics. Talion also gets help from a Dwarf hunter named
Torvin, teaching Talion the ways of the hunt to dominate Caragors and
Graugs (beasts native to Mordor), eventually fighting a massive Graug
from Torvin's past who killed Torvin's hunting partner, later revealed
to be his brother. Later, Marwin advises them to use Celebrimbor's
powers to take control of an army of orcs and other beasts, using them
to lead an assault against Sauron. Talion eventually realizes that the
wizard
Saruman
is possessing Marwen, and assists Lithariel in freeing her from his
control. Talion, however, still carries out Saruman's plan, leading an
army of mind-controlled orcs in an assault against the Black Hand's
stronghold at Ered Glamhoth. However, rather than the Black Hand, Talion
finds the Tower of Sauron waiting for him. The two battle and Talion
emerges victorious after viciously stabbing the Tower to death with his
son's sword.
Talion now travels to the Black Gate for a final confrontation with
the Black Hand. The Black Hand quickly incapacitates him with a spell
that also restores the last of Celebrimbor's memories. He then kills
himself as part of a ritual that forces Celebrimbor to depart from
Talion and merge with himself. This allows Sauron to possess the Black
Hand's body and incarnate in physical form. However, Celebrimbor is able
to briefly paralyze Sauron from within, allowing Talion to destroy
Sauron's physical form. With the Black Hand dead, Celebrimbor wishes to
depart for
Valinor. Talion instead convinces him to stay and attempt to overthrow Sauron. Gazing at
Mount Doom, Talion declares his intention to forge a new Ring of Power.
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