Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor
Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones are two entities which are commonly compared and for good reason. Both feature a medieval world where fantasy elements are plentiful and classic tropes of good versus evil are a large part of both’s DNA.
In Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor you play as a ranger named Talion, looking for revenge after his wife and son are murdered by Sauron’s forces.
During the game you will explore the many lands of its expansive world in your search for the monsters responsible for the death of your family.
One of the most lauded aspects of the game at the time was its combat system, which allows players to pull off some very cool combos and brutal finishing attacks.
As far as unique aspects go and one that reminds me of Game of Thrones the most, is the game’s “Nemesis System.”
This system tracks and records all the “Uruk” (nasty orcs, who end up being the main antagonists of the game) that you may come in contact with throughout the game.
If you happen to die by the hand of a particular Uruk or if they happen to survive an attack by you, they will be added to a database. These Uruks will then be promoted as captains.
Fighting and defeating these captains will weaken Sauron’s army and grant you runes which you can use to upgrade and buff the various weapons at Talion’s disposal.
This was a unique mechanic at the time because it forces you to prioritize certain captains and strategically plan your next attack.
