--Celebrimbor, Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
There have been many Lord of the Rings games that span several genres, and Shadow of Mordor still proves a clever (but non-canon) addition to the realization of Tolkien's world portrayed in the movies. Shadow of Mordor does feature some film versions of characters, like Sauron and Gollum, but it functions as an alternate version of the film universe. Talion, the protagonist, is a new character. Alongside its sequel, Shadow of Mordor is one of the most unique games about Middle-earth. The stealth and climbing systems practically make it an Assassin's Creed take on the Lord of the Rings world, and, though some gameplay mechanics are very simplistic, the execution is largely wonderful. The game of the year edition includes DLC that illuminates the background of a key character, so it is the definitive version of the game.
Production Values
Though the graphics of the general game are on the better side of the spectrum--not consistently incredible and not lackluster--the art style of several memory cutscenes is noteworthy for its detail and unique swirl effects. As mentioned, the graphics are otherwise effective, but they do not quite contend for the title of the greatest visuals on the platform. The audio, from the voice acting to the combat sounds, is immaculate in its execution, with the lines of Talion and Celebrimbor being the standout feature in this category. Despite the quality of their voice acting, the relationship between the two is developed minimally. The lack of character development does not mean that the characterization never stands out, though. The game's Nemesis System allows various Uruks, all of which have their own personalities and appearances, to fight each other for power, remember Talion from previous encounters, and act like individual beings. This system adds a great deal of worldbuilding depth.
Gameplay
One of the most successful aspects of the game is its unrelenting sense of brutality. The combat is intense and vicious, and player deaths hold actual consequences: Uruks who kill Talion can ascend a chain of power and subsequent encounters can become far more challenging. Talion has an array of devastating moves at his disposal, many of which lead to the savage beheading or impaling of Uruks. Gone is the sanitized PG-13 film violence from Peter Jackson's trilogy. Shadow of Mordor is a very violent game, and its violence helps it stand out amidst other works based in Middle-earth. Slowly, Talion acquires new abilities, some from story progression and some by player choice, and these powers provide an increasingly vicious advantage over the hundreds of enemies players must defeat. These abilities include "branding" Uruks, which enacts a sort of mind control that can make the Uruks fight for players.
Sometimes the erratic controls interfere with running, climbing, and combat, with Talion getting caught on corners, moving in the wrong directions, or failing to execute commands in time. As Talion becomes more powerful, these control issues become less problematic, since they have lesser consequences because Talion is not as threatened by Uruks as before. By the end of the game, upgrades make him a very formidable opponent. But there are other things to do besides massacre Uruks. Players can also explore parts of Middle-earth (though the open world is somewhat small) in an effort to find collectibles or ride beasts--it is even possible to take control of massive creatures called Graugs that resemble the Rancor from Return of the Jedi!
Story
--Main Story
In the primary story mode for Shadow of Mordor, players control Talion, a Ranger who is killed by the Black Hand of Sauron in an attempt to summon the wraith of Elf lord Celebrimbor. Unexpectedly, the wraith bonds with Talion, bestowing upon him the power to return to life. He also gains the ability to invade Uruk minds via Celebrimbor's telepathy, which helps him pursue the one responsible for killing his wife and son. Along the way, Talion meets a roster of established and original characters, like Gollum (who can see Celebrimbor and refers to him as the "Bright Lord"), the hunter Torvin (a Dwarf), and Lithariel (the princess of a human community within southern Mordor). He is ultimately able to restore Celebrimbor's memories of his own losses and hunt down the Black Hand of Sauron.
--The Bright Lord
The Bright Lord campaign allows players to see how Celebrimbor challenged Sauron after making the One Ring. After fleeing from Mount Doom with the Ring in his possession, he brands Uruks to amass an army that can retaliate against Sauron, having them construct the Forge Towers discovered in the main story. Players who have completed the main campaign will already know of Celebrimbor's defeat by Sauron--this additional narrative is about showing events that the main story alludes to, not providing unexpected plot developments. In the end, the Dark Lord overpowers the Bright Lord.
Intellectual Content
There are collectibles to obtain, but their positions are automatically shown on the map screen and there are no puzzles required to access them. The story does not provide a thorough exploration of any particular philosophical themes. Unless he is considered in an archetypal sense, Sauron, like many antagonists of stories involving Middle-earth, is nothing more than a blatantly generic villain. In other words, he pales in comparison to fantasy characters like Cersei Lannister in terms of complexity. The utter simplicity of the villains combined with the lack of puzzles means that Shadow of Mordor does not offer great thematic depth--though the movies it is loosely derived from do have some legitimate substance. Nevertheless, the moral framework of Tolkien's universe is still distinctly present.
Conclusion
Shadow of Mordor's repetitive gameplay does not completely overshadow its uniqueness. Those who tire of repeating the same moves for hours might not find the game enjoyable, but anyone who is fond of Tolkien's stories and Peter Jackson's movie trilogy might find much to be appreciated. At the very least, Shadow of Mordor gives players the opportunity to see a violent imagining of Middle-earth that is quite distinct from the films in atmosphere.
Content
1. Violence: Talion can dispatch orcs and Uruks through a variety of brutal methods. A few of these options involve decapitating them with a sword, repeatedly impaling them with a dagger, and destroying their minds via Celebrimbor's powers. When Talion kills enemies with either of his bladed weapons, dark blood is thrown into the air.
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