Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor is a game that succeeds in its ability to blend its inspirations with brand new twists. If you’re debating with yourself on whether or not to purchase Shadow of Mordor, consider if you liked any these games and the ideas that they represent. Chances are if you’re a fan of at least a couple of these games, you’ll enjoy Shadow of Mordor as well.
Batman: Arkham City
Because You Like Combo-Based Combat
The Arkham series is known for its combat system that is easy to learn but difficult to perfect. The combo system rewards players who want to blindly smash their controller buttons with the sense that they’re doing well, but those who master the system can make it out of a fight with a large group of enemies without a scratch. No matter how you play, you still feel like a badass Batman.
Shadow of Mordor uses a similar combo system to Arkham, though it has you slicing and dicing through hordes of Uruks instead of beating down petty criminals. The game rewards you for mastering the art of the blade with stylish takedowns and seamless encounters, to the point where battling a group of 50 enemies plays on the screen like a work of (gory) art. Arkham‘s combat makes you really feel like a caped crusader. Shadow of Mordor‘s combat make you feel like a harbinger of death.
Assassin’s Creed II
Because You Like Action/Stealth Hybrids
Assassin’s Creed II is still regarded as the best game in the franchise for its blending of action and stealth in a coherent and genuinely enjoyable way. As a master assassin, it is up to the player to decide how to approach a dangerous situation. Should you stealthily sneak your way past the guards, shoot them down from long-range, or bust down the door with your sword swinging? The player’s style dictated how missions played out and didn’t penalize them for going about it the way they wanted to.
Shadow of Mordor allows for player choice in the exact same way. Players can have Talion take down an Uruk stronghold in whatever manner they prefer. While a situation may favor a stealth approach, there is nothing holding you back from attacking head on. Talion’s skill tree has several branching paths that allow for players to spend upgrade points in whatever discipline they desire. No matter what, the orcs of Mordor will meet their death at the hands of Talion’s blade, dagger, or bow.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skryim
Because You Like Open-World Fantasy Settings
Skyrim is probably one of the most significant video games of the last generation. A massive open-world fantasy game that was full of elves, orcs, magic, and dragons. The entire fantasy genre owes a great deal to the works of J. R. R. Tolkein and if it wasn’t for his writings, Skyrim may have never existed as we know it now.
Shadow of Mordor takes the Tolkein inspiration a step further by setting itself right smack in the middle of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings timelines. The game’s story is effective at connecting to the larger Tolkein universe while still carving out its own unique corner. Uruks and wraiths walk freely in the lands of Mordor, though dragons have luckily stayed away.
Dishonored
Because You Like Supernatural Powers
Dishonored may be one of the most critically under-hyped games of 2012, just like Shadow of Mordor this year. One of Dishonored‘s most interesting gameplay elements was the supernatural abilities available to Corvo. Abilities such as “Dark Vision” and “Devouring Swarm” made it a joy to eliminate enemies throughout Dunwall. There is an deliciously addicting quality to harnessing the powers of the supernatural.
Shadow of Mordor gives the players the power of a wraith. A freakin’ badass wraith. In the game, Celebrimbor has been bonded with Talion after his death. Connected by their quest for vengeance, Celebrimbor enables Talion with the ability to travel between the wraith world and the real one. This gives Talion the means to dominate and/or destroy all the enemies that stand in his path to the Black Hand.
Far Cry 3
Because You Like To Be Distracted With Side Quests
Far Cry 3 did so many things so very well. One of its best qualities was the plethora and depth of the side quests available on Vaas’ dangerous island. It was deceptively easy to lose yourself in the side quests on the way to your main story mission. If a wild tiger passes by, you couldn’t pass up the opportunity to hunt him down (lest he hunt you first).
Shadow of Mordor offers this same experience while still investing your auxillary adventures. Many of the side quest missions in Shadow of Mordor involve attacking Uruk captains and Warchiefs, affecting the entire dynamic of Sauron’s evil army. The ones that don’t directly deal with the Nemesis system involve building up your legend as the immortal Ranger by improving the stats of your weapons. The game offers the fun distraction of side quests while not “wasting” the player’s time in progressing the story forward.
A little more interested in Shadow of Mordor? Make sure to pick it up from your retailer and give it a try!
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