Next-Gen Middle-Earth Game Announced

It’s a double-barrelled nightmare, but the first next-gen Middle-Earth game from Warner-Brothers (maybe not that last one) was today announced for Playstation 4, Xbox One, PC, Playstation 3 and Xbox 360. Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor has no definite release date, but it being developed by Monolith, the people behind Gotham City Imposters, Guardians of Middle-Earth and The Matrix Online.

This is another third-person action adult look at Tolkien’s world, a dark story that’s designed to add a ounce of TV-drama realism to the most famous fantasy world ever. It’s an exciting idea, and one that we’ve been tricked by before. War to the North was good, but it’s hardly the game of the generation, and it added little to Middle-Earth.

The story seems a little bit nutty, even for a game set in the world that houses Tom Bombadil. You play as a ranger, Talion, who is killed on the night Sauron returns to Mordor. His family are killed as well. Talion finds himself revived by a Spirit of vengeance (that capital is from the press release, so presume it’s important), and finds he has Wraith powers. He must find out who has wronged him, and get his revenge.

Shadow of Mordor features a unique system that has every enemy act based on different personalities, skills and weaknesses. You’ll even be able to get archenemies, who will remember your actions and react accordingly.

From the press release:

“In Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor, players will explore the dark and very personal theme of vengeance in a world where decisions have a consequence, and those consequences persist even after death,” said Samantha Ryan, Senior Vice President, Production and Development, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. “The game introduces new gameplay mechanics to the action genre, creating opportunities for emergent and customized gameplay that will be rewarding for players.”