It portrays the brackish gore of killing Uruk over and over and over again, at times in unabashed slow-motion – necks sliced cleanly though, swords through guts and chests, heads exploded with handy telekinesis. Outside of the Nemesis System, Shadow of Mordor is brutal. This not only provides context to Talion's journey, but it offers a new way for players to approach individual battles and the overarching narrative within Mordor. The Uruk have enemies within their own ranks and often kill each other to gain power, and the Nemesis System demonstrates how this in-fighting impacts Talion's progress, while also providing a glimpse into an unexplored area of Lord of the Rings lore (and the 'bosses' to come).

While slaughtering Uruk on the craggy hills of Mordor, players are able to forcefully withdraw knowledge from certain foes that applies directly to the Nemesis System, showing the weaknesses, strengths and allegiances of individual Uruk, shaping the strategy behind each mission throughout the game.

The Nemesis System allows players to become military strategists among the ranks of evil, nasty Uruk, by lining up the Uruk Captains and delineating the Uruk guards, foes and allies that serve beneath them. However, much of the game's pleasant surprise comes down to the Nemesis System, a beautifully crafted game of power and death within the larger open world.

The two are bound by resurrection, and together they utilize super-human powers to slaughter thousands of Uruk and avenge their own deaths.

The main possibility landscape features Talion, a man seeking vengeance and answers from the dark powers that killed him in a ritual sacrifice, and his Elven spirit guide, Celebrimbor. Perhaps part of Shadow of Mordor's charm stems from its surprise factor, the fact that no one expected it to be good, let alone become a leading creative force in a seemingly stagnant AAA industry.

The darkness within shadow of mordor