Middle-Earth: Shadows of Mordor Shows Off Weapon Upgrades

[MarlaDesat]

Middle-Earth: Shadows of Mordor Shows Off Weapon Upgrades

The new gameplay trailer for Middle-Earth: Shadows of Mordor introduces the rune system for Talion's weapon upgrades.

The latest gameplay trailer for Middle-Earth: Shadows of Mordor introduces the rune system for upgrading the ranger Talion's sword, dagger, and bow. Enemy Captains drop runes, which can be used to upgrade each weapon. To receive epic runes, Talion must threaten Sauron's Captains, using his Wraith powers to possess one of the Captain's minions and deliver the death threat. Talion must then defeat the Captain and guards to obtain the rune.

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment also announced details about retail exclusives for the game. Purchases from Amazon will receive the Deadly Archer rune, which increases headshot damage against Captains. Best Buy will have the Flame of Arnor rune, which ignites Talion's blade, and GameStop will have a "Captain of the Watch" character skin and the Hidden Blade rune, which increases damage from stealth attacks. Purchases from Steam will include the Orc Slayer rune, which increases special attack damage. All pre-orders for Middle-Earth: Shadows of Mordor will receive the Dark Ranger bonus pack, which adds the "Test of Power" challenge mode and a Talion character skin.

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The previous gameplay trailer introduced the slimmed down version [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/131602-Middle-Earth-Shadow-of-Mordor-Gameplay-High-Fantasy-Assassins-Creed] of the Nemesis system in order to run on the older hardware. Middle-Earth: Shadows of Mordor releases worldwide for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC on October 7.

Source: Warner Bros. Entertainment [https://www.shadowofmordor.com/]


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[Casual Shinji]

That narrator couldn't sound more bored if he was reading the phone book. I seriously can't remember a damn thing he said except for 'epic rune'.

Still a nice looking game though.

 

[008Zulu_v1legacy]

Ahh, so the PC version will require Steam then. Nice. Had all my fingers crossed they weren't going to sub-let it through Uplay or Origin. I wonder which version of the pre-orders EB's here in Australia will offer, since the website doesn't mention any rune.

 

[SonOfVoorhees]

This game could be a lot of fine if the trailers are correct. Like how you can manipulate the enemy to be able use them later. Really hope this doesnt suck as i like when companies do original games on source material.

 

[laggyteabag]

Whilst this game looks great, it seems to be promising a LOT. We'll see if it works out, but looking at the developer, whilst they made F.E.A.R and F.E.A.R 2, this is the first time that they have made a game that was anything like this, so we will have to wait and see how it turns out.

 

[Barbas]

That narrator couldn't sound more bored if he was reading the phone book. I seriously can't remember a damn thing he said except for 'epic rune'.

Still a nice looking game though.

I don't know about that; I think he'd make a keen weatherman. "Today's forecast is for frequent showers of epic runes". Mmmmm...

Also, those finishing moves? That's how you animate it. Very nice sword swings; they make the weapons feel like they have real weight and power to 'em.

 

[Exterminas]

*mhrrrr, mhrrrr, mhrrrr*

You hear that sound?
That's the sound of Tolkien rotating in his grave.

If there is such a thing as a single theme to his works, it is that the little guys can be heros too and even the strongest man is nothing without allies.

A game that is about a handsome, tall white guy going all Rambo on orcs is the direct opposite of that.

 

[1337mokro]

*mhrrrr, mhrrrr, mhrrrr*

You hear that sound?
That's the sound of Tolkien rotating in his grave.

If there is such a thing as a single theme to his works, it is that the little guys can be heros too and even the strongest man is nothing without allies.

A game that is about a handsome, tall white guy going all Rambo on orcs is the direct opposite of that.

What I got from it was that he was a wraith... so either he is one of the Nine Ringwraiths before he was completely corrupted by Sauron's ring or they seriously fucked the series canon again. Machine gun magic staffs anyone?

It would be pretty awesome to fight as one of the Men doomed to die before they were inevitably corrupted into the service of the dark lord by the treacherous rings that granted them their power. That could play an interesting role where drawing on the power of the ring more means greater loss of control..... and I'm completely wrong... It's just a story about a dude cursed by a wraith to take vengeance for his family.

It always baffles me how uncreative people are with the Tolkien universe. There's over THREE THOUSAND years of history here that is RIPE for storytelling. Yet they all fixate on the same part.

Seeing as it releases in October though I might get it. Usually nobody bothers releasing in that month because it's too close to Christmas.

 

[Shadow-Phoenix]

Ahh, so the PC version will require Steam then. Nice. Had all my fingers crossed they weren't going to sub-let it through Uplay or Origin. I wonder which version of the pre-orders EB's here in Australia will offer, since the website doesn't mention any rune.

So basically on PC it's only going to be on Steam and nothing else?, that doesn't sound nice at all, that sounds like forcing people who want this game to only get it on Steam when it should be available on the others as well, no one should be boxed into just Steam whether you think it's good for them or not.

Especially not when Steam opened the floodgates and suffered for it recently.

 

[suitepee7]

Ahh, so the PC version will require Steam then. Nice. Had all my fingers crossed they weren't going to sub-let it through Uplay or Origin. I wonder which version of the pre-orders EB's here in Australia will offer, since the website doesn't mention any rune.

So basically on PC it's only going to be on Steam and nothing else?, that doesn't sound nice at all, that sounds like forcing people who want this game to only get it on Steam when it should be available on the others as well, no one should be boxed into just Steam whether you think it's good for them or not.

Especially not when Steam opened the floodgates and suffered for it recently.

i think the point was that it is good that is requires steam, as opposed to other similar launchers, rather than exclusively sold through steam. steam activated games is pretty standard for a lot of titles, and i would prefer it to run through steam as opposed to many of the others

 

[Shadow-Phoenix]

Ahh, so the PC version will require Steam then. Nice. Had all my fingers crossed they weren't going to sub-let it through Uplay or Origin. I wonder which version of the pre-orders EB's here in Australia will offer, since the website doesn't mention any rune.

So basically on PC it's only going to be on Steam and nothing else?, that doesn't sound nice at all, that sounds like forcing people who want this game to only get it on Steam when it should be available on the others as well, no one should be boxed into just Steam whether you think it's good for them or not.

Especially not when Steam opened the floodgates and suffered for it recently.

i think the point was that it is good that is requires steam, as opposed to other similar launchers, rather than exclusively sold through steam. steam activated games is pretty standard for a lot of titles, and i would prefer it to run through steam as opposed to many of the others

Again this is under the personal opinion that it;s almost as if it;s a fact that it;s good for everyone?, why is this even a thing to consider when really it's an opinion and not a fact?.

It's like saying how people hate monopolies but like one if it works for them.

 

[suitepee7]

Ahh, so the PC version will require Steam then. Nice. Had all my fingers crossed they weren't going to sub-let it through Uplay or Origin. I wonder which version of the pre-orders EB's here in Australia will offer, since the website doesn't mention any rune.

So basically on PC it's only going to be on Steam and nothing else?, that doesn't sound nice at all, that sounds like forcing people who want this game to only get it on Steam when it should be available on the others as well, no one should be boxed into just Steam whether you think it's good for them or not.

Especially not when Steam opened the floodgates and suffered for it recently.

i think the point was that it is good that is requires steam, as opposed to other similar launchers, rather than exclusively sold through steam. steam activated games is pretty standard for a lot of titles, and i would prefer it to run through steam as opposed to many of the others

Again this is under the personal opinion that it;s almost as if it;s a fact that it;s good for everyone?, why is this even a thing to consider when really it's an opinion and not a fact?.

It's like saying how people hate monopolies but like one if it works for them.

your original criticism sounded like you were complaining that it would only be sold on steam, which it won't be. it will just require steam in order to run, using steam as the DRM. considering the vast majority of AAA titles use some form of launcher DRM, be it steam, origin, uplay, GFWL (although, not really anymore), if that's what you were complaining about and you have a personal issue with steam, then fine, but the general consensus is that it is one of the 'better' forms of DRM.

loads of games are only available through one type of launcher, and when multiple ones are supported, chances are it will just use two instead (ubisoft titles purchased on steam often then have to launch through uplay). i understand you might want more choice, but it's being published by WB, so that rules out uplay, and the latest batman hasn't been released through origin either, so i don't see why you'd expect this one to.

 

[Shadow-Phoenix]

your original criticism sounded like you were complaining that it would only be sold on steam, which it won't be. it will just require steam in order to run, using steam as the DRM. considering the vast majority of AAA titles use some form of launcher DRM, be it steam, origin, uplay, GFWL (although, not really anymore), if that's what you were complaining about and you have a personal issue with steam, then fine, but the general consensus is that it is one of the 'better' forms of DRM.

loads of games are only available through one type of launcher, and when multiple ones are supported, chances are it will just use two instead (ubisoft titles purchased on steam often then have to launch through uplay). i understand you might want more choice, but it's being published by WB, so that rules out uplay, and the latest batman hasn't been released through origin either, so i don't see why you'd expect this one to.

Yes I was because I'm royally fed up with the shitting on the other DRM's but the praisings for Steam's, they are not the golden goose, they are not the messiah, not the leader and they are not your friend, people love to treat them as if they are yet when this happens not an eyelid is batted, if the opposite happens they bat like crazy, it's very hypocritical at the end of the day seeing it happen, whether it was WB's decision or not, it should be available on the others too along with Steam not being the sole means of being the launcher.

YOu don't see why I'd expect to because you;d expected me to be fine with it without even knowing my general stance on these type of issues?.

 

[suitepee7]

Yes I was because I'm royally fed up with the shitting on the other DRM's but the praisings for Steam's, they are not the golden goose, they are not the messiah, not the leader and they are not your friend, people love to treat them as if they are yet when this happens not an eyelid is batted, if the opposite happens they bat like crazy, it's very hypocritical at the end of the day seeing it happen, whether it was WB's decision or not, it should be available on the others too along with Steam not being the sole means of being the launcher.

YOu don't see why I'd expect to because you;d expected me to be fine with it without even knowing my general stance on these type of issues?.

woah, calm down there, you're almost into ranting territory there, and calm discussion is much preferred for both clarity and civility.

i'm not praising steam, i do not think they are my friend, i do not see steam as a messiah, i see them as more convenient than the alternatives. quite simply put, i prefer it. i am in no doubt that i am nothing more than a customer to them, and a very insignificant being in the grand scheme of things. the ideal situation would be for more devs to take the same stance as CD Projekt RED and release games DRM free, allowing activation onto steam if the person wants to use it, but we don't like in that perfect world. instead we have companies who still think DRM is a useful anti-piracy measure, and insist on implementing it in some form.

regardless, seeing as we ruled out uplay (for not being ubisoft) and DRM free (because reasons), the only other two i can really think of are Steam and Origin, and WB made the decision to go with steam, for whatever reason that was. either way, there are some people who would be unhappy whichever decision was made (case in point), but my 'not expecting' stance is not related to steam, but to the concept of a game being released with only one form of activation DRM, which is very common.

out of curiosity, is it the choice of steam, or the lack of choice overall which has irritated you? would you be happier if it was just steam and origin?

 

[Lieju]

*mhrrrr, mhrrrr, mhrrrr*

You hear that sound?
That's the sound of Tolkien rotating in his grave.

If there is such a thing as a single theme to his works, it is that the little guys can be heros too and even the strongest man is nothing without allies.

A game that is about a handsome, tall white guy going all Rambo on orcs is the direct opposite of that.

What I got from it was that he was a wraith... so either he is one of the Nine Ringwraiths before he was completely corrupted by Sauron's ring or they seriously fucked the series canon again.

There were other wraiths or wraith-like beings in LOTR, though. Remember the Barrow-Wights Tom Bombadil saved the hobbits from? And Frodo would have become a wraith once he was stabbed, weaker than the ringwraiths and under their power.

Not that I think this looks like it will be in the spirit of Tolkien.

 

[Mumorpuger]

*mhrrrr, mhrrrr, mhrrrr*

You hear that sound?
That's the sound of Tolkien rotating in his grave.

If there is such a thing as a single theme to his works, it is that the little guys can be heros too and even the strongest man is nothing without allies.

A game that is about a handsome, tall white guy going all Rambo on orcs is the direct opposite of that.

What I got from it was that he was a wraith... so either he is one of the Nine Ringwraiths before he was completely corrupted by Sauron's ring or they seriously fucked the series canon again. Machine gun magic staffs anyone?

It would be pretty awesome to fight as one of the Men doomed to die before they were inevitably corrupted into the service of the dark lord by the treacherous rings that granted them their power. That could play an interesting role where drawing on the power of the ring more means greater loss of control..... and I'm completely wrong... It's just a story about a dude cursed by a wraith to take vengeance for his family.

It always baffles me how uncreative people are with the Tolkien universe. There's over THREE THOUSAND years of history here that is RIPE for storytelling. Yet they all fixate on the same part.

Seeing as it releases in October though I might get it. Usually nobody bothers releasing in that month because it's too close to Christmas.

Damn, that would have been a good story. I wish you had been on their creative team. Still, maybe we can hope against hope that that's some sort of plot twist.

 

[DanielBrown]

That narrator couldn't sound more bored if he was reading the phone book. I seriously can't remember a damn thing he said except for 'epic rune'.

I don't know about that; I think he'd make a keen weatherman. "Today's forecast is for frequent showers of epic runes". Mmmmm...

Isn't that Liam Neeson? He always sound bored(monotone) though, so you're not wrong.

OT: Looks fun, but I don't see myself getting it. LOTR games are always sweet and short or shit and short(say that three times fast) it seems. Only played a handful however, so I'm no expert.
I used to love LOTRO a great deal until WB started fucking it up with their F2P- and contentless expansions schemes, and I really love medieval RPG game settings... Maybe this'll be the one?

 

[1337mokro]

*mhrrrr, mhrrrr, mhrrrr*

You hear that sound?
That's the sound of Tolkien rotating in his grave.

If there is such a thing as a single theme to his works, it is that the little guys can be heros too and even the strongest man is nothing without allies.

A game that is about a handsome, tall white guy going all Rambo on orcs is the direct opposite of that.

What I got from it was that he was a wraith... so either he is one of the Nine Ringwraiths before he was completely corrupted by Sauron's ring or they seriously fucked the series canon again.

There were other wraiths or wraith-like beings in LOTR, though. Remember the Barrow-Wights Tom Bombadil saved the hobbits from? And Frodo would have become a wraith once he was stabbed, weaker than the ringwraiths and under their power.

Not that I think this looks like it will be in the spirit of Tolkien.

True but those were actual wraiths, not like the ring-wraiths or possessive spirits. Wraiths were like spirits tied to a place forced to haunt it till the end of time. The ghost army was basically a bunch of wraiths. That is a Tolkien wraith, that type of wraith does not go around possessing people on quests of vengeance.

Also I MIGHT actually have been right about the Ringwraith thing. The steam description says "discover the origin of the rings of power" so maybe it is actually a ring wraith that's possessing you!

My hype is back! This might actually not be as mediocre as I thought it was!

 

[008Zulu_v1legacy]

Especially not when Steam opened the floodgates and suffered for it recently.

Well Uplay has a rep for not working, and Origin's is data harvesting bloatware. Whether they are true no is of no consequence, reputations have a reputation for sticking.

OT; While the Rune system sounds fun, I was kinda hoping we would get to use some of Middle Earth's more famous weapons, like those written about in The Silmarillion.