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[Effect]

So do these games take place in an alternate universe or are they somehow squeezed into the Middle Earth canon and pulling from some fringe text in an appendices somewhere? Cause how the hell do you introduce another ring of power!?

 

[Bad_Boy]

DLC three years later?

To be fair, isnt gta5 dlc still rolling out?

 

[rockx4]

The first one was overhyped by GAF and left me disappointed. It was so repetitive. I won't fall for it twice.

 

[jbug617]

Confirmed for Xbox Play Anywhere

Talion and Celebrimbor return in Middle-earth: Shadow of War, sequel to the smash-hit Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor, available as an Xbox Play Anywhere title on Xbox One and Windows 10 beginning August 22, 2017. The title will also be available for Project Scorpio following the console’s launch this holiday season.

http://news.xbox.com/2017/02/27/middle-earth-shadow-of-war-announcement/#VZT5IsYzUqIU3mpI.99

 

[Auctopus]

I know CGs can show whatever they want but from the subtitle and what we see in the trailer, I'm expecting the game will feature a more robust connection to the Nemesis system. I.e. once you've influenced a tribe/army, you have the ability to join it in large-scale battles similar to Total War (Obviously, not as a large-scale as Total War but perhaps in a similar vein).

 

[CEJames]

So this will be an entirely new game? Seems like more of the same concept based on that trailer, which wasn't very good tbh.

 

[Fuchsdh]

A black guy in Middle-Earth? Inconceivable!

He better watch his ass, ring wraiths are gunning for him first.

 

[atomsk]

read the name and said "yep, that's a video game"

all they need is to tack on "revenge" in there somewhere.

 

[ironcreed]

How do we fight that which threatens to destroy all of Middle Earth? We forge another one.

 

[L.O.R.D]

Shadow of War
Shadow of tomb raider

year of shadows?
next.
Shadow the hedgehog 2

 

[lucebuce12]

How do we fight that which threatens to destroy all of Middle Earth? We forge another one.

lol

 

[Floody]

To be fair, isnt gta5 dlc still rolling out?

That's more like updates really, also only really due to GTA Online being a huge cashcow.

 

[SuperEpicMan]

This looks fucking awesome. I know it is just a CG trailer, but it gives you a lot to get excited about. Nazgul, balrogs, Minas Morgul, Sauron and a new fucking silver ring :O

 

[Nestunt]

August?

well.. it won't have competition, but maybe there is an historical reason for that

 

[Hektor]

I should probably play Shadow of Mordor, huh?

It's without hyperbole, one of the most mediocre and uninspiried games i've ever played.
It's also ridicilously easy because the player gets to be extremely overpowered a few hours in, rendering a lot of stealth-elements and parts of the admitetly really intruiging nemesis-system pointless.

Mordor looks extremely boring and the entire game gives you no feeling for middle-earth at all. Even licensed trash like conquest immersed you better in the world of middle-earth.

The story of the game as well as the characters also are really forgettable trash on the level of thi4f.

I really don't see any reason to play the first game at all other than curiosity in the concept of the nemesis-system, and while i do hope that this second game will improve on all of these aspects and does something truly great and gamechanging with the nemsis-system, i won't realistically expect any form of amazement coming out of a game with a title as bland as "Shadow of War"

 

[Loxley]

So do these games take place in an alternate universe or are they somehow squeezed into the Middle Earth canon and pulling from some fringe text in an appendices somewhere?

They're not remotely canon, this sort of stuff is akin to fan-fiction.

 

[Admiral Woofington]

Maybe they murdered his dog

Sauron comes back and sees an orc with a douchey haircut.

"do you know whose dog you just killed? It wasnt just anybodys dog. It was the dog of... The Ranger"

*scene of the ranger breaking the floor to find the ring*

"the world's most elite and cheapest orc killing motherfucker. And you just pissed him off"

"b-but site I didn't know"

"it doesn't matter now. Run along Dush"

 

[Ryu Hayabusa]

Scorpio release date leaked?

 

[Guymelef]

The first one was overhyped by GAF and left me disappointed. It was so repetitive. I won't fall for it twice.

Basically.
And they are going to need to hire a new writer.

 

[KainXVIII]

No Switch?

Honest question?

 

[BronsonLee]

So much for that Batman reveal.

This seems like a bit of a low key reveal given the success of the first game.

Though, it is still 'early' I suppose.

Target forced their hand also fuck your Batman hopes

 

[Ladekabel]

Trailer looks great imo but the first one is what many say about the first Assassin's Creed but even worse. Will wait for a significant price drop beforeI purchase this. Will not get burned again.

 

[Kinyou]

Did they change his face quite a bit?

He does look more like Troy Baker

 

[oti]

German VO sounds outstanding!
https://youtu.be/yFlJYtFfnBQ

 

[HussiZooT]

Besides the bland and dead environments, I loved the first game.

The only thing they need to add is a proper economy, villages, towns, RPG'esque quests and a real reason to stay fighting throughout.

I'm in any way. Take me back to Mordor.

 

[Cymbal Head]

Just a guess here, but from the leaked description from Target it sounds like they're extending the nemesis system to allies as well. Sounds like maybe you'll have your own set of captains to pit against the orcs.

 

[CrunchyFrog]

LOTR fanfiction, ok fine. The gameplay seemed good enough in the first. But crafting another ring of power to combat Sauron? Talk about 1000% missing the point of the original books entirely. The whole thing was about the corrupting effects of power and why they could NOT possibly use a ring of power to defeat him, much less make another one. Hobbits had to be the ones to rid the world of it precisely because they desired no power. If you're gonna make something based on established IP at least try to make an effort to stay in line with its themes and ideology. It's the most celebrated book series of the 20th century, you'd think they'd be a little bit more careful with the lore *shrug*

 

[Andodalf]

So do these games take place in an alternate universe or are they somehow squeezed into the Middle Earth canon and pulling from some fringe text in an appendices somewhere? Cause how the hell do you introduce another ring of power!?

SHADOW OF MIDDLE EARTH SPOILERS

Spoiler

the wraith is celeberimbor, who forged the original as well.

But yeah this game plays fast and loose with cannon.

 

[AusRoachman]

Sauron comes back and sees an orc with a douchey haircut.

"do you know whose dog you just killed? It wasnt just anybodys dog. It was the dog of... The Ranger"

*scene of the ranger breaking the floor to find the ring*

"the world's most elite and cheapest orc killing motherfucker. And you just pissed him off"

"b-but site I didn't know"

"it doesn't matter now. Run along Dush"

 

[jediyoshi]

The first one was overhyped by GAF and left me disappointed. It was so repetitive. I won't fall for it twice.

In which case it got overhyped everywhere. GAF wasn't some unique voice there, it was widely acclaimed critically.

 

[JonnyDBrit]

So do these games take place in an alternate universe or are they somehow squeezed into the Middle Earth canon and pulling from some fringe text in an appendices somewhere? Cause how the hell do you introduce another ring of power!?

At this stage? Alt universe for sure. The original game for the most part premised itself on the idea it was between the Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings, as the unseen return to power by Sauron. Everyone involved outside of Gollum and

Spoiler

Celebrimbor

were made up, sure, but it kept itself largely within the confines of setting material that was established - like the south of Mordor being pretty fertile,

Spoiler

Celebrimbor being the dude that created the rings of power

, and Gondor maintaining fortresses along Mordor's borders to make sure evil didn't return. Then at the end of the game it signalled the intent of the devs to go completely off the rails,

Spoiler

both with Talion's success but also the stated desire to create a new ring to rule them all

.

 

[ironcreed]

LOTR fanfiction, ok fine. The gameplay seemed good enough in the first. But crafting another ring of power to combat Sauron? Talk about 1000% missing the point of the original books entirely. The whole thing was about the corrupting effects of power and why they could NOT possibly use a ring of power to defeat him, much less make another one. Hobbits had to be the ones to rid the world of it precisely because they desired no power. If you're gonna make something based on established IP at least try to make an effort to stay in line with its themes and ideology. It's the most celebrated book series of the 20th century, you'd think they'd be a little bit more careful with the lore *shrug*

Yeah, I am no purist and will likely have a great time. But the story is hilarious.

 

[Sephimoth]

Why are we still in this era of CGI only trailers for games?

 

[ShemhazaiX]

LOTR fanfiction, ok fine. The gameplay seemed good enough in the first. But crafting another ring of power to combat Sauron? Talk about 1000% missing the point of the original books entirely. The whole thing was about the corrupting effects of power and why they could NOT possibly use a ring of power to defeat him, much less make another one. Hobbits had to be the ones to rid the world of it precisely because they desired no power. If you're gonna make something based on established IP at least try to make an effort to stay in line with its themes and ideology. It's the most celebrated book series of the 20th century, you'd think they'd be a little bit more careful with the lore *shrug*

Who says it's not going to feature those themes? We don't know what direction they're taking it. He could forge the ring and it could all go horribly wrong because of those same points you bring up.

 

[sixteen-bit]

What's WB's March 8th announcement then?

 

[TetraGenesis]

I enjoyed Shadow of Mordor and I'm looking forward to playing a sequel but, man, this did not do it for me. Nothing about the setup, the (still) uninspired character design, or the confusing timeline has me excited for this.

I guess, to be fair, I wasn't excited for Shadow of Mordor in the slightest before it came out and I ended up liking it, but that game didn't have the benefit of a predecessor I really enjoyed helping the hype go down.

I guess we'll see when the gameplay is revealed.

One thing's for certain: In a far more exceptional year for games than 2014, Shadow of War is going to have to work much harder than its progenitor to make as many GOTY lists.

 

[Par Score]

Posted in the late thread.

Nothing Will Be Forgotten

Seems like and odd tag line. Isn't the whole point of The Lord of the Rings that things get forgotten?

"Some things that should not have been forgotten were lost..." and the rest of it?

Also for something that won't be forgotten... all of this sure seems to get forgotten by everybody else in every other bit of media set in Middle Earth.


I mean fuck it, I love alternate history, why not alternate fictional history right? People get too tied to "canon" anyway.

 

[OrbitalBeard]

The first one was overhyped by GAF and left me disappointed. It was so repetitive. I won't fall for it twice.

It was overhyped by the entire gaming press.

 

[darkistheway]

Tolkien purist here: max triggered right now.

Lol

 

[JonnyDBrit]

Why are we still in this era of CGI only trailers for games?

What's WB's March 8th announcement then?

This was meant to be the announcement for the 8th. Then the game leaked thanks to Target. They've likely released this CGI trailer just to say, 'Yes, the game does exist, you got us', but the actual reveal of gameplay is still scheduled to be on the 8th. They would probably have originally been paired together.

 

[TenCentCoast]

.

One thing's for certain: In a far more exceptional year for games than 2014, Shadow of War is going to have to work much harder than its progenitor to make as many GOTY lists.

This. Holy shit, this. If they rest on their laurels because they beat out fucking Dragon Age: Inquisition and Assassin's Creed: Unity, this game is going to be terrible. Shadow of Mordor was an 8/10 at best that made it to Game of the Year by virtue of 2014 being one of the worst years I have ever seen for games.

 

[RoKKeR]

August 22 is great.

Excited to see gameplay.

Story is lol but what can you do.

 

[Verder]

WB was like "Fuck you guys for ruining the surprise here's your trailer you fucks".

Lol this what I was thinking

 

[Theorry]

Confirmed for Xbox Play Anywhere


http://news.xbox.com/2017/02/27/middle-earth-shadow-of-war-announcement/#VZT5IsYzUqIU3mpI.99

Great to hear and Scorpio. All that one is expected.
Great to see the support for Play Anywhere.

 

[Easy_D]

Lol. Fucking Cleric Beast scream around 1:35. First Bloodborne, then Witcher 3, then again in Dark Souls 3 and now fuckin this. Please stop using the same generic monster screams pls

 

[Ashtar]

A black guy in Middle-Earth? Inconceivable!

first thing I noticed, black people are now canon eat it nerds!

I really hope this is the first part of him doing a complete heel turn a la Arthas and then in Shadows of Wardor you're a full on evil general of sauron, killing the forces good

 

[HIGH DEF JEFF]

It would be cool if there were more than 2 areas in the open world and not the same boring mud field

 

[Brix]

Looks kool.

 

[Zakalwe]

Glad fans of the first are getting another run, but the first game was literally one of the blandest non-events I've ever experienced in gaming.

0 hype for this.

 

[paradise_circus]

He does look more like Troy Baker

I would say he looks less like him.