Shadow of Mordor

[Norgy]

Well, I bought it, and have played a few hours. For someone not used to console games, even the PC version is making me dizzy, but the gameplay is okay, if feeling a bit unrewarding when you can't save during your missions and start back at, well, the starting point of the game each time you die (but don't because you are banished from death, actually, which is really fortunate with this being a computer game and all).

Graphically, it's really good-looking. Once you get the hang of the controls, it's easy to like. 

But it's really just another action RPG. The "nemesis system" is a bit cool, with you picking which of Sauron's captains you want to slay. It reminds me a bit about Red Dead Redemption, with small challenges to complete for a bonus along the road.

[katmai]

Yeah picked it up yesterday as well. Only had chance to play very little last night though.

[Syt]

Started playing Shadow of Mordor. Surprising fun; the combat is in the Batman Arkham style which works rather nicely against hordes of orks. It's much more focused on combat, though. There's lots of baddies on the map, and they seem to respawn fairly quickly (well, this is Mordor, after all).

Besides the combat there's "collect'em all" challenges, powers and skills to learn and a simple upgrade rune system.

The big thing that sets Shadows of Mordor apart is the "Army of Sauron" feature. If an ork defeats you in combat, he'll be made a captain and can gain promotions on further defeats. Later in the game (so I read), you can gain control of them and pitting them in power struggles against each other. It seems partially procedurally generated, which should add to the replay value. There's three or four tiers of captains. When you die (or choose to let time progress), there'll be some random changes to the hierarchy of Sauron's army, so a grunt who got you with a lucky stab, could rise to become a chief lieutenant.

The fun thing is if you meet a captain repeatedly in combat (often they will attempt to flee if they're badly hurt), he'll comment on previous encounters. At the same time it's rather satisfying to kill a dude who managed to escape a few time.

If you like orks and the Batman Arkham combat, then this might be a game for you, though I forsee that it might become a bit repetitive, and hope this gets shaken up with the extra skills you get later in game. However, there's little else than combat.

[Octavian]

It reminds me a bit about Red Dead Redemption, with small challenges to complete for a bonus along the road.

From wikipedia:

"The game was written by Christian Cantamessa, who was also a lead-writer and lead-designer on Rockstar San Diego's Red Dead Redemption"

[Syt]

I hope more open world games will have something like the Nemesis system from here on out. It makes things so much more immersive and personal. Easily one of the coolest, most awesome actually new gameplay mechanics in a while.

Imagine cops or gangsters in GTA or generic baddies in Skyrim would get a name and face when they beat you, and will continue to cross your path semi-randomly, getting stronger in the process to the point where facing them becomes an epic battle. Or you could be there to thwart their attempts to rise in the hierarchy ... or turning them into pawns.

[Razgovory]

Okay, Youse guys whose alreadys has the game I gots a question.  Do you need a controller or can it be played with a mouse and keyboard?

[katmai]

I'm playing it on ps4 so can't help ya

[Syt]

I'm playing with controller and it works fine. Haven't tried mouse/keyboard.

[Grey Fox]

I don't have the game(not sure my video card can handle + I am not paying full price for games) but use a controller.

[Razgovory]

I don't want to buy a controller, so that's sort of a deal breaker.  Game is already 50 bucks.  Don't want to spend another 30 for a controller.

[Syt]

I would suggest looking around for keyboard control based reviews of the game. TotalBiscuit did a video on the game, and while he normally uses keyboard/mouse controls, I don't recall if he did so in this case.

[Grey Fox]

I don't want to buy a controller, so that's sort of a deal breaker.  Game is already 50 bucks.  Don't want to spend another 30 for a controller.

Buy a controller now(also 30$?! lolz Double that) and get SoM later(Winter sale).

Edit : I did some research and 30$ for a PC controller is possible in the USA. Well shitz.

[Syt]

XBox 360 controllers are kind of "the standard" for controller controls on PC these days - you can get the wired ones for around 30 EUR if you do some comparison shopping. Amazon.de has it for 27.50 with free shipping.

I find it a decent investment, as many action games will support them (useful for jump'n'runs, shoot'em ups, or third person action games like Arkham series; not so much for first person games).

[Grey Fox]

Wireless or bust.

[Syt]

Not a fan of wireless input devices.