Warner Bros announces new Lord of the Rings game for next-gen consoles

There’s going to be a new Lord of the Rings game, titled Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor. The game will be primarily for next-gen consoles, but will also get a release on the current-gen PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 with lower-quality graphics. The game will also be making it to PC. Instead of following any of Tolkien’s writing, Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor will feature a completely original feature which, according to the press release, will revolve around vengeance and redemption.

Mordor will undoubtedly make an appearance (image credit: Lord of the Rings Wiki)

In Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor, gamers take on the role of Talion, a ranger whose family is slain in front of him the night Sauron and his army return to Mordor, moments before his own life is taken. Resurrected by a spirit of vengeance and empowered with Wraith abilities, Talion ventures into Mordor and vows to destroy those who have wronged him. Through the course of his personal vendetta, Talion uncovers the truth of the spirit that compels him, learns the origins of the Rings of Power and ultimately confronts his true nemesis.

The game will be a third-person action-adventure title. According to Warner Bros, it will have a wide variety of enemies to fight, each with its own unique personality, strengths and weaknesses. There is also a Nemesis System through which enemy relationships and characteristics are shaped by the player’s actions and decisions. This will help create an archenemy of sorts that will remember the player’s moves and adapt tot hem. Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor is being developed by Monolith Productions. The team has collaborated with Middle-earth Enterprises, Peter Jackson and the artists at Weta Workshop to ensure that the settings, characters and story align authentically within canon.