16 minutes of Shadow of War gameplay highlight strongholds, army management, and an overhauled Nemesis System.

Talion/Celebrimbor’s quest for vengeance continues with the recently announced Middle Earth: Shadow of War for Xbox One, PS4 and PC. Originally leaked through an unlikely source- Target’s online store- the sequel follows the bound duo of Talion and the wraith Celebrimbor after forging the “New Ring”, a second Ring of Power allowing the warriors to command a second assault on Sauron and the dark forces of Mordor.

Monolith and publisher WB Games debuted 16 min. of gameplay footage this morning, showcasing several of the new mechanics found in August’s Shadow of Mordor sequel. The most profound of new features is the expanded Nemesis system, now divided between “Nemesis” and “Nemesis Fortress”:

The basic Nemesis system remains mostly unchanged, as unique Uruk Captains and Warchiefs can rotate between Ranks upon killing other high-profile soldiers; defeated Uruks can be executed or interrogated as seen in Shadow of Mordor, however Shadow of War will allow players to recruit Uruk soldiers into their own personal army; each new recruit possesses his own unique abilities and statistics, such as a “Beast Master” commanding the animals of Mordor, or the Necromancer’s ability to manipulate enemies through magic. Though Uruks can be turned to Talion’s side, some former enemies may still defect back to Sauron’s forces; the debut gameplay footage suggests that the Nemesis system extends to Talion’s recruits, with each Uruk potentially having his own rivals in the world.

Each region of Mordor houses a fortified stronghold under the command of an Overlord and his Warchiefs; once the Overlord is slain, Talion and Celebrimbor will gain control over the region and the stronghold. For every conquered region, players will gain a “Nemesis Fortress”: Allied Uruks can be placed in charge of the new stronghold, acting as Talion’s own personal Overlord, training any recruits the player collects on his or her own quest; depending on the statistics and abilities of the commanding Uruk, the Nemesis Fortress will have passive abilities, such as collecting loot and experience while the player continues with other quests. Though it remains to be seen in gameplay, it’s suggested that Nemesis Fortresses will have passive background battles similar to the “Field Operating Bases” of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain.

Middle Earth: Shadow of War will release for PC, Xbox One and PS4 on 8/22; versions have also been confirmed for the PS4 Pro and Microsoft’s Project Scorpio.

Source: WB Games
Image courtesy of Monolith, WB Games