Forgot password
Enter the email address you used when you joined and we'll send you instructions to reset your password.
If you used Apple or Google to create your account, this process will create a password for your existing account.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Reset password instructions sent. If you have an account with us, you will receive an email within a few minutes.
Something went wrong. Try again or contact support if the problem persists.

Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor‘s Orcs Are Dumber on Last Gen Systems

This article is over 10 years old and may contain outdated information
mesom___nemesis_system

Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor‘s impressive Nemesis system might need to get slimmed down if the game’s going to come to last-gen consoles.

We’ve seen a lot of cool stuff in the previews for Monolith’s sandbox assassination game, Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor. The game’s overarching structure is shaped by its unique Nemesis system, which simulates Sauron’s entire procedurally-generated chain of command. It’s a fascinating idea that turns organic gameplay decisions into mission-spanning objectives – and if you want to experience it, you’d better have a current-generation console. It’s apparently too much for last-gen platforms to handle.

“We’re very focused on the PS4 and Xbox One,” says design director Michael de Plater. Features are designed for those systems first, and while most of them can be safely ported to older hardware (albeit not quite as pretty-looking), some of it will have to be cut out. “The story will be the same and the core gameplay will be the same, but [the Nemesis system] is just so huge in terms of content, calculations and AI we’ll just have to try and get as much of it in as we can.”

So, on the up-side, PS3 and Xbox 360 players still get to be a Middle-Earth assassin and use all the same climbing and combat techniques, but their enemies won’t react as intelligently to the player’s personal campaign. It’s interesting – the Nemesis system is certainly advanced, especially considering the scope of the game’s open world, but last-gen consoles were still plenty powerful. You would think that there would be other systems that could be ditched instead of the game’s most attention-grabbing innovation.

Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor is headed for the PS4, Xbox One, PS3, Xbox 360, and (let’s not forget) PC sometime this year.

Source: IGN

Recommended Videos

The Escapist is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more about our Affiliate Policy