This December, THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF FIVE ARMIES will represent the final chapter in Peter Jackson‘s LORD OF THE RINGS saga. Telling all of the main stories, there will be nothing significant written by J.R.R. Tolkien to adapt (aside from THE SILMARILLION). But, like STAR WARS, there is an expanded universe of Middle-Earth tales left to tell.
The new video game MIDDLE-EARTH: SHADOW OF MORDOR looks to be the single most ambitious attempt to tell a LORD OF THE RINGS story since Jackson’s films. Set between the events of THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF FIVE ARMIES and THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING, SHADOW OF MORDOR is epic in every sense of the word.
The family of Talion, a ranger of Gondor responsible for guarding the Black Gate of Mordor, is killed by Sauron’s armies, but Talion is revived with “wraith-like abilities” and heads into Mordor to exact his revenge. The player will encounter Gollum (voiced by Liam O’Brien) in the game, discovering that Talion and Gollum have a lot in common. Talion discovers that the wraith who revived him is Celebrimbor (voiced by Alastair Duncan), the greatest Elven smith master of the Second Age and the maker of the Rings of Power, who also seeks revenge against Sauron.
Peter Jackson and WETA Digital were involved with the creation of the game so that it would align with the visual representation of Middle-Earth on the big screen. But, as an original tale, this game will be separate from THE LORD OF THE RINGS saga. The newly released launch trailer for the game is something to behold, showing off visuals at the top of what can be achieved on PCs and consoles, and a plot that looks damn intense. Fans of the fictional universe should be very excited to get their hands on this.
SHADOW OF MORDOR hits stores today.
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