SallyNasty's Game Club - Shadow of Mordor for April! Open play! Spoilers open!

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Hey gang, new game incoming - this time with some new guidelines!

But first - these are the *usual* guidelines for these playthroughs -

1. Games should be at least 1 calendar year old. That makes it easy to find games that are either a) on most people's piles or b) cheap to pick up(I am thinking 10-15 bucks max).
2. Games should be either episodic or broken up into easily agreed upon stopping points (i.e. achievement for ch.1 or reaching certain checkpoint). I would like it to be about an hour to an hour and a half for each "assigned" session, no more than 5-6 hours a week needed to participate.
3. Games shouldn't be more than 20 hours.
4. No console exclusives. Has to be on Microsoft/Playstation/PC platforms.

Shadow of Mordor was one of those games I remember hearing about and thinking, "nah." But then as its release day came closer, their twitter account was actually fairly hilarious and based on a couple tweets that mocked some internet trolling, coupled with some very positive impressions that I was hearing online, decided to give it a go and pick up day one. I didn't regret it!

With a mix of Assassin's Creed and Batman: Arkham Origins, you take the role of Talion, a ranger on a quest for vengeance who brings the fight to Mordor(aided by the spirit of Celebrimbor, the forger of the ring of power). Honestly, not a great story - but a super fun game due to the nemesis system that has enemies who progress alongside you and who enrich the experience.

This is a really fun game and I truly hope you will play along this month!

I hope this is on sale. I passed on this when it was super cheap multiple times. Wait a minute... I'm a grown ass man! If I want to pay full price for a game that came out 2 years ago, by golly, I will!

I've often been tempted to play this, but never did. Now seems like a good time.

I totally fell off of the wagon on last months game. There were so many icons on the map that it made my head spin. I tried to fast track the main story, but I'm a games tourist, so I chased every little shiny thing that caught my eye.

I hope this game is a bit more straightforward.

I should do this. I bought at release and played some and stopped. Then I came back later, started fresh and played for a whole, then stopped.

Bundlestars has had it on sale for months, $7.50 I think with DLC

Hmm. This may be my excuse to jump back in and finish it.

Considering jumping in this round now that Breath of the Wild is finished.

Been looking for a reason to playback through it. Started it last night to get past the intro.

Edit: +1 to bundlestars they pretty much have it on sale for 5 or 8 bucks with DLC all the time. On console you're stuck with Craigs list or gamestop for the best deals.

I'm going to give this a try, even if it's outside my usual genre.

I'm in hopes I'll be able to set up the skill tree to compensate for my action-rpg shortcomings. (Which is to say, if there's an easy mode, I'll be using it.)

Katy wrote:

I'm going to give this a try, even if it's outside my usual genre.

I'm in hopes I'll be able to set up the skill tree to compensate for my action-rpg shortcomings. (Which is to say, if there's an easy mode, I'll be using it.)

It doesn't have an easy mode. In fact, that's why I quit playing both times. The combat isn't difficult, but I ran into multiple situations where the game would spawn new enemies right on top of you during a boss fight. Plus, it actively punishes you for dying to the bosses.

My take was that the game looks good and has interesting mechanics, but it can also be infuriating at times.

CptGlanton wrote:

Plus, it actively punishes you for dying to the bosses.

I'm going to wait until we have more people ready to discuss it, but I feel like the pluses and minuses of the way that the Nemesis system works with the rest of the game is going to be an interesting discussion.

CptGlanton wrote:

It doesn't have an easy mode.

Well, I'm sure I can squeeze $5 worth of enjoyment out of it. And if I don't like it, maybe my 16 year old will. At the very least, I can try to entertain the rest of you with the tales of woe it generates.

Tale of woe #1 (first world problems edition): 42GB is taking a very long time to download, especially as I've decided it would be unwise/rude to totally saturate the internet connection.

Tale of woe #2: over-the-ear headphones are uncomfortable if you also wear glasses (I can compound slow reflexes with nearsighted peering at the laptop screen!)

Gremlin wrote:
CptGlanton wrote:

Plus, it actively punishes you for dying to the bosses.

I'm going to wait until we have more people ready to discuss it, but I feel like the pluses and minuses of the way that the Nemesis system works with the rest of the game is going to be an interesting discussion.

Or you could say it has an incentive towards you knowing when to retreat as your strategy has failed. Go back and rethink your approach, maybe tackle another captain and come back.

Just don't want that note to scare people off. There are consequences to dying but it also creates unique game situations.

On XB1 they have a game of the year edition for $20 USD. (Download). It looks like it comes with all the DLC included.

I'm guessing it's the same price for PS.

I ran into a snag while trying to buy it. At first it was saying "currently not for sale". That's because I was looking at the store page for the regular version. It didn't redirect me to the game of the year edition. It took me a few minutes to find the right one.

Hobear wrote:
Gremlin wrote:
CptGlanton wrote:

Plus, it actively punishes you for dying to the bosses.

I'm going to wait until we have more people ready to discuss it, but I feel like the pluses and minuses of the way that the Nemesis system works with the rest of the game is going to be an interesting discussion.

Or you could say it has an incentive towards you knowing when to retreat as your strategy has failed. Go back and rethink your approach, maybe tackle another captain and come back.

Just don't want that note to scare people off. There are consequences to dying but it also creates unique game situations.

Just want to correct you on that. My strategy wasn't failing. The game just spawned literal piles of enemies on me while I was fighting the boss.

Tale of woe: playing keyboard/mouse. Was shown a flurry of special moves for two seconds each during the tutorial. Do you think I can remember them?

And of course, one of the things I was shown was "how to switch into ranged combat mode". That could be useful, but is not obvious. Nor is it clear just where on the interface the stamina bar (not to mention the health bar) is, since I was too busy looking at the orcs trying to kill me to look at anything other than the center of the screen...

But since the official start date for this isn't until the 10th, I'll put this all aside for now.

Hey, I actually just started this a couple weeks ago. I've always loved the big action, open-world games. Shadow of Mordor's a blast so far. I'm probably about halfway through, at least as far as the story quests. And was going back and working on some of the earlier sidequests.

What strikes me so far is I'm playing this right after finishing AC Revelations. I love the city and world of the AC games, but I've always found the combat frustrating. It's never felt smooth or satisfying, at least up until Revelations. Haven't played the newer ones yet.

That's why I love the Batman games (and now Shadow of Mordor): b/c I always look forward to the fights. They're soooo much fun in both games.

What I've learned from my time with Mordor so far, and that I think I read elsewhere, is it really helps to go ahead and go straight through a good chunk of story quests right off the bat. A lot of the story quests unlock key abilities that really open up your combat options. It was definitely more challenging in the early going, though.

Now, fights are just super fun. Can't wait to load it back up to kill some more Orcs!

CptGlanton wrote:
Hobear wrote:
Gremlin wrote:
CptGlanton wrote:

Plus, it actively punishes you for dying to the bosses.

I'm going to wait until we have more people ready to discuss it, but I feel like the pluses and minuses of the way that the Nemesis system works with the rest of the game is going to be an interesting discussion.

Or you could say it has an incentive towards you knowing when to retreat as your strategy has failed. Go back and rethink your approach, maybe tackle another captain and come back.

Just don't want that note to scare people off. There are consequences to dying but it also creates unique game situations.

Just want to correct you on that. My strategy wasn't failing. The game just spawned literal piles of enemies on me while I was fighting the boss.

Sorry. No malice intended. The your used was meant as a general your not specifically you. Bad on me. I had that happen times as well and until you're late game abilities make that a plausible fight just wanted to give newcomers the advice that retreat is an encouraged option.

Edit the person who wrote the initial Hobear post was sacked.

Katy wrote:

Tale of woe: playing keyboard/mouse. Was shown a flurry of special moves for two seconds each during the tutorial. Do you think I can remember them?

And of course, one of the things I was shown was "how to switch into ranged combat mode". That could be useful, but is not obvious. Nor is it clear just where on the interface the stamina bar (not to mention the health bar) is, since I was too busy looking at the orcs trying to kill me to look at anything other than the center of the screen...

But since the official start date for this isn't until the 10th, I'll put this all aside for now.

In the pause menu you can re-watch all those little tutorials. They're extremely helpful.

Ditto vlox_km! I bought this last autumn, but it sat in my PS4 Pile until my dalliance with Battlefield 1 ran its course.

I agree entirely with your advice on completing main story missions in order to unlock better abilities. With open world games, its usually the side missions that offer the rewards to make the main missions easier.

I've never joined one of these play-alongs, but having this on my list to play this will be a perfect time to join in! Thx for the timely pick! Count me in!

I'm taking this week to mop up HZD. Next week we're off on hols... But then I'll be all in, be rude not to after suggesting it hey.

I might actually join in on this. I've only played a few hours of it before, but fell off of it. Looking forward to discussing it and seeing everyone's nemesis!

Ok really looking forward to this.

Just downloaded it (lol 25% of my monthly internet data allotment).

Heard a lot of good stuff about this game and I'm a big fan of the IP.

I may get started early as I'm usually a little slow to progress in games.

Looking forward to discussing as we go along!

I forgot how many basic skills they hid behind the upgrade system. You get them quick but man that first 20 minutes after intro can throw new players if they don't know how soon some badassery will arrive.

When I'm fighting I'm button mashing. When I'm not fighting my index finger is glued to the right trigger.

I wish I could be more deliberate with my fighting skills, but when you have a vile horde of depravity bearing down on you, sometimes mashing Y + B is the best you can do.

I know that fans of stealth games probably turn their noses up at how easy the stealth is in this game. But for me, it's perfect. And I've already formed a narrative around why the ranger can hide in plain sight, but it's the slightest bit spoilery so I'll save it for later.

Okay, I'm in. I put the disc in last night to download the patch. I'll be switching back and forth between this and Mass Effect this month, it looks like.

Don't tempt me, Frodo.

Today's failure to remember which key to hit -- "Mission: kill 3 spiders". Well, that should be easy... ((randomly waves sword around near the spiders, failing to hit any of them)).

I guess I need to remember the ground execute combo to get the creepy crawlers.

So, that will be left-shift meta control spacebar, since I'm apparently playing emacs here.

Katy wrote:

Today's failure to remember which key to hit -- "Mission: kill 3 spiders". Well, that should be easy... ((randomly waves sword around near the spiders, failing to hit any of them)).

I guess I need to remember the ground execute combo to get the creepy crawlers.

So, that will be left-shift meta control spacebar, since I'm apparently playing emacs here.

I achieved by running them over unwittingly

I just shot them with the bow. I will try your way next time.

Started last night and loving it so far.

Using mouse / KB but wondering if controller would be better. Any opinions?

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