The latest trailer for Middle-Earth: Shadow of War is here, and - shocker of shockers - it's live-action, meaning this is the first live footage filmed in the Tolkien movie universe since The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies closed the saga out in 2014. You can see the trailer here or embedded below, but be aware that only the website version has the interactive choices.
Middle-Earth: Shadow Of War Dips Its Orcish Toes Into The Microtransaction Barrel
The live-action trailer shows Talion and his blue-eyed Orc army, complete with dragon in tow, as they attack another enemy orc encampment. There was a teaser for this trailer last week, titled 'Friend or Foe', but this is the full thing. The live-action video is directed by Neil Huxley who worked on Avatar and Watchmen, and is shot by Director of Photography, Fabian Wagner, who's worked on Game of Thrones. That perhaps explains why it looks so good. Supposedly it's interactive too, although presumably that comes in further trailers.
This trailer kicks off Warner Bros,' 'Campaign That Never Forgets' that's meant to recreate the Nemesis system, or at least the series of choices that players will face when Shadow of War comes out next month. Save an ally or crush an enemy? We don't know how "Telltale" things are going to get but it certainly seems interesting. From the press release:
" Those decisions then result in a personal relationship with a specific Orc as a loyal ally or vengeful enemy, which will extend beyond the interactive trailer and follow viewers across the internet, emulating the gameplay experience created by the Nemesis System."
See what we mean? Interesting! Go to the website to make your choices.
Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor came out of nowhere to become one of our favourite games, sequel Shadow of War has had a more rough a time of it. Odd lore decisions such as Lady Shelob, summoning Balrogs and everyone having dragons stand next to microtransactions, loot crates, and odd DLC practices as the controversies mount. Can the full game weather this bad press and pull things back?
We'll find out when Middle-Earth: Shadow of War launches on October 10.
