Does Shadow of Mordor Have a Story?
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor is an open-world action-adventure game that indeed has a story of revenge, slaughter, and mystery set entirely in Mordor, the Land of Shadows, with a narrative that bridges the gap between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. The game follows the journey of Talion, a Gondorian Ranger, who, after losing everything, including his mortal life, becomes a revenant possessed by the wraith of Celebrimbor, an Elf Lord, and seeks to avenge the murder of his family.
Understanding the Story and Its Place in the LOTR Universe
The story of Shadow of Mordor is deeply intertwined with the lore of Middle-earth, offering players a unique perspective on the Tolkien universe. To fully appreciate the game’s narrative, it’s essential to understand its connection to The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, as well as its standalone elements.
FAQs
- Is Shadow of Mordor a lore? Both Shadow of Mordor and Shadow of War take place between the events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings and are based on Tolkien’s written narratives, but neither game is considered canon.
- How long is the Shadow of Mordor story? When focusing on the main objectives, Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor is about 15½ Hours in length, and to obtain 100% completion, you are likely to spend around 32½ Hours.
- Is Shadow of Mordor before or after LOTR? Since Shadow of Mordor is set before The Lord of the Rings, its landscape is less post-apocalyptic; environments also vary by weather, lighting, and atmosphere.
- Does Shadow of War have a story? Shadow of War continues the narrative from Shadow of Mordor, following undead ranger Talion who is still infused with the spirit of the elf lord Celebrimbor.
- Should I play Shadow of Mordor before Shadow of War? It’s suggested to play Shadow of Mordor before Shadow of War to get used to the mechanics, basic plot, and fighting techniques, but it’s not necessary.
- Is Shadow of Mordor worth playing in 2023? Despite having less content than Shadow of War, Shadow of Mordor is still worth playing for its unique story and gameplay mechanics.
- Why is Gollum in Shadow of Mordor? Gollum has journeyed into Mordor to find the Ring, drawn to the power of the Ring-maker, after four centuries of the Ring growing restless and seeking a new owner.
- Can you keep playing Shadow of War after main story? Upon completion of the main story, you’re free to continue exploring the world and taking part in online conquests.
- How many endings are there in the Shadow of War? There aren’t multiple endings in the traditional sense; instead, the game concludes with two main endings: one for Celebrimbor’s story and another for Talion’s story.
- Is Gandalf in Shadow of War? Gandalf is available as a Middle-earth Champion in Shadow of War Mobile.
- Do I need to watch The Hobbit before playing Shadow of Mordor? No, Shadow of Mordor and Shadow of War are non-canonical to the Tolkien-verse, but they take place between the events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.
- Was Celebrimbor evil? Unlike in the books, Celebrimbor appears to be the mastermind behind the creation of the corrupted rings, driven by evil and greed.
- Which Shadow of Mordor should I play first? If there will be a gap between playing Mordor and War, it’s suggested to play Mordor first; otherwise, you can jump straight into War and watch plot videos or cinematics for Mordor.
- How many main story missions are in Shadow of Mordor? The game includes 20 main missions that are required for campaign completion.
- Does Shadow of Mordor have an ending? Yes, Shadow of Mordor concludes with Talion traveling to the Black Gate for a final confrontation with the Black Hand, leading to a ritual that forces Celebrimbor to depart from Talion and merge with himself.