Middle-Earth: Shadow Of Mordor – GotY?
With this year’s Album of the Year likely coming out this month (Exodus or At The Gates), it’s fitting that the year’s potential Game of the Year is an autumn release as well! As my first purchase for the PS4, (Well, I sold Killzone) I didn’t know what to expect. At more than 24 hours into this title, I’m sold. This game is the shit.
And, rather than go through all its pros, I’ll just give one example. I’ve just begun a one-on-twenty battle with a Warchief, the game’s premiere enemy. This guy is tough and I’m beating down orcs left-and-right as I struggle with this guy. What happens next? Another Uruk Captain emerges, then a second. My fight is now against three big-time enemies and I’ve been brought to the brink of death. A life-saving effort keeps the fight going and then…? A THIRD Captain arrives. My hands are sweating and I notice, for the first time in what seems like years, my heart is racing. It’s pounding so hard as I try to attack, parry, vault and put death finishers on the lesser orcs. One captain dies, another flees and the third succumbs with his head severed. I watch it float in slow-motion, a haunting mess of blood and glory. The Warchief weakens and I’m on my last legs. Perfection is required. He attacks, I parry, and another floating head is my trophy, alongside an epic rune.
The dust settles and I realize just how intense that was. It was friggin’ hard! How many games have gotten you in a panic in recent years? It was spectacular and I was convinced – this is one of the best games I’ve played in years! Now to 100% that bastard! Might actually go for a platinum on this one…it’s that good.