Lord of the Rings

Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor is a strange beast. Gameplay-wise, it takes its inspiration from a number of sources. Its combat system, for instance, is lifted straight out of Rocksteady’s Arkham series, complete with combo meter, takedowns and counters, whilst its open world, stealth and traversal are clear nods to Assassin’s Creed. Film-wise, however, it’s definitely taking its cues from Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy, at least on the surface. Because whilst there is enough in the game to tie it to its silver screen counterpart, it’s really just fan service – and it’s all the better for it.