this post was submitted on 25 Mar 2025
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Ex-Warner Bros. Exec Reveals the Real Reason Shadow of Mordor's Much-Loved Nemesis System Was Created (www.ign.com)
submitted 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) by misk@sopuli.xyz to c/games@sh.itjust.works
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Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor is remembered for many reasons, but perhaps best of all for its Nemesis system, an incredible mechanic for generating memorable Orc encounters. According to a former executive, the Nemesis system came about from trying to solve a different problem: secondhand sales.

In a new video, Laura Fryer — former vice president of WB Games who oversaw the publisher's Seattle studios at the time — talked about her time with Monolith. While discussing the way trend-chasing affects the industry, Fryer mentioned that chasing trends is what "literally led to the Nemesis system."

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[–] xnx@slrpnk.net 13 points 3 days ago (2 children)

No where in the article does it explain what the nemesis system is :(

[–] alphabethunter@lemmy.world 22 points 3 days ago

Well, it is really old news from a game that launched in 2015, but the summary of it is a feature that allows enemies in the game to remember you, and evolve with the player. You killed an Orc chieftain, his right-hand orc is now the chieftain, and thanks you for clearing the way for him. Lost a battle to a miserable orc archer? Next time he sees you he jokes to your face and tells you how shit you are. It is a great system, but it was patented.

[–] chicken@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 3 days ago (1 children)

There's a game menu with a diagram of a military hierarchy of named enemies, and their strengths/vulnerabilities. When you find the named enemies in the game and interact with them in some way (iirc it's basically limited to winning/losing a fight or mind controlling them), it affects their traits and their place in the tree, and you'll get a short cutscene where they say stuff referencing your past interactions.

[–] Mirshe@lemmy.world 3 points 2 days ago

They also don't stay in one place, and can just randomly show up in a place when you're, say, doing stealthy stuff. Suddenly assassinating a whole outpost of orcs becomes "aww shit, Feldûsh is here, and he's immune to stealth attacks" or '"oh no Roggvir just showed up, he's riding a warg and so are the other 4 guys he pals around with".