Batman Arkham 2020 Should Borrow One Key Mechanic From Shadow of Mordor
Getting an open-world Lord of the Rings title was an interesting concept that fans had wanted for quite a long time. Some of the best and most underrated games back on the PS2 were the licensed Lord of the Rings games like Return of the King. But as the generation moved on to PS3/Xbox 360, movie tie-in games slowly died off as they progressively got worse with age. Eventually the Batman: Arkham series became the catalyst for the resurgence of popular comics/movie tie-in games. Despite this, there was still a long time before licensed games really started to take off, that is, until Monolith Productions came out with Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor.
Many figured that the dream for another high quality licensed Lord of the Rings title was long gone. But with Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor, the game proved there were still fans and developers still interested in a high quality Lord of the Rings video game adaptation. Not only was Shadow of Mordor a solid open-world adventure in the Tolkien universe, but it also had an innovative sub-system called the Nemesis system. Few other games have borrowed or iterated on Mordor's Nemesis system, but the 2020 Batman game could benefit from utilizing some version of Mordor's Nemesis system.
Back when Shadow of Mordor came out in 2014, the game was praised for being an awesome open-world adventure based in the Lord of the Rings universe. Among other familiar features in the game was the Nemesis system, a term coined by the development team for its unique system of enemy bosses throughout the game. The Nemesis system was a sort-of revolving rivals system that constantly shifted and changed based on players' progress throughout the open-world and the story. It was a fluid system that was pervasive throughout the whole experience, further enforcing the living world around Talion and how his liberation of Orc rule was truly affecting the regime.
Sauron's Orc forces in Shadow of Mordor have a power structure that's very tribal, meaning accomplishments in battle allow Orcs to ascend to Uruk rank (like a lieutenant, colonel) and control certain platoons/regions in the world. This is the basis of the game's Nemesis system; various Orcs ascend to higher-rank positions in the Orc army based on various factors. As players progress through Shadow of Mordor, the Nemesis system continuously evolves and changes based on the player's actions. If a player is killed by a specific Orc, that Orc receives a greater reputation in Sauron's army, usually leading to a promotion in Sauron's army. That Orc then becomes the player's rival, whilst simultaneously becoming stronger and harder to beat.
This Nemesis system constantly ebbs and flows throughout each playthrough of Shadow of Mordor, and that's what makes it so special. Favorite weapons or methods of players will often factor into many Orc commanders' strengths and weaknesses, constantly forcing players to switch it up and utilize every tool at their disposal to defeat enemies. Orcs leaders will also compete with their peers for power, often supplanting other weaker commanders and becoming even stronger. These Orcs have names, personalities, rivals, and allies throughout the in-game world that grounds the experience and makes the player's actions that much more impactful.
Since then, not many games have adopted something similar to the Nemesis system in Shadow of Mordor. Some have come close, like Assassin's Creed Odyssey's various mercenary rivals, but never have been so integral to the gameplay loop. That's what makes the Nemesis system so unique, as it's constantly justifying and reacting to the player's actions throughout the experience. It's not just an optional side quest either. Narrative-critical missions often include or introduce Orc commanders as well, meaning the Nemesis system is very rarely sidelined by story elements or other missions.
Adding a Nemesis-like system in the next Batman/Arkham game would make a lot of sense. Much of that is based on whether or not the next Batman/Arkham game will be based on the Court of Owls and Talons, but even then this rivals system would be perfect for the caped crusader regardless. As fans would know, the Batman typically has a lot of enemies given his occupation pits him against many criminals. What better way to incorporate criminals from the Batman universe, big or small, into the Batman's quest for justice. The Nemesis system structure would lend itself well to a Batman/Arkham game well for a lot of reasons.
Too often are criminals in the Batman universe competing over each other for the hero's attention in Gotham, utilizing unique tactics to wreak havoc on the city. It'd be interesting to see a fluid system like Nemesis in Batman, with different regions in Gotham influenced by various iconic villains in the franchise. Many could engage in turf wars where someone like the Joker has to beat out the Penguin's henchman to establish a new region for himself, ranking the Joker higher on Batman's Nemesis list as a result. The system could simply revolve around these iconic villain's lieutenants strictly as well, and it would still be an interesting way to incorporate such a system in a Batman game.
Given that several rumors and leaks have pointed to the next game being about the Court of Owls, there could be a lot of heavy players competing for power in the Court. Utilizing a system similar to the Nemesis system would be an interesting depiction of this iconic Batman story that would keep players enthralled for hours.
A Batman/Arkham game is reportedly in development.
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