Warner Bros. are taking this whole ‘let’s double-down on the Nemesis system’ strategy really seriously. Their latest bit of marketing for Middle-Earth: Shadow of War is an interactive video in which your choices will determine the loyalties of protagonist Talion’s orcish minions, much like in the game.
Here’s everything we know about Middle-earth: Shadow of War.
The video plays out like a choose-your-own-adventure novel, and concerns the fate of an orc pawn named Mogg. Things didn’t work out very well for our Mogg, but when you’re done, you can review the outcomes of other players’ decisions, granting us a wistful glance at a brighter future for him in another universe. It’s quite good fun, like if Sliding Doors had been set in a gritty castle siege full of horrible goblins. (Nowthere’sa remake I’d like to see. Also starring Gwyneth Paltrow as an Uruk-Hai Berserker.)
Warner Bros. also claim – somewhat disturbingly – that Mogg will “extend beyond the interactive trailer and follow viewers across the internet, emulating the gameplay experience created by the Nemesis system.” We haven’t been able to figure out how this happens yet. Maybe he’ll turn up in our next YouTube video or something.
If you, too, would like your next Overwatch character guide interrupted by a vengeful orc pawn, head to the Shadow of War website to give it a try. The video looks great, with direction and photography by people who have worked on Avatar, Watchmen, and Game of Thrones.