As we’ve learned from this past Gamescom, Sauron isn’t the only one to cast a shadow over Mordor. Here we have three of his worst lieutenants standing in the way between undead ranger Talion and his sweet revenge for the loss of his family.
Our story all begins with Queen Marwen, queen of the Tribesmen of Nurn and of the retired corsair raiders, now humble farmers. Marwen has drawn Celebrimbor to her with promises to reveal more about the Rings he once forged with a mysterious agenda.
At the heart of the game’s story are Sauron’s servants and a kind of “avatars” of his power in the world. There are three in particular wielding a portion of the Dark Lord’s power for our hero, Talion, to combat.
The Black Hand is the leader of the Black Captains, a Black Numenorean and leader of Sauron’s agents within Mordor. As it takes place prior to their defeat in The Return of the King, the Black Captains of the Nazgul are Sauron’s leading commandos of sorts. Though they are mighty in strength, his primary purpose is to symbolize the lying, deceitful side of Sauron.
Second is The Hammer. Once a human soldier during the battle at Mount Doom, he was a stretcher bearer disillusioned and scarred by the horrors of war. Eventually seduced by Sauron’s power in battle, it was his discovery of Sauron’s hammer that would transform him into a warrior of Sauron’s influence and evil.
The most horrific of Shadow of Mordor’s villains is The Tower, another Black Numenorean and serves as the lead torturer in Barad Dur and the speculated torturer of the deranged Gollum according to both the The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings books and films. The Tower may be the most intimidating and openly frightening of Sauron’s avatars even against his peers and perhaps best represents the Dark Lord’s terror and rage, emphasized by his terrible headgear and mouth.
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor unsheathes its mystery Sept. 30th, a week ahead of its original Oct. 7th release.
Source: Playstation YouTube Channel via IGN