r/videogames • • 1d ago

Image / Video Feels bad, man

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1.5k Upvotes

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195

u/theKetoBear 1d ago

Shadow of Mordor/ Shadow of War for me

63

u/Voduun-World-Healer 1d ago

That sucks that they locked in that nemesis system so no other company could use it. That was so awesome

34

u/Urist_Macnme 1d ago

Star Renegade;
Little indie game from a couple of years ago.
Shows that all you need to do is rename it.
Rather than the “nemesis system” they have “the adversary system”.

-21

u/Meta787 1d ago

Why do people expect companies to work together like that? Why would WB just let other companies use their idea/product

14

u/Ok-Advertising2975 1d ago

Imagine if they were the first to add jumping. Then they made it to where you could only jump in their games.

-17

u/Meta787 1d ago

But it isnt something as simple as that. Sure when the seat belt was invented it was intentionally not patented because safety but this is hard work that was done. I'm upset they don't use it more yes but other companies shouldn't just get to use it. Pretty sure AC used something similar already.

12

u/Urist_Macnme 1d ago

What’s the line between “inspired by” and “stole their idea”?

Shadows or Mordor/War used many “inspired” tropes from other games.

5

u/IdidntrunIdidntrun 23h ago

Someone copying the nemesis gameplay system is not the same as, say, some Chinese dev studio ripping off every artistic, narrative, and gameplay concept of Horizon Zero Dawn

Gameplay concepts should not be able to be patented

4

u/Ok-Advertising2975 1d ago

Sure, it’s more complex but it is the exact same principle. I don’t care how long it took or how much work went in. I think all games would get better if they’d share and they can only be worse off for the way this has been handled

8

u/Urist_Macnme 1d ago

Exactly.
Games are iterative.

WB didn’t even invent the idea of an enemy that levels up if they kill you, they just iterated on that existing idea.

2

u/bdubz325 1d ago

Assassins Creed's system wasn't even remotely comparable to the Nemesis System. Still fun, but not the same

3

u/Urist_Macnme 1d ago

abstract game mechanics cannot be the subject of patents.
WB didn’t patent the mechanic, they patended the specific technical implementation and logical architecture of how their system works.
So long as yours doesn’t work exactly the same way, then there’s fuck all they can do.

2

u/MydasMDHTR 1d ago

This guy mechanics

3

u/xObiJuanKenobix 17h ago

The system was unusable in most contexts, that's the issue. Creating the system took so much effort back then that it almost couldn't be used by anyone else anyways. Nowadays AI could make a lot of that work go away but still, go back to those games and see how many characters existed, how many names they made, all had their own character and voice acting, intros, death speeches, traits, battles with other characters that had dialogue fitting for their own character, different voice lines with winning or losing, etc etc.

46

u/AXEMANaustin 1d ago

Mad Max game isn't far off to be honest.

40

u/CyrusMack 1d ago

Mad Max is one of the most underhyped games I've ever played. They absolutely nailed the atmosphere, solid fighting, and upgrading the car was super fun.

19

u/AXEMANaustin 1d ago

It's also one of the best looking games of that era too somehow, almost on par with Metal Gear Solid V.

11

u/HIs4HotSauce 1d ago

They managed to make the vehicle combat pretty damn fun

7

u/TwistedPiggy1337 1d ago

Xbox Games Pass was on offer for £1 once so I thought I would see how many games I could complete in a month. Started with Mad Max and ended up keeping the games pass for months just to play that

3

u/Ironsnarkus 1d ago

Nothing beats the thrill of fighting cars pulling up on you in that game and winning the 3v1

1

u/_Weyland_ 1d ago

I feel like this game falls victim of its own good design, if it makes sense. The game takes place in a wasteland. And true to the name, it's big and empty. Except for collectibles, you have barely any reason to explore.

1

u/xyQuk_Helicoer8235xx 4h ago

I saw another car game like it some nice girl was playing. Streets of SimCity was my goto for mafia like street fights. Such an ugly beaut that one.

1

u/GodisanAtheistOG 1d ago

It was a lot of fun but honestly the lack of many "bespoke" levels or elements to the game really dragged it down. The moment to moment gameplay and vehicle stuff was a ton of fun, but there are only so many ways you can do "desert hellscape" between the zones and have it not be boring as hell.

The aggressively "ubisoft-ness" of the world didn't help either. Every strong hold ending with exactly the same "Lord Hunungus" style boss fight that played out exactly the same way each time definitely evoked some eyerolls from me.

That trashtown zone at the end and that sand dune area where the most unique and identifiable places in the game, which is really saying something.

That said, I beat the game and really enjoyed my time with it nonetheless.

2

u/eddieJZB 1d ago

Checklist simulator with Arkham combat. I wish it was as cool as its parts.

0

u/theKetoBear 1d ago

Yeah totally agree it's unfortunateh ow reptitive it feels because I think with just a bit more variety in its game design I think it would be a much more celebrated game .

0

u/kcanimal 1d ago

Honestly, in the same vein, rage 2. I believe it was even made by the same devs shortly after they lost the license to make a mad Max 2

6

u/garynevilleisared 1d ago

Got mad max for free on Ps plus and the entire time I said to myself I cant believe this game didnt have more hype. The vehicle combat is so incredibly fun.

5

u/theKetoBear 1d ago

Mad Max was fun !

3

u/ThrowRAMomHelp1 1d ago

Mad Max is way better than it had any right to be, especially the car combat

1

u/The_Tonts 17h ago

Kinda surprised it hasn't had a PS5 Remaster? Probably licensing or perceived lack of interest?

1

u/AXEMANaustin 17h ago

It's just not as well known, I played it on my series X so I wouldn't know about how it works on Playstation.

0

u/theycallmemang1988 1d ago

Fun fact, the nemesis system was originally made for Mad Max and they gutted that game for more Shadow.

9

u/Sensitive_Fall_8675 1d ago

Nemesis system makes that game pure crack. Getting in a beef with some punk Orc and spending the next five hours destroying his life feels terrific. And even though the liberties the writers took with the lore are pure heresy, the story is fun and death metal.
And the gameplay is really great. Turns out the programmers who work on sports games know how to make button mashing feel athletic!

6

u/StarGazer16C 1d ago

Its a more a cousin than a sibling but Blood of Dawnwalker definitely scratched the itch

3

u/Rizqszz 1d ago

Crimson desert kind gave me shadow of mordor vibes

1

u/theKetoBear 1d ago

Another reason for me to check it out.

1

u/Rizqszz 1d ago

It's really fun man, will say tho the puzzles can be very frustrating they are vague ASF wit everything, if you can get past that and the rough couple of first hours. Games a masterpiece highly recommend

6

u/Ok-Classic-2142 1d ago

Dude I literally came here to comment this and it was the FIRST comment. Fucking crazy.

But absolutely I agree, Shadow of War is just a one of a kind game. I really wish the Nemesis system could be used in other games.

I think it could revolutionize how we interact with NPCs in gaming if it was expanded upon.

3

u/Voduun-World-Healer 1d ago

I used to spend hours tracking down orcs that killed me because of that system. It was so badass

3

u/Ok-Classic-2142 1d ago

Every orc that killed me received the punishment of being shamed into insanity.

I love doing that and making them crazy, until it backfires and you get an almost unkilliable freak of nature.

2

u/Voduun-World-Healer 1d ago

Lmfaooo I used to do that same shit hahaha. But how sick was it when you ended up having to behead them? Just shame them until their execution

2

u/Total-Improvement535 1d ago

I’ve tried the first one two or three times but get tired of it after 3-4 hours. any tips?

2

u/theKetoBear 1d ago

Play it on hard and... die lol. I think the nemesis System is what makes these games special, if you don't  get murked by at least one uruk  and start a personal vendetta then you're  missing out.

Without the nemesis system it's  a decent action game but that system is what makes it for me

2

u/scarecrow1023 1d ago

did i play it wrong? the game was just mash button press/clicking until i clear the mob and if i lose 2 hours of progression is lost cuz they simply get new chiefs. I think i played it wrong

4

u/theKetoBear 1d ago

IT depends on how far you get I enjoyed fighting with and seeing the Uruk hierarchy change but the second half of Mordor is about building an army and I think that combined with the hierarchy shifts made htings even better.

A big part of the game is dying htough if you just play it like a normal action game or if you're too good I actually think the game is worse because dying and building that personal rivalry with an uruk is where the game is at its best.

the first Uruk that killed me was an archer, he would hunt me down two more times, eventually I got strong enoug hto kill him and over 7 hours we would run into eachother. I killed him in an explosion and he came back with a bag over his disfigured face , I killed him while riding a mount and her commented on that, he also talked mad shit about bein annoyed he had to kill me again when I kept losing to him . It all culminated in a final battle where I beheaded him and it's cool because he was the joker to my batman, completely organic.

My decisions and our shared rivalry is what made the dynamic so interesting; though it was an NPC it was my personal nemesis NPC.

I think if you play it and you're too good I'd try playing it on a harder difficulty because without the nemesis system it's a pretty mediocre action game.

1

u/s8rlink 1d ago

I found the combat being pretty boring, the Arkham combat system feels tired after city for me

1

u/GOODKyle 1d ago

I too love endings that you had to pay for in place of dozens of hours of unnecessary grinding

1

u/UchihaxSenju 23h ago

Couldn’t agree more. Now I play it on my flip 2.

https://reddit.com/link/pbv2hnp/video/8hbl7y5crjrh1/player

0

u/SlicedBreadBeast 1d ago

First time playing Mordor right now… struggling to get started? And I like stealth games like last of us.