Shadow of War: Blade of Galadriel DLC
Warner Bros released a new story expansion for Middle-earth: Shadow of War on Tuesday as well as a patch that expands and “improves” the core game. Blade of Galadriel DLC, follows the adventures of Eltariel, an elite Elven warrior who is sent to Mordor to hunt the Nazgûl. As a playable character Eltariel wields dual blades and the uses the Light of Galadriel instead of a Ring of Power. There are also another eight unique Legendary Orcs added to main story campaign that can be recruited. The Nemesis System has been tweaked, introducing new traits and behaviours to Orc Captains. These include “Tunnel Rat” which lets Orcs burrow into the ground and summon Ghûls, and “Sniper Shot”, which causes archers to fire from great distances with pinpoint accuracy. “Tremor”, makes Ologs concussively hit the ground, staggering nearby foes and damaging structures. The “Gifts of Treasure” offers an alternate way to earn Gems and Mirian.
Photo Mode has also been upgraded, adding new filters, frames, styles, adjustable expressions, and stickers. I always enjoy this facility when it appears in a game and would like to see it available in more titles. Taking screen captures of alts has always been a major part of the fun of any RPG or MMORPG and developers should not overlook this. The latest DLC and patch have also added new Talion or Eltariel player skins for use in the main story campaign. There's also a new stat page, making it easier to keep track of your progress through the game. Plus, a Field of View option has been added which is something that players have regularly asked for. In any game where situational awareness is important, having a broad FOV in invaluable.
I played Middle-earth: Shadow of War heavily when it was released last October. It’s the sort of game that lends itself to intensive play and forging ahead through the storyline. The main selling point is the ridiculous, lore breaking narrative that takes substantial liberties with established canon. Yet if you’re prepared to suspend your sense of disbelief, it is an entertaining game. What becomes very clear after playing the new Blade of Galadriel DLC for about twenty minutes or so, is that apart from a new character skin and a few alternative skills, you’re doing exactly the same as what you did initially with Talion. It’s a classic example of same meat, different gravy which is fine if you can’t get enough of murdering Orcs. However, if you grew tired of this last time round, it’s not going to get any better this time.
Needless to say, as I have other games available at present that I’m more interested in pursuing, I decide to postpone exploring the Blade of Galadriel for the immediate future. Another reason to put it on hold is the simple fact that I’ve already forgotten most of the keyboard combinations for the special attacks and powers. Something that seems to happen a lot these days if I stop playing a game for too long. However, I will give credit where credit is due, because Monolith Studios have certainly provided a substantial amount of new content in this DLC. Furthermore, as a season pass holder there is still more to come later this year. I suspect that I will enjoy this new story at a later date when I want something a little less demanding than the MMOs I am currently involved with.
