Although not much is currently known about Wonder Woman, and with the Game Awards showing off only a brief teaser for the game, it has been confirmed that the upcoming release will feature the Nemesis System. This is the same villain-centric gameplay framework previously seen in other Warner Bros. titles Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and its sequel Middle-earth: Shadow of War. The innovative system was a big hit with gamers, and its inclusion certainly has interesting implications for what Wonder Woman could look like when it comes to in-game enemies and mechanics.
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What Is The Nemesis System?
When Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor was released in 2014, one of its most standout features was the Nemesis System. This original mechanic was subsequently patented by Warner Bros. which caused some controversy, but its inclusion in the upcoming Wonder Woman is certainly an interesting decision. The mechanic allows player decisions to directly impact the narrative in a unique way, as enemies evolve and develop throughout the game based on the protagonist’s actions. As described by Monolith, the system is a collection of “methods for managing non-player characters” which are “based on character hierarchies and individualized correspondences.”
In a nutshell, the Nemesis System ensures that any grunt, unimportant thug, or low-level bad guy has the chance to ascend the ranks and become a major thorn in the player’s side. Within the Middle-earth games, orc society is built in a specific hierarchy that meant that if an orc killed the player, they would get promoted and start a potentially meteoric rise through the ranks to boss-level status.
However, orcs are also known for their infighting and internal rivalries, so not only would they attempt to take out the player, but they would also challenge each other to a fight to the death in order to get those coveted promotions. This meant that the enemy landscape was constantly evolving and changing, and no two games would be the same.
As the orcs move up the ranks they become more powerful, and if one dies then there is always another to take their place. Orcs that the player encounters will also remember exactly how that fight played out, including the keepsakes that the player may have left them with, such as specific scars or fears of things like fire (if that’s how the player previously attacked them). Gamers are also encouraged to turn high-ranking orcs against each other so that they can work for them. Later in the game, players get the ability to brand orcs and make them do their bidding, creating an army of infiltrators that can betray their factions and sow the seeds of dissent to topple leaders.
Everything Known About Wonder Woman So Far
The brief glimpse that gamers were granted didn’t reveal much — just a stylish look at the titular character as she wielded her iconic Lasso of Truth and showed off her classic costume. The teaser features a voiceover from Diana’s mother, Queen Hippolyta, as she outlines a new threat that has come to the shores of their home island of Themyscira. However, publisher Warner Bros. did reveal some additional details so gamers didn’t need to speculate too much about what they might be able to expect from the upcoming game.
What The Nemesis System Could Mean For The Game
The Nemesis System was arguably the best feature to come out of the Middle-earth games, and players have been keen to see its implementation in more titles since its debut. With Warner Bros. confirming that the system will be a prominent feature in Wonder Woman, gamers have started to speculate about what this might mean for the DC hero and her upcoming game.
Firstly, the Nemesis System creates a dynamic and versatile in-game world, that truly allows players to have a hand in shaping their specific experience. The constantly shifting and evolving landscape of baddies mean that the game will have lots of replay value, with no two playthroughs turning out quite the same way.
The Nemesis System also has interesting story implications for just who Diana will be going up against. Alongside potential Wonder Woman series staples like Cheetah and Circe, gamers might be able to promote an otherwise inconsequential thug to supervillain status — a fun feature that always made the enemies of the Middle-earth games feel personal and weighty. This mechanic crafted genuinely interesting character arcs for enemies, outside of the main story. This is a great contrast to the endless nameless rabble that superheroes usually come up against in the form of henchmen when they’re not dealing with the usual big names in the bad guy leagues.
The ability for players to create their own nemeses also opens the door for much more meaningful and unique character interactions between Wonder Woman and her potential adversaries. Fights become more than just a series of brawls and chances for Diana to show off her signature fighting style and weapons — gamers get the chance to play out their own personal rivalries that they’ve helped to create. DC is known for its excellent villains, and it will be interesting to see how comic book thugs could compete and rise through the ranks of a criminal empire in Wonder Woman that would emulate the chaotic hierarchy of orc society.
With Warner Bros. specifying that the Nemesis System in Wonder Woman will be about forging connections with both enemies and allies, players will no doubt be intrigued to see how this system will affect Diana’s friends and crime-fighting partners. If other heroes are to feature, perhaps they will have a ranking system that they’ll be navigating alongside the protagonist, with Diana’s choices about who she takes on missions increasing their standing.
Or perhaps a similar infiltration system will be in place like the branding mechanic in the Middle Earth games, with converts to Diana’s cause able to act as moles in criminal and villainous organizations. There is still plenty to speculate about, and fans will no doubt be eager for more news as the game continues to reveal its secrets over the coming months.
Wonder Woman is currently in development.
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