In The Silmarillion, Tolkien explains that Sauron had forged the One Ring himself and taught his methods to the Elves of Eregion, who created the Seven (for the Dwarf-lords) and the Nine (for the Mortal Men). The game drastically alters the core timeline of Tolkien's Middle-Earth mythos by thousands of years and effectively reduces the importance of one of Gondor's defining moments. The city was overrun by Sauron's forces thousands of years prior to the events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings - and to Shadow of War, for that matter. Gondor lost the battle and Sauron renamed the stronghold Minas Morgul. Sauron had endured Númenor's sinking and returned to Mordor to recuperate before eventually carrying out his invasion of Minas Ithil in 3429 S.A. Following the downfall of Númenor, Isildur co-founded the kingdom of Gondor alongside his brother Anárion and he created the new kingdom's bastion atop a mountain adjacent to Mordor. Shadow of War's story is centered around the fall of Minas Ithil, the last Gondorian stronghold just outside Mordor at the feet of Ephel Dúath. For those familiar with either The Silmarillion or The Lord of the Rings books may find that the bulk of the game's issues arise from directly contradicting traditional Middle-Earth lore, beginning with the basic chronology of events. Shadow of War is an exceptionally well-made game, with its Nemesis system taking the cake, but that doesn't mean it's without flaws. Related: Middle-Earth: Shadow of War Review Round-up It's an understandable creative choice considering how revered Jackson's Lord of the Rings movies are with modern audiences. The games abide by Tolkien's established continuity for the most part but their primary inspiration comes from Peter Jackson's films, particularly with regard to the world's look and feel. However, neither game is considered canon. The sequel continues the story left off from the first game, Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor, with the ranger Talion and the Elven spirit Celebrimbor forging a new Ring of Power that's capable of controlling an army strong enough to defeat Sauron.īoth Shadow of Mordor and Shadow of War take place between the events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings and are based on Tolkien's written narratives. Tolkien's Legendarium, yet it breaks the author's established continuity.

Middle-Earth: Shadow of War is the latest video game adaptation of J.R.R.

Shadow of war witch king