Middle-Earth: Shadow Of Mordor - 10 Reasons It's Your First Essential Next-Gen Title

6. The Depth Of Upgrades Is Staggering

In addition to the skill-tree that pads out the options for your more button-specific combat, there's also a mostly-optional system of unlockable Runes - the equipping of which can bolster any number of things from chances of recovering health and 'Elf Shot' arrows, to getting Orcs to flee in terror at the sight of their comrade's head bursting into paste. You acquire these every time you take down one of the game's Captains or Warchiefs, and although you'll rarely be mindful of how effective they are throughout your first few hours, when you start unlocking more powerful pieces that restore entire health bars following things like stealth takedowns, it can alter the way you play in very significant ways.