Three Warner Bros. game studios, including Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor developer Monolith Productions, are all being shut down, but its fantastic Nemesis system may remain behind WB's doors for the foreseeable future thanks to an old patent.
The Nemesis system is, simply, a stroke of genius. In Shadow of Mordor, it allows regular ol' orcs to transcend from grunt status to becoming lethal enemies in their own right. If they beat you in a fight, they can be promoted, to be encountered later on as an even tougher foe. Enemies can remember your previous encounters and respond accordingly. Depending on how you play, you might end up with a rival that others haven't even heard of, making for a wholly unique experience.
