Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor's Nemesis System had the potential to reshape gaming. Giving even the weakest of enemies the ability to grow and become your rival was a stroke of genius, making Shadow of Mordor and its sequel, Shadow of War, near-masterpieces.
Unfortunately, that system is locked behind a patent, and unless something changes, we likely won't see it used in another game until 2036, 20 years after the patent was officially filed.
Our best hope is that fans worldwide dedicate time and effort to backporting a similar system into our favorite games. We saw it recently with Baldur's Gate 3, and now, Red Dead Redemption 2 is getting an official fan-made Nemesis System.
What made Shadow of Mordor's Nemesis System feel so special was that every enemy felt like they had a life. They had their own personalities, likes, dislikes, and grudges, making the world feel more immersive than any other game. Red Dead Redemption 2's enRAGE mod aims to do the same.
"Every NPC gets a name, a temper and a mind shaped by a life lived before you rode in. They remember what you did and will cross your path again," its description...
