Unlike previous videos of the game which have focused on its improved Nemesis System, this latest Middle-earth: Shadow of War trailer shows fans the sheer scope of the game’s open-world. While it’s perhaps too brief to fully explore each of the game’s areas, it does offer a look at the Island of Nurn, Cirith Ungol, Gorgoroth and more environments. In a press release, Warner Bros. and Monolith promise that the game will offer “a unique world to explore and share” and say that “every area of the world is larger, more varied and more dynamic than ever before.”

The trailer also offers a small look at what Middle-earth: Shadow of War players will get up to when the game launches in a few months’ time. In one scene viewers can see Talion leading an assault on a location, standing tall as a commander with forces behind him, ready to take on the enemy. In another, the character opts to take a much more stealthy approach in order to take out an archer without causing too much noise. Other scenes see a dragon fly overhead, blazing down a giant streak of fire and Talion lopping off an enemy’s head with one fell swoop of his sword.

Just like previous gameplay trailers, this latest video shows how the game is set to build on what the first Middle-earth game, Shadow of Mordor, presented. Taking things at face value, it doesn’t look as though fans will be disappointed as it offers more of what they loved the first time around.

Though that’s not to say that there aren’t big questions that need to be answered by Warner Bros. and Monolith in order to get doubters interested in Middle-earth: Shadow of War. For example, there have been questions about whether or not it will feature microtransactions. If the game really is as big and as open as the trailer suggests, then microtransactions that help players make the most of it are a possibility, but the controversial business model could turn some gamers off. Hopefully the companies will clear things up ahead of the game’s release.

Middle-earth: Shadow of War will be available on August 22nd for PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Project Scorpio.

Source: WBGamesUK – YouTube