Following in the footsteps of the release of The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug, Warner Brothers has released screenshots and concept art for Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor, further fueling the anticipation for a game that aims to take us back to Middle-Earth. This game looks to be significantly darker than previous ones and separate from the movies as well, putting you in the shoes of Talion the Ranger who after being killed, comes back to life with wraith abilities. This brave new venture may very well be one that gamers will be looking forward to as it releases on PC, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS3, and PS4!

For those that didn't catch the announcement, Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor is a darker breed of game from many of the previous Lord of the Rings themed games. As stated above, you're put in the shoes of Talion, who seeks to take down his killers with the assistance of the Spirit of Vengeance. While there is still a shroud of mystery surrounding the game, we do know that the developer Monolith Studios is in charge, and the game will likely have a Mature rating by the ESRB. Check out some of the screenshots below!

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Looking at the screenshots, it is apparent that the gameplay will be a third-person perspective with an influence of stealth and combat within the game. The "Nemesis" system in the game allows you to both shape both your own story as well as your enemies', as you seek to take down the Black Captains of Sauron. Based on what has been talked about and reported by Monolith, the game will give you a sandbox as you make your way through Mordor, allowing you to play and decimate Sauron's ranks as you see fit.

Obviously, heading into the world of Middle-Earth again will require a great deal of story, but the developer has emphasized that they will not be imitating any content from The Hobbit or Lord of the Rings, allowing for an all-new story. The lead writer, Christian Cantamessa, who was a writer for Red Dead Redemption is a good cause to be interested, but the fact that Cantamessa was actually given written accounts from World War I soldiers as well as Russian Gulag inmates adds to the fact that this game will likely be dark. But, a good dark, right? Only time will tell!

What do you think of these new details? Are you interested to head back into the world of Middle-Earth? Does anything stand out to you? Let us know!