Hey everyone! So, I was diving back into Middle-earth: Shadow of War the other day (yes, I still play it in 2026, fight me! 😂), and it hit me just how brilliantly Monolith Productions handled all those early comparisons to Assassin's Creed. Remember when Shadow of Mordor first dropped? Critics were like, "Bro, this is just Tolkien's Assassin's Creed!" The parkour, the stealth kills—it all felt super familiar. Some even accused Monolith of straight-up copying Ubisoft's formula. But you know what? The devs didn't get salty. Nah, they leaned into it with the sequel in the most hilarious way possible.
That Priceless NPC Dialogue Easter Egg 🎮
Okay, so here's the tea. While roaming around Mordor as our boy Talion, you might overhear two orcs chatting at an outpost. One goes, "I'm an assassin." And his buddy, without missing a beat, replies, "We're all assassins, it's like a creed!" I mean, COME ON! That's some next-level meta-humor right there. 😭 Monolith basically said, "You think we're like Assassin's Creed? Fine, we'll put it IN THE GAME." It's a straight-up, unapologetic nod to the comparisons, and it's absolute gold. Even in 2026, stumbling upon this still cracks me up. It shows the devs have a sense of humor and aren't afraid to poke fun at themselves.
The World is ALIVE with Chatter 🗣️
But that's not even the best part! Reviews back in the day (and my own experience now) note that Shadow of War is jam-packed with little NPC conversations like this. The world feels lived-in. And guess what? The voice acting is legit!
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Celebrity Alert! 🎤 The legendary comedian Kumail Nanjiani voices an orc in the game. So even if a random orc conversation isn't hiding a secret Easter egg, it might be delivered with that signature Nanjiani sass. Totally worth listening to!
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Dynamic & Varied Setting: Monolith wasn't kidding when they said the world was more "unique," "varied," and "dynamic." Compared to Shadow of Mordor, the sequel's map is MASSIVE. Different regions have distinct vibes, from fiery volcanoes to lush forests. This variety makes exploration in 2026 still feel fresh.
Beyond Dialogue: A World of Secrets 🤫
Given the huge open-world, it's a no-brainer that there are secrets buried everywhere, not just in dialogue. We're talking:
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Hidden Lore References: To deeper Tolkien mythology.
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Developer Tributes: Little nods to the team's other work.
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Environmental Storytelling: Ruins and artifacts that tell silent stories.
The game encourages you to take your time and explore. You never know what you'll find!
The Loot Box Shadow... & Why the Game Still Shines ✨
Now, we gotta address the Uruk-hai in the room. When Shadow of War launched, it was clouded by the loot box controversy. People were (rightfully) upset about a full-priced game having such a aggressive microtransaction system. It cast a real shadow over the release.
But here's my 2026 take: The core game is SO GOOD. Once you look past that (and many updates later tweaked the system), what you have is an incredibly fun experience.
| The Allure | Why It Works |
|---|---|
| Funny, Memorable Orcs | The Nemesis System creates personal villains & allies with unique personalities. |
| Satisfying Fantasy RPG Mechanics | Building your army, upgrading Talion, and conquering forts is addictively fun. |
| AC-Inspired Movement & Combat | It's fluid, responsive, and makes you feel like a total badass. |
The combination of these elements created a vibe that was hard to resist. For millions of players, the joy of hunting for Easter eggs, dominating the Nemesis System, and living a power fantasy in Middle-earth outweighed the business model woes.
Final Thoughts in 2026 🕰️
So, has Shadow of War stood the test of time? Absolutely. Jumping back in, the Assassin's Creed Easter egg remains a iconic, self-aware moment in gaming. The world is vast and full of personality, largely thanks to its chatty orc population. While the loot box discourse is a permanent part of its history, the game's strengths—its humor, its systems, its scale—ensure it's still a blast to play today.
The hunt for more secrets continues, and honestly, that's the real creed of a true explorer. Maybe I'll see you out there in Mordor! Remember, we're all assassins... or at least, gamers looking for a good time. 😉
- Peace out! ✌️