Tutorial: The Way of the Ranger

Learn the basics of combat and stealth in Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor's 'The Way of the Ranger' tutorial. Master Uruk takedowns and surprise attacks.

You’ll start out the game by giving your son some combat training. In reality, however, you’re the one going through the tutorial. Start out by Countering your son’s attacks (Triangle), then attack your son several times (Square). That lesson learned, the game will flash forward in time-your training buddies are now Uruks. Perform a Ground Execution (R2 + Square) then sprint (X) and tackle an Uruk near your son (R1, while sprinting). After this, some more Uruks will arrive, and you’ll be free to dispatch them however you wish. You can’t die here, so feel free to experiment with your limited move-set.

Once the Uruks are dead, a spectral Talion will investigate the body of a woman, then you’ll endure another flashback, where the dead woman is quite alive. Walk towards your wife and practice a stealth tutorial. For now, your object is to surprise your wife with flowers. Later on, this same game will be played out with Uruks, and will be somewhat more violent. Sorry, Kotaku, there’s no “hug” button in this game, but sane people everywhere are able to appreciate a clever tutorial, and seperate the mechanics from the context. Hold (R2) to enter stealth mode, and when you’re near your wife, hit (Square) to deviously assault her with flowers and love. This peaceful moment doesn’t last long.

Another flashback, and you’ll find yourself in a more dire predicament. Use your newly-learned stealth ability to sneak up and give the Uruk around the table a different kind of gift, wait for two more Uruks to separate, then kill them both, too. All your skill is for naught, however, as your wife is captured, and you are maimed. Things only get worse for Tailon and his family, as they are sacrificed as part of a ritual-a ritual that binds some “elf lord” to Tailon. Stuck in a state between life and death, this Wraith tells us our only way to escape this cursed unlife is to kill he who cursed us-the Black Hand of Sauron.