Comments from Monolith Productions' Studio Head, David Hewitt, seem to confirm the Wonder Woman game will include the Nemesis System origianlly introduced in Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor. The newly announced Wonder Woman game inarguably counted among the biggest surprises to come out of The Game Awards 2021. Apart from an incredible CGI-laden teaser trailer, WB Games didn't offer much in the way of concrete information; however, post-announcement details did note the title will assume the form of an open-world experience.
When taking Monolith's most recent licensed projects into consideration, it comes as no surprise that Wonder Woman will feature an open world. The studio's Middle-earth games received much praise for their open environments, yet the true selling point - beyond the LOTR license, of course - was the Nemesis System. This gameplay feature worked in such a way that enemies players met on the battlefield would remember each encounter. A previously dispatched foe would return at a later time, stronger and eager to enact revenge. If the player continued to best their opponent, Middle-earth's Nemesis System would allow the enemy to continuously evolve, effectively turning early-game grunts into late-game arch-rivals. Their individual personalities and unique strengths and weaknesses gave the novel idea an added flavor of complexity, something that should prove beneficial in an interactive adventure starring the Princess of Themyscira.
In a statement following Wonder Woman's reveal (via Wccftech), Monolith Studio Head and Vice President David Hewitt hinted the adventure would include a Nemesis System of its own. He noted that the system previously "raised the bar" for storytelling in games, then expressed excitement at the opportunity to further push the envelope for open-world experiences with Wonder Woman as the lead character. The Studio Head's comment reads in part: "The Nemesis System raised the bar for player-driven storytelling and we’re excited to push the open-world genre forward, combining cutting-edge action with inventive narratives to create a Wonder Woman game everyone will want to play."
The seeming confirmation of a Middle-earth-style Nemesis System raises plenty of questions about Monolith's Wonder Woman project. Diana's mother, Hippolyta, narrates the trailer and calls her home to face a new threat invading their "shores." This implies the title will take place on the island of Themyscira. If so, reason suggests the mysterious threat will make up the preponderance of enemies, meaning foes filling out the Nemesis System could be unlike anything previously seen in licensed games from WBIE.
Earlier this year, WB secured the USPTO's approval for a Nemesis System patent, taking the inventive gameplay system off the market for developers and publishers who have no interest in licensing mechanics from the behemoth that is Warner Bros. And the do's and don'ts could prove quite difficult to navigate, given that any feature outlined in the copyright patent may be subject to litigation if it appears in another game.
Wonder Woman is currently in development at Monolith Productions.
Source: WB Games via Wccftech