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The Lord of the Rings: Gollum Preview: The 8 Things I’m Looking Forward To

The Lord of the Rings: Gollum

The Lord of the Rings: Gollum Preview: The 8 Things I’m Looking Forward To

The world of Middle-earth, conceived by J.R.R. Tolkien, has long intrigued fans across generations and mediums. From books to films, TV shows to games, the tales of bravery, friendship, and the timeless struggle between good and evil have captivated audiences. Now, The Lord of the Rings: Gollum is set to break new ground, offering a fresh perspective on this beloved universe. Players get to venture into the lesser-explored story of Gollum, embarking on a journey through his unique vantage point.

What sets this game apart is its spotlight on Gollum, a character often lurking in the shadows of the larger narrative. We are finally invited to grapple with the dual nature of this complex character. Are we to be the kind-hearted Smeagol or the malicious Gollum? The choice is ours. 

The game has an interesting perspective on the world. While the war is coming and conflict is inevitable, this is not what Gollum is about. Instead, players get to engage in a stealth game, where avoiding dangers is the prime objective. The choices players make provide an opportunity to influence the narrative. However, they also allow the player to choose what kind of Gollum they would like to control.

Gollum from Lord of the Rings: Gollum holding a small bird.
The Lord of the Rings: Gollum features an all-new story.

Although the Fellowship is yet to be established, there are common characters and unraveling events in the background. How do these parallel narratives intersect? Will we encounter other famous characters from Tolkien’s universe? There are a lot of exciting prospects when it comes to The Lord of the Rings: Gollum.

A Never Before Seen Story

J.R.R. Tolkien’s timeless tales have traversed continents and generations, finding new life in countless movies, TV shows, and games. Yet, The Lord of the Rings: Gollum presents a fresh perspective. The game is unlike anything we’ve seen before. This game shines a light on an iconic character who was never in the spotlight. It offers an opportunity to explore Tolkien’s world through Gollum’s unique vantage point. The result is an entirely new storyline in a familiar setting.

The Lord of the Rings: Gollum invites players into a moral quandary, where they control the dance between good and evil. The game allows the player to set the tone of the inner conflict inside the complex character. Not only are players able to join in on a novel story, but they can get inside the head of the character.

The Lord of the Rings: Gollum
Gollum travels across Middle-earth from terrifying places to enchanting ones.

Players are truly involved in the story too, having to choose their path and dealing with the consequences. The wrong path quickly becomes detrimental to Gollum’s health and quest to escape dangers.

Parallel Events

While Gollum scours Middle-earth in a desperate attempt to hold on to his precious ring, players get a glimpse into the concurrent quests of key characters. The game is set before the Gollum first appears in the books. As players engage in Gollum’s retreat from Mordor to Moria, they’ll find themselves crossing paths with other familiar faces. This includes the likes of Gandalf himself.

The Lord of the Rings: Gollum
Gollum meets some of the most powerful characters on his journey.

Survival and Stealth Gameplay 

In the game, survival takes first place for Gollum. The game focuses on his cunning nature as he navigates a perilous world, advancing his quest with wit and determination. The game includes problem-solving aspects. This is a nice change from the regular Lord of the Rings game, where swords and magic reign supreme.

The game combines elements of stealth and combat. Gollum may not be a conventional warrior, but he uses his exceptional agility when conflict is unavoidable. However, more importantly he uses clever tactics to outsmart foes. 

The Lord of the Rings: Gollum
Dangers await Gollum at every turn.

Players make way as Gollum by trying to keep as much to themselves as possible. His tiny stature is an advantage in avoiding dangers. Skulking in the shadows is where Gollum is at its best, planning routes to freedom. The Lord of the Rings: Gollum is like a Thief game set in the captivating world of Middle-earth, which is an exciting prospect.

Implementation of the One Ring

The singular focus of Gollum’s existence is the One Ring. The allure of this powerful artifact drives him forward, through unimaginable challenges. It is going to be interesting to see how the power of the One Ring is implemented and how it affects Gollum.

The One Ring, known as his Precious to Gollum, not only captivates him but also imbues him with unique abilities. Centuries under its influence have granted Gollum powers beyond those of a typical creature in Middle-earth. These special abilities will definitely play a role in the game.

The Two Personalities

In The Lord of the Rings: Gollum, players explore the unique duality of Gollum’s personality. The developer characterizes Gollum as a survivor, hardened by hundreds of years of existence. The adaptations he made to survive form the crux of his split personality.

Lord of the Rings: Gollum
The pull of the One Ring drives Gollum.

One of the sides is friendly and helpful, reflecting his former self, Smeagol. But the game also explores Gollum’s darker side. His spiteful alter ego is ever present, demonstrating the viciousness that comes with the pull of the One Ring. Indeed, this change in behavior between kind and wicked defines his character and makes for a fascinating gameplay dynamic.

The decisions of the player can tip the scales toward the benevolent Smeagol or the malevolent Gollum. This makes every playthrough a unique experience for players, providing added replay value.

The Depiction of Middle-earth

Gollum’s journey in the game includes iconic locations from Tolkien’s universe. From the mystical elven forests to the scorching mountains of Mordor, rich landscapes across Middle-earth are available to the players. Hopefully, the familiarity of these settings will offer a strong connection to the beloved lore of the Lord of the Rings.

The Lord of the Rings: Gollum
Mirkwood in The Lord of the Rings: Gollum.

Tricky Encounters

Gollum’s adventure won’t be easy. There is no magical sword to help our protagonist. Since the game is about stealth, avoiding bosses is the aim. The encounters with some of the most feared enemies in Middle-earth put Gollum’s stealth abilities to the test. 

Players must run away from the Mouth of Sauron, and avoid being spun into a cocoon by the demon-spider Shelob. Not all encounters with the realm’s most powerful beings are as dangerous as those two, though. Players get to meet Thranduil, the Elvenking and father to Legolas, for example.

The Lord of the Rings: Gollum
A Nazgul riding a Fellbeast is one of the foes Gollum doesn’t want to face.

New Voice Acting

Andy Serkis is not making a comeback as the voice actor for Gollum in the game. Or providing motion capture. While his Gollum is one of the most beloved portrayals of any character, it’s not all bad. The game is decidedly not the movies. In fact, it has a completely different identity.

It is only fitting that the voice acting follows a similar pattern. The voice of Gollum is calmer and smoother, which perhaps gives rise to better appreciate the dual nature of the character. It’s exciting to see another rendition of such an iconic character.


As is evident, there’s a lot to excited about The Lord of the Rings: Gollum. The game will be available for PC, Xbox and PlayStation consoles May 25 with a Nintendo Switch release later this year.

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