Tolkien’s Gollum is one of the most worn-out and overused characters in pop culture, but Daedalic Entertainment has a chance to shine some fresh light on him with its upcoming Lord of The Rings: Gollum video game. Having a Middle-earth game starring Gollum doesn’t make sense going into 2022 because there’s so much lore that’s yet to be hit in Tolkien’s work; however, gamers shouldn’t completely count this development out. Dadelaic’s trailer and gameplay reveal show that a lot of information left out from the movies and not elaborated on in Tolkien’s books is the main focus of LOTR: Gollum.
Sméagol, more commonly known by his acquired moniker Gollum, might be J.R.R. Tolkien’s most well-known character globally, which says a lot considering how popular LOTR is. Tolkien describes him as a corrupted hobbit that dwells in the depths of the Misty Mountains, hiding away from society in order to keep the one ring for himself. Peter Jackson – wanting to flesh the character out visually for his films – spent a good amount of time crafting Gollum’s attributes as described in the texts. Gollum became a hit thanks to Tolkien’s creation and Jackson’s representation, in addition to Andy Serkis’ iconic performance. However, LOTR: Gollum’s characters, in comparison to the movies, won’t be exactly the same.
Daedalic Entertainment’s looks to use LOTR: Gollum to showcase the creature’s journey in his pursuit to recapture the One Ring. In order to make the character feel less dull, something there still seems to be a risk of prior to release, the studio likely needs to emphasize details about his journey that haven’t been revealed to the average fan, and it looks like the studio is taking this approach and heading in the right direction. Harold Reigler, a producer at Daedalic Entertainment, recently emphasized this in a gameplay overview trailer saying, “While being completely essential to the story written by J.R.R. Tolkien, Gollum’s long chase for his precious ring has never been told in detail.” If this is the case, LOTR: Gollum may actually make total sense regarding the revelation of unknown Middle-earth lore.
LOTR: Gollum’s Gameplay Mechanics Could Create Opportunities For New Storytelling Narratives
Instead of focusing on the perspective that the audience got from Gollum in the LOTR films, Daedalic needs to venture onward, even past conventional understanding from Tolkien’s personal interviews and writings. Keeping within Tolkien’s narrative and vision for Middle-earth is crucial for LOTR games, but a lot of information in Gollum may need to be somewhat speculative, as Tolkien never goes into full detail about every specific encounter the creature has through his journey. As already confirmed by its trailers, Gollum is a stealth-action title, with gameplay consisting of Gollum sneaking past LOTR monsters and using his nimble movement to explore and traverse environments. Cinematics also look to play a big part in the game, and Daedalic can use this to compliment Gollum’s journey and show players how he managed to cheat death before finally making it to Frodo’s side.
Gollum’s tormented mind and past life as Sméagol could also be explored. Peter Jackson’s films did showcase the creature’s split personality, but didn’t touch much of Gollum’s past, as the focus was on the larger story beats as the heroes attempted to restore balanced order to Middle-earth. Dadelaic has the unique chance to provide more context to Sméagol in LOTR: Gollum. Having part of the game venture into the past before getting into the main journey would definitely freshen up the character and give players something to invest in, as no other sources provide an in-depth take into Gollum’s past life as a Stoorish hobbit. Additionally, this could open the door for lesser-known characters from the books being in LOTR: Gollum.
LOTR: Gollum Should Avoid Implementing Too Many Familiar Characters & Locations
Daedalic should avoid using too many characters from the films because many of them have some kind of association or interaction with Gollum. Many players will have already seen the movies and instantly think about Frodo and Sam given Gollum’s associations with that story. It looks like the studio is trying its best to offer further nuances, as characters like The Mouth of Sauron are going to play a role. More famous characters like Gandalf will also be a part of the game, which could potentially also shed new light on the events of the game. However, keeping Frodo out of LOTR: Gollum seems like a good call.
The layout and artwork of Gollum’s locations have been some of the most exciting reveals for the game so far. Vibrant colors, detailed textures, and accurately depicted LOTR environments have shown attention to detail that looks like a great backdrop for the character’s adventure. During Gollum’s journey to get the ring back, he begins by tracking the fellowship appointed to destroy it at Mount Doom, and then Frodo and Sam after the group splits up. Gollum has the opportunity of seeing many different areas during his own quest, and his reactions to these places can add depth to his character, especially since he’s seen many different places and met unique characters in the nearly 600 years of his existence. Daedalic’s depiction of his perspective and journey in these locations can make or break the game. How Gollum will act when he witnesses the beautiful, lush green, mythic lands of the Elves, for instance, will reveal much about him. A lot of locations are confirmed in LOTR: Gollum already, but there’s still time to see where else the game may potentially go, like the lands in the far east.
LOTR: Gollum has given mixed feelings to the fan community so far. Some believe it’ll be another repeat of content already overused in Tolkien’s Middle-earth, while others think it’s a unique chance to make Gollum’s character feel new. Nevertheless, if the game is going to be successful, Daedalic Entertainment will have to find a balance between gameplay and storytelling. One thing, at least, is certain: Lord of The Rings: Gollum’s unsympathetic protagonist may end up feeling totally new, if it plays its cards right, and many will be excited to see the outcome.
