The Lord of the Rings has spawned a number of video game spin-offs that have continued to explore the world of Middle-Earth. Many of these loosely tie into a larger universe with the films, while some of them are inspired directly by the books.
For some time a game based on the Hobbit turned monster Gollum, has been in development. Warner Bros. recently released a trailer for the project and the first details have been revealed. However, this is a game that has gone under the radar for some time so there's plenty of details that fans might not actually know about this brand new experience coming to consoles.
It's Partly Canon
The game is only partly canon. It therefore won't directly contradict the films or even the other video games it seems, but there won't be any direct connection between this video game and what happens in other parts of the universe.
This is the kind of method that the developers used for the Shadow of Mordor game. While a few characters appeared they took full creative freedom with the story and only loosely linked to some of the other projects in Middle Earth.
Based On The Books
Unlike the Middle Earth games before, which seemed to disregard the books far more than the films, this latest offering from Warner Bros. will actually take its inspiration directly from the novels.
That means that the character will be authentic to the original vision of J.R.R. Tolkien and the world may be visually different compared to what fans are used to. However, it will still feel, at its core like a Lord of the Rings game.
Sauron Is In Power
The eye of Sauron is clearly featured in the trailer demonstrating that this is an era in history where he has control of Mordor and will be looking for his prized possession. That also hints at the villains of the game.
Orcs, trolls and other such creatures that serve Sauron will all be a part of the gameplay, with Gollum having to navigate through this treacherous world of goblins and ghouls while escaping that watchful gaze.
Before The Lord Of The Rings
While it may seem that this story will therefore take place throughout the troubling, hilarious and monstrous journey that Gollum goes on throughout The Lord of the Rings, it will actually be set slightly before those events.
That means that many of the main characters won't yet be on the board. Frodo will still be in the Shire and while Gandalf could be around he probably won't be troubling himself with the former Hobbit at this stage.
Not Based On Andy Serkis
The visual design of the character is usually based upon Andy Serkis. He has defined the look of the character ever since his first appearance in the films and the games usually take their cues from that.
However, this video game has gone back to the description in the books and formed their own version of the character. There are a few noticeable differences, especially the amount of hair the creature has.
He Possesses The Ring
The game developers have revealed that at this stage of the timeline Gollum actually possesses the ring of power. That may complicate the story slightly and is why it could get a little confusing in terms of where it is set.
But much like Gollums obsession usually, this will be the driving force of his conflict with the ring becoming the thing that Gollum will have to hide away, so that it is not taken from him once again.
It's Created By Daedalic Entertainment
The game is actually created by Daedalic Entertainment, which is a new contract for Warner Bros. Usually the games are made by larger developers or in house with a Warner Brothers team.
However, Daedalic are usually known for stealth and strategy games. This is a larger IP for them and it appears they are running with it, creating something completely different compared to their normal games for Gollum.
Could Be The First Of Many
The contract that Daedalic Entertainment have signed with Warner Bros. is a multi game one. That means that there's a number of other projects that could be on the horizon with a partnership between the studios.
This isn't the type of project that naturally lends itself to a sequel, so what's more likely is that the team could get the go ahead to work on another character from this expanded universe of Middle Earth.
Next Gen Title
The developers have stated that this game will release in 2021. Not only does it firmly place it within the next generation of consoles but it also appears that there's no desire to have these launch on the previous models.
This means the game will be working with more advanced graphics and a hard drive which may enhance the story telling. Gollum may have never looked or have played better!
It's A Stealth Game
The game created here is actually a stealth game. Gollum's split personality will give the players a number of choices on how they want to engage with the story. The mechanics of the game lend themselves to this stealth approach.
Gollum will be low on combat therefore as he's not a character that is often associated with being in a fight. However, there will be a lot of scrambling around, ducking behind objects and navigating through Gollum's various, erratic thoughts.