Lord Of The Rings: Gollum is the latest video game title set within Middle-Earth. Developed by Warner Bros. Games and Daedalic Entertainment GmbH and published by Nacon, BIGBEN INTERACTIVE alongside Daedalic, the title is sure to tread new ground for its titular character.
Envisioned by J. R. R. Tolkien, the character of Gollum is rarely at the center of the action in The Lord of the Rings, but this video game aims to put him firmly in the middle of the narrative. And fans are expecting a lot from the latest Middle-Earth title. From the gameplay mechanics to the characters involved and the storytelling, there's a lot to consider about Gollum.
An Open World
There's a lot to still learn about the latest Lord Of The Rings game, but Gollum does appear to be on rails for the most part. However, fans of the genre love fantasy games that allow for proper exploration and have some open-world mechanics to enjoy.
Of course, the map doesn't need to be massive. Indeed, it wouldn't really suit the character considering how difficult it would be to travel around. However, giving the fans a chance to explore through the detail that went into the game would be a great way of quickly world-building.
Links To The Movies
Although the game isn't directly based on the incredible work of Andy Serkis, it would still be good to see some links to the Lord of the Rings films. After all, it was that initial performance that really catapulted the character into the mainstream thanks to his cinematic portrayal.
Many of Gollum's mannerisms, use of language, and characterization from the movie trilogy are so familiar to audiences now that it would be great to see a continuation of them in some way in the game. It would please devoted fans if the title compliment the events of the trilogy.
Original Storytelling
Complimenting the original films would be well-received, and playing off of the source material would be a great nod, but fans also expect some original storytelling. Players want to experience something they haven't seen before rather than playing through the greatest hits.
From what's been seen of the game thus far in the trailers, it does seem that original stories will be part of it. The quality of the writing will really impact the overall narrative, though, as a single-player campaign like this, on rails, has to be sold mainly on the story it's trying to tell throughout.
Canon Narrative
Canon storytelling is a huge part of world-building in the current market of cinematic universes. Warner Bros. hasn't been clear about what's really a part of the Lord Of The Rings canon and what's another original story set vaguely within the same series.
For Gollum, it seems important to somehow have a canon narrative that doesn't go against anything seen in the books and films and could be called back to later. This would certainly be rewarding for fans who went out of their way to play the title.
Nods To Middle-Earth
The Middle-Earth series of games, including Shadow Of Mordor and Shadow Of War, are some of the best titles of the genre. Gollum also features in these games and it would be interesting to see some kind of nod to the series; perhaps even a reoccurring character.
Of course, the titles are made by different studios and it's very unlikely that fans will get to use the Nemesis System once more. But for the overall story being told, it would be fun to see the two stories diverge but also stand on their own as well.
A Unique Score
Gollum has the option to really redefine the music of Lord Of The Rings. The scores that fans are familiar with are absolutely epic, but Gollum can play on this music and expand far past it into new territory. Warner Bros. managed to do this with the Middle-Earth saga.
Music is such an integral part of any gameplay experience and it's important that this game manages to live up to expectations. Fans are longing for more great video game scores, perhaps the type of music that will continue to influence the rest of the franchise.
Unique Stealth Options
Fans know that Gollum is a very secretive character, and the game is playing upon this by primarily using a stealth mechanic. It would be unique in a combat system for this kind of genre game, but it really has to be done right for fans to buy into the idea.
Therefore, the game requires some new options, perhaps that players haven't previously been able to experience. One of the bonuses of using stealth systems in this way is that they are often more immersive. Perhaps that will be the case with Gollum too.
Character Driven
Since Gollum is the titular character of the piece, it's important for fans that the game is very much driven by the former Hobbit. It would be easy for the title to quickly expand and begin to focus on other characters, but Gollum is usually overlooked in the franchise.
Having Gollum as the central focus of the game was a bold choice and hopefully, the developers will stick to it. There are interesting narratives to be told here, but it should be about Gollum's relationship with the ring and Middle-Earth itself as well as his own personal struggles.
Debuting Heroes And Villains
Gollum will need some supporting characters to play off against and it probably won't be Sam and Frodo. That means the game might have to introduce some new heroes and villains to provide the necessary conflict. This is a great opportunity to add to the lore of the world.
Once again any new characters certainly shouldn't be the focus, but fans would love to get to know a few more people from throughout Middle-Earth. The stories don't often focus on regular folk so that might be a very intriguing path forward.
Start Of A New Era
This really could be the start of a new era for gaming at Warner Bros. While Middle-Earth demonstrated their ability to tell expansive stories, Gollum will hopefully showcase that something more personal and smaller can also be pulled off in this universe.
Gollum isn't really a villain or a hero, and that's the kind of complexity needed to make this title really work. If the game succeeds then fans can expect many more from the series itself but ultimately for it to allow for new risks to be taken in this familiar franchise.