12
32-
The Lord of the Rings is quite unlike most other established media franchises, in that its original mainstream release - the Peter Jackson trilogy - remains its highest achievement still, regardless of who you ask. Video games in this IP have come and gone but, quite simply, it's virtually impossible for them to reach the same sort of heights as these movies once did. And that's with mainstream action-laden titles such as Middle-earth: Shadow of War. It's in this difficult context that we need to consider the LOTR: Gollum gameplay showcases, focusing on slow, meticulous progression and stealth: features that historically haven't really drawn in a crowd.
Gollum is, at its core, a stealth adventure. The kind of game that's awfully underrepresented in the industry at this time. How long, again, has it been since we've had a true, baseline stealth title? Think Splinter Cell and Metal Gear Solid, specifically. These are the games that Gollum takes its cues from, after all.
So, with that in mind: will LOTR: Gollum hold up when it comes time to actually play the game? Can it match the heights of the IP's finest offerings? As it turns out, we can draw some good conclusions about the game already.
READ MORE: Is Minecraft Legends Worth Playing?
Discussing the Gameplay Showcases of LOTR: Gollum
It takes but a passing glance to figure out that Gollum isn't very action-heavy. Naturally, everyone's favorite Ring-addict can certainly take down an Orc or two if the stars align, but much like the majority of classic stealth title protagonists, he's not much good in open combat. This series of statements already reveals a wealth of information about the game, because it really isn't your generic action-adventure endeavor.
Instead, Nacon and Daedalic are going for something entirely different. From the looks of it, we're getting a meticulously crafted exploration of the Gollum/Sméagol personas wrapped up into a stealth experience. Arguably, that's really the only way to handle a protagonist Gollum in a LOTR game, so it does make sense.
Is Gollum Himself Compelling Enough?
The curious bit, then, is Gollum himself - the creature. The vast majority of LOTR games and media aside from Tolkien's core books have focused on the cool aspects of the lore. Knights clad in shining armor, elves with full-auto longbows, orcs with crooked teeth. The usual sort, really. To set all of that aside in lieu of a pale creepy-crawler is brave, to say the least.
Consider who's making this game, though: Daedalic. One of the studios that have been renowned specifically for its adventure game prowess. Combined with Nacon, Daedalic has done a good job of nailing down its niche and sticking with it: storytelling is going to come first in LOTR: Gollum, make no mistake, and that's precisely what makes it such a fascinating project.
For the first time ever, we're going to get to step into the shoes of this strange, deformed creature and decide who takes the cake (or raw fish, as it were).
Where Lore Meets Gameplay
Indeed, there will be two major aspects of LOTR: Gollum's gameplay loop. The first is what you're seeing in most of the featured screenshots - stealth. Gollum will need to prowl and pounce his way through the levels. The usual combinations of tall grass, dull-minded enemies, and parkour will apply and should make for a solid chunk of the game. The second part, however, is more in line with the classic point 'n' click adventures of yore.
In crucial sections of the game, players will need to make decisions that will define their version of the creature. Will they lean more heavily towards Gollum's preservationist selfishness? Will Sméagol successfully push his vicious persona back? And, if so, to what extent? As LOTR: Gollum takes place alongside the events of the War of the Ring, it's going to be curious to see what Daedalic does with its source material.
The important bit, though, is the studio working on the game. Daedalic Entertainment is renowned for its narratives and storytelling. From The Whispered World all the way to The Pillars of the Earth. Expect more of that in Gollum, too, making this particularly interesting for the franchise's lore-minded fans.
Does LOTR: Gollum Gameplay Lean Towards Action or Story?
Taking all of the above into account, it seems all but certain that Gollum will be a narrative experience first and foremost. In fact, one of the game's most marketed features is the creature's split personality. Quite simply, players will need to make hard choices from the start until the very end, and though the eventual events of the series are, indeed, pre-ordained, there's much that happens in between that we've got no idea about.
This, by default, attracts an entirely different audience from the likes of Middle-earth: Shadow of War, for example. If high-octane action is your forte, Gollum likely isn't the game for you. If, however, you'd like to explore one of the franchise's strangest, yet most pivotal characters... well, let's just say that we've got some really high hopes for what Daedalic and Nacon have in store for us here.
Don't Forget: This is an Official Adaptation!
Finally, it's important to iterate that this is an actual, officially sanctioned adaptation of Tolkien's stories. This takes Gollum's narrative a fair step beyond Middle-earth by default. For it to be official means that the Tolkien estate had to have approved of its story and writing, this is a very big deal for LOTR lore-heads.
Now, we don't know yet whether all of this will pan out. It's entirely possible that Gollum ends up being a total fluke - as with any other game. Considering the developers' expertise, however, and the sheer importance of the game's source material, we've got extremely high hopes for Gollum's story. The game is due to launch on May 25, 2023, which means we've got just over a month to go. Stay tuned as we receive more concrete information about Gollum - right here at 2Game!
Get in the Game ! 
