THE LORD OF THE RINGS: GOLLUM
Raw and wriggling screens reintroduce a classic character
THE GAME WILL DRAW DIRECTLY FROM THE BOOKS.
02 Skulking out of the shadows, it’s our first look at the confirmed PS5 title Lord Of The Rings: Gollum. First announced in March last year, it’s still a way off yet, with a release window set for some time during 2021. However these new screens definitely look very precious as they offer an early glimpse of the in-game action and UI.
As the titular former ring-bearer, you navigate dialogue choices and dank caves. Gollum may be small and scrawny but in your hands he’ll need to be tricksy too if you want to avoid detection by orcs and oversized spiders alike.
In JRR Tolkien’s original text, Gollum is a solitary creature given long life and twisted beyond all recognition by the One Ring’s influence. Often seen speaking in the third person or otherwise referring to himself as ‘we,’ your most important dialogue choices are with yourself. The developer has previously stated that these inner dialogues (monologues?) occur frequently throughout chapters as you fight with yourself over the best way to handle a situation, all leading up to major decision points. We’re told that it’ll be harder to hear the reasoning of, say, the Sméagol side if you’ve spent a lot of time siding with the Gollum side beforehand. At the very least it’ll be in character for this particular videogame protagonist to start muttering to himself about what he should do next.
RING HOLLOW
Currently in development at Deponia developer Daedalic Entertainment, the project is the result of a partnership with Middle-earth Enterprises, a part of the Saul Zaentz Company. This non-Warner partnership means the game will draw directly from the original books, not from the films – though with Hobbits being basically small people, and Gollum a mutated Hobbit, the game and film versions of him do have clear similarities.
Not satisfied with simply recreating recognisable moments, the developer is hoping to offer a unique take on the central character while remaining true to the source
material. A pitiable creature in the books, Gollum is a decidedly non-standard game protagonist and we’re looking forward to seeing in what direction Daedalic takes things from such an unusual starting point. Just how far it manages to get from the films remains to be seen, though – as does what shape gameplay will take beyond stealth and tense internal conflict through heated soliloquy.
The real question for us, however, is, in light of Andy Serkis’ iconic performance, who on Middle-earth will be tasked with reinterpreting the voice of the transformed Hobbit?
Talk about a tough act to follow. Watch this space for who takes on that herculean task – and more news about all things PS5.
Who do you think could voice this Gollum? Tweet us at @OPM_UK.