New Game Review] "The Lord of the Rings: Gollum" is a stealth and parkour game that represents the weak and stubborn Gollum

On June 22, 2023, The Lord of the Rings: Gollum will be released for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. This article will review the PS5 version.

The Lord of the Rings: Gollum" is a highly challenging stealth game starring Gollum (Goklis) from "The Lord of the Rings.

The Lord of the Rings" has been repeatedly adapted into video games, in which Frodo, the main character, and various other characters have played an active role. The Lord of the Rings: Gollum" is unique in that it features Gollum, one of the most memorable characters in the series, as the main character.

It is not necessary to bother explaining Gollum. Because of his great power, he is possessed by the "two rings" that everyone seeks.

Under the influence of the rings, his body and mind have become twisted, and he craves the rings, calling them "cousin (people)," even though he is hated by everyone. This pathetic figure arouses in the audience conflicting emotions of frustration and pity. Gollum is not an easy character to handle in a video game because he is ineffective, and some people feel a strong sense of rejection toward him, so it is a challenging attempt to put him in the leading role.

For this reason, we strongly recommend that you complete the novel "The Lord of the Rings" and the movie "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy before playing this game. Fans will be thrilled every time Gollum mumbles the words "cousin", but without knowledge, they will have no idea what's going on.

In this game, the player assumes the role of Gollum and sets out on a journey to recover the stolen ring. However, since he is poor Gollum, he is not involved in any spectacular sword fights or spectacular magic. He must use parkour and stealth to move ahead undetected.

Gollum's small size and athleticism allow him to traverse rugged terrain. He can climb vertical cliffs and cling to the slightest ledge of a wall with ease. Even when he falls from great heights, as long as there is water underneath, he is still alive and well. Once the player becomes accustomed to the controls, even complex caves and structures can be cleared without difficulty. He can jump between walls, sneak into the tiniest of crevices, grab a pillar as if it were a steel rod, and use his momentum to jump, all while sneaking into the most challenging natural and heavily guarded areas.

He is like a ninja.

Even darkness cannot hinder Gollum. Activating the super-sensory "Gollum Sense," the creatures beyond the walls are highlighted and visible, and the route to be taken is displayed in a blur. The fact that Gollum, who can move so well, is chasing after you with such an evil heart makes you want to feel sorry for the characters in the film.

Sticking to the wall, swimming in the water, Gollum is on his way in search of the ring!

While Gollum shows off his extraordinary parkour skills, he is thoroughly ineffective when it comes to combat, and this discrepancy is a characteristic of this title. He can also use stealth skills from behind, as promised in stealth games, but he cannot use them against enemies wearing helmets. Rather than saying that the player is given the choice between combat and stealth, it would be better to say that the player basically proceeds in stealth, with the occasional enemy that can be stealth-killed.

If you are in the enemy's line of sight, you will be out in one shot, which means that you should not be in their line of sight. In addition to the fact that the enemy's back is always a blind spot, Gollum can "crawl" and move without making a sound.

Even if there are soldiers on guard, he can crawl through them if he catches an opportunity to turn his body around. Unless he is completely exposed in a well-lit area, it may be some time before the enemy notices Gollum. Dangerous places usually have obstacles such as crates or pillars, so you can quickly hide before they see you.

Small bodies are also useful here. Small holes in the walls or small gaps between the floor and the ground are the best places to hide so that the enemy can no longer pursue you. It is in times of danger that it is important to observe your surroundings.

The classic stealth game strategy of intentionally making noises to lure the enemy is also effective. As long as you don't fight, Gollum is "strong.

In many scenes, just being spotted by the guards is game over, and there are many pathetic cutscenes in which Gollum is beaten up and pitied. I mentioned earlier that Gollum is a character that arouses frustration and sympathy, but in this film, the sympathy is more powerful because Gollum is himself.

The fact that Gollum is often pitied means that the original story is reproduced. This makes it all the more exhilarating when Gollum manages to outwit and outwit the bigger guards and successfully infiltrate the compound.

In Gollum's mind, there are two personalities: the cowardly and good-hearted "Sméagol," and the suspicious and violent "Gollum," and they talk and argue with each other from time to time.

In this work, the player can decide whether to support Sméagol or Gollum when making decisions. For example, if a worm is found, Sméagol insists on letting it go, while Gollum wants to kill it, claiming that it is a spy. It is up to the player to decide what to do. If the player has not studied the original story, he or she may be at a loss, but this is a typical Gollum feature.

This game is full of respect for "The Lord of the Rings" and love for Gollum. Gollum is properly weak and gets beaten up often. However, there is a certain coolness in the way that the emaciated Gollum keeps going without giving up. And yet, there is a perfect balance between being cool and not being too cool.

Since this is a character that is difficult to create into a game, it is a challenge that should be appreciated, along with the character design that is not too creepy.

On the other hand, it must be pointed out that the game is a bit peculiar. The difficulty level is basically high, and even the slightest thing can result in game over. In addition, the terrain is quite complex, so it is sometimes difficult to find the destination even if you use your Gollum Sense. Even if the game is over, it is certainly possible to retry immediately, but depending on the situation, the difficulty point in question may be far away from the checkpoint, which can be stressful. As a stealth game, it is certainly a bit of a nostalgic type.

The previously released overseas PC version of the game also suffers from a lack of optimization, with a sudden drop in performance and a high load on the graphics card. In response to this situation, the developer, Daedalic Entertainment, has issued a statement saying that they "recognize that we have not met expectations" and "deeply apologize for the disappointment" ( #). This paper used the "Performance" mode of the PS5 version, and as far as we played the game, we did not experience such serious problems (although we were not able to accurately verify the game for every possible situation). In addition, the latest patch "1.003.000 (PS5)/1.03 (PS4)" was released at the time of the game's release in Japan, which reflects multiple bug fixes, improvements in graphics and UI, performance and game quality, so we recommend updating the game before playing and starting It is recommended that you update the game before starting to play.

So, even if you have been second-guessing after hearing negative rumors about the overseas PC version, if you are a deep fan of "The Lord of the Rings," you will be able to feel the developers' love for Gollum through playing this title.

• Title Information
• ■"The Lord of the Rings™: Gollum
• Release date: June 22, 2023
• Supported platforms: PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4
• Price: 7,480 yen (6,800 yen without tax)
• Genre: Action Adventure
• Players: 1 player
• CERO: C (for ages 15 and up)
• Languages: Japanese, English, Chinese (traditional/simplified)
• Publisher: 3goo Inc.

PS4 version supports free upgrade to PS5 digital version.

(C) 2023 Co-published by Daedalic Entertainment and Nacon, and developed by Daedalic Entertainment. (C) 2023 Middle-earth Enterprises. all rights reserved. "Gollum," "Middle-earth "Gollum", "Middle-earth" and "The Lord of the Rings" and the names of the characters, events, items and places therein are trademarks or Published and distributed by 3goo K.K. in Japan.