“The Lord of the Rings: Gollum” Video Game Review: A Disappointing Experience Hindered by Uninspired Platforming

‘The Lord of the Rings: Gollum’ Review: Ambitious Storytelling Let Down by Plain Parkour

Daedalic Entertainment’s “The Lord of the Rings: Gollum” offers a novel take on Tolkien’s lore, telling the story of a vile monster’s quest to retrieve the Ring of Power for himself and how he becomes entangled with Frodo’s journey. While the storytelling is a strength, the uninspired and clunky gameplay detracts from the experience.

Ambitious Storytelling

Gollum‘s story follows the eponymous creature through his captivity in Mordor and beyond as he sets out to reclaim the Ring of Power. Rather than retelling the story of grand and noble heroes, the game takes an introspective approach to exploring Gollum‘s gradual, unavoidable descent into ruin. The game’s narrative strength is its choices which let players explore Gollum‘s fragile personality and why his better nature ultimately gives in to his darker impulses. Moments like when you need to decide whether to spare a beetle’s life or crush it add a surprising sense of weight to seemingly inconsequential decisions.

Poor Gameplay

The gameplay, however, leaves much to be desired. Gollum can climb and jump, but the parkour and platforming are uninspiring and often cumbersome. The stealth segments are frustratingly common, and the game saddles players with tedious filler objectives, such as gathering slave name tags. Gollum‘s abilities are restricted, and the parkour is basic, with no exhilarating feats of daring to fulfill the player’s expectations. The limited approach to navigating challenges ruins the otherwise introspective story. There’s no variety, and most of the time, Gollum feels like a little rat running along a slowly designed course.

Mixed Reception

The game struggles with its two halves, much like Gollum does. The story-driven half offers a unique perspective of Middle Earth, casting a new light on established history from the perspective of outcasts and rebels. Meanwhile, the messy gameplay side often rears its head and sullies what makes Gollum special.

Editorial & Advice

The Lord of the Rings is one of the most beloved adventures in literature and cinema, inspiring a generation of writers, artists, and game developers alike. However, Gollum falls short of fans’ high expectations. While the game tells a fascinating story and explores the reasons behind the character’s degradation, the poor gameplay undermines the gaming experience. If Daedalic Entertainment had devoted more time to fixing the game’s technical issues, it would have made for a much more enjoyable experience. Overall, Gollum tries to add depth and fresh perspective to Tolkien’s lore, but the mediocre gameplay holds it back.