The first screenshots of The Lord of the Rings: Gollum have been revealed, along with a few pieces of information about the game.
The news comes from German gaming news outlet GameStar. While their preview is pay-walled, we can gain some insight via what we can read of it, along with descriptions of the screenshots in their gallery. We will be using Google Translate for translation throughout.
Lord of the Rings: Gollum will be a stealth-action game, where Gollum’s small frame will allow him to hide under certain objects. There is also a focus on “verticality” in level design, allowing Gollum to climb over, around, or under enemies.
Players can also use high vantage points to scope out the surrounding area. While most areas seem to be open, the player will also come across winding and linear areas, such as a tunnel full of giant spiders.
It is implied that certain enemies may have better AI, as the Orc Captain is “more intelligent than his subordinates and will therefore persecute the hero more stubbornly.” The player will have a special white marker appear when an enemy is pursuing them.
In addition, Gollum split-personality will create choices for the player, choosing between “Gollum” and “Smeagol” for what they must do next.
The adventure will take the player to locations such as Mirkwood and Barad-dûr. There is also a focus on scale, with not just other humanoids such as the Haradrim named Grashneg, but of mighty fortresses towering over both of them.
Based on our prior coverage, we also know that Barad-dûr is where the player may start- as Gollum is imprisoned there. The Nazgûl are also set to return.
The screenshots also showed two options each for Gollum and Smeagol. Combined with what we know from our prior coverage, it appears that the player will make several choices like this within the same chapter or quest. The more a player picks one side, the harder it will be to choose the other later on.
You can find the full gallery below (along with the image above).
The Lord of the Rings: Gollum launches 2021 for Windows PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X.
