Review of The Lord of the Rings: Gollum

The Lord of the Rings: Gollum – A Disappointing Stealth Platformer

Introduction

In 2019, Daedalic Entertainment and Nacon announced the release of “The Lord of the Rings: Gollum,” a stealth platformer set in J.R.R. Tolkien’s iconic universe. As a gaming expert and female gaming review writer, I had high hopes for this game. However, after playing it extensively, I can confidently say that it is one of the worst games in the franchise.

A Baffling Experience

“The Lord of the Rings: Gollum” is an uninspired, buggy, repetitive, frustrating, and above all, boring game. From the very beginning, it feels like a rushed project held together by duct tape. Considering Daedalic’s history of creating point-and-click adventure games, the decision to develop a stealth spin on the Lord of the Rings universe raised questions about the game’s potential. Unfortunately, the execution falls flat, and it’s difficult to believe that anyone signed off on this project.

The Bright Spots

To begin on a positive note, “The Lord of the Rings: Gollum” does have a few redeeming qualities. The game’s soundtrack, composed by a talented orchestra, is superb and adds tension and atmosphere to the overall experience. Additionally, Gandalf’s character model and voice acting capture the essence of Sir Ian McKellen’s portrayal. However, these positives are overshadowed by the game’s numerous shortcomings.

Technical Failings

“The Lord of the Rings: Gollum” runs on the Unreal Engine and suffers from significant technical issues. The game is filled with stuttering, drastic frame rate changes, and a poorly designed graphical settings menu. The absence of a frame rate limiter results in erratic frame rate jumps, making the gameplay experience jarring and inconsistent. Furthermore, the game’s system requirements are absurdly high, considering the lackluster graphics and low-resolution textures.

Clunky Gameplay

As far as gameplay is concerned, “The Lord of the Rings: Gollum” is a chore to play. The game revolves around Gollum’s slave labor activities, which involve monotonous tasks such as collecting tags from dead prisoners or feeding piranhas. The platforming and stealth mechanics are poorly executed, with enemies having unrealistic detection abilities and Gollum’s platforming abilities being unreliable. The controls, camera, and level design contribute to a frustrating and inconsistent experience.

A Lackluster Narrative

The game’s narrative fails to engage players, with long periods of idling and repetitive dialogue that adds little to the story. The Gollum vs. Smeagol decision-making moments lack depth, as the game only presents two options, one of which is usually obvious. The story feels like filler and fails to deliver a compelling experience.

A Series of Disappointments

“The Lord of the Rings: Gollum” is a series of disappointments, with each aspect of the game falling short. The camera and controls are particularly problematic, often obstructing visibility and leading to frustrating deaths. The platforming sections are clunky and inconsistent, making it difficult to progress without repeating sections multiple times. The game’s mission structure and execution are baffling, leaving players with a sense of pointlessness and boredom.

Conclusion

In conclusion, “The Lord of the Rings: Gollum” is a lackluster game that fails to deliver an enjoyable gaming experience. Its technical issues, clunky gameplay, and uninspired narrative make it one of the worst games in the franchise. Despite a few bright spots, such as the soundtrack and Gandalf’s character model, these positives are overshadowed by the game’s numerous shortcomings. “The Lord of the Rings: Gollum” should have been scrapped long ago, as it offers little joy and fails to capture the essence of J.R.R. Tolkien’s beloved universe.