It's always interesting to follow a franchise when it tries to redefine itself or present itself from a new angle. Some things might be lost in changes, but there's a lot to be gained from trying something new. That's something that can be said for Lord of the Rings: Gollum. Most people would expect an action-packed adventure out of any game in the cornerstone fantasy series. Instead, Lord of the Rings: Gollum will make fans try something new by offering them a stealth-based adventure in Mordor as the titular cave dweller. Gollum has an interesting and complicated past that's sure to frame his upcoming adventure.
After all, even though he's going through some changes by becoming this game's protagonist, he's certainly haunted by his past and the forces that made him who he is today. One of those forces is a notorious artifact that corrupted him and spawned an epic war once it finally escaped his clutches: the One Ring. Sauron's masterpiece is also Gollum's precious, and throughout his life he craves it. No matter what kind of story Gollum aims to tell, there has to be a major influence on Gollum's life due to the One Ring. It's sure to play into the plot, Gollum and Smeagol's character development, and the choices that players get to make.
Coping With Loss
It looks like Gollum will be taking place between the events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. That means that Gollum has already lost the One Ring to Bilbo Baggins, who unwittingly stole Gollum's most prized possession. Being separated from the ring is an extraordinary source of turmoil for Gollum, filling him with despair and hate for the Bagginses, and those strong feelings don't fade with time in this plot. Gollum's feelings toward the thief and hunger to reclaim the ring will come up as he interacts with other characters and considers his course of action.
The game takes place in Mordor, which Gollum naturally plans on escaping. Considering that might mean the game takes place around the time that he is kidnapped by Sauron's minions and tortured in search of information on the ring, it might be fresh on his mind. That might also mean that he can come across characters like Gandalf that are actively involved in the war for the ring. Such encounters are sure to spur compelling character interactions that will make Gollum and Smeagol war over objectives and desires. Gollum is not one to cope with loss well, so there may be dark deeds ahead.
Out Of His Reach
Ironically, the One Ring itself probably won't show up in Gollum. Even though it's incredibly important to Gollum, it's more likely that it'll only appear as a topic of conversation and an urgent, nagging memory to the main character. Considering the time frame and the game's setting in Mordor, there's just no reasonable way that the One Ring will appear, meaning Gollum will probably go through the whole game longing for it, possibly searching Mordor for clues on where it could be found, even if they all turn to dead ends.
Daedalic Entertainment says it wants to explore Gollum as a much deeper character than most media has before. That's definitely exciting for players that are a fan of underdog or anti-hero characters, but Daedalic has to keep in mind where Gollum came from. Even while weaving new narratives in Middle-Earth, there's just no getting away from the impact that the One Ring had on Gollum's life. He lives for the ring, and would to anything to reclaim it. This game might seem a little odd for focusing so much on an artifact that doesn't show up, but if it's well woven into the unlikely protagonist's character development, it'll be well worth it.
The Lord of the Rings: Gollum releases on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S in 2021.
