Upcoming stealth-action platformer Lord of the Rings: Gollum has new screenshots ahead of its release on PS5, Xbox Series X and PC while teasing some large scale third-person gameplay details.
A set of photos from Gamestar showed a new version of ring-manipulated Hobbit Gollum/Smeagol, which is an original version that’s not based on the Peter Jackson films. Instead, the game takes a Shadow of Mordor approach in telling a new story while keeping some aesthetics from the films. Gollum does resemble his movie counterpart in ways which let him keep some hair before being completely taken over by The One Ring.
The screenshot also shows off the character’s dual personality, giving players a dialogue choice which impacts the game’s experience and overall narrative. These decisions also affect the game’s stealth mechanics, with Gollum being one decision away from being heard by Orcs or climbing past them. Despite Gollum’s new role as an antihero, the game will still feature the enemies players will have to survive against.
Other screenshots showed off the game’s level design, taking players through incredibly detailed caves and Orc settlements. The areas are also taking advantage of the game’s next generation hardware, with dynamic lighting and fire blooming across areas. Gollum’s trek through enemy territory is also scattered with climbable objects – something that will drive the game’s action over a typical hack-and-slash experience.
Gollum also features a variety of other creatures, including giant spiders from The Hobbit and Return of the King. Players would most likely be seeing the darker side behind Shelob’s minions while having to crawl for their lives in scarier segments. Despite the bleaker tones, Gollum does navigate through some lush greenery and forests which remind him of The Shire. In these moments, players could dive more into his origins and how he remembers the place he came from.
Lord of the Rings: Gollum is being developed by Daedelic and is set to release on next generation systems in 2021.