Play as the enigmatic Gollum on his perilous journey and find out how he outwitted the most powerful characters in Middle-earth. He has survived dangers most wouldn't dare talk about, driven by the singular desire to once again hold in his hands what was stolen from him. Although his desperate quest is a central part of the story crafted by J.R.R. Tolkien, it has never been told in detail. For the first time, follow the untold story of Gollum: an experience that stays incredibly faithful to the books. From his flight from Mordor, where he escaped the Mouth of Sauron and the demon-spider Shelob, to the dungeons of the Elvenking Thranduil, Legolas' father, Gollum has had many adventures and encounters on his extraordinary journey...

Play as the enigmatic Gollum on his journey in search for the One Ring

I never saw Gollum as a Lara Croft type character, but The Lord of the Rings: Gollum does exactly that, transforming the Stoor Hobbit into an adventurer as you climb, jump and crawl your way around the environments.

This story-driven adventure sees you play as the enigmatic Gollum on his perilous journey in search for the One Ring. Many parts of Gollum’s quest have not been told yet and The Lord of the Rings: Gollum unfolds this hidden story. For the first time, players will be able to see what happened to Gollum on his Journey between leaving the Misty Mountains in search for the One Ring and the first book of The Lord of the Rings. During this adventure you will visit dark places like the dark tower of Barad-dûr or the lush landscapes of Mirkwood and witness how all forces of Middle-earth are preparing for the great war that is about to come.

Visit the dark tower of Barad-dûr or the lush landscapes of Mirkwood

For the majority of the game you'll be wandering around completing simple quests. The early levels neatly act as the in game tutorial. But once you start the game proper you'll soon realise that there's little in the way of exploring to be done. You're pretty much stuck following a set path with the occasional diversion (like exploring the mines for deceased workers), but for the most part you're shepherded from scenario to scenario. But then, if you're here for the story then this won't be a huge problem - the gameplay is still fun and engaging.

Graphically the game is well realised, and the cut sequences are well presented. For Tolkien fans the story will fill in a few gaps in the saga's back story. But - and this is a big "but" - £50 is way too much for the experience. £30 is about the absolute maximum I'd be willing to pay. I know it's an official The Lord of the Rings game, but still...

7

Darren Rea