The Lord of the Rings: Gollum is a fundamentally flawed project that misinterprets the essence of J.R.R. Tolkien’s work by centering on a protagonist ill-suited for a standalone title; ultimately, the game is a disjointed, technically broken experience that should be avoided by all players.
A Misguided Journey Through Middle-earth
Set between the events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, the narrative focuses on Gollum’s time in Mordor and his desperate quest to reclaim the One Ring. The game’s aesthetic—defined by drab color palettes and a focus on cruel, unappealing characters—clashes sharply with the core themes of Tolkien’s beloved legendarium. Beyond the disconnect from the source material, the storytelling is plagued by poor pacing, a meandering structure, and a lack of coherence. The initial promise of exploring the psychological dichotomy between Gollum and Smeagol is unfortunately never developed into a meaningful or engaging mechanic.
Clunky Traversal and Broken Mechanics
The gameplay experience is primarily divided between linear platforming and tedious stealth segments. Navigation is a constant struggle, hampered by imprecise jumping mechanics and poorly designed level layouts that make pathfinding confusing. To make matters worse, the camera is frequently unwieldy, occasionally flipping upside down or refusing to rotate during critical jumps. These technical failures lead to constant, frustrating deaths, with frequent checkpoints serving as the only minor relief from the repetitive gameplay loop.
Stealth Without Substance
Whenever the game pivots to stealth, the experience arguably worsens. Unlike modern genre standards, Gollum lacks sophisticated tools or dynamic systems to make these sections engaging. Players are forced to navigate shadows while avoiding guards with remarkably low AI, often without any clear indication of whether they are truly hidden. There is no sense of environmental mastery or control, turning these sequences into a test of patience rather than skill.
Technical Decay and Performance Issues
Technical shortcomings permeate every aspect of the game. Sound mixing is inconsistent, frequently obscuring dialogue, while character animations—outside of Gollum himself—range from stiff to non-existent. Non-player characters often move in uncanny synchronization, reminiscent of early PlayStation 2-era titles, and environment textures appear muddy and lacking in detail. Furthermore, the game is susceptible to game-breaking bugs where objectives fail to trigger, forcing players to restart entire levels to progress.
A Damning Indictment of the Franchise
The combination of unresponsive controls, a broken camera, and poorly implemented objectives makes for a grueling experience. Nothing within the narrative or character development provides enough incentive to overcome these constant frustrations. For longtime fans of Tolkien’s literature, the misuse of the source material only exacerbates the disappointment. Ultimately, The Lord of the Rings: Gollum fails to offer value to both casual players and franchise enthusiasts alike.
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