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Game developer Free Range Games has provided an in-depth look into its upcoming game, The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria. The sneak peek was first provided to YouTube channel Nerd of the Rings, where discussions regarding the story focus on Dwarves and gaming mechanics were the highlight of information. Other details include the release of concept art and screenshots for Return to Moria.Cory Olsen was the Tolkien expert for this game adaptation which focuses on the Dwarves of the Fourth Age, including Gimli, who must survive their exploration of the Moria mines. The narrative team behind the game had to do a great deal of research on the history of Moria as well as a deep dive into the scarce lore Tolkien provided for the Dwarves in order to connect the dots and create a more rounded interpretation for the characters.Alongside the screenshots and concept art, a lot more information about what fans can expect from the game was revealed. With a Dwarven-focused Lord of the Rings game, there were many speculated possibilities on what exactly the gameplay would consist of. Sadly, no gameplay footage was shown during the course of the interview, but key details about gameplay goals were revealed. It was mentioned that “no two adventures will be alike” in the “procedurally generated” Moria setting, and players can choose to go on their adventure with online friends or through a solo campaign.
Throughout the game, the Dwarves will attempt to take back their ancestral home and discover what happened to bring about the once glorious dwelling’s downfall. A major mechanic of the game is managing light and shadow as players dig deeper into the mine, possibly awakening the danger that lurks in the dark. Darkness can affect the energy and despair of the protagonist, hinting that Return to Moria will also feature a psychological management system that is becoming more popular in modern games.
Noise also plays a part in the experience. While mining, players have to be careful with noise or else enemies from the dark could be awakened. Players will also have to use resources to craft better gear as they go, as this determines how much “power” players have in their adventure. Also, cooking is vital in fighting off despair. So, there is more to having a successful adventure than just monitoring light and shadow.
It will be interesting to see the research from Olsen and the team come to life in the game as we learn more about the Dwarves and Moria. With the focus on more Dwarven stories in recent adaptations of Tolkien’s work, the lore of the Dwarves of Middle-Earth is a breath of fresh air to fans and a nice break from the usual stories of Elves and Men. Hopefully, this upcoming Lord of the Rings video game, along with Lord of the Rings: Gollum, can provide an even darker exploration of Middle-Earth and show the franchise has a lot more to offer in the gaming world.
Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria will launch on PC in 2023.
Source: Nerd of the Rings