The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria

The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria is a survival game set in the fantasy The Lord of the Rings universe created by J.R.R. Tolkien. It was developed by Free Range Games and published by North Beach Games.

Plot

The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria is set during the Fourth Age, after the events of The Lord of the Rings trilogy. We play as dwarves, summoned to the titular mine by Gimli Lockbearer. They must reclaim the underground city and the treasures within. Their task is not easy, as Khazad-dum is full of dangers.

Mechanics

The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria begins with an extensive character creator, where the player can create their own dwarf. The adventure itself is set in dark halls and hallways.

From the third-person perspective, the player explores underground tunnels, gathers valuable resources and fights enemies. We must also pay attention to our character's condition, hunting for food, letting them sleep and control their temperature.

Iron, gold, quartz and mithril are all used to craft new gear. Thanks to the complex crafting system, the player can reclaim forges, create new tools, armors, weapons, as well as repair, upgrade and enchant already owned gear. There are also many amulets to be found, which increase our strength and wisdom. Dwarves can also construct advanced machines and structures used as bases; either from scratch or by using reclaimed monuments.

As befitting dwarves, our primary weapons are axes, although we can also wield some more sophisticated arms, such as swords that glow when near orcs. Speaking of orcs - they're the main enemy forces we'll face, though there are many larger, more dangerous adversaries as well. Many encounters can be avoided by staying quiet and not making too much noise.

Moria is procedurally generated, making each adventure different than the last.

Game modes

The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria supports solo play, but only reaches its full potential in co-op for up to eight people.

Technical aspects

The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria features colorful, slightly cartoonish visuals.

Last updated on 19 August 2024