The Lord of the Rings: Gollum - Emotes Pack (DLC) (PS5)

Let's be direct about what this is: a cosmetic DLC pack containing six emotes inspired by Gollum, available for a game that sits at 40% positive reviews on Steam. The emotes let you strike poses and express a range of Gollum-flavored emotions, including the ability to proclaim your attachment to the Precious whenever the mood strikes. If you were hoping for new story content, a reworked stealth system, or anything that addresses the base game's well-documented problems, this pack has absolutely nothing for you. The Lord of the Rings: Gollum released to a reception that was, to put it charitably, rough. Daedalic built a stealth-and-platforming adventure around one of Tolkien's most psychologically rich characters, a figure defined by internal conflict, split identity, and decades of corrupted longing. That is genuinely compelling source material. The execution, however, left most players cold, with stiff animations, a forgettable moment-to-moment loop, and writing that didn't come close to honoring the complexity the character deserves. When the base game struggles this much with its core identity, a six-emote pack is not the remedy anyone ordered. From a pure value standpoint, emote packs in single-player narrative games occupy a strange space. Unlike a live-service title where you show off cosmetics to other players, these emotes exist mostly for personal expression during a solo experience. Whether that matters to you is genuinely subjective, but it is worth understanding what you are actually getting before clicking purchase. There are no new locations, no extended dialogue scenes with Smeagol's internal monologue, no alternate build options or ability unlocks. Six animations tied to a character whose home game is still sitting at Mixed on Steam. If you are a committed Tolkien completionist who picked up the base game and found something to enjoy in it despite its reputation, and you want every available piece of content released for it, then this pack at least delivers exactly what it advertises. The emotes are thematically coherent with the character. That is about as far as the praise reasonably stretches. For everyone else, including anyone still on the fence about the base game itself, this DLC should not factor into your decision at all. Sort out whether Gollum's main adventure is worth your time first, and the answer to that question will tell you everything you need to know about this pack. Monika, Scout Team