The upcoming video game ‘The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria,’ slated for release in 2023, is a survival-crafting title under development by Free Range Games and to be published by North Beach Games. Recently introduced LOTR: Return to Moria Interview has been finally conducted at Gamescom.
Return to Moria is set within the fictional realm of Middle-earth, created by J. R. R. Tolkien. In this game, players respond to the summons of Lord Gimli Lockbearer and step into the roles of a group of Dwarves entrusted with a mission—to reclaim the long-lost riches of Moria, the Dwarven realm known as Khazad-dûm or Dwarrowdelf, lying deep beneath the earth. To achieve this, players must display endurance as they delve into the depths of the Mines of Moria, aiming to recover the valuable treasures concealed within.
Return to Moria Interview at Gamescom
Free Range Games game director Jon-Paul Dumont talked about a lot of what the players expect in the upcoming survival-crafting game Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria. Here to break down the LOTR: Return to Moria Interview at Gamescom 2023.
Q: When people hear Lord of the Rings, they often think about the story or the trilogy. What do the players expect in terms of lore since this is set in the fourth age and knowing that Sauron is no longer a threat?
The game ‘Return to Moria’ takes players back to the haunted dwarven mine of Moria, which was journeyed through by Frodo and his group in ‘Fellowship of the Ring.’ This time, the game is set in the Fourth Age, around 70 years after Sauron’s Ring was destroyed. In Return to Moria Interview on Jon-Paul Dumont, the game director, places the game in a unique position as the first to be situated so far along in the ‘Lord of the Rings’ timeline.
When it comes to Sauron’s defeat, Dumont points up in the Return to Moria interview that the dwarves probably feel a lack of excitement. That’s why they’ve decided that now’s the moment to explore a daring endeavor: venturing into the depths of their deeply cursed cultural heritage, Moria. Their goal is to recover the lost grandeur that lies within. This task becomes your mission. Across most of the locations on the map (with certain locations like the Bridge of Khazad-Dûm fixed), your duty involves breaking down walls, descending further into the depths, and carefully examining the remnants of your ancestors for valuable new resources. All of this, of course, is to be done with a sense of respect and solemnity.
Q: What type of gameplay does LOTR Mines of Moria offer to its players? We know that there’s some sort of crafting and survival involved in it. How does it work?
The key focus lies in diving straight into the realms of forging and metalworking, especially considering the dwarf culture. They don’t just pick something up and use it; instead, they excel in crafting their own. This leads to a significant portion of the gameplay being dedicated to mining, experimenting with new alloys, and uncovering ancient recipes for items that date back to the third and fourth ages, surpassing their current era.
In Return to Moria Interview, an exceptional feature of Return to Moria is its exploration element. In contrast to many other survival and crafting games that mainly revolve around detailed base building, which can occupy a considerable amount of your time, LOTR Return to Moria offers the opportunity to joyfully navigate the depths of Moria with the primary task of establishing a series of base camps. Dumont was eager to underline that Return to Moria caters to both types of players: those who want to construct their own bases and arrange items as they wish and those who are content to restore the ruined bases they encounter.
Q: Is multiplayer functionality included in the game? If it is, what is the maximum number of players that can be invited to join?
Dumont said at the Return to Moria interview that you’ll be able to play with your friends and build a crew in the game. In Epic Store, we’re going to be up to eight players, and on PlayStation 5 there will be four players at launch.
Related Content: Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria Beta Information
Q: How can the game scale? How can it utilize more players in the game?
The experience will differ based on whether you’re playing solo or with a group of up to eight players. According to Dumont in the Return to Moria interview, in the case of eight players, resources will be scarcer as inevitable encounters with orcs prompt them to converge on you. Not only will their numbers increase, but they’ll also be more formidable, occasionally accompanied by trolls. On the other hand, if you’re playing alone, resources will be more abundant, yet the atmosphere turns more ominous. A significant aspect of the game involves managing your light and noise levels.
When you’re on your own, the game takes on a darker tone. It leans more towards being a crafting horror game compared to the camaraderie of an eight-player experience. With a larger group, you can gather, brew ale, and enjoy singing while you drink. However, when playing solo, the focus shifts to ensuring you’re adequately prepared and have all you need before moving forward.
Q: A significant element of the Lord of the Rings is the inclusion of singing. Could you elaborate on what enhancements or additions have been incorporated into this feature?
The director also emphasizes the singing during the Return to Moria interview. The game presents a variety of songs suited for different situations, whether you’re mining, enjoying a drink, or exploring historically significant places that spark inspiration for singing. Each dwarf character offers a selection of up to ten distinct vocal styles, ensuring a diverse array of singing voices. In multiplayer settings, such as playing with a partner, singing can lead to call-and-response interactions, creating harmonious melodies. Singing while mining not only eases the workload but also enhances mining efficiency, allowing for more vigorous and sustained efforts, and resulting in better rewards.
Singing can also trigger the unveiling of new areas; by singing the correct words, ancient runes of power can be activated, unlocking previously restricted sections. According to Dumont in the Return to Moria interview, Professor Tolkien dedicated significant time to crafting poems reminiscent of those found in Old English or the North sagas that influenced his books. Dumont additionally noted that the studio collaborates with three separate Tolkien experts to ensure alignment with the established canon.
Q: What language do the dwarves use to sing?
Most likely, the language utilized will be Dwarvish. Dumont revealed in the Return to Moria interview that the game’s development team partnered with a linguist named David Salo, who eagerly reconstructed the complete Dwarvish language exclusively for the game. As a result, the game features an extensive vocabulary and a fully formed grammatical framework. When you choose your dwarf character, you’re allowed to have them communicate solely in the Kuzdal language if desired, and this can be accurately translated.
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed our Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria Interview at Gamescom! There is plenty of information still left untouched, but we do hope as time passes by, it’ll be disclosed by the devs. If you wish to see the full thoughts on the LOTR: Return to Moria interview, Click Here! If you found this article helpful, let us know in our community’s discord. Check out more guides for LOTR: Return To Moria on our homepage!
