Gollum's Fate: Save or Sacrifice a Beetle in The Lord of the Rings Prequel

In The Lord of the Rings: Gollum, players are taken on a journey through the troubled mind of the character before the events of The Fellowship of the Ring. As Gollum struggles for control with his alter ego, Smeagol, players are given the opportunity to choose which personality prevails.

In Chapter 1, players are faced with a decision to either kill a beetle as Gollum or watch it as Smeagol. This choice impacts the subsequent events that unfold in the game. However, choosing which personality to side with can prove to be a challenging task.

To progress in the game, players must find the beetle and make the decision that will shape the course of the game.

As Gollum ventured through the treacherous Shadow Mountains of Mordor, his paranoia was heightened when he spotted a bird perched on a nearby tree. Believing that the winged creature was spying on him and would soon report back to Sauron's followers, Gollum quickly devised a plan to chase it down before it could reveal any of his secrets.

During his pursuit of the bird, Gollum stumbles upon a tiny beetle that quickly captures his attention. The beetle manages to escape during the commotion, but Gollum is determined to find it again once he has dealt with the two Orcs patrolling the area.

After the final Orc has met its demise in Shelob's lair, a cutscene unfolds where Gollum comes face to face with the beetle once more. However, his desire to kill it clashes with Smeagol's fascination with observing the tiny creature.

If you choose to support Gollum, your first task will be to convince Smeagol that it's not a good idea to stick around and watch the beetle. The easiest way to do this is by selecting the "Wraiths! Winged Nazgul are always watchful" option. This will immediately sway Smeagol in your favor, giving you the upper hand in the argument.

If players select the "Spider!" option, they will have one more opportunity to persuade Smeagol to kill the beetle. The key to winning the argument is to select the "Hungry: It looks tasty" option, which will remind Smeagol of the deliciousness of beetles and cause him to adopt Gollum's perspective.

Once the argument is won, Gollum will frantically chase after the beetle, attempting to catch it. After several failed attempts, the beetle will fly away, and a Wraith on a Fellbeast will appear in its place. Gollum will then dash towards a crevice in the wall and disappear into the tunnels below to flee.

If players decide to ally with Smeagol, they will have to persuade Gollum that it's a wise decision. However, before Smeagol can present his argument, Gollum may claim that the beetle is a spy.

To gain Gollum's trust, players must select the "Observing: Just looks for pollen" option, as the "Careless: Doesn't look evil" choice will not persuade him.

If the initial choice fails, players must opt for the "Reasonable: Bird was no spy either" option, which Gollum will begrudgingly acknowledge as a valid argument.

After chasing the beetle, Smeagol's moment of joy is shattered when he is confronted by a Wraith riding a Fellbeast. In a desperate bid to escape, he flees into the caverns below, out of reach of the Wraith. However, regardless of the choices made, Gollum will always encounter the Nazgul and end up in the same location, rendering the decision-making process somewhat insignificant. The Lord of the Rings: Gollum is currently available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, with a Nintendo Switch release scheduled for later this year.