‘Perfectly balanced, as all things should be.’ In a move that would make Thanos proud, PlayStation Plus Premium is rolling out the red carpet, offering trial versions of two RPG titles on either end of the spectrum: Baldur’s Gate 3 and The Lord of the Rings: Gollum.
First up, we have Baldur’s Gate 3, the highly praised third mainline installment in the legendary Baldur’s Gate series, which offers a generous two-hour trial – though considering how many hours people pump into it, that’s a tiny percentage. Released this summer, Baldur’s Gate 3 has been basking in the glow of critical acclaim, showered with praises for its immersive storytelling and gameplay.
Described as a “worthy successor” to the RPG franchise, Larian Studios created a game that truly feels like a joint venture between game and gamer. It’s the kind of game that makes you want to call in sick and dive into its world, responsibility be damned.
Then, in a comical contrast, we have The Lord of the Rings: Gollum, offering a one-hour trial that might feel like an eternity. Upon its release, this game became notorious for being a bug-infested rollercoaster of technical issues. It didn’t get much better, either.
It was less of a gaming experience and more of a test of patience, with players having to navigate through a labyrinth of glitches, uncooperative cameras, and controls with a mind of their own. It’s almost as if the game was daring players to find the fun amidst the chaos.
Like a buffet where you can sample the divine and the ridiculous in equal measure, Baldur’s Gate 3 and The Lord of the Rings: Gollum will now be joining the likes of Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion and Sifu in PlayStation’s ‘try before you buy’ lineup.
We’d be remiss if we didn’t take a moment to appreciate the irony here. Why Sony would choose to add the top contender for the Game of the Year award on PS Plus alongside the contender for Worst Game of the Year (only Skull Island: Rise of Kong and The Walking Dead: Destinies can hold a candle to it) beats us, but we certainly love the juxtaposition.
As an art form, this reflects the complexities and varying outcomes of game development. In Baldur’s Gate 3, we see the zenith of achievement in RPGs, a culmination of engaging storytelling and refined gameplay.
Conversely, The Lord of the Rings: Gollum serves as a case study in the challenges of translating a complex narrative universe into an interactive format (though, to be fair, even Amazon Studios failed epically in its attempt at a TV series).
So, whether you’re in it to romance Shadowheart (hey, we’re not judging) or simply for the curiosity of seeing how Gollum fares in its trial by fire, we should thank Sony for this bizarre mix of the sublime with the subpar and for offering us a taste of both ends of the gaming spectrum.
