The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria (Epic Game) PC

The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria for PC is a survival crafting video game set in J R R Tolkein’s Middle Earth (setting of the Hobbit and much of the Lord of the Rings trilogy of books for the two people who don’t know this). It is a rare look at what happens after the events of the Lord of the Rings books as the J R R Tolkein Estate is usually quite protective of that part of the Middle Earth timeline.

About the Game

There is a lot of emphasis placed on building and crafting, as might be expected from a survival crafting game, but there is also a decent amount of combat for those who like to fight their way to success. You will play as a dwarf, one of many tasked with reclaiming and rebuilding the ancient Mines of Moria following Sauron’s defeat. While Moria has appeared in other games, this is the first time it is the primary location.
The mines of Moria are procedurally generated, so they will be different each time you play through, and some of them are in perpetual darkness – not a good thing for a dwarf (see below for more about this). You and your fellow dwarfs must reclaim your ancestral home under the Misty Mountains, as per the request of Lord Gimli Lockbearer.

Gameplay is third-person perspective, with you looking over your dwarf’s shoulder as you guide him. You have bars showing the inventory, your dwarf’s various stats and what your avatar has in his or her pockets. You will work your way through the mines – and fans of the films can actually retrace the steps of their heroes. Once you’ve played through the storyline, you can explore freely as the game becomes a sort of sandbox for you to wander through.
The locations are all underground, and offer differing challenges, even to dwarfs who are accustomed to being underground. Being in the full dark is not good for a dwarf, and too much unrelenting darkness will not only terrify him, it can make him panic and make a lot of noise – and noise attracts orcs. In hordes! So be sure to always carry a torch, make lanterns and hearths and generally make sure you are always safe!

As you delve into the mines, you will break through walls, find treasures and discover more about your ancestors – some of whose remains contain valuable resources that you can take advantage of – if you can bear rummaging through the bones of your forefathers, that is. You can play two ways: repairing everything you see, or whizzing along setting up new camps as you head for your destination with no distractions.

The game is not limited to one level: the walls offer verticality as well as many gloomy and uninviting tunnels (which you should still definitely head down – with care!) You can play with up to eight people, and depending on who’s hosting, you can bring your customised dwarf along with you, dropping him into other people’s games to team up with them.
The deeper you go, the more precious the treasures – and the more heavily guarded by orcs, goblins, spiders and more they are too! This is when having friends along with you will come in handy: trying to play alone is a great way to struggle, whereas in a party of friends there is always someone to look out for you.

The Nitty Gritty

The first thing you will do in the game is create your character – and the second is to create your personal Moria to which you can invite up to seven buddies to join you. Playing solo or as part of an eight-person co-operative, you can explore the procedurally generated world, mining for treasure, defeating enemies and looking out for each other (in the latter case).
Mine resources to craft gear, then use that to make even better gear. Keep an eye on your survival meters as you travel along, and do be aware that even though the game is not a horror game, the sudden arrival of monsters and creatures, attracted by your light and noise, can give you the occasional jump scare!

If you do accidentally make too much noise, you should head home to base for a while, until the drama dies down. If you do not, enemies can lock onto you and track you down, giving you a rather hard time – and combat is noisy, fighting off the first wave of orcs might only attract even more of them to see what the commotion is all about!

The game maps are pretty basic, just offering T-junctions with corridors running off them – it is up to you to venture along (or up – build ladders using scraps of wood you find) and see what there is to be seen! But sometimes you can go off the map by pick-axing your way through a handy wall to find a whole other set of tunnels and corridors to rootle along.
Some of the areas in Moria enjoy the benefit of light, so you’ll be able to save your torches while relaxing away from the orcs, trolls and other enemies that you’ll meet in the dark. Trolls will turn to stone in daylight, which can be a useful trick to get them off your back should you need to stop one from chasing you for a moment.

What to Do in the Game?

As always with survival games, there are some things your character needs in order to survive and thrive in the mines.

• Mining: Excavate resources such as iron, gemstones, quartz, and the strong silvery metal Mithril
• Battling: Look out for orcs, giant spiders, goblins, cave trolls and more
• Eating: While second breakfast isn’t really a dwarven trait, your dwarf must eat well to stay healthy. Having feasts with your in-game companions is excellent for your dwarf’s health levels
• Crafting: Make all sorts of useful things like tools, weapons, armour, bases and homes – safe havens to which you can retreat when you need to and restore your health by resting appropriately
• Noise: Take note of your noise meter (an orb which pulsates according the levels of ambient noise around). If you are too noisy, you will attract the attention of many of the above mentioned foes who will be drawn to you – and not for friendly purposes!
• Light: Dwarfs can fall in a state of despair if they are in the dark for too long, so you should always try to carry a light with you, and the means, if possible, for a nice bright fire