Ty Arthur
BloodyaugustPlanescape: Torment
May 26th 2008 20:28
Let's start this blog off with a bang and go straight for the goods. Planescape: Torment, based on the Dungeons and Dragons "Planescape" campaign setting, is easily the single best game I have ever had the pleasure of playing. Since its release all the way back in 1999 no other RPG has come even close to topping it. Developed by Black Isle, the now defunct role playing division of Activsion, and using a highly modified version of the Bioware Infinity Engine, Torment takes all of the best aspects of the previous Dungeons and Dragons PC games and wraps them up in a surprisingly deep, dialog driven story that has almost infinite replayability.
Torment starts off with the standard character creation screen, but it immediately becomes apparent that this game is going to be much different than any other RPG. There is only one character to create, The Nameless One, and all that are chosen are his starting statistics. Unlike other RPGs were the main focus is on combat abilities, The Nameless One will not only advance in character level more quickly, but also expose more of the storyline during the course of the game if he beefs up his wisdom and intelligence attributes rather than his strength or constitution.
After modifying the main character's attributes the game starts in earnest with The Nameless One dreaming of living shadows and people turning to dust before his eyes. He awakens to find himself locked in a morgue awaiting an autopsy, his only companion a floating skull named Morte who has a biting tongue and an acidic wit. Morte acts as the player's guide to Torment, explaining how to undertake certain actions, clarifying things that the player might not know about the game world, and generally offering advice on what action to take next.
The Nameless One's plight soon becomes apparent as he tries to find his way out of the morgue. He has lost all of his memories, and he lacks the ability to permanently die. Death is not a deterrent in Torment, and doesn't mean having to load from the last save game. In fact in some instances it will only be possible to move forward in the game if The Nameless One does manage to get himself killed again. After taking enough damage to die, The Nameless One will simply wake up later covered in yet more scars. There are a few things that will permanently kill him however, such as being incinerated.
The majority of the game's story centers on The Nameless One attempting to discover why he lacks mortality and regain his lost memories. Along the way he will meet a host of eccentric characters like a succubus who runs a brothel that only caters to intellectual desires, and an animated suit of armor that is powered by a dead man’s unwavering belief in law.
The Nameless One starts out as a standard fighter, but over the course of the game he can find teachers who will allow him to switch classes to become a wizard or thief, both of which will drastically change the way the game plays out. Torment has an incredibly high replay rate. The main characters statistics will change what dialog and combat options are available, so different stats will mean some quests will either be explored more fully, completed in different ways, or potentially not available at all. The way that The Nameless One acts will also change the game. Performing deeds without requiring payment or helping someone when it might not be in the main characters best interests will turn The Nameless One more towards law and good, while cheating people or killing indiscriminately will lead him more towards chaos and evil
The graphics of Torment are somewhat primitive when compared to newer 3D titles, but they have a certain charm that can't be reproduced by life like graphics. The bright color scheme sets itself apart from other games in the genre, and the animations, specifically the spell animations, are absolutely stunning. Some of the spells qualify as cut scenes in their own right, as the game actually pauses the action onscreen to showcase the explosive power of arcane might.
Anyone who gets excited by the prospect of getting absolutely lost in an incredibly compelling story and multifaceted characters should pick up Torment and prepared to find themselves at their computer for a couple of days straight.
Torment starts off with the standard character creation screen, but it immediately becomes apparent that this game is going to be much different than any other RPG. There is only one character to create, The Nameless One, and all that are chosen are his starting statistics. Unlike other RPGs were the main focus is on combat abilities, The Nameless One will not only advance in character level more quickly, but also expose more of the storyline during the course of the game if he beefs up his wisdom and intelligence attributes rather than his strength or constitution.
After modifying the main character's attributes the game starts in earnest with The Nameless One dreaming of living shadows and people turning to dust before his eyes. He awakens to find himself locked in a morgue awaiting an autopsy, his only companion a floating skull named Morte who has a biting tongue and an acidic wit. Morte acts as the player's guide to Torment, explaining how to undertake certain actions, clarifying things that the player might not know about the game world, and generally offering advice on what action to take next.
The Nameless One's plight soon becomes apparent as he tries to find his way out of the morgue. He has lost all of his memories, and he lacks the ability to permanently die. Death is not a deterrent in Torment, and doesn't mean having to load from the last save game. In fact in some instances it will only be possible to move forward in the game if The Nameless One does manage to get himself killed again. After taking enough damage to die, The Nameless One will simply wake up later covered in yet more scars. There are a few things that will permanently kill him however, such as being incinerated.
The majority of the game's story centers on The Nameless One attempting to discover why he lacks mortality and regain his lost memories. Along the way he will meet a host of eccentric characters like a succubus who runs a brothel that only caters to intellectual desires, and an animated suit of armor that is powered by a dead man’s unwavering belief in law.
The Nameless One starts out as a standard fighter, but over the course of the game he can find teachers who will allow him to switch classes to become a wizard or thief, both of which will drastically change the way the game plays out. Torment has an incredibly high replay rate. The main characters statistics will change what dialog and combat options are available, so different stats will mean some quests will either be explored more fully, completed in different ways, or potentially not available at all. The way that The Nameless One acts will also change the game. Performing deeds without requiring payment or helping someone when it might not be in the main characters best interests will turn The Nameless One more towards law and good, while cheating people or killing indiscriminately will lead him more towards chaos and evil
The graphics of Torment are somewhat primitive when compared to newer 3D titles, but they have a certain charm that can't be reproduced by life like graphics. The bright color scheme sets itself apart from other games in the genre, and the animations, specifically the spell animations, are absolutely stunning. Some of the spells qualify as cut scenes in their own right, as the game actually pauses the action onscreen to showcase the explosive power of arcane might.
Anyone who gets excited by the prospect of getting absolutely lost in an incredibly compelling story and multifaceted characters should pick up Torment and prepared to find themselves at their computer for a couple of days straight.
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