I don't often cover video games, but the spiritual successor to Planescape: Torment can't be ignored! Actually, I've mentioned this a few times before; Torment: Tides of Numenera is based on Monte Cook's Numenera world and roleplaying game. PC Games has an early access review of it - it's kind of mixed, although it is based on a slightly buggy Kickstarter backers beta version. The game launches on Steam Early Access tomorrow, in a version which contains about a fifth of the game. However, the review does indicate that "Planescape: Torment’s influence is pretty strong from the get-go", and so those who are fans of the original game by Black Isle should find this offering intriguing, albeit the game is "more high falutin, however; not as easy to digest as its predecessor."
The full review is worth the read, and fans of Planescape: Torment or of Numenera might wish to check out the Early Access on Steam tomorrow. For other folks, it might be worth hanging on for a bit and waiting until the game's development gets a little further along.
"Playing Tides of Numenera feels like playing a great tabletop RPG, where the Game Master favours narrative over action-packed lootfests and dragon-slaying. That’s not surprising, since Numenera is actually the setting of a tabletop RPG, created by D&D game designer Monte Cook, which “focuses on story and ideas over mechanics.” The sometimes obtuse rules of D&D have been replaced with philosophical concepts and surrealism, making it a less fussy, though undeniably stranger, system.
In videogame terms, it’s more like an adventure game than a traditional RPG, with its long, meandering – but intriguing – conversations and esoteric puzzles.
Sometimes, it delves into the more conventional aspects of RPGs though – and right now it’s worse off for it. Take combat, for instance: plodding, turn-based fights absent excitement. Interactable objects dotted around the place might confer surprising bonuses on you or your party, requiring skill checks and a spot of luck, and conversations and story seep into battles with interesting results, but the actual act of fighting is slow and weightless and ultimately just a wee bit dull. Avoiding fights or trying to cut them short can be a lot more interesting – allowing you to be shrewd or clever rather than just violent."
The full review is worth the read, and fans of Planescape: Torment or of Numenera might wish to check out the Early Access on Steam tomorrow. For other folks, it might be worth hanging on for a bit and waiting until the game's development gets a little further along.
"Playing Tides of Numenera feels like playing a great tabletop RPG, where the Game Master favours narrative over action-packed lootfests and dragon-slaying. That’s not surprising, since Numenera is actually the setting of a tabletop RPG, created by D&D game designer Monte Cook, which “focuses on story and ideas over mechanics.” The sometimes obtuse rules of D&D have been replaced with philosophical concepts and surrealism, making it a less fussy, though undeniably stranger, system.
In videogame terms, it’s more like an adventure game than a traditional RPG, with its long, meandering – but intriguing – conversations and esoteric puzzles.
Sometimes, it delves into the more conventional aspects of RPGs though – and right now it’s worse off for it. Take combat, for instance: plodding, turn-based fights absent excitement. Interactable objects dotted around the place might confer surprising bonuses on you or your party, requiring skill checks and a spot of luck, and conversations and story seep into battles with interesting results, but the actual act of fighting is slow and weightless and ultimately just a wee bit dull. Avoiding fights or trying to cut them short can be a lot more interesting – allowing you to be shrewd or clever rather than just violent."
