What can change the nature of a man? (Planescape - Torment (PC))

Member Name: dancomp

Product:	Planescape - Torment (PC)
Date:	06/09/06 (134 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Superbly based storyline, interesting characters and locations

Disadvantages: Dated graphics, the Diablo crowd won't like it

I must have played maybe 30 RPGs or more over the years, however in these days of Guild wars, Neverwinter nights and Final Fantasy 139.0's, I can't help thinking back with a certain degree of wistfulness to a game released on PC years ago which still towers head and shoulders above it's much more flashy decendants.

Why? Because it had a story that grew and branched out and was riveting in its complexity and depth. It had henchmen that were actually interesting, with stories of their own that were'nt simply links to fetch 'n carry quests. It had possibly the most trippy setting of the D&D Universe and it had a unique central character that could be any class, any alignment.

The nameless one (you) wakes on a slab in one of the giant morturary buildings of the dustmen in the city of doors, Sigil ruled by the enigmatic Lady of Pain. The city is a gateway to many other planes, including demonic ones. You have no memory, only wizened skin over a body covered by writing in an attempt to preserve memories that are long lost to you. How old you are, there is no way of telling. You cannot be killed, merely stopped until you recover and rise once more. What you have done in your prior "lives" is something you will have to find out, and some of this will be far from pleasant. Luckily there is a floating skull with the sort of foul mouth normally associated with a new york cabbie to help you out.

It will take a long time to complete the game and a long time even just to get out of Sigil itself, with its many different regions and factions before you finally track down the hag, Ravel who can point you onwards to the next chapter in the game. I say chapter, because you will do a lot of reading - and here's the thing - it is ALL interesting. You will encounter many henchmen, some of whom are easy to enlist and some that are not.

They will include Annah, a tiefling theif (human hybrid with demonic blood), the samurai-like Gythanki warrior Dak'hon, the brothel keeper Fall-From-Grace, a Succubus whose kiss can kill, the mad forever-burning mage Ignus, the machine being Nordom and the animated spirit encased in armour called Vhailor. Interaction with the at times quite deep backstory of these characters can enhance your own abilities dependant on your level as well as theirs. All these "people" are linked to you via past incarnations and their motives are at times far from pure.

As regards your own class, this can be anything on offer (Warrior, theif or mage) and can be changed at set points to make an amalgam. Lastly, remember that while you cannot truly die, your companions can. Your conversational skills and choice to be good or evil are permitted not only with your own henchmen but also many NPCs. Often, direct combat can be avoided with benefits that are greater than wading straight in.

One of the beauties of using Planescape as a setting is to get away from Orcs and Goblins and face the planetouched and demonic entities and strange beasties. The settings are different as well, with Sigil's living city and at times organic structures. One particular location allows you to prevent (or assist) a town's slide from purgatory into one of the planes of hell. I will not give away too much of the plot, but an overriding theme is to do with redemption and acceptance of one's fate. Even the ending does not cop-out. The one drawback of the game is that the Nameless one can never wear armour.

The quality of the writing is superb - Descriptive and flowing prose that avoids bad fantasy cliché. It really helps in setting the scene in detail, but on the flip side it will not be suitable for those gamers who prefer their RPGS to be on the distinctly slash, bash, monster mash side of things.

The game is based on the infinity engine developed for Baldur's gate and the graphics have not aged well even if the score remains fantastic. Interface is straightforward point n' click with a few keyboard shortcuts. Although FFVII and KOTR have come the closest to matching Torment's story, I'm still waiting seven years later for something quite as good.

Getting hold of Torment can be difficult unless you are willing to pay a premium for a cult classic. I would advise buying from Ebay for under a tenner as this is a much cheaper option.

Summary: What can change the nature of a man?