Torment: Tides of Numenera

Purchased during a sale, returned for refund. I remain surprised at my own reaction to this game. It *should* have been a hit, the critical reviews support that. I have extensive history with the genre and a deep love for the works of the teams involved. But there was nothing enjoyable about this game for me. The mechanics and systems were not enjoyable. I had zero interest or investment into my character and not much more for the NPCs thrown at me from the beginning. The graphics, engine, and audio experience are top notch. I just wish I had cared at all for what was going on enough to enjoy the game on even a base level. It felt flat and uninviting, yet over-complicated and unwieldy.

[Note: I played this on version 1.1.0, which supposedly makes a notable difference to 1.0.0.] In short: Unique and fantastic scenario, great writing, an experience like no other. For that alone you should consider a purchase instead of the next elves-and-orcs story in line. Just keep an open mind. In detail: So I didn't back this, which is probably fortunate - a lot of the bad reviews here seem to come from disappointed backers who measure the final game according to campaign promises. I can judge it for what it is, and it is a masterwork of storytelling. The presentation relies on a lot of text, even and especially for dramatic flashbacks; the upside is that this allows for truly wild imagery that would have needed ten times the budget to realize in modern graphics. As for the much-maligned combat system - I don't get it. Divinity's system is much better, sure, but things work, and once you stop hoarding your ciphers battles are not much of a problem. One review mentions there is no "takeback" - well, in 1.1.0 at least, a simple right-click helps much in that regard. But honestly, combat is not the focus of this game, so if they had made every encounter a brain-burning, complex strategic exercise this would in my mind actually have been detrimental. If you like the Numenera scenario, you simply have to buy T:ToN. It does an excellent job of displaying the setting's vast- and weirdness and its possibilities for creating stories you won't hear anywhere else, down to details like the various oddities that *might* have uses you won't think of at first. There's nothing out there that comes even remotely close. If I have one gripe with the game, it's that an additional location, preferably outdoors, really would have been of benefit. On the other hand, there's not a minute where the game feels stretched or bloated with filler content (please say hello to DA:I). I got it for 32,- € and don't regret a single cent. Any successor would be an instant buy.

I wanted a well written RPG with mildly competent real-time combat and RPG mechanics to actually do things like barter, sneak, cast useful cantrips that unlock doors etc. Instead I got a drama-driven visual novel with cheap turn-based combat and unsatisfying stat-checks every 2 steps. This game is NOTHING like Planescape. This is the game that made me swear to never back a kickstarter project ever again and I have kept to that promise 9 years and counting.

I was really surprised hot much satisfaction this game brought. While playing in that, I was hoping to achieve the same experience while playing the true one and only Planescape: Torment. Numenera gives something different, yet mentally stimulating. Endigs are interesting, our companion group can be filled with many interesting characters. It is not definetly the Torment "2", but the effort put in this game is vissible. Not the best, but absolutely worth to play and enjoy.

Yeah you're not gonna publish that review, I can tell you that. I love it. But it's a bit less about game mechanics than it is about conveying a written word. And enjoying the fantastic graphic atmosphere. In this regard it is a true successor to the the planescape original. Second part feels a bit rushed though. Like there was too much to say. That's understandable. But you see me playing it again because I wanted to enjoy another approach, so they did taht right enough, but less so than the fact that there seems to be a TON of small hints and clues to piece up the puzzlle that one can solve in one playthrough. Devil is in the details. makes you wonder if it is not some sort of nez game plus with some character having extra dialogues and ending options. Even it it isn't the case, the writing style is rather excellent at making you believe so. Circular thinking amirite. Thing is the game demands both patience and casual time on your hands. Precious to me. Painful too. Of course. Its a legacy title after all. The missing Fifth star is because she dont answer much. And I'm still pissed about going the chaotic way just because of taking a fucking glance at a fucking thing moving in the end of the hallway. And so are they.