Platform: PC
Developer: Beamdog
Publisher: Beamdog
MSRP: $19.99
Introduction:
Planescape Torment is one of PC Gaming’s most renowned treasures. It’s the kind of game that 90’s kids grew up playing, and despite the fact that it was not considered a widely acclaimed commercial success, its staying power over the last 18 years is unquestioned. It goes without saying then that Planescape: Torment is quite a revered title, so making any changes to the formula would be considered sacrilege by any number of the fanbase’s dedicated faithful.
It’s fortunate then that Planescape Torment: Enhanced Edition manages to eschew any such criticism by the way it so lovingly preserves the classic CRPG while simultaneously offering a few legitimate improvements. These improvements are all technical which include a larger field of view, smoothed textures, highlights when mousing over an NPC, and perhaps best of all, faster game speed.
As always, let’s take a look at what you need to know about Planescape Torment: Enhanced Edition.
Narrative is the highlight of the Planescape Torment experience.
Planescape Torment has always been known for its storytelling above all else, and that hasn’t changed. Even now, all this time later, Planescape’s world and setup are still among the most unique in the industry. Players wake up in a mortuary in the role of the Nameless One, an immortal humanoid who has lived the same existence repeatedly, always searching for something before dying and being reborn without a recollection of the previous life. It’s a novel take on the amnesia trope that so often pervades the RPG genre, and it’s emblematic of why so many have come to love the game over the years.
As it is with many CRPGs, you’ll have to do a lot of reading as there is very little in the way of voiceovers. There is also an exquisite amount of descriptive narration tucked between each line of dialog to help convey the various characteristics of the NPC you are speaking to. Some might be mumbling to themselves or cutting open a corpse on an operating table, but given the limitations of sprites (especially at the time), this became a necessary tool in giving information to the player. Suffice it to say; prepare to bring your reading glasses.
Combat is functional, but it’s not without its frustrations.
If there is a criticism to levy at Planescape Torment, it would have to be in regards to its combat systems. Battles play out in real-time in your standard point and click fashion. Layers of strategy are added through unit positioning and tactical retreats when things get too hairy. Unfortunately, it is here where Planescape Torment begins to show its age.
The most problematic aspect of Planescape’s combat comes in its enemy targeting system. The system is pretty basic and very similar to any you would find in a standard strategy game; point to and click on the thing you want to die. The problem with Planescape’s system is that the window to select an enemy is very small, and the constant movement that comes with combat results in a lot of misses and damage to your party members, at least until you find the right guy you want to kill.
Battles can often end up as little more than mosh pits of chaos, and trying to select an enemy rather than a party member can become a real chore, especially since you can tell your own party members to attack each other on a whim. Battles can also be a bit one dimensional, especially in the early goings, as hit and run tactics are often the thing that gets you through most fights, unless you’re stuck in a small space with no way out. It’s the only way to thin the ranks of enemy pursuers, and their line of sight is easily broken.
Verdict:
Planescape Torment is a game of quirks, but one that is one of gaming's true treasures. Its world is one of a kind, and its characters ecstatic, but memorable. While it maintains certain genre tropes, Planescape Torment manages to circumvent their banality by leveraging the immortality themes of the narrative to connect the player to each character in a way that frankly hasn’t been seen since.
If you haven’t played Planescape Torment, the Enhanced Edition is the best way to do so and a great excuse to add a fantastic game to your collection.
