Torment: Tides of Numenera

 PC
User Score
6.9

Mixed or average reviews- based on 441 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 250 out of 441
  2. Mixed: 88 out of 441
  3. Negative: 103 out of 441

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  1. PMPB
    Feb 28, 2017
    9
    Like a lot of gamers who played Planescape: Torment when it released back in 1999 I was really excited to see if inXile Entertainment could provide us with a worthy successor. That they managed to actually do it is a testament to their love of the original game, isometric RPG’s and their undeniable talent. Torment: Tides of Numenera features writing that rivals the very best the genre hasLike a lot of gamers who played Planescape: Torment when it released back in 1999 I was really excited to see if inXile Entertainment could provide us with a worthy successor. That they managed to actually do it is a testament to their love of the original game, isometric RPG’s and their undeniable talent. Torment: Tides of Numenera features writing that rivals the very best the genre has to offer and it has the kind of satisfying ending other games can only dream of. It provides a lengthy campaign with little filler, engaging characters, replayability and is nearly bug free. It could have used some more combat and hopefully the cut stretch goals appear in some form via DLC or expansions. I really enjoyed my time with the game and it deserves to stand tall among the new crop of top notch isometric RPG’s.… Expand
  2. TheThirdEye
    Feb 28, 2017
    10
    When I first saw that Planescape: Torment, a game that shaped my outlook and expectation of games to come, was getting a spiritual successor I was worried. TToN has surpassed expectations and left me completely satisfied. This is a game that rewards and encourages the curious. This is a cool, sweet drink in a desert of games where story is only barely there because it is required. This isWhen I first saw that Planescape: Torment, a game that shaped my outlook and expectation of games to come, was getting a spiritual successor I was worried. TToN has surpassed expectations and left me completely satisfied. This is a game that rewards and encourages the curious. This is a cool, sweet drink in a desert of games where story is only barely there because it is required. This is art.

    --Garth Holden    … Expand
  3. thicc
    May 17, 2017
    10
    Don't listen to the idiots on steam. If you don't like reading, Torment is not the game for you. There are literally dozens of rpg titles out there with refined combat systems and great looking UI to choose from if those are your primary concerns. If you're looking for immersive world building, story, and compelling moral decision making tied together with very well done writing with a lotDon't listen to the idiots on steam. If you don't like reading, Torment is not the game for you. There are literally dozens of rpg titles out there with refined combat systems and great looking UI to choose from if those are your primary concerns. If you're looking for immersive world building, story, and compelling moral decision making tied together with very well done writing with a lot of love put into it than this will be perfect for you. Keep in mind the CRPG genre is a throwback nostalgia genre. Don't come into it expecting the latest Bethesda game. It kept me up at night and I literally could not put it down. Great experience.… Expand
  4. hazsch
    May 4, 2020
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Torment: Tides of Numenera is an excellent game. I It feels extremely similar in tone to Planescape: Torment (as it aimed to do) but creates a new and engaging story while doing so. Perhaps the biggest selling point for this game is its setting. The Ninth World is one of the most unique settings I've ever experienced and I absolutely love it. Everything you come across is weird and mysterious, and it's so much fun to check out every little thing. This game has a lot of dialogue and exposition in the form of text. There is over 1.2 million words in this game, so if you don't like reading then you're out of luck. Every second character you come across is fascinating and has their own personality and traits, as well as experiences to share. This is much thanks to the brilliant writing. If the writing was bad in a game of this scope then I'd be seriously concerned.

    There is a plethora of intriguing and likeable characters, and each companion I found captured my attention immediately. I particularly loved Aligern and Erritis. It's safe to say I was invested in the plot. I wanted to know everyone and everything about the world and the Changing God and the Castoffs. The story really keeps you guessing, and the multiple revelations and twists are surprising in a good way. I had multiple "Ohhhhh" moments as I discovered more and more and the pieces added up.

    Combat is clunky and boring at first, but luckily it's nonessential. I could count how many combat encounters I had on one hand. As you get further into the game fighting becomes less boring, if that's worth anything. There are only two encounters that I REALLY hated, and one of them was completely optional. The worst offender was probably the one on Miel Avest. One of my favourite sequences in the game was a non-combat crisis on the Anchorage when you have the option of stealing a device. It was the tensest I've felt when playing a game in a long time.

    My biggest complaint about the game is that it just has so much damn potential that it HURTS. I know limited resources and money are a factor but I just wish that this game was bigger. Longer and ever so slightly less densely packed, and with the ability to go back to old locations. I think that's the general consensus of this game. It's great, it has so much potential, but the ending feels rushed.

    The ending really hurt the experience for me. Look. I loved trudging around inside a massive organy fleshy disgusting beast, but that was HALF THE GAME. Then it was over. I didn't see the Oasis outside of the Fathom, I didn't see the Endless War, I didn't get to explore 80% of the intriguing and beautiful world that is represented on the map that I got with the Day One edition. I wanted to give this a 10/10. "How bad could the ending be?" I asked. The pacing of the second half of the game was almost depressing because every time I made progress I thought "huh... one step closer to the end" and I was dreading it instead of being excited about it.

    Also, the Sorrow should not have been the "ancient guardian" of the Tides. That trope is played out to all hell. The last game I was okay with that in was Neverwinter Nights 2. There was so much interesting potential with the Sorrow. It could have been the Tidal manifestation of the Changing God's regret for his daughter's death, and hatred of himself. The fact that he's "disgusted with himself" is hinted at in the Fathoms and I honestly believe that this was supposed to be a bigger plot point than it turned out to be.

    One thing I loved, though, was the merecasters. Changing someone's past through what was basically an interactive novel (though some may argue this whole game is an interactive novel...) was amazing. I loved reliving the final moments before the moon explodes through the Changing God's eyes. The revelation that he actually died only moments before the game started was great.

    At the end, we get the choice to merge ALL the thousands of Castoffs into one person, kill them all, or do a myriad of other things to stop the Sorrow. This *almost* feels in line with the game's question of "what is one life worth?", except instead of one life, we're juggling the lives of every one of the Last Castoff's siblings. In one ending, even the entire world. I suppose you could say that the question references the protagonist's life. How far would you go just to continue living? Would you sacrifice every one of your sibling's lives just to stay alive? This decision would mean more if there was an option to sacrifice yourself for the good of the Castoffs, but the only way to keep them alive is to make things go back to the way they were, with the Sorrow hunting them. So by letting them live, you're inadvertently dooming them to a painful death.

    I loved this game, despite the issues I had with it. It's only around 20 hours long but it has good replay value. I wish I could have given this game a 9 or a 10, though. Play it! Or better yet, play tabletop Numenera!    … Expand
  5. Warden_Eternal
    Mar 2, 2017
    8
    Good:
    -Amazing lore and story
    -Supreme Art Direction
    -Total freedom of choice
    -incredible sub-quests
    -Deep world reactivity
    -VERY better fights than Planescape
    -Very good replaybility

    Bad
    -Shoter than aspectations
    -I didn't felt the touch of the master writher (Chris Avellone)
    -The soundtrack
    -The companions
  6. BladyKolega
    Mar 16, 2017
    9
    That is a good game, cant stop playing.
    Graphics are quite okay - if you are not the kind of garphico-holic you will definitely find yourself accomodarted in world of Numenera ;)
  7. Voukras
    Jun 5, 2017
    9
    This game has been unjustly rated lowly two groups of people:
    - People who have let their elitism get to their head and consider Planescape Torment to be absolutely perfect and that any comparison is sacrilege.
    - People are those that rightfully blast the developers for failing to deliver on promises. But failure to deliver on promises should not factor into an analysis on whether a game    This game has been unjustly rated lowly two groups of people:
    - People who have let their elitism get to their head and consider Planescape Torment to be absolutely perfect and that any comparison is sacrilege.
    - People are those that rightfully blast the developers for failing to deliver on promises. But failure to deliver on promises should not factor into an analysis on whether a game is actually good or not and rating it lower based on that is outright _childish_. While I don't claim to be objective, these people have abandoned any attempt at objectivity to air their frustrations. Giving a game like this 0 is absolutely disgraceful and downright moronic, even with all its flaws.

    If you judge this game based solely on its own merit, beyond the drama, you will find a rare game with a very well thought out story, a unique and enchanting universe unlike almost any you've ever seen. The combat system, while not the best, is still rather smooth. Unlike most RPGs it manages to not wear out its welcome and become annoying and repetitive, which has been my experience with numerous RPGs. RPGs where only specific enthusiasts manage to actually stay engaged in the combat system while everyone else rolls their eyes and sighs at having to kill yet another group of mooks, wasting more of your time. The combat system by itself is mediocre, but the devs carefully balanced a wide variety of encounters, environments, types of enemies and consumables to keep things interesting.

    The game's plot is subtle and if you're more into heroic tales played straight you will not enjoy this game. If you don't like reading dialogue and descriptions, you will not enjoy this game. While the game has enough content, if you're expecting a game with lots of sidequests and a huge world to explore, then you will be disappointed.

    If you expect an indie RPG with a unique, enchanting plot that brings a breath of fresh air in the RPG scene, with tiny little secrets for you to discover as the universe opens itself up to you then you will enjoy this game. For all the complaints about its story, the story is similar in style to Planescape: Torment, it's just unique in its own right. A spiritual successor of Planescape could never be a sequel or an imitator, that goes against the very essence of Planescape.

    The game is flawed. It could use more follower development and interaction. It could use more development of your RPG character. It could be a bit longer and meatier. But it is still fundamentally good.    … Expand
  8. username1222
    Apr 2, 2017
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I couldn't fit all that I wanted to say into one review so here is part 2: Let's talk about the maps:

    1) Saugus, typical cRpG town, not as good as Atkathla (from BG2) but ok.

    2) The valley of dead heroes: total rip off, small courtyard very boring then teleportation to areas that all looks the same. Total let down. Did enjoy the design of Miel Avest and the quote from my mad brother

    I asked *Can we destroy the things that dwell here* and he replies *better two ants declare war on the seasons* that was **** top notch.

    3) The bloom: Phenomenal idea, we're inside some sort of trans-dimensional, mega huge monster that's entirely made of flesh and teeth and tendons, it's a total blast to explore it, decide what you want your relationship the map to be basically. I've never EVER seen a map come alive like that. Literally :) That' probably the BEST thing about this game. Honestly you even forget about the rest of the story. I mean **** the sorrow give me a game about this trans-dimensional monster with entire societies living inside of it. Goes from medieval villages inside of a stomach to mutant hideouts into space ships. TOTAL BLAST. This game is worth it for the bloom alone. It's over too quickly is all I can say.

    4) Mental map, Labyrinth. I'm gonna be honest, HATED IT.    … Expand
  9. Aneczka
    Nov 17, 2020
    10
    As a fan of Torment, both Baldurs, Icewind Dale etc...I would highly recommend this game. It takes few hours to get used to the mechanics, but once passed, gameplay is amazing. Battle, thought avoidable and not often encounter feel very good. You will start complaining about how much text you have to read, to actually miss it later once all conversations are done. World feel right forAs a fan of Torment, both Baldurs, Icewind Dale etc...I would highly recommend this game. It takes few hours to get used to the mechanics, but once passed, gameplay is amazing. Battle, thought avoidable and not often encounter feel very good. You will start complaining about how much text you have to read, to actually miss it later once all conversations are done. World feel right for Torment universe and story is very, very interesting.… Expand
  10. godunow
    Mar 4, 2017
    8
    Torment is a rare gem. With focus shifted from combat and story as A to B journey to worldbuilding, metaphysics and meaningful choices.

    My biggest praise goes to conversations - ones made with lots of text - but in contrast to its predecestors (Pillars of Eternity, Tyranny) where you could just skip to conclusion, here these walls of text really make an interesting read and create    Torment is a rare gem. With focus shifted from combat and story as A to B journey to worldbuilding, metaphysics and meaningful choices.

    My biggest praise goes to conversations - ones made with lots of text - but in contrast to its predecestors (Pillars of Eternity, Tyranny) where you could just skip to conclusion, here these walls of text really make an interesting read and create immersion.

    Combat is dull and boring (despite I love turn based combat), but game gives you lots of options to simply avoid it. But be warned - if you prefer hack and slash with bit of story pasted on like PoE, this may not be your cup of tea.

    World is great - in my opinion much more interesting than it was in Planescape. A lot of scenes are described in text and are not shown to the player - but it forces to use your imagination and allows to create scenes otherwise impossible. But of course it can be flaw for someone.

    One minor complaint would be that character graphics are definately worse than PoE, Tyranny and inXile previous game Wasteland 2. With beautifully crafted backgrounds, models can really stand out. But it is really minor flaw of this otherwise wonderful game.    … Expand
  11. ColonelEgz
    Mar 21, 2017
    8
    The beauty of Tides of Numera can really only be gotten for all the thought-provoking characters spread around the world.

    It's not an action RPG, doesn't have lots of level exploration, and the character system is minimalist. And that's why this game is so good, because it focuses on what matters: realistic characters that spark your imagination and amaze you at every turn, and the    The beauty of Tides of Numera can really only be gotten for all the thought-provoking characters spread around the world.

    It's not an action RPG, doesn't have lots of level exploration, and the character system is minimalist. And that's why this game is so good, because it focuses on what matters: realistic characters that spark your imagination and amaze you at every turn, and the interaction you can have with them, along with all the accompanying choices and consequences. The fact that it dedicates itself so well to that particular aspect makes me thing this might be one of the most groundbreaking RPGs of all time.

    Fair warning, this is not Planescape 2, it's not done by the same people, it doesn't use the same setting or the same rule-set (thank the gods!) and it doesn't play the same.    … Expand
  12. New_Neo_72
    Mar 22, 2017
    8
    InXile ha avuto grande coraggio e un pizzico di follia nel sviluppare un GdR estremo come questo. La sfida più grande è stata quella di essere il seguito spirituale di quel capolavoro senza tempo che era e che è ancora Planescape Torment.

    Nel contesto di oggi, il possibile insuccesso di un GdR come questo può dipendere da recensioni superficiali e poco approfondite e da una comunità non    InXile ha avuto grande coraggio e un pizzico di follia nel sviluppare un GdR estremo come questo. La sfida più grande è stata quella di essere il seguito spirituale di quel capolavoro senza tempo che era e che è ancora Planescape Torment.

    Nel contesto di oggi, il possibile insuccesso di un GdR come questo può dipendere da recensioni superficiali e poco approfondite e da una comunità non avvezza a leggere una mole di testo molto elevata. Se ad un mese dalla pubblicazione è stata esclusa la localizzazione italiana, possiamo comprendere in parte la rabbia dei giocatori nostrani, anche se non sempre è giustificata.

    Dietro ad un mole immensa di parole troviamo un GdR molto solido con una un'intercapedine mostruosa di scelte e conseguenze che pochi titoli delle stesso genere possono offrire. Una struttura più semplice, ma allo stesso tempo ben implementata e moderna legata a combattimenti ben fatti e dal buon tasso strategico, lo rendono più alla portata di tutti.

    La mole dei dialoghi rappresenta sia la forza che la debolezza di un gioco che non lascia spazio a compromessi: o lo si ama o lo sia odia. Ma se un giorno avrà la localizzazione italiana aggiungete, a vostra scelta, dai 5 ai 10 punti in più al voto finale.

    Non vi scandalizzate se da qui a qualche anno questo GdR potrebbe diventare di culto, anche se non un capolavoro assoluto come il titolo Black Isle del 1999. Noi ve l'abbiamo detto in anticipo, quasi ad essere profetici...

    Recensione all'indirizzo ---> http://www.gamesark.it/mostra_rece.asp?c=21320170012135488&p=1&a=0&f=1&s=1    … Expand
  13. LevArris
    Mar 3, 2017
    9
    This game is something you can't compare with most of the other (C)RPG's. Its built to blow your mind by challenging your imagination. For people don#t knowing this it can be frustrating and it makes dissappointed Reviews understandable.
    Yes. Fighting mechanics are terrible (in Comparison to others). But a trashmob fighting Simulator in CRPG-Style is not the Goal of this game.
    The Goal    This game is something you can't compare with most of the other (C)RPG's. Its built to blow your mind by challenging your imagination. For people don#t knowing this it can be frustrating and it makes dissappointed Reviews understandable.
    Yes. Fighting mechanics are terrible (in Comparison to others). But a trashmob fighting Simulator in CRPG-Style is not the Goal of this game.
    The Goal is to tell a story. To make people thinking about different point of views and bizzare thesis. The goal is to design a different world and make it alive in the brain of the gamer.
    This goals are all achieved. It is true. It's hard to get in and read text over text. But the reward for this is extraordinary. Why 9 instead of 10?
    The cutted stretchgoals and the fighting mechanics. no matter if it is a goal or not. Fighting could be a bit more fun and complex. This would make the game 10.    … Expand
  14. kozzy420
    Feb 28, 2017
    10
    If you want an rpg with amazing writing this game is for you, simply amazing so far! Great writing, interesting setting, great atmosphere and a wonderfully created gameworld. Pick this up asap if you love roleplaying and good writing!
  15. RattlyTekMek
    Mar 1, 2017
    10
    It is just Wonderful! For the first time since 2002, when I started playing Planescape: Torment at that time, I have felt a sudden thrill of the upcoming adventure. Wonderful graphics, speeches, backgrounds. It is a nice change from so called RPGs available on Xbox One and games which you can play for max 12-13 hours offline. I'm giving 10 out of 10, even if game has crashed on my XboxIt is just Wonderful! For the first time since 2002, when I started playing Planescape: Torment at that time, I have felt a sudden thrill of the upcoming adventure. Wonderful graphics, speeches, backgrounds. It is a nice change from so called RPGs available on Xbox One and games which you can play for max 12-13 hours offline. I'm giving 10 out of 10, even if game has crashed on my Xbox back to main screen 4 times and Polish translation written with linguistic errors. InXile Entertainment did a great job with.… Expand
  16. hairyscotsman2
    Mar 10, 2017
    9
    Story, dialogue, art and setting are everything I could have wished for in a Torment game :D. Absolutely delighted with this RPG gem. It's also providing a well executed implementation of Monte Cook's pen and paper Numenera RPG.
  17. keemt
    Mar 16, 2017
    10
    This game is awesome. If you need great graphics and flawless execution to like an RPG, you'll never be happy. If you want an interactive great story, then this is it.
  18. badirontree
    Mar 2, 2017
    10
    OLD school RPG with heavy on the story and in TEXT ....
    If you Don't like reading you will hate it :D

    Needs a lot more bug-fixing and performances enhancements

    Its crazy as *****
    The world is Unique
  19. Risax
    Mar 2, 2017
    8
    I finished Torments: Tides of Numenera way earlier than I expected. Not that I’m complaining. Like Planescape: Torment it managed to suck me in and kept me playing until late in the night. Solving quests and conflicts in ways that didn’t necessarily have to end up in combat was cool and fun, and having even stuff that seemed like vendor trash being able to raise your stats was pretty neatI finished Torments: Tides of Numenera way earlier than I expected. Not that I’m complaining. Like Planescape: Torment it managed to suck me in and kept me playing until late in the night. Solving quests and conflicts in ways that didn’t necessarily have to end up in combat was cool and fun, and having even stuff that seemed like vendor trash being able to raise your stats was pretty neat and was a good excuse to read all the blurbs the writers had crafted.

    But while the older Fallout games, and inXile’s recent Wasteland 2: Director’s Cut games kept me busy for about 50 to 60 hours, I got about half of that out of Torment: Tides of Numenera. That doesn’t make it a bad game, though. Still, even though I no doubt missed some stuff that might have kept me entertained longer, I feel as if the game wasn't as fleshed out as promised. For example, wasn't the Labyrinth supposed to be far more complex? And if I remember correctly, wasn't there supposed to be an underwater city after we had hit a stretch goal? Whatever the case was, the game left me wanting more and even if it isn't quite as grand as the original Torment, I'd definitely recommend it.    … Expand
  20. Willmoy
    Mar 13, 2017
    9
    I am glad they are starting to make games where your decisions ACTUALLY impact the game.The combat admittedly lacks some things to be desired,but that's really not what Torment is about. Long story short,if you don't like narrative driven games, Torment is probably not for you. However, if you are like me and like games with a lot of lore and story, Torment is a gem.
  21. ohioastro
    Mar 2, 2017
    9
    I'm a Kickstarter backer and long-time RPG player; this game is a creative breath of fresh air that I strongly recommend for the right people. If you want flashy cinematics, don't like text, and want lots of tactical combat you will probably be disappointed. If you've constructed some unrealistic fantasy of an ideal game or put the original Torment on a pedestal of perfection it won'tI'm a Kickstarter backer and long-time RPG player; this game is a creative breath of fresh air that I strongly recommend for the right people. If you want flashy cinematics, don't like text, and want lots of tactical combat you will probably be disappointed. If you've constructed some unrealistic fantasy of an ideal game or put the original Torment on a pedestal of perfection it won't match up. If you take it on it's own terms it's great. Strong points for me are first and foremost strong and interactive writing and an overall vibe that captures the spirit of the original for me. You are not led from quest to quest, there are multiple approaches for solving problems, and failure can even be interesting (e.g. no need to save and reload until you get the "good" results.) Character development is logical and opens up interesting options. Combat is not necessary most of the time but works well when you use it; I appreciate not having to role-play a serial killer. The interface is good, the sound and graphics are effective and appealing. The lore is interesting without being overwhelming and your decisions have consequences, sometimes surprising, down the line. I dinged it a bit for not having a central story line (or those of the henchmen) that grabbed me as much as the precursor (no Morte here...) I liked the effort system but found it more effective for dialog than for combat, which does create a bit of a game system bias against fighting (basically, you invest points for higher success, which you need more in fights than you do in dialog for mechanical reasons). Despite quibbles, highly rated and worth the wait for me.… Expand
  22. MunchkinX2000
    Mar 2, 2017
    9
    Torment: Tides of Numenera nails the old Fallout 1&2 / Baldurs Gate / Planescape Torment CRPG format.

    It's what I hoped Pillars of Eternity would be. There is SO much to read and learn about the world, the game oozes with history, lore, personal stories, mystical beings and throws these at you at a overwhelming pace at first. But then you are able to set in and understand that this    Torment: Tides of Numenera nails the old Fallout 1&2 / Baldurs Gate / Planescape Torment CRPG format.

    It's what I hoped Pillars of Eternity would be.

    There is SO much to read and learn about the world, the game oozes with history, lore, personal stories, mystical beings and throws these at you at a overwhelming pace at first. But then you are able to set in and understand that this world is strange and complex and you are supposed to feel overwhelmed by all the quirky weird billion years old tech gadgets and multidimensional hivemind wizards. The quality of writing is magnificent and the quantity of it is simply immense (as can be expected for a Planescape Torment "sequel").

    While the engine is dated, and graphics are not the focal point of a game that is so rich in story, the graphical design is really beautiful.

    The Numenera rule-set is quirky and different from what Im used to but I think that sits well with the quirky and different from what Im used to world that the game takes place in.

    Combat so far has been a bit boring, but that part honestly is the least of my worries in a story driven game like this.

    In ~7h of play I've experienced 1 crash.. and I've read some people are experiencing them more.

    I made a promise to my self to never pre-order / kickstart / indiegogo another product if this one falls flat on its face, but it doesn't. It delivers on what I wanted and more. Now I gotta get back to playing the damn thing.    … Expand
  23. NathanGPLC
    Mar 11, 2017
    9
    9/10
    If you want a game focused on story (with 1.2 million words of text), you're in the right place; If you want combat or to spend your time min-maxing a battle system you'll use extensively, look elsewhere. As a fan of Planescape: Torment and tabletop roleplaying in general, this was exactly what I wanted.
    Overall: An excellent example of Inifinity-engine style storytelling in the    9/10
    If you want a game focused on story (with 1.2 million words of text), you're in the right place; If you want combat or to spend your time min-maxing a battle system you'll use extensively, look elsewhere. As a fan of Planescape: Torment and tabletop roleplaying in general, this was exactly what I wanted.

    Overall: An excellent example of Inifinity-engine style storytelling in the mold of Planescape: Torment. One of the biggest strengths of TTON is that it is without the excess weight of some elements that (while fun) don't contribute to this particular kind of narrative RPG; specifically, excess grinding and extra-story combat. On the downside, of course, some people will miss those things, and some will be further disappointed at the fact that this really is a specific story with a lot of beautiful text (ala PS:T), and not a free-form RPG like Baldur's Gate, where you can build a character of your choosing. However, the limited choices when it comes to character creation are still quite robust, and I didn't feel like the story was missing anything for not having, for example, more than three Focus paths to choose from.

    Major Pros:
    -Tight narrative that allows for MUCH more reactivity than I expected, making choices that felt thematically or logically correct actually have impacts (sometimes extremely significant impacts) to gameplay. Unlike BG/BGII or even PS:T, for example, sometimes a quest item is actually as useful as the person who asks you to retrieve it claims it to be...
    -Interesting characters with personal motivations beyond "You seem trustworthy; allow me to join YOUR noble quest!"
    -An interesting character with personal motivation that is EXACTLY: "You seem trustworthy; allow me to join YOUR noble quest!"

    Minor Pros:
    -Beautiful music and art
    -Background item descriptions blend into interactivity and actual bonuses/powers; be sure to examine all the Oddities carefully.

    Major Cons:
    -The final act was so tight that I'm willing to bet anyone who doesn't play a heavy-Intellect/Lore/etc character, AND strive for finishing side-quests, will feel like it is lacking. The major narrative is strong and well-implemented, but I think it would be easy for someone playing a different kind of character to miss some things I found and enjoyed (though, I suppose, I could be wrong, depending on the usefulness of Smashing/Quick Fingers/etc as skills to find other ways around problems).

    Minor Cons:
    -Voice acting didn't hold up to the music and art; I was OK with it, but some characters were much weaker than others in this regard.
    -I was surprised there are only 4 character tiers (sort of the equivalent of levels, or level-brackets) in the game, as I was assuming it would have the baseline 6 from the tabletop game. I was certainly not under-powered at the end, but when I stopped advancing, I had to go and check to see if that was a bug.    … Expand
  24. RMDsilva
    May 1, 2017
    8
    Cool story, cool characters (not too many though), combat system from numenera is cool too, nice flow to it
    Not so good is that it's still very text based, not too much interaction - maybe even more combat could be cool.
  25. Ogi79
    Apr 16, 2017
    9
    This game is not for everyone. If you like superb story ,story oriented game with little combat ,then you will enjoy it.World of Numenara is fantastic.
  26. ikaragi
    Jan 22, 2018
    10
    I haven't followed the stretch goals that inXile might promised however I think that a lot of people tend to underestimate the amount of time that is needed to develop a brand new game with such a rich story. I think that the overall quality of the game is high and it fully justifies its budget.

    To get this out of the way, the game has a LOT of text. So if you tried another game like    I haven't followed the stretch goals that inXile might promised however I think that a lot of people tend to underestimate the amount of time that is needed to develop a brand new game with such a rich story. I think that the overall quality of the game is high and it fully justifies its budget.

    To get this out of the way, the game has a LOT of text. So if you tried another game like this and got bored of reading this is not a game for you.

    One issue with the game is that the character models do not look good however this might be acceptable for a small company which does not have the technological advancement of the large players of the industry. However the background world is exceptionally well drawn and I found myself many times stopping to just admire its beautiful details.

    Having played all of the classics like BG2, Fallout, the original Torment and many more, I honestly think that the story of this game is one of the best. I didn't got tired of the amount of text at any single point in the game and I was totally consumed by it. I also found the mechanics of the skill check during dialog really interesting.
    The combat of the game is turned based. You have many different strategies to use in order to overcome your enemies and overall is very enjoyable. The problem is that there are maybe too few encounters and if you know what you are doing, you will rarely need to replay a battle. This is also a more general issue with the game as it lacks a difficulty setting and it might feel easy to some people.

    The strongest point of the game is its atmosphere. Every little bit of it is trying hard to draw you into it and it certainly achieves that. It has a unique feel and character that I have never encountered in the past. I think that it is a truly worthy successor of Planescape: Torment being also a totally different title with its own soul.

    I believe that inXile made a great job with this one. Thank you for the wonderful experience.    … Expand
  27. rbt53
    Mar 2, 2017
    10
    Действительно интересная история, неоднозначные квесты и выборы и конечно же сеттинг. Вообще довольно интересная игра, но не без огрехов. К минусам могу отнести средненький перевод (объяснимо, там текста на добрую AAA типа ведьмака), фиговую оптимизацию (Unity 3D по другому и не умеет) и не отсутсвие карты.Действительно интересная история, неоднозначные квесты и выборы и конечно же сеттинг. Вообще довольно интересная игра, но не без огрехов. К минусам могу отнести средненький перевод (объяснимо, там текста на добрую AAA типа ведьмака), фиговую оптимизацию (Unity 3D по другому и не умеет) и не отсутсвие карты.
  28. misiaczek
    Mar 15, 2017
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I can't really understand complaints about missing cut scenes and poor combat. That is not what this game is about. It is all about detailed writing, reading through a lot of lore info and using imagination(some people forgot they have it and expect everything to be shown to them). Story is on similar level as in spiritual successor, shorter one but with many choices that close out other routes(I like it the same way I liked it for Tyranny, it is a good direction). On the negative side: cut content was little disappointing and I expected Sorrow to look like in story trailer.… Expand
  29. SeTiDaYeTi
    Mar 11, 2017
    10
    A worthy sequel to the original Planescape: Torment. Intriguing, entirely nonobvious world, with a masterful writing and choices that have an impact on the environment. A lot of reading involved, as in the original and as expected. Don't wine if that's not your cup of tea.
  30. uVimOvil
    Mar 21, 2017
    8
    el resumen de este juegazo es decir que es un gran libro de texto un best seller jugable, dialogos muy densos y constantes durante todo el juego es mas basicamente los combates son con dialogos apenas se entabla combates si tu no quieres y casi mejor porque las mecanicas de combate son bastantes capadas intento de innovacion fallido para mi gusto asi que mejor combatir con palabras y aunel resumen de este juegazo es decir que es un gran libro de texto un best seller jugable, dialogos muy densos y constantes durante todo el juego es mas basicamente los combates son con dialogos apenas se entabla combates si tu no quieres y casi mejor porque las mecanicas de combate son bastantes capadas intento de innovacion fallido para mi gusto asi que mejor combatir con palabras y aun asi se hace increible el juego esta muy cuidado en todos sus detalles se merece una gran nota es un trabajo exquisito echo para gente paciente, no podria ni imaginarme a un ñiñito jugando a esto por eso nunca vendera mucho y aun asi a salido el proyecto adelante, digno de admirar.… Expand
  31. TheWebCoder
    Mar 15, 2017
    8
    Torment: Tides of Numenera is a collection of paradoxes. As a fan of the tabletop RPG, T: ToN does capture the key things about the Ninth World: it's weird, fantastic, and mysterious. The writing is outstanding, but unless you have an massive vocabulary you may need a dictionary to make any sense of it. The scenery is alien and attractive, but I wish the assets were in HD so it lookedTorment: Tides of Numenera is a collection of paradoxes. As a fan of the tabletop RPG, T: ToN does capture the key things about the Ninth World: it's weird, fantastic, and mysterious. The writing is outstanding, but unless you have an massive vocabulary you may need a dictionary to make any sense of it. The scenery is alien and attractive, but I wish the assets were in HD so it looked nicer on my Retina monitor. The companions are colorful, but some are missing from what was promised. As a whole, the Kickstarter was handled pretty well, but InXile had to reduce content in order to make the launch date. They've promised the rest of the content for free to backers, so hopefully all in good time.

    I played the entire game through and it never crashed once. In fact, I can imagine Brian Fargo telling his team, "all I care about is that it doesn't crash. Then we can launch." But while it was stable on Mac, it still felt unpolished. It desperately needs some patches to clean it all up, especially combat which is the weakest point. Fortunately, you can solve nearly every situation without violence. Even if a fight doesn't go your way, death is just another story arc. The game designers realized that with quick save, death in an RPG is basically an inconvenience, so instead of having to reload the story continues. Usually.

    All in all, I imagine that six months from now when the game is fully patched it's going to be legendary.

    InExile, if you're reading, please...
    • Complete the Kickstarter content
    • Patch the game repeatedly
    • HD graphical assets
    • Review combat
    • Make it so I can give my companions armor    … Expand
  32. niknik324
    Mar 5, 2017
    10
    Потрясающая игра.
    Не без недостатков, но когда мы говорим о произведении искусства, технические огрехи не имеют никакого значения.
  33. flg
    Mar 8, 2017
    10
    Игре удалось сохранить все плюсы своей предшественницы. Отличный сюжет; замечательно проработанные персонажи, реагирующие на происходящие вокруг события и общающиеся с некоторыми NPC; исследование уникального, по-хорошему безумного мира; интересные квесты с несколькими вариантами их прохождения; философские размышления на тему жизни и смерти. В Torment: Tides of Numenera есть всё то, заИгре удалось сохранить все плюсы своей предшественницы. Отличный сюжет; замечательно проработанные персонажи, реагирующие на происходящие вокруг события и общающиеся с некоторыми NPC; исследование уникального, по-хорошему безумного мира; интересные квесты с несколькими вариантами их прохождения; философские размышления на тему жизни и смерти. В Torment: Tides of Numenera есть всё то, за что я люблю PS:T.

    Смог ли новый Torment превзойти, или хотя бы встать в один ряд с Planescape: Torment? Нет. Является ли из-за этого Tides of Numenera плохой игрой? Ни в коем случае! Это действительно классная RPG. Для меня – лучшая за последние лет десять.    … Expand
  34. Milinko
    Jul 20, 2017
    9
    Magnífico juego, con una historia fantástica y en un universo fascinante como es el de Numenera. Alejado de todo RPG isométrico que conjuga combate y diálogos, Tides of Numenera es un juego que incide en el desarrollo de tu personaje en habilidades que van mucho más allá del combate, lo que te permite distintas vías para superar las diversas crisis sin necesidad de ir partiendo cabezas aMagnífico juego, con una historia fantástica y en un universo fascinante como es el de Numenera. Alejado de todo RPG isométrico que conjuga combate y diálogos, Tides of Numenera es un juego que incide en el desarrollo de tu personaje en habilidades que van mucho más allá del combate, lo que te permite distintas vías para superar las diversas crisis sin necesidad de ir partiendo cabezas a todo el mundo y enemigo. El "effort system" es mucho más parecido a los juegos de rol y mesa, donde dependiendo de tus habilidades tendrás un porcentaje de éxito en las acciones que hagas.

    Lo único malo que he encontrado en el juego es que después de tanto tiempo desde de su salida, aún mantiene algunos bugs molestos que no inciden en la trama principal, pero si afectan a algunas misiones laterales que impiden completarlas.    … Expand
  35. Sidian
    May 10, 2017
    10
    Great game that completely meets and even exceeds expectations. Amazing writing, memorable characters, great exploration. Do not listen to the people jumping on the bandwagon and complaining over nothing; they are angry because of cut content which happens to all games, except in this case it was publicised more. They're not judging the actual released game, only comparing it to aGreat game that completely meets and even exceeds expectations. Amazing writing, memorable characters, great exploration. Do not listen to the people jumping on the bandwagon and complaining over nothing; they are angry because of cut content which happens to all games, except in this case it was publicised more. They're not judging the actual released game, only comparing it to a theoretical version in their heads. It's not as good as Planescape: Torment, but it's a worthy successor nonetheless.… Expand
  36. teshia
    Aug 21, 2020
    8
    Wow, what a bizarre game. Took me a bit to get into because most of the time I was trying to figure out what to do or what was even happening but it eventually started to make sense the more I played it. This game really thought outside the box. I feel like they didn't just wanted to make an RPG but, rather, create a new kind of RPG system or framework. I mean, this game is prettyWow, what a bizarre game. Took me a bit to get into because most of the time I was trying to figure out what to do or what was even happening but it eventually started to make sense the more I played it. This game really thought outside the box. I feel like they didn't just wanted to make an RPG but, rather, create a new kind of RPG system or framework. I mean, this game is pretty bizarre and niche. Very far out but very interesting if you're looking for something different. Pretty cool stuff overall. A few bugs but nothing awful during my playthrough.… Expand
  37. Teleman
    May 27, 2017
    8
    Still playing, not my final verdict. I had no business in kickstarter stuff, nor have I played the original Torment but I played all titles in NWN series and found out about this just this week.

    I like the text based gameplay, in fact I like it a bit too much. But my main gripe with it is that there are too much filler stuff in dialogues which makes me do things that I never have done    Still playing, not my final verdict. I had no business in kickstarter stuff, nor have I played the original Torment but I played all titles in NWN series and found out about this just this week.

    I like the text based gameplay, in fact I like it a bit too much. But my main gripe with it is that there are too much filler stuff in dialogues which makes me do things that I never have done during all these years of fantasy reading: skipping large portions of it. The problem is, there is too much of "He said this while looking down on his ding dong. His hands were slowly grabbing and yet there were tears of regret coming out it already", and what I just made up is probably more exciting and in context of what it is supposed to be.

    Edit: Finished it. Left with a feeling that the game is uncomplete. The ending is weird.

    One thing I can definitely say is that combat is extremely lacking, scarce and shallow.

    The story is well thought but the implementation is lacking. The world feels artifical. Substance is somewhat lacking. But overall, not that bad.    … Expand
  38. DraperMoxham6
    Dec 16, 2019
    8
    Wonderful, gripping, and well-written story carry this game through to the end. The world of the Numenera setting is rich and fascinating. Given that the game play is definitely retro, and occasionally janky, I whole-heartedly recommend this experience to anyone.
  39. Fikthenig
    Sep 22, 2017
    8
    Although I never played Planescape: Torment, I thought it would be nice to hear a review from newly fresh eyes. I thought, from a new players perspective, that it delivered pretty nicely. I thought the storyline took a little too long to get into but was great nonetheless. Combat was very nice and really brought all possible scenarios that a player could take advantage of to defeat theAlthough I never played Planescape: Torment, I thought it would be nice to hear a review from newly fresh eyes. I thought, from a new players perspective, that it delivered pretty nicely. I thought the storyline took a little too long to get into but was great nonetheless. Combat was very nice and really brought all possible scenarios that a player could take advantage of to defeat the enemies. The level and skill system, as well as the different classes, was not explicitly explained to the best that could be but with experience one can affiliate themselves with the mechanics very nicely. As others may have mentioned, I thought there was a little too much text to explain some of the simplest of things but I guess that was more of an artist's point of view. Overall, it's a game that was worth getting this 2017. Good Luck and A Daring Adventure!… Expand
  40. TheGamingN00b
    Oct 11, 2017
    10
    Okay, a 10/10 score is maybe a little too high, it's more like a 9, but I felt the need to crank it up a bit, because lots of people all over the internet have been unreasonably mean to it in my opinion.
    Sorry, couldn't help myself.
    First of all, I get the negative responses for this game, I really do. It can be quite exhausting and the combat is downright terrible. But If, somewhere in    Okay, a 10/10 score is maybe a little too high, it's more like a 9, but I felt the need to crank it up a bit, because lots of people all over the internet have been unreasonably mean to it in my opinion.
    Sorry, couldn't help myself.
    First of all, I get the negative responses for this game, I really do. It can be quite exhausting and the combat is downright
    terrible. But If, somewhere in your heart, you have a soft spot for Planescape: Torment (The best RPG of all time imo)
    and/or enjoy reading AND games with an emphasis on storytelling so extreme that the dialogue itself can be qualified as gameplay, you owe it to yourself to play this game. Because it succeeds completely as a Spiritual Successor to Planescape and, even though it is not as good, it evokes he feeling you have/had while playing that game, especially for the first time, in a beautiful way. That is why, over the course of this entire game/book, a warm smile of wonder graced my face, which lasted to the very last letters of the closing credits. The atmosphere and story of this piece just come together and, if you are prone to mental cinema and posess the ability
    to really immerse yourself, grabs you by the.. you know ...and doesn't let you off the hook
    until you've finished it. And that makes this game a truly memorable experience.
    The Arc Words 'What does one Life matter?' will stick with you for a long time after you
    turned it off.
    If you want to break it down to one sentence:
    Torment: Tides of Numenera is ultimately a worthy 'sequel' to Planescape and a, nothing if not sincere, love letter to all the people who truly appreciate the role playing aspect in the so
    called role playing games.    … Expand
  41. Archound
    Jan 31, 2018
    8
    Much better than PoE. Much worse than Planescape, but very similar in several aspects. Companions are too flat, think Dragon Age II level. Story & the setting is great, but the narration and pace seems a bit off.
  42. Koyaniskaci
    Dec 5, 2019
    10
    Very good game. I really liked it. Thanks. But please do Russian voice translation
  43. Avariel
    Jan 24, 2020
    8
    This game is clrealy not planescape torment but if you enjoyed planescape torment you will probably enjoy this game too. They have both very meaningful dialogue and deep philosophical perspectives play a large role in both universes.
    It took me some time to get into the game because you have almost always the option to fight or not your way through and if you dont have enough fights early    This game is clrealy not planescape torment but if you enjoyed planescape torment you will probably enjoy this game too. They have both very meaningful dialogue and deep philosophical perspectives play a large role in both universes.
    It took me some time to get into the game because you have almost always the option to fight or not your way through and if you dont have enough fights early on... it can become frustrating. It should be more balanced. I would not advice someone that hate reading to get into that game, it is just not for you. As someone that love videogames and love books, I felt like this game was made for me.    … Expand
  44. Draugnimir
    Feb 21, 2020
    9
    I'm playing RPGs a lot - and this is simply one of the best I've ever seen.

    Fascinating world unlike anything ever pictured in video games, intelligent writing, complex quests with countless solutions, clever Crisis system instead of random fights with hordes of nameless enemies, simple yet deep character development - there are so many things to love this game for. Worthy successor    I'm playing RPGs a lot - and this is simply one of the best I've ever seen.

    Fascinating world unlike anything ever pictured in video games, intelligent writing, complex quests with countless solutions, clever Crisis system instead of random fights with hordes of nameless enemies, simple yet deep character development - there are so many things to love this game for.

    Worthy successor to Planescape Torment!    … Expand
  45. transcendtient
    Dec 9, 2021
    8
    Writing is good, albeit very dense... so many made up terms makes it seem a little overwhelming sometimes. NGL I did get a little over it and skip dialogue at a certain point.
    Companions are a little barebones although all of them do have companion quests.
    Environments are super old school looking and a little inconsistent from location to location. Sound design isn't great, i had some    Writing is good, albeit very dense... so many made up terms makes it seem a little overwhelming sometimes. NGL I did get a little over it and skip dialogue at a certain point.
    Companions are a little barebones although all of them do have companion quests.
    Environments are super old school looking and a little inconsistent from location to location.
    Sound design isn't great, i had some stuttering occasionally and some sounds are just too **** loud.
    I had one bug in my entire playthrough and it resolved itself.
    I like that most encounters can be solved with dialogue options, but that also meant I barely ever used items and mostly felt like the game was a little too easy.
    Overall, a great game with a good and original story.    … Expand
  46. hthms
    May 13, 2022
    10
    I loved this game, one of the best since the older classics. The story, the characters and the atmosphere are incredible!
  47. yoshi_s_island
    Oct 10, 2021
    10
    As profound as the player's own intellect.

    Not a game, but an immense visuo-textual portrait of the human mind, and a landmark work of (videogame) art.

Awards & Rankings

55
#55 Best PC Game of 2016
44
#44 Most Discussed PC Game of 2016
17
#17 Most Shared PC Game of 2016

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
81

Generally favorable reviews - based on 72 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 57 out of 72
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 72
  3. Negative: 1 out of 72
  1. RPGamer
    May 29, 2017
    50
    What Tides of Numenera offers is a rich experience in learning lore and then making a final multiple guess at the ending, all the while never being fully satisfying in terms of presentation. There's more playability to this take on this game, but it might be better off being used for a title that has far less baggage.
    Read full review
  2. Games Master UK
    May 19, 2017
    92
    Wonderful writing, deep quests, and the ability to truly shape your character make for a quality RPG. [Apr 2017, p.78]
  3. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Apr 18, 2017
    100
    Great RPG depends mainly on the conversations and colorful bizarre world into which it takes you …while it is not focused on combat and other traditional elements. [Issue#273]
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