Understandably for any spiritual successor to Planescape: Torment and a crowdfunding campaign as large as Torment: Tides of Numenera‘s, expectations were high. Perhaps too high.
Nathan wrote in his review that Torment was his “favourite game of The Great PC RPG Revival”, even more so than Obsidian’s recent Tyranny, Pillars of Eternity or Divinity: Original Sin. But the reaction from fans on Steam so far has been positive, if not quite as effusive.
Fans have praised the game’s writing, as well as the developers’ decision not to overemphasise combat through the “Crisis” system. The soundtrack, world and character development were also lauded. Torment‘s was also well received, with users beating the game anywhere from 25 to 35 hours. (The average playtime on How Long To Beat so far, albeit from a piddling 9 submissions, is just under 29 hours.)
[referenced url=”https://www.kotaku.com.au/2017/03/torment-tides-of-numenera-the-kotaku-review/” thumb=”https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/t_ku-large/czgcyozlix4nnruudrya.jpg” title=”Torment Tides Of Numenera: The Kotaku Review” excerpt=””What does one life matter?” is the question at the heart of Torment.”]
[referenced url=”https://www.kotaku.com.au/2017/02/torment-tides-of-numeneras-retail-release-has-been-delayed/” thumb=”https://www.kotaku.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2016/06/1920×10801-410×231.jpg” title=”Torment: Tides Of Numenera’s Retail Release Has Been Delayed” excerpt=”Due to problems with shipping, the physical release of Torment. Tides of Numenera in Australia has been delayed.”]
Critics have complained about Torment’s linearity and difficulty, with some noting that they weren’t able to have much influence on the in-game world. Others noted that the companions would often not respond to the player’s actions, and that inXile didn’t modernise from the Planescape: Torment formula enough.
Here’s what players are saying about Torment: Tides of Numenera:
Comments
4 responses to “Torment: Tides Of Numenera, As Told By Steam Reviews”
Huh, this game just came out. I guess it doesn’t help it came out right after Zelda.
To be fair, it is not really in competition to Zelda in many respects. Can’t say I know of anyone who was hanging for both games.
Most people who own Tides most likely backed/pre-ordered it a long, long time ago so I doubt they lost out much in terms of profit.
Planescape: Torment has been my go to favourite game whenever anyone asks since I played it.
I think at ten hours in (and I’d wager a long, long way to go), Tides is a good RPG and a solid attempt at following up what Planescape did, but it lacks the emotional punch that its predecessor had. I think its biggest problem is that the party NPCs don’t interject all that often and simply aren’t all that interesting.
By this point in Torment I’d have a loveable but unreliable floating skull, a tortured religious zealot, a celebate succubus and Sheena Easton with a mouse tail. All well developed and deeply flawed characters. In Numenara I have 3 character’s who’s names I can’t even remember and who can pretty much be be summed up as: generic rogue guy, exciteable warrior and girl who isn’t good at fighting.
Tides of Numenara isn’t bad by any stretch, and I intend to play it through to wherever it’s going – perhaps my opinion will have changed by then, but at this point it is a little on the disappointing side.
TToN is a great game. If you enjoyed the original, you’ll enjoy this one. If you enjoy a good book, you’ll probably enjoy this one. If you love RPG for deep strategic combat, this is not your train home. It’s a great game but you’re in it for the story, writing and world but that’s it. As a backer I was disappointed by the large pile of cuts but I can’t say I regret my purchase. That being said a LOT of people are slamming this game in user reviews because of cut content.
Appreciate it for what it is instead of getting completely hung up on what it could be. People get emo about the weirdest things :/