What Is Planescape Torment?

Or, better yet, what is it not?

On my last post, which was my first post on this blog, I told the epic tale of how I got involved with Torment but I failed (though not really because I didn't *try* to) mention what *is* Planescape: Torment? To put it simply: Planescape: Torment (PS:T) is a computer role playing game (CRPG) developed by Black Isle Studios and released in 1999 by Interplay. To expand upon this Planescape: Torment is the best computer role playing game ever made and as far as a compelling storyline is concerned it is the best game ever made on any platform and in any genre. I would go so far as to say that it is the best fictional story ever created out of any medium (film, book, video game, etc.) Now obviously "the best storyline" is a subjective phrase but let me tell you why it's so for me. You see when any particular story be it from a film, game, or book moves you and makes you think about it -- a lot -- and ponder upon the characters, plot and themes long after you have read the book, watched the film or played the game then it is good. All of the crap games, movies and books (and music if you will) that you pass off without a glance behind, well, it is exactly that crap. It sucks. The really good stuff compels you to go back to it time and time again whether in your mind or by replaying the game, watching the movie or reading the book. Never have I gone back to a story, in my mind and through replaying it, thinking about the characters, pondering what was left unsaid, adding my own little theories and expanding upon what has already been created more than with Planescape: Torment. There has not been a movie, book or other game that I have thought about more than PS:T. It reigns king. And that is why it's the best.

You want a rating? How about a 9.5 out of 10. I know it's not a perfect 10 and that wasn't a typo. The reason being because of a few bugs and an awkward interface. So while the bugs and interface issues knocked off half a point, because it is a game after all, the exceptional story really does make up for this (even if it is highly text based) and it is a near perfect game as such. Storywise it is a perfect 10.

I've talked a ton about its story but haven't mentioned really anything about it. It is simply this: Set in TSR/Wizards of the Coast's Planescape fantasy setting, you wake up in a mortuary unaware of your past; hell, you don't even know your name. As such you are called "The Nameless One". You have tattoos all over your body which happens to be covered in scars. There also happens to be a floating skull near you when you wake up who can talk. Oh, and you can't die. That's it. That's all you know and I can't really explain the rest without giving away the story but what follows is very epic on a personal level. And to the critics out there who think this is your typical run-of-the-mill amnesiac story. Well, it's not. Nothing else touches it. In fact in came out before many of the amnesia films that are popular today. The closet resemblance would be Memento. (because of the tattoos which help the protagonists remember things that they have forgotten) But PS:T was before Memento... except that it really doesn't matter if something is original or unique if it sucks. PS:T doesn't. (By the way, plot aside, the characters in PS:T are another very important reason for why it is so bad ass. I've never seen characters that were so engrossing as those in Torment)

I decided that the collective knowledge and professionalism of, well, professionals was probably greater than mine so what I have done is created a list of links for you to learn more about PS:T. There are two links under "General Information" which explain the story, origins and legacy of PS:T (CAREFUL with the Wikipedia link because it contains major SPOILERS if you haven't played the game yet and plan on doing so sometime)

I also listed some reviews from various established folks so you don't think I'm full of crap. There are others out there who raved about PS:T. (It has made it's way into basically every computer gaming hall of fame list that exists from Computer Gaming World to Gamespot) This is not a conclusive list but it gets you started.

General Information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planescape:_Torment (MAJOR SPOILERS)
http://www.spellholdstudios.net/games/pst

Reviews:
http://www.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/planescapetorment/review.html?print=0
http://www.gamespot.com/features/6135401/index.html
http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/00/04/circuits/articles/27game.html
http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=19285&tab=overview
http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20061006/quantum_08.shtml
http://www.gamepro.com/article/reviews/3948/planescape-torment/
http://www.gamespy.com/articles/540/540546p1.html
http://pc.ign.com/articles/159/159939p1.html
http://top100.ign.com/2007/ign_top_game_71.html
http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/pc/planescapetorment?q=planescape