After Planescape: Torment...

[willsanders84]

Torment's the word. I just can't find anything that even compares to it now. I suspect that I may never play another computer game. Can anything stand up to this epic rpg?

If someone asked me the same thing, I'd say try Fallout (just the first one) and Baldur's Gate II (not the first one). I might even suggest Little Big Adventure.

Unfortunately, obviously, I've played all three. I've played BG1 and Fallout 2 aswell. And LBA 2.

Can anyone recommend anything that'll fill the vast chasm that Planescape has created? I've heared people recommend The Longest Journey, but am sceptical.

I ask those who *know*. Thankyou.

[BuckGB]

Torment's the word. I just can't find anything that even compares to it now. I suspect that I may never play another computer game. Can anything stand up to this epic rpg?

No. You have experienced the pinnacle of computer gaming. All you can do now is slog through inferior video games until memory-wiping technology becomes readily available and we can all experience Torment again as if it were new.

I, too, live with this sad realization every single day.

[willsanders84]

I was afraid you'd say that. I must say, I've been doing my best to find something, anything, that even vaguely resembles a playable computer game for almost a week now. I've come up with nothing. Seems I've played all the good games, and now my gaming fate lies in the hands of the greedy capitalist game developers of today. I don't hold out much hope.

Has anyone ever played Little Big Adventure? It really is very good. I've done Deux Ex, NWN (which was abhorrent). The Fallout series were good. Actually, the second one was pretty run of the mill. Played the Monkey Islands. Still play Civ2. Loved Half-life. Thought the second one was utterly bland. Played KotoR, was half, well, almost half decent. No it was bland wasn't it.

So what on earth are the people who have played, and appreciated fully, PsT, playing nowadays? Or have they given up and accepted that World of Warcraft and Modern Warfare are just how it is now. All mouth and no trousers.

[Decalies]

Sorry, I'm afraid there's nothing similar to PsT. So yes, I've accepted that, and can still enjoy some other RPGs. One you might like is Vampire Bloodlines, and maybe Arcanum. That's about all I can think of.

I haven't played LBA, so can't say anything about it - nor Longest Journey, though have heard quite some good comments about it as well.

[Crenshinibon]

Now, this is an adventure game but an amazing one nonetheless. Grim Fandango is right up there with PS:T in my favorite games and if you're a fan of the genre, it's definitely one that you should look into.

[kmonster]

The only other game which felt as intense as PST for me was Loom.

[Vhailor]

I second Grim Fandango... it's not an RPG but it has excellent writing and voice acting, as did PS:T... the story is fresh, (or at least I thought so when I played it about a decade ago) witty and downright fun(ny). I can't speak for Arcanum because I havn't played it really.. I own it and started a game but got sidetracked.

But still, I myself lament the bygone days of Torment, as you do, and many of the classics that were released around that time. My personal golden decade of gaming was essentially '93-'03.

Those were the days… the Super Nintendo, N64.. then my first PC: a Pentium III with like a 600 mhz processor. The nostalgia is already coursing through my blood at a more astonishing rate than I had imagined before replying to this thread... you see I am reminded of a blog post I put up a few days ago about those days:

...Back then, games were legends out of the box. But not like most of today's fare for you see it wasn’t as much of a cleverly crafted sales thing put together to ensare the youth as much as it was a gamer thing because gamers weren’t casual about their sport and for those who made them, it went beyond a job. I'm sure it still does in many regards, but it's not the same. It wasn’t a Friday night two hour flick at the closest theater; and I’m not just talking about a time investment. I’m talking about energy and passion. Back then kids didn't get bored of a game in a month only to then lose it a month after that; or trade it in for a few bucks at Gamestop because the quality of the content really is that mediocre. Back in the day, people, at least that I knew of, didn’t trade/sell games. Why? Because they are still played to this day. Games had a lot of heart, a lot of background, a lot of meaning and connection to the gamers, high replay value, and, of course, big ass manuals that explained everything, from how to play the game, to a brief history of the making of the game, to the background story for the game… PS:T was sorely lacking in the manual department. Maybe that is part of why it failed commercially..

And here we are now. The prices of games have crept up from the previous and long standing high of 50 bucks a pop for newly released goods to 60, and yet we fail. And not just on the manual front, that was but a small gripe, a sort of symbol as it were, of a much larger problem i.e. games largely suck today.

I still play games, of course. Modern Warfare. Left 4 Dead. Unreal. Whatever. But it’s not the same. Granted I didn’t really know what I had then until now so perhaps ten years from now I will look back and find something that seems missing but I really do doubt it. Planscape Torment and the “back then” days were truly one of a kind experience that has been lost; but not forgotten.

-row
Prime Material

[kozeph]

this are games that you "might" find enjoyable or with worthwhile stories, these are some of my favorites video games that have a good story hehe


the witcher was interesting with its shaded morality becouse you are not down right good or evil for me it was refreshing to see that in a cRPG

arcanum (currently playing) its interesting if you enjoyed fallout the you should like it its an interesting setting for a game with its conflicts between technology and magic.

thief series what i consider the father of stealth based games are extremly good with at least the first and third game with a good tale, its made by the same people who made deus ex so you should feel right at home

silent hill 4: the room a game that had me both sucked in and at the same time screaming while being chased by some deformed monster, silent hill games are quiet good and creepy, they are not simply about OH MOSNTER KILL IT! KILL IT!! type you come to care about the poor souls trapped in those hellish places

ived heard really good things about grim fandango but never got the chance to play it but i hear is terrebly good, ive also heard about a game cronos or something like that, thats about time travel and quiet good but never found anything about it. also many people say that the wizardry series are extremly good so you might want to give them a shoot i havent yet

quest for glory series are quiet fun if you like point and click adventure games they are especial to me, the fourth one has a place in my heart:laugh:

well those are my recommendations hope they help even if they are not all RPGs they have good stories and enjoyable cast of characterrs

ps: if you want something hard try realms of arkania: star trail ive never manage to finish it I always get imposibly side tracked or killed by an army of orc, the game is huge and even after a year playing it the game still manages to find some random encounter to sorprise me, last one had my warlock went mad and fleed screaming (with a magical weapon so HARD TO GET in this game) while we trecked through the mountains, this game made me realize how hard its to be an adventurer

[Nightmare]

Planescape Torment is definitely one of the greatest gaming experiences, and you won't find too many who disagree with that claim here. However, there's a few other games you might enjoy.

I fully agree with everyone about Grim Fandango.

I'll probably get some flak for this, but KotOR 2 was written by the same guy that wrote and designed PS:T. If you like the Star Wars setting, you may enjoy the game, as it is exceedingly well written. The game is incredibly buggy though, has a lot of cut content (which a few mods restore), and many people hate the ending, but I personally recommend it.

Some other games with some great writing are The Witcher, Dragon Age, and Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines. But none of them really compare in terms of sheer quality to Planescape.

[kozeph]

I second kotor 2 and bloodlines

kotor 2 is to me more mature than the first one. and a bit more darker
bloodlines was a good game but i felt it could have deliver much more

cant give you any recomendations for dragons age im still waiting form my copy >.<

[Crenshinibon]

Are the stories in the KotOR games connected or are they unrelated?

I tried playing the first one a while back and couldn't get into it. I've seen all of the Star Wars movies, but was never much of a fan, which is probably the reason why it did nothing to for me.

[fable]

Are the stories in the KotOR games connected or are they unrelated?

Unrelated. Both games are rather bland and the combat AI, awful, but they look good. The first one was basic stuff, aimed squarely at the early teens Star Wars audience, while the second featured some dialog that attempted considerably more refined characterization. It was hampered by being released before finished, and there have been player-made attempts since to reestablish the hidden content and provide the links to make it work.

I'll probably get some flak for this, but KotOR 2 was written by the same guy that wrote and designed PS:T.

He was one of the writers, not the only one. Shows up here, sometimes, and posts. Last was about a year ago, I think.

There's nothing out there that comes near to PS:T as a roleplaying experience. An amazing game.

[Crenshinibon]

Thanks for your reply.

Knowing that I had trouble getting into the first one, would you recommend that I try the second game?

PS:T is definitely a wonderful and unique game, an experience even. It's a painful thought that instead of embracing and borrowing from the game, most of what the industry does is move away from it.

[fable]

Knowing that I had trouble getting into the first one, would you recommend that I try the second game?

No. The dialog is better, but the same game mechanics (save for the addition of crafting, which is poorly implemented) don't help matters. Every one of the environments still feels coldly empty, and there's little challenge to it.

PS:T is definitely a wonderful and unique game, an experience even. It's a painful thought that instead of embracing and borrowing from the game, most of what the industry does is move away from it.

I'm afraid even the game's own designer now regards it as too wordy. He doesn't seem to any longer realize that games needn't come in one flavor, and that you don't need to appeal to the lowest common denominator (and age bracket) to create product that's good.

[The Z]

I actually think that The Longest Journey and its sequel Dreamfall are both great adventure games. Their stories are quite good and more intricate than KotOR although Dreamfall's combat and stealth sequences leave a little to be desired (they take away from the story IMO). They both are atmospheric as well, with a solid soundtrack and ok visuals. If you're looking for a good story they might fit the bill, but of course you aren't role playing, you're playing as a specific character.

I do agree with the crowd here though, there isn't anything quite like Torment.

[willsanders84]

Thanks everyone. I really appreciate the feedback. It's interesting that someone has mentioned dragon age. A couple of nights ago I saw an old friend, from my BG2 days, and he recommended it. I did some research, and then hit the bioware forums. It seemed that quite alot of people had the same thoughts on modern computer games as have been mentioned here.

So I started a thread named "So much potential", and it was on fire within fifteen minutes. I basically suggested that modern rpgs have almost limitless potential, and although I'm not a fan of graphics, or fancy animations, if done cleverly they could be used to create a truly gripping rpg experience. I'm only adverse to all these new trends because I'm yet to see them done properly, and used to their full potential.

Alot of support was drummed up for the rpgs of ten years ago, with threads like "2D nostalgia" springing up. It warmed me to know that there are still alot of people out there who appreciate the complexity of the sort of games that would be looked down upon nowadays. I couldn't play Dragon Age. I just know I couldn't. Creating a massive modern rpg is a huge responsibility, but I don't think that game developers today seem to care, so long as it sells. It's like music and TV. And it's awful.

Some really good game suggestions here, thanks guys. I have played Grim Fandango, and absolutely loved it. You're right, truly original, well acted and cleverly put together. A classic game.

Loom I've also played, and was very impressed by. I've had Vampire the Masquerade Bloodlines for about two years now, but just can't get it to work despite my best efforts. However, from what I've seen, I suspect that it lacks a little charm, and perhaps isn't the game that's going to question me that way I want to be questioned.

I've never played witcher, researching now...

Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magika Obscura is a game that I've shortlisted, and will probably try and get hold of. It does look quite good. I've also shortlisted a game called Anachronox, which if nothing else looks gripping and original.

The Thief series does tempt me, it always has done, but I think that maybe all that sneaking around would get to me. I'd rather walk in broad daylight as an honest man. I don't know. Like I say, I am tempted, there's a part of everyone that if we're honest, does like sneaking.

I've never heared of Arkania Star Trial, researching now...

Finally, thankyou everyone. It helps to know that there are others out there who appreciate the dire state of modern gaming, and remember with real emotion the games we played ten years ago.

One more thing! I have to, and I know I've already said it, recommend Little Big Adventure. It's made by a French developer called Adeline, and there are forums, like this one, dedicated to its memory. It isn't dark, it isn't deep, but it's utterly charming and heart warming. As Planescape has altered my perception of real life slightly, so has LBA, in a very different way. Don't bother with the second one, but the memory of the first has brought tears to my eyes.

[Karamba]

Looks like you've got enough gaming material already, but I'm going to add my two cents in anyway.

If you're not scared by puzzles that are going to make you sit over a piece of paper for hours on end trying to figure out an ancient machine or secret code, I would recommend the Myst series. They've got authentic charm and atmosphere to them (especially the second one, Riven), sometimes breathtaking visuals and interesting soundtracks. The games form a continuous story arc, and it's a classy story that seems taken out from a 19th-century fantasy novel and is presented mostly in books you find on your journey.

Also, the first half of Indigo Prophecy (also known as Fahrenheit in Europe). An almost cinematic experience with unique gameplay (you actually get to play a guy wanted for murder AND the cops that are on his trail - also, the main character has a "stress meter" that influences his reactions), multiple paths, interesting visuals (splitscreen cutscenes with full character control), and a solid soundtrack by Angelo Badalamenti. Past a certain point the story makes a weird turn and gets pretty ridiculous, but what comes before that impressed me greatly.

By the way, the company that developed the game, Quantic Dream, seems to have an interesting, original approach to games - their debut, Omikron: The Nomad Soul is also worth checking out for it's hybrid gameplay and unique premise (your soul, as in you the player, gets transferred to the body of a cop in a parallel dimension to solve the case of his own disappearance) and the upcoming Heavy Rain looks almost like an interactive movie.

There are some other unique and involving games beside Ps:T out there, you just gotta look for them. Good luck!

[The Z]

I've actually played Anachronox as well as Indigo Prophecy so I may as well give my thoughts on them as well.

Anachronox is in the vein of a Japanese RPG in terms of combat, however it is a fairly rich story in comparison to modern RPGs and it's actually got quite a decent bit of humor in it as well. I think that the developers did a good job of developing the characters; their personalities are pretty fleshed out. Again, keep in mind that while you can role-play skills and such, your are always going to be the same character. Still, it's a decent, fun story if you're into science fiction.

As far as Indigo Prophecy I echo what Karamba says. The first half gives you the impression that it's something special although somewhere in the second half the story kind of putters out. Again, it's basically like an interactive movie, so of course, this allows for above average character development. In terms of story-driven games, you could do far worse and it may even be worth a look just for the first half.

[kozeph]

aaaa myst series I remember watching my father play them for hours they are unique I always loved in the first one how people were trapped in books and riven is still my favorite:laugh:

also is little big adventure on the pc?

[fable]

aaaa myst series I remember watching my father play them for hours they are unique...

Well, they actually aren't unique. Not to say anything against the Myst series, but they fit what was the most common adventure template for a long time: convoluted logic puzzles, almost no dialog, beautiful, strange objects with no life in sight, etc. This isn't a criticism of the series, mind you. It's just that if you like Myst, there are many, many adventures that do the same thing, and quite a few are good.