Info about Torment: Tides of Numenera:

Official game description:
Accolades
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Legacy Edition
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The Torment: Tides of Numenera Legacy Edition contains 6 digital extras. Build your legacy and immerse yourself into the Ninth World.  
*   **Digital Soundtrack** - The Original Soundtrack for Torment: Tides of Numenera. Composed by Mark Morgan and featuring 50 tracks.  
*   **Digital World Map** - A high-resolution version of Torment's world map.  
*   **"From the Depths"** Digital Novellas (2x) - "From the Depths: Gold" and "From the Depths: Blue", two digital novellas fleshing out the game's world and backstory (70 and 140 pages each).  
*   **Forum Avatars** - A selection of forum avatars based on the in-game party portraits.  
*   **Ringtones** - A selection of Torment-themed ringtones and notification sounds.
Once installed, Legacy Edition extras can be found inside your Torment installation folder.
Immortal Edition
================
The Torment: Tides of Numenera Immortal Edition Upgrade contains 12 digital extras. Become an immortal castoff and immerse yourself more deeply into the Ninth World.  
*   **Digital Soundtrack** - The Original Soundtrack for Torment: Tides of Numenera. Composed by Mark Morgan and featuring 50 tracks.  
*   **Digital World Map** - A high-resolution version of Torment's world map.  
*   **Digital Concept Art** - A selection of high-resolution concept pieces and wallpaper.  
*   **"From the Depths" Digital Novellas (5x)** - The full "From the Depths" Tidal novella series. Each novella is themed around a different Tide and fleshes out the game's world and backstory (between 60-140 pages each).  
*   **Digital Strategy Guide** - A 143-page companion guidebook containing walkthroughs of quests, location overviews, ability lists, and more.  
*   **Digital Concept Art Book** - A lovingly crafted 90-page digital art book showing off a selection of the game's concept and promotional artwork.  
*   **Forum Avatars** - A selection of forum avatars based on the in-game party portraits.  
*   **Ringtones** - A selection of Torment-themed ringtones and notification sounds.
Once installed, Immortal Edition extras can be found inside your Torment installation folder.  
**Note:** Includes all items in the Legacy Edition.
About the Game
==============
You are born falling from orbit, a new mind in a body once occupied by the Changing God, a being who has cheated death for millennia. If you survive, your journey through the Ninth World will only get stranger… and deadlier.  
With a host of strange companions – whose motives and goals may help or harm you – you must escape an ancient, unstoppable creature called the Sorrow and answer the question that defines your existence: What does one life matter?  
Torment: Tides of Numenera is the thematic successor to Planescape: Torment, one of the most critically acclaimed and beloved role-playing games of all time. Torment: Tides of Numenera is a single-player, isometric, narrative-driven role-playing game set in Monte Cook’s Numenera universe, and brought to you by the creative team behind Planescape: Torment and the award-winning **Wasteland 2**.  
Features:
*   **A Deep, Thematically Satisfying Story.** The philosophical underpinnings of Torment drive the game, both mechanically and narratively. Your words, choices, and actions are your primary weapons.  
*   **A World Unlike Any Other.** Journey across the Ninth World, a fantastic, original setting, with awe-inspiring visuals, offbeat and unpredictable items to use in and out of battle, and stunning feats of magic. Powered by technology used in the award-winning Pillars of Eternity by Obsidian Entertainment, the Numenera setting by Monte Cook provides endless wonders and impossibly imaginative locations for you to explore.  
*   **A Rich, Personal Narrative.** Thoughtful and character-driven, the story is epic in feel but deeply personal in substance, with nontraditional characters and companions whose motivations and desires shape their actions throughout the game.  
*   **Reactivity, Replayability, and the Tides.** Your choices matter, and morality in the Ninth World is not a simple matter of “right” and “wrong”. You will decide the fates of those around you, and characters will react to your decisions and reputation. The result is a deeply replayable experience that arises naturally from your actions throughout the game.  
*   **A New Take on Combat.** With the Crisis system, combat is more than just bashing your enemies. Plan your way through hand-crafted set-pieces which combine battles with environmental puzzles, social interaction, stealth, and more.

Release date: Feb 27, 2017

Categories: Choice-based Narrative, Dialogue-driven Gameplay, Role-playing, Turn-based Combat, Non-linear Storytelling, Philosophical Exploration, Companion System, Sci-fi


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price: No data
- Playtime Metrics: No data
- Time-to-fun: No data
- Player Archetypes: No data


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Captivating world and storytelling (weight 0.99): The game is praised for its immersive world-building, engaging narrative, and well-written characters. Players highlight the unique sci-fi/fantasy setting, rich lore, and philosophical themes as standout features.
- Meaningful choices and consequences (weight 0.96): Choices in dialogue, quests, and character development have significant impacts on the story and world. Players value the replayability and depth of philosophical and moral decisions.
- Unique Numenera setting (weight 0.95): The game successfully adapts the Numenera tabletop RPG, offering a bizarre, post-apocalyptic world billions of years in the future. Players appreciate the blend of sci-fi, fantasy, and philosophical elements.
- High-quality writing and prose (weight 0.92): The game’s writing is frequently compared to literary works, with dense, imaginative, and philosophical prose. Players appreciate the novel-like storytelling and rich vocabulary.
- Inspired by Planescape: Torment (weight 0.91): The game is often compared to *Planescape: Torment* for its narrative depth, philosophical themes, and dialogue-driven gameplay. It is seen as a worthy spiritual successor.
- Strong art and atmospheric design (weight 0.88): The game features beautiful 2D visuals, unique environmental designs, and a memorable soundtrack. The art style and atmosphere enhance the immersive experience.
- Performance and accessibility (weight 0.87): The game runs smoothly on low-end hardware and is accessible to players new to CRPGs. Its mechanics and UI are user-friendly and well-designed.
- Flexible combat and pacifist options (weight 0.12): Combat is avoidable through dialogue, skill checks, or pacifist solutions. The crisis system and turn-based mechanics offer multiple ways to resolve conflicts, catering to diverse playstyles.

Common complaints:
- Weak and unsatisfying combat (weight 0.58): The combat system is frequently described as bland, unintuitive, and lacking depth. Players report it feels forced, tedious, and unengaging, with many mechanics feeling underdeveloped or poorly implemented.
- Excessive and verbose dialogue (weight 0.37): Dialogue is often overly wordy, expository, and tedious, making the game feel like a chore to progress through. Many players report frustration with the sheer volume of text and lack of brevity or meaningful choices.
- Poor UI and technical performance (weight 0.26): The user interface is clunky, poorly designed, and often overwhelming. Technical performance issues, such as long loading times, frame rate drops, and memory leaks, further detract from the experience.
- Numerous bugs and technical issues (weight 0.2): The game is plagued by frequent bugs, including quest-breaking issues, crashes, and UI glitches. Many players report that these issues disrupt immersion and can make the game unplayable at times.
- Poor quest design and pacing (weight 0.14): Quests are criticized for being poorly designed, clustered together, or lacking meaningful consequences. Pacing issues, especially in the ending, make the game feel rushed or incomplete.
- Short and rushed experience (weight 0.11): The game is described as short, with a main plot that can be completed in under 15 hours. Many players feel it lacks content, depth, and polish, making it feel rushed or incomplete.
- Unfulfilled Kickstarter promises (weight 0.09): The game failed to deliver on many stretch goals and promises made during its Kickstarter campaign, including missing content, locations, and companions, leaving players feeling disappointed.
- Underwhelming Tides system (weight 0.08): The Tides alignment system is criticized for being underdeveloped, irrelevant, or forced, with minimal impact on gameplay or interactions. Players report it feels like a missed opportunity.
- Poor adaptation of Numenera system (weight 0.05): The Numenera tabletop system was poorly adapted for the PC version, leading to flat characters, boring combat, and a disconnect between the tabletop and CRPG mechanics.
- Unbalanced and trivial skill checks (weight 0.05): Skill checks are often too easy or unbalanced, making challenges trivial and reducing the sense of accomplishment. Some players report skill checks feel contradictory or poorly implemented.
- Localization and language issues (weight 0.04): The game suffers from poor localization, including untranslated text, grammatical errors, and awkward phrasing. Non-native English speakers may find the complex language and lack of options frustrating.

Gameplay feedback:
- Dialogue-driven RPG focus (weight 0.84): The game emphasizes narrative, choices, and dialogue over combat, with players often avoiding fights through persuasion or skill checks. This aligns with classic CRPGs like *Planescape: Torment* but with minimal tactical depth in battles.
- Skill checks and stat pools (weight 0.75): Might, Speed, and Intellect stats govern dialogue and combat, with skill checks (e.g., Persuasion) offering non-combat solutions. The effort system allows players to push rolls for better outcomes.
- Turn-based combat (optional) (weight 0.72): Combat is turn-based but infrequent and avoidable, often criticized for being unintuitive or simplistic. Players can resolve conflicts via dialogue, skill checks, or environmental interactions.
- Companion-driven storytelling (weight 0.72): Companions have unique quests, personalities, and interactions, influencing the narrative. Their arcs and dialogue options enhance replayability and role-playing depth.
- Sci-fi/fantasy hybrid setting (weight 0.72): The world blends medieval and futuristic elements, featuring post-apocalyptic artifacts (Numenera) and philosophical themes. Exploration is curiosity-driven, with unique concepts like the Bloom.
- Tides alignment system (weight 0.71): The Tides system influences dialogue options and narrative paths, offering five moral alignments (e.g., gold for generosity, indigo for intellect). While flavorful, its gameplay impact varies.
- Cyphers and single-use items (weight 0.69): Cyphers are powerful, consumable items that provide combat or stat boosts. Their scaling effects and one-use nature add strategic depth to resource management.
- Amnesiac protagonist trope (weight 0.67): The game uses the classic amnesia premise to drive the story, with the protagonist uncovering their identity through choices and interactions. This trope is central to the narrative structure.
- Meres and memory mechanics (weight 0.66): Merecasters let players relive or alter past events through text-based vignettes, adding narrative depth. These mechanics emphasize introspection and consequence.
- Resource management system (weight 0.66): Stat pools (Might, Speed, Intellect) and Edge mechanics govern actions, requiring strategic allocation for combat and skill checks. Overpowered progression in later stages can unbalance encounters.
- Minimal character customization (weight 0.19): Character progression is simplistic, with predefined builds (e.g., Glaive, Nano) and tier-based leveling. Customization focuses on dialogue choices and stat allocation rather than deep mechanical variety.

Performance notes:
- Severe gameplay-breaking bugs (weight 0.18): Players report frequent crashes, quest failures, combat freezes, and progress-halting bugs that require game restarts. These issues significantly disrupt gameplay and immersion, often making the game unplayable without manual intervention.
- Dialogue and UI-related freezes (weight 0.16): Dialogue trees, UI interactions, and conversation screens frequently cause freezes or crashes, often requiring restarts. Some players report being unable to save during critical moments, exacerbating frustration.
- Poor performance and optimization (weight 0.15): The game suffers from widespread performance issues, including FPS drops, memory leaks, lag, and slow response times. Optimization is inconsistent, with some players experiencing smooth gameplay while others face unplayable conditions on mid-range hardware.
- Minor but persistent bugs (weight 0.14): Pathfinding issues, missing animations, graphic corruption, and minor combat bugs are frequently mentioned. While not always game-breaking, these issues contribute to an overall sense of unpolished gameplay.
- Outdated engine and lack of polish (weight 0.11): The game’s engine is criticized for feeling clunky, outdated, and visually inferior to older titles in the same series. Limited graphical options and a lack of console commands further highlight technical shortcomings.
- Excessive loading times (weight 0.09): Long loading screens and slow transitions between game states are a common complaint, disrupting immersion and pacing. Combat animations and other in-game actions also suffer from delays.
- Save system limitations (weight 0.06): Players criticize long sequences without saving opportunities and the inability to save during dialogue or combat, increasing the risk of losing progress due to crashes or bugs.
- Hardware compatibility issues (weight 0.05): While some players report smooth performance on high-end or low-end hardware, others experience loud fan noise, overheating, or unplayable sluggishness due to poor optimization. This inconsistency suggests inadequate testing across platforms.
- Isolated technical fixes (weight 0.02): A few players report resolving minor crashes (e.g., adjusting zoom) or requiring manual XML fixes for quests. These workarounds highlight a lack of robust error handling in the game’s design.

Recommendations:
- Story-rich RPG for niche fans (weight 0.35): The game is highly recommended for players who enjoy narrative-heavy, dialogue-driven CRPGs with deep philosophical themes and unique settings. It appeals to fans of *Planescape: Torment* and similar titles but is not suited for those seeking combat-heavy or action-oriented gameplay.
- Best enjoyed on sale (weight 0.31): Many reviewers suggest purchasing the game only at a discounted price due to its flaws, unfinished mechanics, or niche appeal. Full price is often deemed unjustified for the current state of the game.
- Masterpiece for Torment fans (weight 0.3): The game is praised as a worthy successor to *Planescape: Torment* and a masterpiece for fans of deep storytelling, surrealism, and philosophical themes. However, comparisons to *Torment* may detract from its appeal for some.
- Technical issues deter recommendations (weight 0.3): Criticism includes unfinished mechanics, bugs, and performance issues (e.g., long loading times), leading some to advise waiting for patches or avoiding the game entirely until improvements are made.
- Not for action or combat players (weight 0.29): The game is explicitly not recommended for players seeking fast-paced action, real-time combat, or voice-acted experiences. It prioritizes storytelling and dialogue over gameplay mechanics.
- Language complexity limits audience (weight 0.28): The game’s heavy reliance on reading and complex dialogue makes it less accessible for non-native English speakers or those who dislike extensive text.
- Commercial failure concerns (weight 0.05): Some reviewers express skepticism about the game’s future due to its commercial failure, advising players to wait for bundles or sales rather than supporting the developer at full price.
- Avoid if seeking replayability (weight 0.01): The game lacks challenge or incentives for multiple playthroughs, making it a one-time experience for most players. This limits its value for those seeking long-term engagement.
- Plot synopsis suffices for some (weight 0.01): A few reviewers suggest reading a plot synopsis instead of playing the game, implying the narrative can be appreciated without the gameplay experience, which may feel like a chore.

Other player notes:
- Noticeable content cuts (weight 0.08): Many reviews mention significant reductions in factions, locations, and NPCs due to mismanaged development. These cuts are perceived as detrimental to the game's depth and replayability.
- Kickstarter success (weight 0.02): The game's development was funded through a successful Kickstarter campaign, with stretch goals enhancing its scope. This reflects strong community support and expectations.
- Polished Early Access (weight 0.02): The Early Access version is described as highly polished, with positive remarks on developer communication and frequent updates. This builds trust in the final product.
- Localization efforts (weight 0.02): Players mention ongoing translation projects (e.g., Italian) and suggest waiting for the Korean localization, indicating demand for broader accessibility.
- Effective bug reporting (weight 0.01): The in-game bug-reporting system is highlighted as a positive feature, making it easier for players to contribute to improvements and fixes.
- Pricing criticism (weight 0.01): Some reviews criticize Monte Cook Games' pricing for PDFs, which may impact perceptions of value, especially among tabletop RPG fans.
- Easter eggs included (weight 0.01): The presence of Easter eggs is noted, though not elaborated on, suggesting hidden content for players to discover.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.27): Players experience frustration primarily due to technical issues, including frequent bugs, game-breaking glitches, and poor performance. Additionally, the combat system is criticized for being bare-bones, unintuitive, and lacking depth, while dialogue and narrative elements are often described as tedious, overly expository, or poorly translated. The scripted nature of gameplay and limited player agency further exacerbate this emotion.
- Disappointment (weight 0.24): Disappointment stems from the game failing to meet expectations set by its spiritual predecessor, *Planescape: Torment*, and its Kickstarter promises. Players highlight unfulfilled potential in storytelling, world-building, and mechanics, such as shallow companions, rushed endings, and cut content. Technical issues like Unity Engine problems, poor optimization, and unresolved bugs also contribute to this sentiment.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.1): Players express satisfaction with the game's narrative depth, philosophical themes, and meaningful choices. The flexibility in companion recruitment, role-playing possibilities, and creative problem-solving mechanics are praised. Despite its flaws, the game's story, world, and emotional impact resonate with players, leading to enjoyable and memorable experiences.
- Appreciation (weight 0.07): Appreciation is directed toward the game's unique setting, rich world-building, and well-written dialogue. Players admire the thematic depth, interconnected mysteries, and the immersive sci-fi universe of Numenera. The art style, original content, and philosophical approach to storytelling are also highlighted as standout features.
- Excitement (weight 0.04): Excitement is driven by the game's imaginative and surreal world, including unique locations, deep lore, and innovative sci-fi concepts like 'the Bloom.' Players enjoy exploring hidden secrets, engaging with immersive environments, and experiencing the game's exceptional writing and narrative depth.
- Boredom (weight 0.04): Boredom arises from repetitive and unengaging gameplay mechanics, particularly the combat system, which is described as tedious and drawn-out. Excessive dialogue, lack of meaningful choices, and static or uninspired content further contribute to this emotion, making the experience feel flat or uninvolving.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.04): Players enjoy the game's unique atmosphere, engaging story, and memorable locations. The flexibility in quest solutions, interactions with companions, and the game's lore are frequently cited as highlights. The nostalgic feel and immersive world also enhance the overall enjoyment.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.03): Nostalgia is evoked by the game's strong resemblance to *Planescape: Torment* and other classic RPGs. Players draw comparisons to these beloved titles, reminiscing about the depth, storytelling, and role-playing elements that defined the genre.
- Curiosity (weight 0.03): Curiosity is sparked by the game's rich setting and lore, including unique mechanics like merecasters and Tide-based attributes. Players are intrigued by the world-building details, deep storylines, and the opportunity to explore different character paths and side quests.
- Awe (weight 0.02): Awe is inspired by the game's imaginative world-building, surreal environments, and beautiful visual design. The depth of storytelling, philosophical themes, and the game's ability to create a unique and immersive universe leave players feeling captivated and impressed.
- Engagement (weight 0.01): Players feel engaged due to the game's thought-provoking content, immersive world, and atmospheric moments. The unique setting of Numenera and its rich narrative draw players into the experience, fostering a sense of deep involvement.
- Amusement (weight 0.01): Amusement arises from humorous or unconventional moments in the game, such as funny deaths, sarcastic remarks, or inside jokes. These lighthearted elements provide a break from the game's more serious or challenging aspects.
- Admiration (weight 0.01): Admiration is directed toward the game's dense world-building, complex dialogue trees, and the subtlety of its storytelling. Players appreciate the depth of the writing, the interconnectedness of the narrative, and the philosophical themes explored throughout the game.
- Anger (weight 0.01): Anger is triggered by poorly designed combat mechanics, disappointing endings, and the game's failure to live up to its claim as a spiritual successor to *Planescape: Torment*. These issues lead to strong negative reactions from players who feel misled or let down.
- Immersion (weight 0.01): Immersion is achieved through the game's rich story, world-building, and philosophical themes. Players feel deeply connected to the game's universe, losing themselves in its lore and narrative depth.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.01): Enthusiasm is generated by the game's high-quality storytelling, engaging mechanics, and the ability to resolve battles in multiple ways. Players praise the game's ability to deliver a compelling and immersive experience.
- Relief (weight 0.01): Relief is felt when the game exceeds initial skepticism or low expectations. Players who were worried about the game's depth or quality find themselves pleasantly surprised by its execution and content.
- Hesitation (weight 0): Hesitation arises when players struggle to recommend the game despite enjoying aspects of it. This emotion reflects a conflict between appreciation for certain elements and frustration with its flaws.
- Surprise (weight 0): Surprise is elicited by the game's innovative concepts, such as multi-reality mechanics and time manipulation. These unexpected features pleasantly surprise players and enhance their engagement with the game.}