Planescape: Torment, Part 1: From the Tabletop
Planescape: Torment, released in 1999, is a unique role-playing game that blends interactive tragedy with the Dungeons & Dragons universe. Despite its numerous flaws, including pacing issues and a clunky interface, it stands out for its narrative depth and subversive themes. The game is deeply rooted in the creative legacy of its tabletop origins, reflecting a rich cosmology that has influenced many aspects of the genre.
- ▪Planescape: Torment was developed by Black Isle Studios and is a licensed adaptation of Dungeons & Dragons.
- ▪The game is known for its ambitious narrative, which explores themes of tragedy and existentialism.
- ▪Despite its flaws, including irritating combat and a cumbersome interface, it has gained a cult following over the years.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
By 1999, Interplay had begun crediting its internally developed CRPGs to “Black Isle Studios,” a distinction that represented very little difference, given that Black Isle shared office space and personnel with its parent publisher. Note the careful choice of words on the box above, to call Black Isle the “producers” — not the developers — of Baldur’s Gate. This article tells part of the general story of Dungeons & Dragons on the tabletop and on computers, which includes the more specific one of the Infinity Engine games. My power fantasy when playing a role-playing game is to confront a villain, explain point by point why his master plan is flawed, and then get him to admit that he hadn’t thought things through as carefully as I had, and ask me what I think he should do.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Filfre.
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