Publisher: Interplay

Eh? What's that, berk? You wanna know about Planescape: Torment, the latest RPG from Interplay and Black Isle studios? Tread carefully, 'cuz here in the Planes, nothing is ever as it seems, and asking questions tends to get you dead… if yer lucky…

Planescape: Torment is the newest single player role-playing game using the highly successful Baldur's Gate engine, but that's where the similarities end. Unlike Baldur's Gate, Torment takes place in the unique world of TSR's Planescape, where abstract ideas take physical form and will more often than not be trying to kill you. Can such a radical departure from the standard high-fantasy setting really make for a great game, or is "Torment" a fitting description for this title? Read on and find out, if you dare…

Most RPG's end when you die, forcing you to create a new character or at least restart from your last saved game. Planescape: Torment starts you out that way - you wake up dead, and that's the least of your problems. You're also hideously scarred and can't remember a thing about your past, not even your own name. Hence, you are stuck with the non-moniker "Nameless One." You and your newfound companion Morte, a floating, talking skull (don't ask), must unravel the secrets of your past while learning to survive in the city of Sigil, a sprawling metropolis in the center of the Planes.

As with any RPG worth its salt, the plot is definitely a high point of this game. Once you get past the hackneyed "amnesiac-hero-fighting-evil-while-uncovering-his-past" premise, the actual storyline is captivating, while the setting of the Planes is refreshingly unique and a joy to explore. Also impressive is the emphasis on role-playing, which most self-proclaimed RPG's only pay lip service to. Torment really does offer a flexible storyline that conforms to the way you decide to play your character. Even the randomized stats have been done-away with. If you decide to play a bruiser who kills first and asks questions never, you can pour all of your starting character points into strength. Prefer to connive your way out of a jam? Place your emphasis on dexterity and charisma. With that said, the game does reward a well-balanced character, as this allows for the maximum number of ways to move the story along.