Review: Torment: Tides of Numenera (PlayStation 4)

Torment: Tides of Numenera is the thematic successor to Planescape: Torment, one of the most critically acclaimed role-playing games of all time.

Pros:

• 14.50GB download size.
• Some stunning locations in game.
• Isometric view.
• Options-Set text size, Tutorial pop ups, Tide feedback and volumes.
• Male/female choices.
• Strong role play mechanic with a huge emphasis on asking questions to change how the game pans out.
• The story is very engaging and grabs you almost immediately.
• Tutorial pop ups will show everytime you do something for the first time.
• Full platinum trophy.
• Opening section is kind of like a tutorial slash character creator. You explore your memories and answer questions which in turn help you to decide what type of character to play as.
• Three hero types-Glaive is your warrior class, Jack is a bit of everything, Nano is the wizard/mage/witch.
• The second main part of character creation is deep and powerful yet stays easy to use.
• Save/load when you want along with a quick save/quick load buttons.
• Helpful tips on loading screens.
• Controller layout fits in and the hud shows a lot of what buttons do what.
• The game is very rewarding.
• You have 3 pools of abilities- Might, Speed and intellect. You use these to buff/aid in actions like fighting/hacking/looting/conversations.
• When doing any of the above actions you get a percentage chance of success, Using one of the pool types will increase your chances by a small margin.
• Crisis- These are instances where usually its fighting. You take control of your whole team. You can use items or the enviroment in your battles or attempt to talk yourself out of the crisis.
• Compainions- You can find and recruit members to your party and will follow you around.
• Loot- Scattered around and earned from missions and searching defeated enemies.
• The fighting is very easy to grasp and flows well. To give you an idea it works like Divinity.
• Discover the many areas in the game and chat with who you like.
• Main missions along with optional side missions.
• Your answers or questions change the way in which the game plays out so its cool you can re load and try out different options.
• Very atmospheric.
• A must play for text readers, The game has it in spades.
• Well written dialogue, It sets the scene along with context and is really moving.
• Decent soundtrack.
• Tides is a mechanic that dictates how people will interact with you. As you ask and answer questions, You change the tides. For example if you act passionate the the red tide will change and improve your standing. Being an ass will come back to bite you.
• Simple yet effective upgrade system. Earn points as you earn EXP and level up. Then its just a case of picking one of the choices, Filling one of the upgrades will unlock the next tier.
• Inventory system is quick and easy to manage.
• Handy pop up on all aspects of the UI means you always feel in control.
• Vendors to buy and sell with.
• Main story can take anywhere from 25-35 hours depending on how much side stuff you do.

Cons:

• Performance on the PlayStation 4 is not the best. The game is constantly juddering almost like its loading every animation you make.
• Companions get stuck or move around on their own.
• Stiff animations.
• A lot to take in.
• Slow starter especially the first few hours.
• Save slot locations seem to go awry when using quick load.
• Long loading times.
• For the great looking locations, There is also a few not so nice.
• A lot of reading.
• For a game like this, It feels kind of short. I expected quite the epic long adventure.
• Your companions are very cliche.