Planescape Torment, bored me! EDIT:Planescape is a virtual literary masterpiece!

[Xionix]

After hearing a lot about this game, I decided to give it a try. The beggining was amazing, that mortuary and reading all the interesting stuff the ppl there tell you was very fun, and got me waiting for knowing more about the Nameless One. But after going to the town, that exploration segment, and all the ppl saying the same got me bored. Is have nothing to do about the game being 2.5, it if was 3D it will be the same, I got the same feeling about Gothic and some other games, also have nothing to do with the graphics. I want to know, for ppl that have beaten the game. Its takes long to get between the parts of exploration and the actual  story? I really want give this game another change because I liked the story, but wandering around in this game just not do it for me.

[Radiant]

Then don't wander around. You should have a pretty clear idea of where you're going (i.e. to Pharod).

One thing that'll take some time to notice is

Spoiler

for how much of the seemingly-random events YOU are actually responsible. Did you realize you have an old account at the tavern, and an old item? Why is that? Why is it that the bum in front of the Mortuary recognizes you and knows he's dragged you inside several times already? Do you see that flaming guy in the tavern and realize that YOU made him what he is?

[close]

The game is deeper than you think.

[AGA]

The "actual story" is in place from the first cutscene.  Read everything, talk to every character.  If you don't start to pick up bits of the Nameless One's backstory and be fascinated by it, you might be playing the wrong genre of game...

[miguel]

Yup, Planescape is story driven and probably the best RPG plot ever written.
You can try Icewind Dale or Badurs Gate series if you're more of a action gamer.

[Xionix]

I started playing the game again, but instead of rushing to get to the next part of the story, I took my time and started to talk to ppl and take my time I'm enjoying more now. This is my 1st traditional CRPG (Gothic is more what you see in consoles in these days, I also played and liked Anachronox but that's more of a JRPG). Maybe I got a bit impatience, I was thinking these game as an adventure game with RPG elements, and is not. Guess I needed time to adjust to this new genre (to me it is).

Also, I'm not an action gamer, but exploring big worlds is not my thing either. I'm more of information, story and dialogue. Are there other games of these type? Especially old ones, I change to PC games like 2 or 3 years ago. So I don't know much yet about old stuff.

[Ghost]

I'm more of information, story and dialogue.

You lucked out, then, Planescape is almost solely about that. I remember my first playthrough well; the Sensorium alone kept me busy for a weekend... and after a while I found myself skipping lengthy combat almost completely, which was quite a change after Baldur's Gate. The finale gave me shivers, and that's rare.

I suggest you give CURSES a try ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curses_(video_game) ). It is traditional IF with a very well-written, yet somewhat simple plot, and reading between the lines and deducing hints is the main driving force here. Hope you like it!

[edit]
A bit more RPG-ey, and very insulting on the eyes, but full of great lore is Albion, which I am currently digging up a link to.

[an Urpney]

P:T is not a game. It's more like an interavtive book with interesting ilustrations and possibility to choose your own story in many parts. Play it with this attitude and you should be fine ; )

[Xionix]

Curses sounds interesting, maybe I will give it try. What's is Albion about? I saw some pics and look like its got a lot of dungeon crawler. So far I'm very hook with Planescape, I get a bit bored on the part when Pharod want you to look for something, after is that is start to pick up again my interest. About the Baldur's Gate games... the stories of both games are on par with Planescape? They got too many "Diablo" parts? I not a big fan of fighting, or walking through big dungeons.

[Ghost]

Albion is an old, "classic" RPG with beautiful 2D graphics for the "world map" and ugly, chunky 2 1/2D for the dungeons (think Doom 1). The setting is very interesting; a space freighter crash-lands on a planet inhabited by feline aliens (bit like Avatar... but not blue), and human astronauts team up with cat-like shamans to save the planet. There's deep lore in the game and back then I was thrilled to be thrown into a world where I even had to learn the alien language step by step. Totally worth a try if you can look past some design faults- the dungeons are tedious to say the least.

About Baldur's Gate, both games are worth a look, but don't expect anything like Planescape. BG has an epic story and interesting characters; BG2 has even better party interaction than Planescape I'd say, and was one of the first games that treated party members as more than hitpoints on a stick. But there is a lot of tactical fighting and the setting is much more traditional and... mundane... compared to the 'scapes. It's not Diablo though- the D&D rules are more about skill and tactics than having the bestest sword with the most damage per second. That's actually a strength of D&D: You feel really powerful even with a "+1" sword.
Personally I'd recommend BG2 to anyone, if only for the moody, atmospheric story. It's a very long game, too.

And yes, Curses *is* superb. It's a must play in my book.

[Lewis]

Xionix: I found the first two or three hours of Planescape to be mortally dull as well. In fact, it's the main reason I keep putting off playing through it again. I actually thought the mortuary was one of the worst intros I can remember in an eventually brilliant game - sprawling, overlong and directionless - and while the first town hub was interesting to begin with, especially the big revelation that drives much of the plot, it quickly descended into tedium again until I got to Pharod.

But then you get to Pharod. And the game just bursts into life, with some absolutely extraordinary writing and genuinely compelling storytelling. Did you know that the script for Planescape: Torment is longer than the Bible? It's quite something.

[Radiant]

I actually thought the mortuary was one of the worst intros I can remember in an eventually brilliant game - sprawling, overlong and directionless

I'm surprised to read that, considering you can just walk up to the front door and ask "please let me out", and they'll open the door for you.

[Xionix]

I think Albion won't be my cup of tea, I'm not much in big dungeons and level up, but there are a few exeption, I played a bit of Daggerfall (is free after all) and like it. I don't know if it will bored me later cause I only play a bit, gotta finish Planescape first, only is the story is strong enough to keep me enganged maybe I will like Albion. And for Baldur's Gate is the same, depends of the story, but the game is pretty cheap so I will give a try in the future.
@Lewis:
What bored me at the beginning was that NPC always say the same, at the time I did not know that ppl with names got very interesting thing to say, I guess I just need to adjust to the game itself.

And yeah this thing is not a game, is a virtual literary masterpiece with animated pics. So many little stories about the ppl you encounter, is just amazing. Too bad this is the only "thing" of its kind.

[an Urpney]

What bored me at the beginning was that NPC always say the same, at the time I did not know that ppl with names got very interesting thing to say, I guess I just need to adjust to the game itself.

Mortuary holds many secrets, some old memories and an old friend with a gift for you - some of those you can discover at the very beginning, for some you'll have to go back when you learn something.

[Xionix]

Yeah, I talked to every ppl with a name I found after realizing that. Its so amazing how a pixel and a few written words can express so much feelings. I really how they describe everything the characters does example: Xionix read the comment, stop talking to his imaginary friends, scratch his head and then answers the post and type...
Those little details helps you absorb you more in the history.

@Ghost
I didn't realize Albion is an abandonware so there was no harm in trying it. I did not play much because I don't want it interfering with Planescape, seems good, maybe I will give it a chance. But I find a problem, the intro does not runs in Dosbox, is that normal? Also, there are more cinematics in the game? It will be a shame if I keep playing and not watching them.

[an Urpney]

Yeah, I talked to every ppl with a name I found after realizing that. Its so amazing how a pixel and a few written words can express so much feelings. I really how they describe everything the characters does example: Xionix read the comment, stop talking to his imaginary friends, scratch his head and then answers the post and type...
Those little details helps you absorb you more in the history.

Names are a good indicator of importance but in the Mortuary there is only few zombies \ skeleton that don't have something special going on.

[Ghost]

...the intro does not runs in Dosbox, is that normal? Also, there are more cinematics in the game? It will be a shame if I keep playing and not watching them.

I have absolutely no idea if DosBox messes with the cinematics or if they were cut from the files (that happens a lot with abandonware games). There are a couple of cutscenes, but I daresay you won't miss critical information. They are mostly hand-painted, scarcely animated, short scenes. Nice artwork, though.
Man, I still have the original CD somewhere...

*enters cellar*

[edit]
Just remembered! Since you stress the similarities to literature, did you know there is an official novel to Planescape? It differs a bit from the game, but it uses Annah's original, more demonic Tiefling design and has a few tear jerkers that are lifted directly from the game script. Worth a read.

[AGA]

Planescape isn't abandonware by the way, so you should be paying for it.  It's still available in budget releases and off GoG and such.

It also came on 4 CDs originally, so if your version is much smaller it's either been compressed well, or some content is missing...

[Xionix]

@Ghost
That is very interesting, but alas, I think those books will be almost imposible to find right now. I doubt I will find them on a local library.

@Aga
You are right, and so I did. Read the post again.

[Xionix]

Can someome tell me is there is some special way of killing the Practical Incarnation? That guy punch like Tyson, I dont know what to do.

[miguel]

Check youtube for "let's play..." videos of Planescape. It's a good way to find out how others did it. I remember checking it out for Icewind Dale when the goings went tough.