Top notch character development and gameplay make this an incredible RPG.

I have lived most of my life hating rules. Most of the time, they just get in the way. After spending a hunk of hours playing the newest Forgotten Realms Dungeons and Dragons-based game, Plansescape: Torment, I have developed a new respect for rules. As a matter of fact, I think I like rules. Well, certain rules, at least.

You see, what makes this game stand out is the Dungeons and Dragons rule set used to govern almost every action in the game. The rule set controls things like body damage, level advancement, and just about anything else in the game. In the wake of a slew of 'light RPGs' as I call them (Diablo, Darkstone, Nox) it is refreshing to see a game that brings a strong heritage to the RPG world.

Brought to us from the same people who made Baldur's Gate, the landmark RPG which helped propel the RPG Renaissance we are now experiencing, Planescape carries the same engine as Baldur's Gate, with similar controls and exploration setup. I have to admit I didn't really enjoy Baldur's Gate. I appreciated the scope of the game, along with the strong story and character setup. It's just that something in the game, I'm not sure what, didn't click with me. I think it might have been the isometric point of view. Planescape has the same point of view, but for some reason I instantly got into this game.

You play the role of the aptly named 'Nameless One', an immortal rising from another death. You have no recollection of what happened to you, and you must escape the morgue in the Hive, your starting point, and find out what happened to you and your comrades. You are greeted by another dead man, Morte (play on 'death'?) - basically just a skull, who talks to you and aids you in your escape. You'll meet several other NPCs along the way, and if you are good, you can convince many of them to join your party.

Like any RPG worth the plastic it is copied on, party creation and setup are essential in this game. You'll start off with Morte, and move on to Wizards, Warriors, and various other NPCs which will help you along on your journey. The most important ones to note are the fighter-mage Dak'kon, and the Wizard Ingus, both of whom are extremely capable butt-kickers.

One thing about Planescape is its heavy reliance on conversation and information gathering. Most of the beginning game will be spent talking to NPCs who will help you piece together your past and aid you in your quests and subquests all throughout the over 30 locales you'll visit in the game. The NPCs are essential to the game, and if you just go around hacking everything in sight, well, you won't get too far. Some of the NPCs offer more than just information; they actually help you build your character's stats. On top of this, many of the NPCs have a really short fuse, and if you anger them, you end up killing someone who might have been able to make your job a bit more simple. There are so many little intricacies in the game like this -- things that require your complete attention. I like that.

Another one is the special talents each NPC you add to your party has. For instance, Morte is the trash-talk king. He will enrage enemies so much with his insults that they will take their attention off of you, allowing the time and room for you to blast them with a spell. If someone insults you, Morte will laugh and add the insult to his repertoire. This was hysterical, as well as useful. By adding the emphasis of conversation and the importance of the NPCs in general, the developers added incredible depth to this game, and RPGs really need depth to be any good.

Graphically, Planescape looks like Baldur's Gate moderately updated for 2000. There are some really cool dynamic spell effects, but the graphics certainly aren't cutting edge, and maybe a notch above Nox. Don't get me wrong, the graphics are good. In a sense, they work better than a true 3D engine would. You learn to appreciate the beauty of the graphics in this game over time. After that, you become one with the universe you are playing in. Of course, a game like this doesn't need top-notch graphics to succeed. It's about substance here, and Planescape has got it in droves. Sound is decent, with some good weapon effects and mood music, but it won't make you run out and buy a more expensive set of speakers. One thing to note about the sound is the really cool effect of conversations getting louder and lower as you move closer and further away from the people talking. It's subtleties like this which make this game so great.

Another feature of this game is the Planescape universe itself. Basically, there are several different planes in the universe, where a slew of different types of creatures reside. To put it simply, Sigil, the town where Planescape: Torment is centered, is a meeting place of all of the different creature types. So, as you navigate the city, you'll come across demons, god-like creatures, as well as disembodied skulls (Morte, for instance) and some things that I will leave out as to not spoil the experience for you. This is a tremendous advantage over other games, because it gives the developers the freedom to basically do whatever they want. And I tip my cap to the guys at Black Isle Studios, because they did.

As far as character generation goes, I was initially disappointed. You start off with a set amount of bonus points to distribute among RPG mainstays like Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, Charisma, etc. What I didn't realize is how important your point distribution is. If you are the type who wants to bash your way through problems, you had better give your guy some strength; if you like magic, then not giving your character enough points in the right category is suicide. The same goes for the smooth-talkers and thieves out there. You have to pay attention to detail. From there, you basically start of as a generic warrior, but there are a few surprises down the road. You see, your character has not totally forgotten everything from his past lives. After a few experiences in a certain class, your character has flashbacks which help him regain some of his long forgotten skills. It seems that the 'Nameless One' has had experience in almost every character class. You need only 'prime the pump' so to speak, in order for him to remember what he had once learned.

Take a huge universe with limitless options in the way of creatures and actions. Add to that a rule set that covers every happening in the game. Sprinkle with some excellent story and humor elements. Stir in hardcore RPG trimmings. Let simmer in the Baldur's Gate engine. What you end up with is a feast of a game called Planescape: Torment. If Baldur's Gate wasn't the best RPG to date, as some people say, then Planescape just might take that crown.

Reviewed by John Misak, PC Gameworld.