This is what a Crisis looks like in Torment: Tides of Numenera

Torment: Tides of Numenera
YouTube YouTube
Watch On

A Crisis, in the context of Torment: Tides of Numenera, is an attempt to "bring the same sense of reactivity and choice and consequence that is the hallmark of Torment dialog into our turn-based gameplay," as Lead Crisis Designer Jeremy Kopman explains in this new gameplay video. "When a Crisis kicks in, your goals aren't limited to bashing in the brains of your enemies."

The video begins with what looks like a fairly straightforward fight, but things get interesting once the fists start flying. In one instance, the death of an enemy NPC leads to a dangerous situation that must be addressed while the fight is still underway; in another, the same NPC opts to surrender when he sees the battle turn against him. It's even possible to engage him in conversation, although probably not of the friendly sort, in the middle of the fight.

Each Crisis will be a "hand-crafted scenario where we can offer high levels of reactivity, shifting states, and human-feeling AI," Kopman says. "There won't necessarily be one best solution in any Crisis, and your tools will range from brute strength to unique Numenera abilities to social skills and conversation. All of these will influence the outcome and let you pick your play style."

It's more than a little reminiscent of the famous boss fight at the end of Planescape: Torment, which with some luck and skill could be talked through rather than actually fought. Even though Numenera is still in "early alpha," this video looks very promising—and definitely the kind of Torment I'm looking for.

Andy Chalk
US News Lead

Andy has been gaming on PCs from the very beginning, starting as a youngster with text adventures and primitive action games on a cassette-based TRS80. From there he graduated to the glory days of Sierra Online adventures and Microprose sims, ran a local BBS, learned how to build PCs, and developed a longstanding love of RPGs, immersive sims, and shooters. He began writing videogame news in 2007 for The Escapist and somehow managed to avoid getting fired until 2014, when he joined the storied ranks of PC Gamer. He covers all aspects of the industry, from new game announcements and patch notes to legal disputes, Twitch beefs, esports, and Henry Cavill. Lots of Henry Cavill.

Latest in Adventure
Image of illuminated manuscript-style drawings from the game Pentiment.
Random characters kept swearing in Obsidian's font-obsessed murder-mystery when its procedural error system ran amok: 'Naughtiness abounded'
An image of a corpse with the text "You've been re-educated."
I played the lost videogame sequel to 1984, and came away more nostalgic than ever for gaming's awkward adolescence in 1999
Rosella encounters a satyr in a forest in King's Quest 4
Eagle-eyed streamer spots that Roberta Williams' portrait in King's Quest 4 is based on her author photo on the back of the game box: 'I never noticed it before.'
Myst puzzle game
'You’ve been asking, and we’ve been listening': Myst remake adds a whole new world to the classic adventure, one originally introduced in another overhaul from 25 years ago
The character takes a test in a school room.
Expelled! review
Max, protagonist of Life is Strange and Life is Strange: Double Exposure, stares with trepidation at something off-screen with her friend.
Life is Strange: Double Exposure reportedly a 'large loss' for Square Enix, says analyst, who adds: 'The company's IP fundamentally varies too much between good and bad'
Latest in News
A Viera looking confused in Final Fantasy 14.
Old armor continues to fall victim to Final Fantasy 14's bizarre two-channel dye system, unless you're super into changing the colour of teeny-tiny eyelets: 'Why even bother at this point?'
Starfield: Shattered Space
By the time Bethesda was on Starfield, you'd 'basically get in trouble' for breaking schedule, says former dev: 'A lot of the great stuff within Skyrim came from having the freedom to do what you want'
Otter AI Meeting Agent
As if your work meetings weren't already fun enough, now Otter has a new all-hearing AI agent that remembers everything anyone has said and can join in the discussion
Monster Hunter Wilds' stockpile master studying a manifest
As layoffs and studio closures continue to deathroll the western AAA industry, analyst points out 5 of 8 major Japanese companies hit all-time share prices this year
Warhammer 40,000: Darktide Ogryn
Warhammer 40,000: Darktide adds a psychic horde murderzone mode and makes Ogryns even smashier
A woman wearing a VR headset with dramatic, colourful lighting across the background
'World’s smallest LEDs' could lead to accurately lit screens with 127,000 pixels per inch and much more immersive VR