Having prior role-played within the rules and boundaries of Planescape: Torment and having written most positively about that construct I can enthusiastically categorize Torment: Tides of Numenera (ToN) as emblematic of Planescape's intentions and direction. In other words ToN is a worthy sequel and a worthy spiritual successor to a beloved masterpiece. A successor yes and not a template constructed by carbon, an entirely new work whose prose is masterly penned independent of it's fore-bearer's own genius.

The two works share the options to avoid potential combat though the elder is imbued by real time as opposed to the turn based nature of ToN. The elder's foundation is in an older Dungeon and Dragon rule set where the new sibling is founded in the tabletop rule set of Monte Cook's Numenera. The D&D - Numenera rule set differential is refreshing and pc and npc alignments not only have new meanings but are important triggers intricate to the presented story lines.

Comparing combat between the two and I may or may not be in the minority, I found ToN's combat to be more robust, strategical and imbued with more options acquired through inventory mechanics. Mechanics are sufficiently communicated to the user through a well designed gui. P:T's combat, though real time, felt entirely cheesy and I welcomed the new turn based direction. The caveat is how you play. What combat do you avoid. In ToN you may find yourself playing 10, 15 or more hours without any combat or just a few battles. One can categorize ToN as having a slow start but this is entirely subjective.

Concerning potential npcs who you can lobby to join your party; I know I missed opportunities to recruit due to choices made but I never felt that either game denied me a decent pool from which to recruit. Of those I recruited in ToN, each was supplied with an extensive background, many by questing, and the game presented good dialog choices when I choose to interact with each party member. Switching out party members surprisingly was simple and was within the rules of the lore and world the authors and designers created.

Inventory mechanics which I've previously mentioned in the context of combat additionally played a pivotal role and adds to lore and your role playing possibilities. Obtained world items may or may not have various uses, uses which are up to the player to trigger and initiate. New paths may be discovered or you may drastically change events.

Finally I would like to briefly mention character classes, character attributes, character leveling and party rejuvenation. Briefly because these mechanics are best discovered and have cautioned myself not to completely divulge to the detriment of my readers.

Based on the Numenera rule set leveling mechanics I found to be thoroughly unique. Your PC's class can be determined in the beginning. Character attributes are determined by various attribute pools affected when your character levels. Character levels are denoted by tiers. Within each tier you have five choices and each choice may only be utilized once per tier. Upon utilizing all five gets you to the next tier. Tiers are not just representations of leveling abstracts but play an existential function inherent in the game's systems. Finally the world continues and quests may be lost even as you sleep though rejuvenation is possible during various situations and conditions.

Able to distinguish itself while introducing new *tides*, Planescape: Tides of Numenera represents distinctive and enveloping story filled narratives immersed in a science fiction fantasy charmed filled construct ready to be traversed by the next beckoning adventurer. Like P:T, ToN deserves a second play through.

Walking blind into the thought piercing sand granules of Spec Ops The Line, not knowing or understanding what lies in wait, is akin to drawing near the railing on the roof of the Burj Khalifa and looking out into a haze expecting to clearly see the now obscured majestic definitions of the Dubai landscape below. Perhaps intentional design, perhaps not and most likely subject to the perceptive cognisance of those lost in the immersive sea of Dubai's blood stained sand.

For when the credits roll and you ponder the rich story inspired* by Joseph Conrad's novella Heart of Darkness and influenced by Francis Ford Coppola's iconic Apocalypse Now, Spec Ops The Line is elevated past common war time yarns denoted by the computer game genre.

Where the repetitive Gears of War, run, cover and shoot mechanics overrun, thankfully the avant-garde psychical linear narrative blisters continuously, frequently exposing enough underlying ethical wounds to metamorphosize the title from combat to psychological horror.

Endowed with multiple endings, I researched for a definitive authoritative source that would define which ending is lore and which ending was designed to be deceptively tangential, thus further encapsulating this deep and vividly imaginative work.

Special mention for the soundtrack and the inclusion of Deep Purple and Jimi Hendrix. Highly recommended and an additional play-through from an alternative perspective encouraged.

+ Reshade + SweetFX for post processing effects.
+ Flawless Widescreen for FOV control.