is Planescape: Torment a depressing game?

aex · July 2016

alright, this will be a weird one, but i really need to ask, i'm new to crpg, and i'm enjoying baldur's gate 1 way more than i though i would, after searching more about the gems of the genre i was intrigued by planescape: torment, thing is, it seems depressing, and i kinda have an issue here, with good stories i usually get so sucked in, with good depressing story i got depressingly sucked in
so the questions is:
is Planescape: Torment a depressing game? if i have a history with depression could this trigger it back?

i immensely like a philosophical, thought provoking stories, i played SOMA a week or so ago and i'm still in awe

so what do you think? yay or nay?

thanks and sorry if posted on the wrong forum

Fardragon · July 2016

I wouldn't call it depressing, no.

KampfKaninchen · July 2016

Nay.

PS:T is indeed quite philosophical and thought provoking in a lot of directions, but it is certainly not one bit more depressing than just living in this world, watching/reading the so called news, listening to your neighbours or politicians, browsing the internet or simply looking in the mirror.

On the contrary, I think this game is a source of huge relief and I would advise anybody, especially those who suffer(ed) from depression to give it a try. IMHO it is the best game ever made.

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Dee · July 2016

I've always thought it was more macabre and melancholy than depressing. Any game that offers insights into characters with deep histories is going to venture into that sort of territory; it depends on how open your feels are at that particular moment (I cried when Cait Sith didn't even really die in Final Fantasy VII).

I would say it's not likely to trigger a bout of depression, but like any deeply story-driven game, if it resonates with you you're probably going to feel something.

dunbar · July 2016

BG was the first crpg I ever played, quickly followed by PS:T when it first came out. PS:T is a completely different sort of game in that (as I see it) you don't play it to 'win' or to 'beat it', you play it to experience it - so it is thought provoking.

brus · July 2016

PS:T does have grotesque feel in area design and in narration but none of that will make you depressed.
On the contrary, you'll just dive in the story with some battles to fight.

lunar · July 2016

There are some macabre elements, like the starting area is a mortuary, filled with the dead and the undead, and you won't ever find conventional rpg items. No sword, but you can use body parts and scalpels around as weapons. No healing potion, but embalming liquid works nearly the same on you. etc. But these elements are never truly depressing, much like a bit weird like the Addam's family's schtick. Your first companion, Morte, whose name literally means death, is a flying skull but he is a funny and lively chap! I daresay he is more full of life than some bg2 npcs like Valygar or Cernd. Unless you have an obsession and anxiety about death and the dead, you should be okay.

I could not finish the game, however, so I can not comment on the story everyone says is top notch. And I don't plan to, because gameplay does not entertain me like the bg series does. This has nothing to do with the macabre and weird setting, though. I just ind the combats a chore. Dialogue, exploration, and role playing are all top notch, especially if you like deep conversations, interesting locations and characters, and huge walls of texts with detailed writing.

ajwz · July 2016

Yes, as people above have said, it has a more melancholy feel rather than depressing.
Interestingly, the original 15 factions in the planescape setting are based off of real life philosphical schools of thought

Athar -> Atheist
Bleakers ->Nihilist/Existentialist
Dustmen ->Acosmism mixed with Stoicism
The Fated ->Social Darwinism
The Governors ->Sophists
Free League ->Libertarianism
Harmonium ->Authoritarian/Fundamentalism
Anarchs -> Anarchy
The Signers -> Solipsism
Sensates ->Hedonism/Empiricism
Ciphers ->Buddhism/Taoism
Chaosmen ->Cynicism (in the classical greek sense)
Godsmen ->Nietzsche-esque teachings
Mercykillers ->Retributive/Social Contract
Doomguard ->Fatalism

aex · July 2016

thanks a lot guys, you were very helpful, i'm even more excited to play it now

Cahir · July 2016

Probably won't change your feelings towards the game a bit, but I finished PST more times than BG2 despite the fact, that there is so very few mods out there. The game is that good on its own. Battles are indeed bleak and uninteresting, but the story is the most entertaining piece of writing I've ever encountered in a crpg.

fkirenicus · July 2016

On the contrary - once you've finished it, you'll probably end up pondering the central question yourself.
PS:T is up to this date the best cprg I've ever played, probably with NWN2: Mask of the Betrayer in second place.

ReadingRambo · July 2016

It can be depressing if you hate updating your journal. If you like updating your journal, like me, you will love the game.

chimeric · July 2016

Boring, cruel, talentless things are depressing. Inspired art like PST is a breath of freedom, a call to friendship and a reminder of hope.

Rawgrim · July 2016

It is...a philosophical story with a melancholic tone. Does that sound right?

megamike15 · July 2016

it's more dark and moody like everything else chris wrote [ kotor 2, motb, etc]

TheArtisan · July 2016

If you at any point feel depressed while playing PS:T, just try giving Morte a weapon. Never fails to make me chuckle. Hell, just Morte in general. Keep him around and levity is ensured.