First new Torment RPG image

The world of Torment: Tides of Numenera is coming to life. inXile Entertainment today released the first screenshot for its upcoming isometric role-playing game. The image was created using a 2D pre-rendered background technique, the company said in a statement.

The image (at right) is set within the Bloom, described as a "vast, semi-sentient predator" and a "monstrous, organic creation." The Bloom features numerous pathways that harbor good and evil beings, inXile said.

In addition, inXile announced today that fantasy author Pat Rothfuss (The Kingkiller Chronicle trilogy) will join the development team, while Obsidian Entertainment creative director Chris Avellone will come aboard if Kickstarter funding hits $3.5 million.

Currently, the campaign has raised $3.26 million from nearly 60,000 backers with four days remaining.

Torment: Tides of Numenera--due out December 2014--is set in Monte Cook's tabletop role-playing world of Numenera, which itself was successfully funded through Kickstarter. It will have an isometric perspective and runs on the Unity game engine.

InXile was clear that Tides of Numenera is not a sequel to Planescape: Torment, but rather a "completely new game" that has been designed to provide the same experience and feeling as the original. The game asks players: What does one life matter?