PlayStation 2

Baroque

The game has its share of flaws and tedium, but I enjoyed it. The gameplay can be cheap, but it does have a good degree of challenge. Technical aspects are weak, but there is some style going for it. For a subgenre that tends to lack decent plot and character development, Baroque was quite good, especially the NPC dialogue. I do recommend giving this a shot at the very least, but it is not for everyone. Only those who truly appreciate rogue-like RPGs will be able to get the most enjoyment out of it. Baroque failed to leave a good first impression, and it will gladly punish the weak; but if a player is willing to invest some time in this game, the rewards may outweigh the flaws.

Baroque is obviously one of the most hardcore RPGs you're ver going to find, a real level-grinder. You can even play it first person, like the original. The ambient techno-rock soundtrack isn’t terribly remarkable, but the emo-goth art direction is fun. Completionists will be cheered by a Database to grind. It takes a certain type of person to plunge into a deep and randomly generated dungeon, but if you’re that type, Baroque is a very satisfying plunge.

Baroque is a hardcore dungeon crawler with a long history of US neglect. Originally released on the Sega Saturn in Japan roughly 10 years ago, it was remade on the PlayStation a year later, but neither version received a stateside release; it wasn't until it was remade yet again for the PlayStation 2 and Wii that it was finally brought over. Despite its apparent age, Baroque is a welcome breath of fresh air in a genre that has grown stagnant, and it brings a unique method of storytelling that, though flawed, will likely remain with you long after you have quit playing. That is, if you can find the patience to stick with it long enough.

Baroque is unique in concept but lacking in fun. The idea that you have to die in order to put the pieces of your life together is interesting and could work, but you still have to give the player a sense of direction and accomplishment. At the very least, running around the world and engaging in combat should be fun -- here, it isn't. There are plenty of people out there who don't know what to do with their own lives. I doubt very many of us want that lack of motivation recreated in our games. Unless you consider yourself a hardcore roguelike adventurer, Baroque will prove more convoluted than refreshing.

Baroque really isn’t worth the price of admission, and even though it’s somewhat ambitious and new, the whole production falls flat. It doesn’t work as an action game, it doesn’t work as an RPG, and despite having a few good ideas, it doesn’t deliver in any way, shape or form. Sorry, role-playing fans. You gotta pass on this one.

Despite all of its problems, there are still a few redeeming aspects that hardcore hack-and-slash RPG fans may appreciate. It's a really tough game with decent replay value, and while the controls are poorly done, there's no denying the potential that Baroque has. It's unfortunate that a game with this much promise turned out to be a rather poor title. Let's just hope that Atlus and Sting have learned something from this outing and produce a much better RPG sometime in the near future. Until then, though, most people are going to want to avoid Baroque.

"Baroque" é um RPG de ação bastante diferente do convencional. Tem boas intenções, claras em sua interessante mecânica de fazer com que o protagonista morra para conhecer seu passado e se aprofundar na história. Mas a repetição e a falta de profundidade do jogo acabam por matá-lo junto com seu herói.