Atlus/Sting RPG - Baroque - Best Roguelike on Wii!

[Lan_Zer0]

The PS2 remake of the Saturn original is coming to the US for both PS2 and Wii...

http://www.atlus.com/baroque/
http://i29.tinypic.com/358as0j.jpg



EDIT:
Preview from Siliconera

http://www.siliconera.com/2008/01/16/entering-the-twisted-dungeons-of-baroque/

http://www.siliconera.com/2008/02/18/beating-the-neuro-tower-in-baroque/#more-10157


4/10

Even more from Siliconera
http://www.siliconera.com/2008/04/08/baroque-playtest-for-wii/

[Dead of Knight]

I looked up the reviews for the original Saturn version and it sounds very cool. I plan on getting it. Only $40? Even better.

[Dr Mario Kart]

I was doing a check on what some of my favorite developers were doing a few days ago, and I had considered going to the Atlus forums to make a thread about having them consider localizing Baroque. How convenient.

February is crowded as far as game releases go. Smash, No More Heroes, Dragon Quest: Swords.

I hope they delay it.

[The Crotch]

Curious, curious. I shall keep an eye on this one.

[Masterkyo]

I can't wait to play this game. Hope the Wii version is SUPERIOR control compare to PS2 version :)

[io]

Any RPGs are welcome, particularly Atlus ones!

[hero101]

Finally an Atlus game for the Wii besides being a doctor.

[Zen Davis]

Wow. A Saturn port. They're really going back now.

[62t]

i hope they will allow you to use wavebird and classic controller.

[pete5883]

Dungeon hack? No thanks. The story and setting look interesting, but the genre seems more occupied with scaring and punishing the player than being fun and rewarding.

[Foladar]

Any RPGs are welcome, particularly Atlus ones!
Agreed. Definitely looks interesting, I'll keep my eye on it .. can't have enough RPG.

[62t]

Any RPGs are welcome, particularly Atlus ones!
Atlus is only doing the localization. Sting is the one that made the game.

[Lan_Zer0]

Wide screen and first-person mode with motion control confirmed.

Some new widescreen shots of the Wii version.
http://www.dengekionline.com/data/news/2007/12/21/636e7e678c794b9c5e0d715a03153980.html


Particularly interested in first-person mode, it seems to fit the atmosphere a bit better. Hopefully it controls well.

[Sarang01]

Shit until I saw the screenshots posted I thought this was the shmup on the PC.

[Lan_Zer0]

That and Baroque typing would be neat unlockabales.

http://hg101.classicgaming.gamespy.com/sting/sting2.htm

[Vinny]

Looks interesting... like every game Atlus releases.

[Dead of Knight]

I'm glad they added a 3rd person view to the remake. I fucking hate first person and probably wouldn't even consider the game if it was first person only.

[mykevermin]

This may appeal to only one or two people, but the Japanese PSN store added the PSX version of Baroque yesterday. It's available for 600 Yen.

[Ice2Dragon]

01/04/08?

LINING UP AT BEST BUY WOOT :)

or is that the pre order date you can start pre ordering it.. damnit im confuzzled

[Dead of Knight]

Day you can start preordering it.

[botticus]

Strangely bumped back to 3/18 (following Brawl? :lol:), but confirmation of widescreen and 480p is great. Classic controller usable, as well.

http://gonintendo.com/?p=33587

[Dr Mario Kart]

Before it was on the exact same day as Dragon Quest Swords.

[InnocentSinner]

Love the character designs :D

[vherub]

looking forward to this

[bmulligan]

This game got a typical, not-very-informative blip in Nintendo Power this month with a few screen shots.

I'm really hoping it's a real time, action RPG like Return to Arms and not turn based. I've been waiting or a dungeon crawling hack and slash for a while and this could fill my need.

[hero101]

I'm still wondering if this game is any good. This is coming out for the ps2 and the wii too. I hope it dosn't suck.

[Lan_Zer0]

Preview from Siliconera

http://www.siliconera.com/2008/01/16/entering-the-twisted-dungeons-of-baroque/

http://www.siliconera.com/2008/02/18/beating-the-neuro-tower-in-baroque/#more-10157

[eau]

I'm debating between the PS2 and Wii versions. Any insight?

[InuFaye]

Wii version.

480p and 16x9.

[natureboy46]

I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for this one. Just the sort of game the Wii needs.

[LordGek]

Now bumped to April 8th (in the US).

While Atlus never came out and made an announcement of this second delay the release date on their site has been modified as well as the listing at places like EBGames and Gamecrazy.

[lbradeen]

From the Nintendo Power review and here:
http://www.atlus.com/new_forum/viewtopic.php?p=17983#17983

You may not have heard of it until now, but the Baroque series has been around for almost a decade in Japan. And while we usually envy Japanese gamers for getting games we don’t, in this case we would have been better off without it. You spend the majority of your time wandering through dungeons and fighting monsters in real time.

As in most dungeon-crawlers, Baroque’s combat is slowed down to the point that it almost feels turn-based, and it quickly grows boring. As you progress, you gain experience and collect items as you might expect, but when you die (a key gameplay element), you lose everything and have to start from square one.

On top of the boring gameplay, Baroque just throws you into the action from the get-go, with no explanation of what is going on or who you are. (The main character, conveniently, has amnesia.) When you die and are reincarnated, more of the story is explained, but it’s in little bits and pieces, and you’ll often find yourself wondering what to do and where to go next.

The rest of Baroque is underwhelming as well. The graphics are average, and the dungeons are drab and unimpressive. The localization— from lines that are completely nonsensical to the character who cheerfully adds “goddammit” to every sentence—is laughably bad, and doesn’t make the story any easier to comprehend. All in all, Baroque has few redeeming qualities, and your money is better spent elsewhere. —Tom H.
Final Score: 3/10

[Sir_Fragalot]

From the Nintendo Power review and here:
http://www.atlus.com/new_forum/viewtopic.php?p=17983#17983

You may not have heard of it until now, but the Baroque series has been around for almost a decade in Japan. And while we usually envy Japanese gamers for getting games we don’t, in this case we would have been better off without it. You spend the majority of your time wandering through dungeons and fighting monsters in real time.

As in most dungeon-crawlers, Baroque’s combat is slowed down to the point that it almost feels turn-based, and it quickly grows boring. As you progress, you gain experience and collect items as you might expect, but when you die (a key gameplay element), you lose everything and have to start from square one.

On top of the boring gameplay, Baroque just throws you into the action from the get-go, with no explanation of what is going on or who you are. (The main character, conveniently, has amnesia.) When you die and are reincarnated, more of the story is explained, but it’s in little bits and pieces, and you’ll often find yourself wondering what to do and where to go next.

The rest of Baroque is underwhelming as well. The graphics are average, and the dungeons are drab and unimpressive. The localization— from lines that are completely nonsensical to the character who cheerfully adds “goddammit” to every sentence—is laughably bad, and doesn’t make the story any easier to comprehend. All in all, Baroque has few redeeming qualities, and your money is better spent elsewhere. —Tom H.
Final Score: 3/10

I read that and the atlus thread. It seems like he didn't like dungeon crawlers and well he gave a low score because of it. Either way I am not worried about this review because this game does look very promising to me. If it comes out on april 8th and avaiable on that day I may just pick it up for the hell of it since I may be heading to a gamestop with some friends I do my podcast with, lol.

[meerkatgamer]

I don't really read into reviews that much so I'll get this game anyways it seems decent enough to give it a playthrough.

The game is pretty interesting I think the dungeon areas are like Izuna, PMD, and Shiren the wanderer where it's random and if you die you lose items right?

[Lan_Zer0]

It's out now. Good for those interested in roguelikes. I'm keeping my eye on it until I can snag it at a price that suits my cheapass ways.

New info from Siliconera
http://www.siliconera.com/2008/04/08/baroque-playtest-for-wii/

Thread on NeoGAF with impressions (mostly positive)
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=271940

[trq]

Interesting. I'm really torn between this and the Persona re-release for the PS2 in two weeks ...

[rodeojones903]

Interesting. I'm really torn between this and the Persona re-release for the PS2 in two weeks ...

If its either or you have to go with FES. I am going to give this a rent, and I am quite happy that the wii version supports 480P and widescreen.

[AvidWriter]

Yea I have my eye on Persona 3 FES too. I'll have to see how much they improve but since I don't have Persona 3 I guess anything is a plus.

I have no idea what Baroque is so I'm going to wait till I see some reviews.

[LordGek]

It is a real-time roguelike to be sure, freaky creatures almost all with some weird attacks, some pretty original items, and an over the top Gothy story.

While you do lose all experience and non stored items when you die:
1) The game moves quickly with even successful runs taking a little over an hour (well, maybe more, it depends on how deep the dungeon is at a given point in the game).
2) You can store a handful of items via Sensory Orbs (freaky orbs you find every couple of levels which you can toss ONE of your items into so that it will be held in storage for you back in town.
3) For the game being as "hardcore" on the surface as it appears, it has an incredibly abusable save system. The game NEVER auto-saves and you are free to simply load your last save when you die.

[phear3d]

played it last night.. save your money. if you really want to, rent it, but i also feel like they should be paying you to play this game.

[shieryda]

I saw a copy of this game on the counter at Gamestop last week, but keep forgetting to look up any reviews/screenshots.

[LordGek]

played it last night.. save your money. if you really want to, rent it, but i also feel like they should be paying you to play this game.

Fair enough, this seems to be a game folk love or hate. Just out of curiosity, phear3d, are you a fan of roguelikes in general?

[62t]

well the save system sounds 10 times better than izuna.

[pete5883]

Fair enough, this seems to be a game folk love or hate. Just out of curiosity, phear3d, are you a fan of roguelikes in general?
I think it's safe to say he is not.

[Masterkyo]

It'll drop down $10 someday at Target ;)

[tankexmortis]

I've been really wanting a console roguelike since I've been playing the crap out of the DS ones. How's the item variety? I didn't like Izuna much because so many of the items looked the same or did the same thing; although maybe I just wasn't getting far enough. And how does it compare to Shiren (Shiren being my idea of Japanese roguelike perfection)?

[LordGek]

I've been really wanting a console roguelike since I've been playing the crap out of the DS ones. How's the item variety? I didn't like Izuna much because so many of the items looked the same or did the same thing; although maybe I just wasn't getting far enough. And how does it compare to Shiren (Shiren being my idea of Japanese roguelike perfection)?

One sure thing about Baroque, even the HATERS can't fault it for item variety! Here is the breakdown of types:

-Swords (pretty much the only type of weapon in the game but they come in a zillion varieties with all sorts of effects).
-Coats (the game's armor, a decent variety and some are specialized for different elemental defenses).
-Wings (while they don't allow you to fly, they're pretty much the ring/amulet equivalent of this game, most commonly giving you various status ailment immunities).
-Flesh (just a few variations here, can heal HP or, if eaten when maxed, add HPs to the HP MAX value).
-Hearts (also only a few variations here, can heal VT or, if eaten when maxed, add VT to the VT <AX value).
-Bones (a huge variety of these items, they're extremely multi-faceted from status effect causing, explosives, to even being used to identify stuff).
-Torture Devices (big variety, usually used to damage all occupants in large area, if not the whole room).
-Parasites (a decent variety of freaky little creatures you can apply to yourself, weapon, or armor for various immunities or special powers).
-Fluids (a decent variety of items, usually used to cure status ailments but can even be used to enhance weapons and armor as well).
-Boxes (usually one item chests that have a chance of exploding and are usually dedicated to some specific type of item...so you may not know what type of sword is inside but you'll know there is a sword in there).
-Brands (a good variety of items used to grant the player nifty passive skills like the ability to auto-ID all items or even gain temporary invincibility at the start of each floor with the catch being that they're not easily changed once applied).
-Disks (a close equivalent to Shiren's traps with the twist that they all are two sided and will often have opposite effects based on which side you have up, like the Food Disk that will convert various edible items into random non-edibles, or if on the flip side, take random inedible items and turn them into food items).

So well over 300 different items in total! :whee:

[tankexmortis]

Sounds excellent. Do the items appear on the character model as well?

[meerkatgamer]

I've bought the game when it came out so far it's fun I get kinda mad when I die, but it's getting better and harder at times..

The only items that affect the characters looks is the cloats, wings, and weapons..

The runs through the tower can be fun getting different items one run I couldn't find a sword to use so I had to avoid the montsers..

The games not for everyone that's for sure it's a roguelike/mystery dungeon game whatever you like to call it I'd say rent it or wait for a drop I'm still glad I got it, but I just know it'll probably go down some, but so far only place I can find it is GS, but I haven't been to bestbuy in a while to check..

[Lan_Zer0]

Still debating on getting this game now with a giftcard or waiting for an inevitable price drop. A $30 DoTD would be perfect right now.

[LordGek]

Still debating on getting this game now with a giftcard or waiting for an inevitable price drop. A $30 DoTD would be perfect right now.

A tough call but I wonder if this will soon be hard to find since it is an Atlus game (so it is a limited run to begin with) and since it is getting SOOO universally panned (no matter how unfairly) I can't see any store bothering to restock it once it sells it's 2-3 copies.

[62t]

good luck for those waiting for a price drop. Izuna already goes for like $30 for a complete copy on ebay and that game is a lot less forgiving than Baroque

[untouchablemike]

I am a fan of Atlus games and roguelikes, but did not like this too much. =\

[Snake2715]

Now my question is this... why on Gamerankings is the PS2 version in the low 70% and the wii is unable to touch the 50% mark?

Is there a control issue?

[daschrier]

I think if you play with the Wiimote the game would suck. I've only used the classic controller which is just fine, so that could be the reason. Aside from that, the Wii version is better...480p, 16:9, etc.

[Lan_Zer0]

Now my question is this... why on Gamerankings is the PS2 version in the low 70% and the wii is unable to touch the 50% mark?

Is there a control issue?

Wii has more reviews than PS2. For a love/hate game, the Wii version just picked up a few more hates.

I think the main control differences is the camera control and shaking to do one of the attacks. Locking on does not recenter the camera, which is troublesome when you have to stretch up to the d-pad to manually move it.

[Baron O Hell]

I bought this game during the $17 sell. I did not care for it at first and won't recommend it now but I am really liking the game. Figuring out crap is kind of fun. I have no idea what is going on but I have a good guess. If you ever played the game Alice. I think something like that is going on.

Here is my tips that might help you like the game more.
1. Throw everything at everybody and see what happens.
2. If you see something strange try throwing everything at it.
3. Talk to everybody multiple times until they start to repeat
3. Sometimes the only way to go forward is to die
4. Sorting might give you more space by grouping stuff
5. Some items do different things depending on how they are used
6. Attack everyone at least once
7. Sometimes going back to a old save is better than dying.
8. Pay attention of what monsters are doing to you. Some steal, some poison, so do other strange stuff to you.
9. Think about ways to use items together or in combos. The result can be big. For example I found a combo that killed off all the monsters in one level. There is more than one way to do it.
10. Think about ways on how to use monsters to your benefit. For example making monsters hurt other monsters. Or making a monster do something to you that item you have will make you more powerful if the monster does it to you.
11. Review the data to help you with the story. Everything said or shown can be reviewed later.

[Halo05]

Dunno if it's mentioned anywhere else here but you can play the Wii version with the CC.

The game is really weird. I stopped playing for awhile but I'll pick it up again soon. I'm just dying to see how/if the mindfucking ends. That being said, the combat is a chore.