Nintendo Power kicks old-school hardcore gamers in the face by giving Baroque a 3!!!
Some of us know this game will be awesome and could care less about the review scores! This thread is for those of us who will be dungeon-crawing old-style in the warped tower of Neuro!!!
You can see nice video-clips of the various characters and enemies on the developer's web-site. Just click on the portraits and watch the videos for each character/enemy.
http://www.sting.co.jp/baroque/wii/chara/index.htm
Atlus Baroque site...
http://www.atlus.com/baroque/
Story
The cataclysmic "Blaze" devastates the world, distorting both the world and the laws of nature. Twisted Meta-Beings now wander a barren and warped planet, and the state of the world grows worse with each passing moment.
In order to survive in this world, people cling to their delusions, called "Baroques", and become warped by their own ideas.
Sometime in the future, the protagonist awakens, having lost his memory.
A red-pupiled man with large wings gives him the following instructions:
"You'll atone for your sin only by going to the bottom of the Neuro tower and healing the world."
And so he roams, carrying nothing but guild for a sin he doesn't remember committing. He heads to the Neuro Tower to save himself...and the world.
An Ever Changing Dungeon
The Neuro Tower, like the rest of the world, is constantly distorting. Room structures, pathways, and item locations will be different every time the protagonist enters, affecting the player's strategy.
A World Affected by "Death" and "Reincarnation"
Baroque is very dependent on the player's actions and interpretations of the information revealed. You can leave in the middle of the conversations with characters if you wish, but you may miss out on important dialogue that enables you to piece together the whole story. Even the player's "death" will affect the world. In Baroque, the protagonist's death does not mean that the player's game is over. Discoveries and progress will be made through repetitions of "death" and "revival."
Combat Strategy with Equipped Items
There are various types of items to be found in the Neuro Tower. By choosing your equipment effectively, the protagonist can become formidable in battle. "Weapons" differ not only in strength but in attack speed, range, and accuracy. It will be important to select the items and equipment that are most effective as the situations in combat change.
Item Fusion
The Cursebringer Angel, a character encountered randomly in the Neuro Tower, has the ability to fuse items together. You may obtain useful and mysterious items by throwing unwanted items to the Cursebringer Angel. You can also use the Cursebringer Angel to exchange rotten flesh and hearts for fresh ones.
Item Collecting & Upgrades
Items found during the trip through the Neuro Tower will disappear upon reaching the bottom, or if the protagonist dies. However, by using Conciousness Orbs located in the Neuro Tower, the player can send items to the Outer World to be used in subsequent adventures. Mastering this concept allows the player to keep upgrading the equipment.
Plentiful Options
There are plenty of optional settings, such as "Game Configurations, " "Scene List," "Item List," "Event List" and "Sound Test," once the game is finished. "Baroque List" was also added in this remake.
Other facts about Wii version
- 16:9 widescreen support
- Progressive scan support
- "Subtle" motion control integration for power attacks
- "Intuitive" controls using Wii Remote and nunchuk
- Classic Controller support for traditional play
Items/weapons
Angelic Rifle - A uniquely shaped rifle that can annihilate any meta-being with one shot. However, its specialized ammunition is very limited.
Sword - A melee weapon to attack the enemy. There are swords that will possess enhanced attributes and added effects.
Coat - Protective gear to resist attacks. There are some coats that will have other effects besides just raising defense.
Torturer - Item that causes a variety of area effects depending on the type of Torturer. They can be combined with others to enhance their effects.
Parasite - It can grant a variety of effects by fusing it with the protagonist or equipment. You can also fuse a parasite with another parasite.
Wings - Imitation wings that provide the protagonist with special abilities
Flesh - Eat this to restore HP. Rotten flesh will cause stomachaches.
Heart - Eat this to restore VT. Rotten hearts will cause stomachaches.
Bone - Bite on it to restore HP or VT or throw it at the enemy to deal damage. Because they are small in size, the protagonist can hold quite a few of these
Fluid - Liquid that gives an instantaneous effect by injecting it into the protagonist. Most of them can heal status ailments and raise stats.
Box - An item is usually in the box and it can be obtained by opening it successfully. If the box explodes while opening it, the item is destroyed and you will take damage.
Brand - Special statuses can be obtained by using brands. It cannot be removed unless an Unbrand Brand is used.
Disk - Item that activates by stepping on it. It can be set anywhere. The effect varies depending on if it is placed face up or face down.
Idea Sephirah - The purified, crystallized form of one's true self. Information about the being prior to its crystallization can be gleaned if the crystal is formed from a living specimen
Baroque is set in a near future in which the world has been destroyed by a cataclysmic "Blaze" that has shifted the laws of nature and given rise to twisted "Meta-Beings." In order to stay sane, the population clings to delusions, called Baroques.
IGN screenies...
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