Baroque - macabre rpg for the Wii.

January 18, 2008 - Baroque, a role-playing game on the way for the Wii and PlayStation 2 from Japanese developer Sting, has been pushed back a month, according to the game's publisher, Atlus.

Here's what Atlus had to say when they announced the game back in December:



"You awaken to find the world in ruin, your heart beset with unexplained guilt. A cataclysm has destroyed the cities and empires of men and disfigured the spirit of humanity. In this nightmare, it falls to you to descend a mysterious tower in search of absolution. Battle merciless foes through treacherous dungeons, scour for new items to aid you in your travels, and unlock the secrets of a devastated land. You will find death in the depths, yet learn that death is not the end of the story; in the twisted world of Baroque, it is only the beginning."

Dark stuff, that.

Atlus has also released new details about the Wii version of Baroque:

- 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

Here are some of the items and weapons that will be available in the game, with descriptions by Atlus, followed by our thoughts in italics:

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.

Crystallized selves, weaponized bones, torture devices and rotten flesh? Count us in.

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In most videogames, the largest objective is to stay alive through waves of enemies, boss battles and other hazards of play. Of course, that means successfully destroying these threats while healing yourself with potions, med kits and other items to prevent expiring from incoming blows. But what if you needed to die to uncover the game's story or even discover the story itself? Atlus and Sting will explore this concept in their upcoming RPG, Baroque. We had a little time to explore the earliest sections of the game for a couple of quick impressions on the title. Ready to taste a little bit of the afterlife?

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Interestingly, the Neuro Tower, much like the rest of the world, is constantly affected by the changes that occur within the game. As a result, each time that a player enters the tower, they find completely new level layouts, item placements and enemies scattered throughout each stage. Fortunately, the character has a couple of ways to attack the Meta-Beings that attempt to kill him. He can perform either normal or special attacks against a creature, which varies based upon the weapon that is being held by the character. However, holding onto items isn't entirely necessary, because you can take any piece of gear that you acquire and throw it at enemies, damaging them if your aim is good. Defeating monsters leaves behind a rather interesting prize: the Meta-Being's heart, which can be consumed for Vitality Points.

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Vitality Points are somewhat different than Health in Baroque, primarily because of the effects it bestows upon your character. As long as your character has Vitality Points, his health will regenerate and he'll be able to continually explore his surroundings. There are two caveats, however: your Vitality Points are constantly counting down, and any attack will drop both your Health and Vitality. Once your Vitality reaches zero, your health immediately starts dropping precipitously, and if it reaches zero as well, you die. However, this isn't as bad of a situation as you'd initially think, because unlike other games, you don't receive a "Game Over" screen or find yourself having to expend a life that you've collected over the course of the game. Instead, you restart the game, and you'll find that many of the other characters you interact with along the way will have new dialogue or commentary based on your progress in your previous life. This reincarnation appears to have a significant adjustment on your exploration of the Baroque world, because some areas will be restricted to you until you die or accomplish certain tasks before expiring.

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Strubes said:

Maybe they'll upgrade them before the game comes out. One can only hope. But not just that, the characters didn't look too unique. :-\

The enemies looked kinda cool though. I'm still keeping my eye on this because I want a good RPG on the Wii.

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Strubes said:

Like...a Dragon Quest game for the Wii other than DQ Swords?

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An Epic Unfolds
Next month's cover story is an RPG so fantastic, so engrossing, so epic, and so hush-hush that we'd have to erase your memories if we told you what it is. In fact, maybe we already did. Role-playing fans, get ready for a big one.

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Fugal Fantasy
Sins, redemption, distorted realities, and life after video game death make Atlus's Baroque a Wii adventure for hardcore fantasy role-players.

Already well received in Japan, dark dungeon crawler Baroque is set to arrive in North America in February. You don the cloak of an unnamed, amnesia-stricken fighter who the Archangel tasks with the job of atoning for the world's sins. You'll accomplish your goals by facing and purifying metabeings in the depths of the mystical Neuro Tower. Though the battles are action-oriented, the game's heavy themes and thorough character customization target players who are accustomed to delving into deep, thought-provoking RPGs. As you explore the tower's floors (which evolve on repeat visits), you accumulate weapons, armor, and stat-enhancing parasites. When your character is defeated, the game continues, with his death creating a new wrinkle in the story. A cataclysmic event, fake angels, distorted enemies, and the dealings of a shady religious organization make the adventure much more than a standard save-the-princess affair.

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