Baroque: A Bewildering and Brutal Journey through a Post-Apocalyptic Tower

TLDRBaroque is a first-person roguelike dungeon crawling action RPG. Players navigate through a post-apocalyptic tower, facing challenging enemies and making tough decisions. With punishing death mechanics and limited inventory space, every step forward is a risk. However, discovering new items, leveling up, and learning enemy patterns provide opportunities for success.

Key insights

🗡️Baroque challenges players with a complex and punishing gameplay loop, but rewards perseverance and strategic decision-making.

🔮The tower's procedurally generated floors provide a sense of unpredictability and replayability, making each run unique.

🧠Managing inventory, making use of status effects, and utilizing the throwing mechanic are key strategies for survival in Baroque.

💀Death is not the end in Baroque; each defeat offers the opportunity to learn from mistakes and improve for future runs.

🔑Exploring the tower and interacting with distorted NPCs uncovers bits of lore and provides a deeper understanding of the game's world.

Q&A

Is Baroque a difficult game?

Yes, Baroque is known for its challenging gameplay and punishing death mechanics. It requires careful decision-making and strategy to progress.

Are there multiple endings in Baroque?

Yes, Baroque features multiple endings based on the actions and choices made by the player throughout their playthrough.

Can items be carried over between runs?

Yes, players can throw items into 'sense spheres' to carry them over to future runs, providing opportunities for stronger starting equipment.

How long does it take to complete Baroque?

The length of a Baroque playthrough can vary depending on individual playstyles and familiarity with the game's mechanics, but it typically ranges from several hours to around 20 hours.

What platforms can you play Baroque on?

Baroque was originally released for Sega Saturn and PlayStation, with subsequent remakes for PlayStation 2 and Nintendo Wii. As of 2020, the original versions are exclusive to Japan.

Timestamped Summary

00:00Baroque is a first-person roguelike dungeon crawling action RPG set in a post-apocalyptic tower.

07:59The game begins with a cryptic cutscene and the player being tasked with shooting God.

17:18Players start each run at level 1, losing all progress upon death, but gaining knowledge of enemies and floors.

14:17Inventory management is crucial, with limited space and the need to make decisions on unidentified items.

09:53Exploring the tower, defeating enemies, and leveling up provide opportunities for progression.

16:51Death is punishing, but the tower offers opportunities for redemption in future runs.

08:07NPCs in the game's world provide lore and insight into the post-apocalyptic setting.

09:20Sense spheres allow players to carry items over to future runs, providing stronger starting equipment.