Tools for this page
Print

Baroque

(2008, Video Games - Role Playing Games, Rated T, Play it on: PlayStation 2, Nintendo Wii)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

    (Flash is loading. If this text does not disappear you need to install the latest flash version)

    Not age appropriate for kids under 11, age appropriate for kids over 12; suggested age 12.
  • Is it any good?

    2.0
  • Common Sense says

    A deep, dark RPG with technical and design issues.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 12 and Up

The good stuff

  • Educational value:

    The story is full of twists and turns. The puzzles are very tough, so those who love to use logic will keep playing.
  • Messages:

    The Protagonist, as he is called, is a good guy with flaws. He committed a huge sin, but he is willing atone for it. If he can get to the bottom of a large monster-filled tower, he can save himself and, perhaps, all humanity.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    There's light, fantasy violence and splashing of animated blood. Players will use guns and swords to kill monsters. You also consume the bones and hearts of monsters to give you health and abilities.
  • Sex:

    There's a moment or two of sexual innuendo, but nothing you wouldn't get on network TV around 9 p.m.
  • Language:

    Not an issue.
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    There's some discussion of the use of tobacco.
 

What Parents Need to Know

This review of Baroque was written by Harold Goldberg

Parents need to know that the game contains some fantasy violence with blood shown. Players will use guns and swords to kill monsters, and when the monsters are dead, they can consume the monsters' bones and hearts to gain health and ability boosts. This game offers a full, deep story and that there's a fair amount of reading involved. YouTube generation kids may be too impatient to read through the story and deal with the manual. Also, this is one of the more difficult role playing games ever put on the market. But if you and your child love the story, you'll delegate the time to figure out the puzzles.

Families Can Talk About

Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
  • Families can talk about this game's compelling, sometimes circuitous, story in which a horrible disaster, known as The Blaze, has made life terribly difficult. Does this dark theme make the game difficult to enjoy? You can also discuss the unique background artwork, which recalls many of the graphic novels on the market today. Did you find the puzzles to be maddeningly hard to figure out?
Did this review help you decide?
Do you play it? Review It!

More on Baroque

What’s the Story?

BAROQUE is Atlus' unfortunate remake of an old Sega Saturn role-playing game. The best part of this single player disk is the fantasy story that unfolds incrementally as you play. While the story and the writing are key components to video games, this tale (accompanied by stylized background graphics) is the best thing this sad offering has going for it. In Baroque, you'll be taken to a nightmarish world that's been devastated by an evil force called The Blaze. It's not only wreaked massive physical destruction; it's crushed the spirit of the populace as well. The only hope that these people have is their strange fantasies, also known as their baroques.

You'll play Baroque as you play most role-playing games – by collecting items to increase your health or to upgrade your weapons. Store as many as 20 of these collectibles to move from level to level as you play (that said, 20 goodies in your cache aren't enough: you really should be able to store twice that amount or more in your inventory). Close

Is It Any Good?

The problem is that you have to deal with lot of the characters to glean the true story, and that's fairly annoying since many of the characters are vague or secretive. You'll be hitting the manual or forums on the Web far too often to make this game worthwhile – unless you fall more on the hardcore side of gaming.

In the Wii version, the camera angles confuse and thwart your movement, and that's being kind. Although you'll swing the Wii remote to slash and cut as you fight, there's no way to block when your monstrous foes attack you. Faces don't really move when they speak, either. In other words, though Baroque has been remade, it hasn't been refined and updated properly. Atlus should have spent far more time to bring this game to the demanding specs of 2008. The upshot? It feels like an old game, albeit one with a compelling premise. Close

Publisher’s Details

Released on 04/08/2008, price $39.99, not online enabled
ESRB rating: T (for Animated Blood, Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Tobacco Reference)

Want more? Get Common Sense recommendations delivered to your inbox.

Our Members Say

Do you play it? Review It!

  • What did you think about Baroque?
  •  I think this game is

    for ages

  •  I also give it

  •  Any concerns?

  •  Any highlights?

  •  Love it? Hate it?

  • or to post a review

Most Recent Reviews

  1. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in Pennsylvania
    I rate this title iffy for age 16 and give it 4.0

    my rating:T-16+

    I have this game and it is neat but you need a walkthrough to know what to do. based on the difficulty and creepiness it is for older teens.

  2. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    Lives in Nevada
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 0.0

    not the best...

    I played this game and well its not the best. It's really boring and the language can be an issue. They don't say f--- but they do say g-dda---t ALOT!! If thats not an issue than nothing is.

More Great Stuff For Your Kids

  • Most Popular This Week

    New Moon Is Rising

    New Moon Is Rising

    Fans are gearing up for the 11/20 release.

  • Advice for Parents

    Are Your Kids Obsessed with Twilight & New Moon?

    Are Your Kids Obsessed with Twilight & New Moon?

    Discussion pointers for parents of "twilighters."

  • Must See TV

    Fanboy and Chum Chum

    Fanboy and Chum Chum

    Zany adventures are low on depth but high on imagination.

  • Pick of the Week

    Holiday Websites

    Holiday Websites

    Where to surf, turkey time and beyond.

  • Game of the Week

    Ni Hao, Kai-Lan: New Year's Celebration

    Ni Hao, Kai-Lan: New Year's Celebration

    Virtual Chinese New Year with perfectly designed games.

Give Us a Minute, Get a Lot of Common Sense!
  • Age-appropriate best bets for your kids
  • Weekly email alert with the latest picks, reviews & advice
  • Post your own reviews and share them with friends

This will never be displayed to others.
Your email will never be displayed to others.
Your password should be 6-10 characters long.
A screen name protects your privacy
To post a review or comment you must become a Common Sense Member. It's easy!

Set-up your account
This will never be displayed to others.
Your email will never be displayed to others.
Your password should be 6-10 characters long.

Choose a screen name
It will appear when you post your own reviews and recommendations.
A screen name protects your privacy

Tell us your children's ages
You'll see the movies, games, books, shows, music, and sites our editors select just for them. As your children get older, our picks will grow with them!Why we ask for this
We never display your children's names, (or nicknames) to anyone, but you. Providing your children's ages allows us to personalize information on our site, so you get better information, faster.
is
until
(optional)
is
until
is
until
is
until
is
until
is
until
Add another child

We can make Common Sense just right for you. With a little info about you and your family, you'll get the most out of our site.

Set-up your account
This will never be displayed to others.
Your email will never be displayed to others.
Your password should be 6-10 characters long.

Tell us your children's ages
You'll see the movies, games, books, shows, music, and sites our editors select just for them. As your children get older, our picks will grow with them!
Why we ask for this
We never display your children's names, (or nicknames) to anyone, but you. Providing your children's ages allows us to personalize information on our site, so you get better information, faster.
is
until
is
until
is
until
is
until
is
until
is
until
Add another child

Choose a screen name
It will appear when you post your own reviews and recommendations
A screen name protects your privacy
Register to add this school to your profile. You'll be able to see and share reviews from parents, teachers, and kids at your child's school.
I'm already a Common Sense member.
Kids under 13 must use a screen name