Atmospheric and unforgiving dungeon crawler, precursor to modern rogue-likes. Permadeath and fragmented narrative create unique tension. Difficult and demanding but the apocalyptic atmosphere is unforgettable.
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Category
RPG1 player16+
Description
Procedurally generated action RPG set in a post-catastrophe world overrun by mutants. Published by Sting, released in Japan in 1998. Randomly generated dungeons in isometric view, a death and rebirth system that alters the story, dozens of items to collect, dark oppressive atmosphere, fragmented narrative to piece together.
Baroque review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
4/5
Music
★★★★★
"Excellent"
4/5
Story
★★★★★
"Captivating"
Sting builds a world of flesh and rust: organic walls that pulse, misshapen silhouettes whose outlines never quite resolve, a palette narrowed to sickly browns and muffled reds. The interface itself refuses to explain, items staying nameless until used, and that graphic opacity plays a full part in the intended unease.
The score abandons melody in favour of texture: continuous drones, pads slowly drifting out of tune, metallic noise woven into the sonic fabric. Nothing announces danger or rewards progress, so the music acts as an environment rather than a commentary, and makes each descent as gruelling as the one before.
The story is never handed over whole: the character descends, dies, comes back up with no memory, and each cycle yields only a fragment of what destroyed the world and of the guilt he carries. Reconstructing the tale requires accepting defeat, which makes death a narrative tool rather than a penalty, a radical choice of writing for the period.
Complete: box, manual and disc/cart very clean. Lightly handled.
Q1 damagedQ6 completeQ10 new
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Is Baroque still worth playing in 2026?
An action RPG from Sting, Baroque plunges the player into an oppressive post catastrophe world, descending procedurally generated dungeons full of mutants, in an unhealthy mood and a cryptic story doled out in fragments. The demanding roguelike concept, the disturbing art direction and the constant mystery make it a radical, bewitching experience, long cult in Japan. The difficulty and the opacity put off the impatient. For an atmospheric roguelike fan, someone curious about an offbeat RPG or a collector, the title keeps a fascinating singularity.
