The Mysteries of Baroque
- September 20, 2018
- Choice of Games
Get on SteamIn "The Mysteries of Baroque," a Gothic horror text-based game, you play as an undead protagonist brought back to life by a mad scientist. With eldritch powers at your disposal, you must hunt down your killers and protect those you love in the dark and eerie city of Baroque before your resurrection wears off. Your choices will determine your path to justice, vengeance, love, or secrets as you explore the city's gritty underbelly and opulent mansions.
Reviews
- The world-building is phenomenal, blending gothic horror, steampunk, and Lovecraftian elements into a cohesive and immersive setting.
- The writing is creative and engaging, with a well-paced narrative that keeps players interested throughout the game.
- There are many branching paths and choices that enhance replayability, allowing players to explore different outcomes and experiences.
- Character development is lacking, making it difficult for players to form connections with the NPCs and fully engage with their stories.
- The gameplay can feel restrictive, as players are often pigeonholed into specific paths and may not experience the full breadth of the story.
- The ending feels rushed and unsatisfying, leaving players wanting more closure and resolution to the narrative.
- story24 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The story is engaging and creative, drawing inspiration from classic horror tropes, but suffers from pacing issues and a lack of character development, making it difficult for players to form connections with the characters. While the world-building is praised and the narrative offers multiple branches, the writing can feel rushed and flat, leading to a somewhat unsatisfying conclusion. Overall, it presents an interesting concept with potential, but falls short in execution, particularly for those seeking a character-driven experience.
“For such a short story - because it isn't overly long - the world-building was phenomenal.”
“All in all, I liked the story for what it was, and what became a rather obvious rip-off of Frankenstein's monster's story quickly took a life of its own and had a much bigger story to tell.”
“Personally, the city 'Baroque' and the mention of the labyrinth reminded me a lot of Sigil, the city from the RPG game Planescape: Torment. There are two factions you could join, different cults you could learn about, and a lot of secrets to discover by choosing different routes in the story.”
“By the end of the game, the narrative derailed a bit, and I wasn’t pleased with how the story ended, not in either of my two playthroughs.”
“I liked the concept and the different branches, but a lot of the story feels more like exposition and it’s really hard to bond with the characters as we hardly spend time with them.”
“If you’re looking for a character-driven story that allows you to bond with said characters—which is what I'm personally into—you won’t get much here.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
While the game offers a decent level of replayability by encouraging players to pursue different goals in each playthrough, some users feel constrained by a linear path that limits the overall experience, making it seem like players are missing out on a fuller narrative.
“The game offers a lot of replayability, allowing players to explore different paths and outcomes with each playthrough.”
“Each decision you make leads to unique endings, which encourages you to replay the game multiple times to see all the possibilities.”
“While you may feel guided towards a specific path, the variety of choices and endings provides a satisfying reason to replay the game.”
- gameplay1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -300 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received criticism primarily due to mechanical issues, indicating that players find fault with the underlying mechanics rather than the overall design or concept of the game.
“The gameplay mechanics are incredibly smooth and intuitive, making it easy to pick up and play.”
“I love how the game balances challenge and fun, keeping me engaged without feeling frustrated.”
“The variety of gameplay options allows for a unique experience every time I play.”
“All of my complaints stem from things solely mechanical.”
