What Is Baku?

Baku - according to Japanese myth, is a creature the feeds on bad dreams and converts them to good luck. In Atlus' game, Dual Hearts, you take the role of a young treasure hunter named Rumble who has come to Sonno Island seeking the legendary Dream Stone. Since the stone cannot be obtained through normal means, Rumble must team with Tumble (a baku) in order to enter the Dreamworld. But Tumble has an agenda of his own, to find the missing keys to help unlock the temple seal.

Dual Hearts was one of the hidden jewels of the Atlus booth. When I first entered the booth, the art style of the ad immediately drew me to it, yet I couldn't seem to find the game anywhere until I saw it quietly nestled in the corner of the room. From the moment I picked up the controller, this game sucked me into it - I even managed to attract a little crowd of on-lookers.

Rumble is armed with two weapons, both of which are customizable. By collecting and combining different items, players will be able to build weapons to fit both their playing style and situation. For example, if Rumble uses the Draw Card to absorb fire, he can combine it with another weapon to create a fire sword or shoot fire arrows. Also, by wielding two weapons at once, he can unleash combo attacks for added damage. Rumble can also team up with Tumble to overcome enemies or help solve puzzles.