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The Bard's Tale

The Bard's Tale

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Released

Release Date: October 19, 2004

RPG, Fantasy, Hack'and'slash, Isometric View, Humorous, Action RPG, Singleplayer

Action RPG set in fantasy reality, referring to the cult series of the same name, published in 1985-88. The game was created by inXile studio, founded by the creator of the original Brian Fargo, and the title itself is a kind of remake, combining elements of the classic trilogy with the mechanics and setting of modern RPG productions.

7.5

Steam

7.2

Users

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Ratings
[3:02] mobile version trailer Videos: 2
Screenshot Images: 46
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The Bard’s Tale is the direct continuation of the series that started with the release of The Bard's Tale: Tales of the Unknown in 1985. It is not a sequel to any of the previous three games in the series, though. Brian Fargo, one of the “fathers” of this series, decided to create something completely fresh and new. The Bard’s Tale, apart from its title, does not have much in common with its predecessors (games from the late 80s and early 90s, released on Amiga, Commodre 64, Apple II, and DOS systems). Of course, it doesn’t mean that the fans of the series won’t find anything interesting in this production, for the game combines the best elements of the previous installments, as well as those from contemporary RPGs.

The Bard’s Tale starts not far from the town of Skara Brae, well-known to all fans of the series, and tells a bizarre tale of the eponymous bard. What’s curious, the protagonist is not a typical savior of the world with an immaculate reputation. Far from it, the hero cares about his purse the most. Contrary to the previous installments in the series, the bard’s songs are used mostly for summoning ally units. We start with only one song that summons a rat, and with time we learn new ones that summon much more powerful creatures. The Bard’s Tale is powered by an enhanced version of the Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance’s engine. The very same build is used in Everquest: Champions of Norrath.

  • Complex, non-linear story created by professionals (dialogue script takes about 700 pages!).
  • Lots of humor.
  • Narrator that uncovers the secrets of the game world (activated once you reach designated locations).
  • Arcade combat based on the solutions known from Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance.
  • About 30 hours of gameplay.
  • 14 different regions unlocked with the player’s progress.

Platforms:

PC Windows

PC Windows June 16, 2005

PlayStation 2

PlayStation 2 October 19, 2004

Xbox

Xbox October 19, 2004

Android

Android September 20, 2012

Apple iOS

Apple iOS December 1, 2011

Developer: inXile entertainment

Publisher: Ubisoft

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Game Series

The Bard's Tale
The Bard's Tale
The Bard's Tale

8GAMES

The Bard's Tale Game Series

The Bard's Tale Game Series

Features

Downloads

Top downloads for The Bard's Tale Video Game:

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System Requirements

System Requirements for The Bard's Tale Video Game:

PC Windows

PC / Windows

Recommended System Requirements:
Pentium III 900 MHz, 256 MB RAM, graphic card 64 MB (GeForce FX or better), 4 GB HDD.

Ratings

Game Ratings for The Bard's Tale Video Game.

75%

STEAM Score

All Reviews: Mostly Positive (1,389)

STEAM
User Reviews Summary generated by AI

The main pros of the game

  • Humor and Writing: The game is praised for its witty dialogue, clever writing, and strong comedic elements, particularly the banter between the Bard and the narrator. Many players found the humor to be genuinely funny and enjoyable.
  • Voice Acting: The voice performances, especially by Cary Elwes as the Bard and Tony Jay as the narrator, received high acclaim for their quality and delivery.
  • Nostalgia: For players familiar with the original series, the remastered version evokes a sense of nostalgia while introducing new players to the franchise.
  • Engaging Storytelling: The narrative is noted for its satire and tongue-in-cheek style, providing a unique twist on traditional RPG tropes.

The main cons of the game

  • Repetitive Gameplay: Many users highlighted the combat and gameplay mechanics as monotonous, with repetitive enemy encounters and limited combat variety leading to a lack of engagement over time.
  • Technical Issues: Several reviews mentioned bugs, such as freezing during NPC interactions, unresponsive controls, and issues with the bow mechanic. These technical problems detracted from the overall experience.
  • Outdated Mechanics: Despite being a remaster, some players felt that the game's mechanics, menus, and overall interface showed their age and could benefit from modernization.

The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users

  • Depth in Combat: Users expressed a desire for more complex combat mechanics and enemy AI. The summoning system, while unique, was seen as lacking depth and effectiveness.
  • Variety in Enemies: Many players noted that enemy types and strategies were limited, leading to repetitive encounters that could feel tedious.
  • Quality of Life Improvements: Players mentioned the need for better camera controls, improved save systems, and overall quality of life enhancements to align with modern gaming standards.
  • More Music: Some reviews pointed out a strange lack of music overall, despite the game featuring songs, indicating that a richer soundtrack could enhance the experience.

Summary

  • Overall, while "The Bard's Tale ARPG: Remastered and Resnarkled" is celebrated for its humor, voice acting, and nostalgic value, it suffers from repetitive gameplay, technical issues, and a need for modern updates to appeal to a broader audience.

Summary generated on:

7.2

USERS Score

Average score from votes.

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