The Bard's Tale Xbox
The Bard's Tale Image
Metascore
75 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 50 Critics What's this?

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  • Summary: The Bard's Tale is a modern interpretation of the original role-playing game of the same name. In this game, you'll take on the role of the Bard, a sardonic and opportunistic musician and adventurer. You can choose the Bard's responses toward other characters that he encounters with either "snarky" or nice dialogue. Each choice changes the course of events in the game. All the action takes place in medieval environments rife with townsfolk, birds, animals, rustling trees, and trickling water.… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 33 out of 50
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 50
  3. Negative: 1 out of 50
  1. Game Chronicles
    90
    It's not as epic as "KOTOR" and your karma-building decisions aren't as crucial to the gameplay, but this game packs in more humor and charm than anything I can remember.
  2. Australian GamePro
    85
    A solid RPG that doesn't take itself too seriously, but is still seriously entertaining.
  3. Electronic Gaming Monthly
    72
    Such humor made me stick with this tale, which otherwise suffers from mind-numbing hack-and-slash combat and dull dungeons--action-RPG cliches that are anything but funny. [Holiday 2004, p.102]
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  4. Game Revolution
    42
    Its sardonic take on typical conventions is thwarted by its own weak design, and its tongue-in-cheek humor fails more often than it succeeds. Laughter might well be the best medicine, but a bad joke is the worst ailment.

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 2
  3. Negative: 0 out of 2
  1. BlueFalcon
    8
    It's a hack and slasher with excellent humour. The hacking and slashing isn't super polished, but I found it much more entertaining than a lot of other games out there. I would recommend the game for sure.… Expand
  2. Rick
    7
    Having played through and conquered Bards Tale 1, 2, 3 on the Commodore 64 (yes...you should see the hand drawn maps I have in what were the nastiest dungeons ever created in a game) I was very excited about the possibilites of an updated version of these games (better graphics, different engine/interface etc). With the original creator Brian Fargo on board I was hoping for more story, better character development, differing quests. As a highpoint of the game I was enjoying the Bards ability to conjure a helper; elctricity spider, archer, warrior, knight and so on but there just weren't enough of these characters - maybe another 10 and ending up with a pet Dragon at the end? Also more variety of weapons and armour would have been nice. Enjoyable enough, with some humour, worth a rent. Worth a buy if you are an RPG fan.… Expand