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One man on his own. A poet and a rogue, with no friends to speak of, no one to mourn his passing shouuld it come to that. Even those beside hime are no more boon companions than bondservants, summoned by sorcery and song, as cold and indifferent to him as the light of a wanderin' star. Is a Dragon terrorising the locals? He'll take care of it for the right price. Local princess held captiver? The Bard is your man as long as she's hot. Forget the quest to save the world, our hero is interested in just two things...Coin and Cleavage. The Bard's Tale is a new generation action-RPG with wicket humour and stunning graphics. [inXile Entertainment]
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more... 90
Game Chronicles
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.
 87
Worth Playing
Some of the subject matter might be a little risqué for the younger audience, but for those who are of age, this title is a solid adventure with a great sense of humor.
87
Just RPG
The game is hilarious and even the cliché aspects are still fun. The Bard’s Tale is an addictive and enjoyable game that RPG fans would be wise to add to their Christmas list.
87
VGPub
The bard is such an unlikely hero (not to mention a total smartass) that just the thought of seeing what will happen to him next compels you to play.
85
Extreme Gamer
One of the best role playing experiences for the Xbox console in 2004.
85
BonusStage
The 30-40 hours you’ll get from this game are a just plain fun and singular experience that will hopefully see a follow up in the near future.
85
Australian GamePro
A solid RPG that doesn't take itself too seriously, but is still seriously entertaining.
83
GameZone
Okay, so maybe it’s not the best RPG of the year. But it brings a good laugh to anyone who plays it.
83
Game Informer
Though sub-par action and cheap deaths are endemic to the Bard's quest, this title made me feel like I was taking part in a real fantasy adventure teh way few others have over the years. [Dec 2004, p.167]
83
PGNx Media
The use of the Snowblind engine allowed it to effortlessly provide enjoyable hack-and-slash gameplay, while the dialogue and presentation provided the necessary charm to make The Bard’s Tale stand out.
82
Warcry
A puppy…that's right, you have a puppy that will follow you around. He is pretty good at getting his ass handed to him, but in time you will learn to love your puppy.
82
IGN
There is so much humor and such a great sense of wit, I highly recommend The Bard's Tale to anyone who has even the slightest sense of humor...With a more refined combat system -- preferably with more combos or at least less abusive AI -- the next Bard's Tale could become a true classic.
82
Gaming Nexus
They play upon an RPGers Pavlovian response toward barrel-bashing and rat-hunting, manifest one of the genre’s most unforgettable anti-heroes, dutifully employ intelligent scriptwriting, and make it all a very enjoyable chord.
81
TotalGames.net
A refreshingly original take on a notoriously starchy genre; tongue in cheek, sword in hand and pants around ankles. Hail to the king.
80
Xbox Nation Magazine
Its self-concious metacomedy helps elevate what is already a solid game into a sing-songily fine game. [Jan 2005, p.98]
80
Four Fat Chicks
While the repetitive combat and dated graphics keep me from awarding it the FFC Gold Star, I got a lot of mileage out of it on my own personal Fun-O-Meter.
80
GameBiz
While the melee fighting is undoubtedly excellent the magic element is the combats greatest strength.
80
GamingTrend
A genuinely hilarious spoof of a genre long overdue for it.
80
Armchair Empire
Has its rough edges but I probably spent more time than was necessary playing it because I was enjoying it!
80
GameShark
If the actual gameplay had shown more innovation and been as solid as the story script, this could have been a truly great game. As it is, it must settle for simply good.
80
GameSpy
A game that has a refreshing story, a wonderfully unique leading man, great voice acting, good graphics, good music, and a mediocre combat system.
80
My Gamer
One of the funniest and most entertaining games to have hit the market in quite a while. If you like Monty Python, if you just love to laugh, or if you follow role-playing games in general, then you should definitely take a look.
80
Game Over Online
RPG fans that are interested in a good laugh at their favorite genre’s expense will probably dig this title, flaws and all.
79
Gamers' Temple
The Bard's Tale is the (Monty Python's) Holy Grail of action-RPGs.
78
Xbox World Australia
Makes up for the lack of personality in titles like "Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance" and "D&D Heroes" by having enough for the three of them, resulting in quite possibly the most amusing game on the Xbox to date.
77
Official Xbox Magazine
Though no aspect of it truly screams triple-A, the entire effort is one that patient players who can endure the early hours will surely enjoy. [Holiday 2004, p.84]
77
DailyGame
Like a really good comedy film, probably best suited as a rental.
77
Team Xbox
A sluggish and repetitive combat system and overly simplistic RPG elements leave The Bard’s Tale wondering exactly what type of game it is. It does have plenty of hilarious moments, but ironically many of the aspects that the game pokes fun at in relation to other RPGs, it suffers from as well.
75
netjak
It reminds me of that old report card comment- the game has a lot going for it, but it isn’t working to its full potential.
75
Siliconera
A refreshing change from the other RPGs out there. The game's good sense of humor carries the title from start to finish. On the other hand the gameplay isn't all there. It feels like a hack and slash "Diablo"-esque game that you don't actually fight in.
75
Detroit Free Press
One of the few games that is downright funny, and there were honest laugh-out-loud moments sprinkled throughout it that kept me playing.
75
Play Magazine
True to its unrefined hero, THe Bard's Tale could use a little more class, depth and sophistication. Which certainly doesn't mean they're still not entertaining company to keep. [Nov 2004, p.50]
75
3DAvenue
Just why multiplayer was left out really will be never known, but it is a mistake that Brian Fargo, a reknowned game developer, should not have made.
72
Electronic Gaming Monthly
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]
72
Xequted
Instead of following the tried-but-not-always-true formulas often found in fantasy RPGs, it manages to save itself by being nothing but irreverent and just a little bit rude.
70
eToychest
A light-hearted romp through different RPG clichés and worlds that delivers just what it promises. It's fun, funny, and probably one of the best dungeon crawling action RPGs in our current generation. Of course, it's a tired genre, so coming out on top of it's predecessors is not a huge accomplishment.
70
Yahoo! Games
If there were a more advanced game behind the excellent writing, The Bard's Tale could have been one of the highest rated RPGs this year. The Bard's sarky one-liners, foul mouth, and rampant chauvinism make every cutscene and conversation entertaining and frequently laugh-out-loud funny.
70
GameCritics
Humor is this game's selling point—not battle systems or graphics or game engines—and gamers who value a smart and entertaining tale well told will certainly be able to look past the game's other problems.
70
Edge Magazine
Ultimately, setting out to critique and parody so studiously such a hidebound genre has brought The Bard’s Tale too close to what it was trying to distance itself from. This is a conventional, likeable dungeon crawl whose flashes of brilliance distract you from its accomplishments by hinting at how much more it could have been. [Christmas 2004, p.93]
70
Sydney Morning Herald
The story and dialogue never cease to entertain. Objectives include rescuing prisoners, killing fearsome scarecrows and playing Cupid. But, although the developers want to ridicule, the action remains conventional.
70
1UP
If the thin plot of games with similar mechanics bothers you, this could end up as your favorite in the genre.
68
Xbox Evolved
Possibly a rentable game; only if you enjoy beer, dancing, and funny accents that is.
67
GameSpot
A decent dungeon crawler that invests some energy into lampooning RPGs and high fantasy in general, but like a stand-up act about airline food or the line at the post office, its perspective isn't very interesting, and it lacks any real follow-through.
67
Gamer's Hell
A moderately solid action RPG that fails to live up to its peers in this generation. It just isn’t as solid, gameplay wise, as games like "Baldur’s Gate" and its humor is way too hit or miss to make up the difference.
65
PALGN
Unfortunately, most – especially pure RPG fans – will find the game is incredibly simplistic, with the actual gameplay being far too shallow, containing a basic fighting mechanic, an innovative ‘magic’ system and... Well, not much else.
60
G4 TV
Could’ve been a great game, but focuses more on being funny and irreverent than being a solid action/RPG and ends up being pretty average.
60
EuroGamer
But while dumbing down the RPG premise for the casual console gamer might work for some people, it ultimately fell down for us by making the main action portion of the game really quite tiresome.
58
Just Adventure
If you’re a real RPG junkie (which I freely admit I am), the fresh, irreverent, humorous tone of Bard’s Tale may be entertaining enough for you to ignore the fact that it’s sitting on top of a pretty mundane, flat game experience.
58
Gaming Age
So if you’ve always been put off by the micromanagement inherent in most RPG’s, Bard’s Tale may be just your ticket. If those aspects are part of what draws you in, the game will feel very shallow.
42
Game Revolution
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.
Rick gave it a7: Blue Falcon gave it an8: |
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