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The Bard's Tale (PC)

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Also On: iPhone/iPad
70
Metascore
 11 reviews
7.6
User Score
 96 ratings

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Developer: InXile Entertainment
Publisher: InXile Entertainment
Game Details: One man on his own. A poet and a rogue, with no friends to speak of, no one to mourn his passing
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 isOne 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]… Expand
Developer: InXile Entertainment
Publisher: InXile Entertainment
Genre(s): Role-Playing Third-Person Third-Person Western-Style
Number of players: No Online Multiplayer
Cheats: On GameFAQs
Rating: T
Official Site: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/the-bards-tale/id517105387?mt=12
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  • The Bard's Tale Official Trailer

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    The Bard's Tale Official Trailer 2

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Critic Reviews
(11)
70
Metascore Mixed or average reviews
5 Positive Ratings 45%
5 Mixed Ratings 45%
1 Negative Ratings 9%
Based on 11 Critic Reviews View All
84
Computer Games Online RO
"If you’re looking for a complex RPG, with lots of items, weapons, skills and intricate dialog options, you’re looking in the wrong place. But if you a want a simple game, which will surely steal a smile or two of your face, then The Bard’s Tale might be just what you’re looking for." ... Read full review
81
PC Gamer
"Has nothing in common with the original series, but it's a solid action/RPG. [Sept 2005, p.81]"
80
CPUGamer
"The wit present in this game is second to none and I honestly think this is what would have happened had Mel Brooks gotten into game making." ... Read full review
70
Jolt Online Gaming UK
"Yes, it’s funny, and it does crack a few good observations about the genre. However, by making the same mistakes that the games it’s laughing at make, it shoots itself in the foot a bit." ... Read full review
70
Computer Games Magazine
"Ultimately, incisive humor and caustic personality win out over dicey combat and console-itis. [Oct 2005, p.66]"
68
Computer and Video Games
"While The Bard's Tale is told amusingly enough, the disappointing combat fails to lift it from the upper end of mediocrity." ... Read full review
45
PC Format
"A victim of its own sneers, this is the world's first self-parodying game. [July 2005, p.90]"
User Reviews
(25)
7.6
User Score Generally favorable reviews
59 Positive Ratings 61%
26 Mixed Ratings 27%
11 Negative Ratings 11%
Based on 96 Ratings and 25 Reviews View All
10
RobeerC.
Jul 10, 2005
I've just walked through this game, and it was a great fun. I can only say, it's a must play game. Good songs for everyone ;)
9
G.Doane
Jun 7, 2005
If it's Bard's Tale it has to be good. I'm ready for the character to swing three times and miss!
9
LarryM.
Sep 13, 2005
It was fun and if not for the bugs in the video/game play I would have given it a 10. I thoroughly enjoyed the satire and the overall trek.
8
ShadowRose2k
Jan 26, 2018
Our "Protagonist" The Bard is someone I both love and hate.
Arrogant, weaselly and horny may best describe him. Out on adventure for coinOur "Protagonist" The Bard is someone I both love and hate.
Arrogant, weaselly and horny may best describe him. Out on adventure for coin and cleavage he finds out he is the "Chosen One". But what does that really entail?
The game play felt fine, tho blocking felt tricky for me. You have the option to specialize the Bard in different fighting tactics. Are you in your face melee, ranged or sit back and let your summons do all the work?
The game features a pointless but fun dialogue response options. Three different endings.
I recommend playing if you like some simple combat and crude humor.

I played this a few years back. Even picked up a used xbox to play it as I could not find a ps2 copy at the time.… Expand
7
arestotele
Nov 27, 2012
The Bard's Tale is an hack and slash adventure with basic rpg elements; it make fun of these kind of games so it's filled with humor and WtfThe Bard's Tale is an hack and slash adventure with basic rpg elements; it make fun of these kind of games so it's filled with humor and Wtf moments. Graphics don't excel but you will laugh a lot guaranteed. Lately for the 10°anniversary, steam version has been updated with wide screen resolution,wasd control,bug fix,performance enhancements and include the original classic games The Bard… Expand
5
PrincessRose
Feb 3, 2015
This game is sort of alright.

Love the songs in this game. That is probably the only thing going for it, the humour and awesome songs.This game is sort of alright.

Love the songs in this game.

That is probably the only thing going for it, the humour and awesome songs.

The controls, combat and camera are very clunky and awkward and the constant load screens are annoying as well. No inventory, little depth to the game and it becomes repetitive.

Though no inventory can be classed as a good thing especially if you're a hoarder who finds it hard to part with anything in case you need it later. Not so with this game, no need to sell anything, it is automatic, any loot you pick up whether it be wolf pelts, or jewels etc. immediately turn to silvers, the currency of this game. If you find a weapon more powerful then the equipped, it immediately equips it and turns the old into silvers. But it also means less depth and not really any choice of what you equip. Such as you would rather equip a faster sword that has less dmg, but nope it would equip the weapon does the most dmg.

This game is also very linear and more like an action adventure game than an RPG.

I like the main character he is rather snarky and selfish and not a typical save the world hero, which makes for a nice change. He's in it primarily for coin and booty.

But even so the fun songs become repetitive and don't vary much, always the same bad luck song with slight variation sung by trow. So 7 Trow songs and only 2, more unique songs that I came across and Iam very thorough in exploring so don't think I missed any.

Can't recommend this game for the humour alone does not make up for the negatives.

I found it a bit too repetitive to recommend, I only kept playing as I hate leaving a game uncompleted and it was not so terrible that I couldn't stand playing and now that I completed it, it's not a game Iam likely ever to play again. And to see the other ending I can just watch it on You Tube.… Expand
0
mgfnfgbxfgnx
Jul 17, 2017
I couldn't stand more than 37 minutes in this game. The humor — the only thing that could save this game — is not present. Maybe I would laughI couldn't stand more than 37 minutes in this game. The humor — the only thing that could save this game — is not present. Maybe I would laugh at this jokes if I was 13, but I wouldn't remember them later.

At a whole this game is a torture to play. It is clumsy and slooooow. In dialogue you can read faster than voiceover, but you can't skip line, only the whole conversation.
Long animation in menus, longer loadscreens, longest character animation. No friendly exit-points (game can be saved only at specific locations, they are not rare, but it is still an inhumane design).
Worst dialogue system I've seen so far: in pivotal moments you must choose not between lines or paraphrases, but between two :-( and :-) buttons. Since protagonist sometimes tells truly creepy lines (he's really bad with the ladies), it is very unnerving to guess what you are choosing from.
This game tells some playful-kinda-sexy jokes, but it's really not impressive since I'm not in puberty.

Slowness is the worst: I just have no time for anecdote that slow. Unsympathetic character, poor visuals and gameplay are secondary problems.… Expand
User Reviews