Bastard

About

"Bastard" is a single-player Warfare Role Playing game set in a gritty, realistic medieval world. The game features an intriguing story that challenges players to consider the cost of being good in a bad world, with tactical combat and a detective plot. Players' choices determine the outcome of the story, with multiple possible endings and a unique narrative system. It also includes RPG elements known from "Legends of Eisenwald."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

55%

Audience ScoreBased on 88 reviews

story18 positive mentions

replayability2 negative mentions

The game features a coherent story that keeps players engaged and encourages them to pay attention to details.
The introduction of the Authority System adds depth to gameplay, allowing for varied moral and strategic choices that affect the story and endings.
The writing is thoughtful and presents philosophical themes, making it appealing for players who enjoy narrative-driven experiences.

The game is criticized for being overly linear, with limited meaningful choices and a lack of side quests, making replayability low.
Many players found the difficulty unbalanced, particularly in later stages, leading to frustration and a sense of being outmatched.
The morality system is seen as black and white, forcing players to make 'evil' choices to succeed, which detracts from the overall experience.

story
60 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
65%
5%
The game's story is generally regarded as coherent and engaging, with players appreciating the moral choices that influence the narrative and lead to multiple endings. However, it is criticized for being overly linear and lacking depth, with some reviewers noting low-quality writing and dialogue. Despite these shortcomings, many players find value in its thematic exploration and character-driven storytelling, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of story-based RPGs.
- “The overall story is more coherent; it had me paying attention and trying to remember details rather than mashing the next button to get to the next encounter.”
- “It has a good storyline with some hard decisions you have to make.”
- “For story, I played the main campaign several times and it was amazing.”
- “Quality of the story, dialogues, and writing in general is so low that anything else is not relevant.”
- “While the gameplay is largely the same, the story here is a dull string of hipster and SJW morality.”
- “It's at best some form of DLC for Legends of Eisenwald, the latter being the far better option in terms of story.”
gameplay
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
73%
14%
The gameplay of this title is largely similar to its predecessor, "Legends of Eisenwald," featuring familiar mechanics but with a more narrative focus, making it suitable for fans of story-driven RPGs. While it introduces some new elements, it simplifies gameplay by reducing combat and side quests, allowing players to concentrate on the story, though some may find this lack of depth disappointing. Overall, it is easy to understand and free of mechanical flaws, but those seeking innovative gameplay may be left wanting.
- “Although I gave the previous game a thumbs-down, I feel this version is much improved both narratively and mechanically, so I would recommend it to anyone who likes story-based RPGs or enjoys some story with their turn-based tactics game.”
- “Both gameplay and atmosphere have the makings of a long-term franchise, yet each installment gets smaller and feels more like a tease.”
- “It should also be pointed out that, unlike 'Legends of Eisenwald' and all its other additional scenarios and DLCs, 'Bastard' is more of an adventure/interactive novel with somewhat simplified gameplay: no side quests, no castle management, not much combat, etc.; it lets you concentrate on the story.”
- “Morality plays need to have a meaningful game mechanic behind them, an advantage or disadvantage to playing either side, or I see it as pointless.”
- “While the gameplay is largely the same, the story here is a dull string of hipster and SJW morality.”
- “It should be pointed out that, unlike 'Legends of Eisenwald' and all its other additional scenarios and DLCs, 'Bastard' is rather an adventure/interactive novel with a somewhat simplified gameplay: no side quests, no castle management, not much combat, etc.; it lets you concentrate on the story.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game has been criticized for its minimal replayability, with users noting its short length and lack of engaging content that would encourage players to return. Overall, it seems to offer little incentive for repeated playthroughs.
- “The game itself is very short with little reason for replayability.”
- “It was just barely worth the couple of dollars I paid for it, and has very little replay value.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The atmosphere of the game shows significant potential, with expansive worlds that could support a long-term franchise; however, it is hindered by a lack of content and an unfinished feel, leaving players wanting more.
- “Now here we have the latest with so much potential, like all the worlds, going to waste with lack of content and an unfinished atmosphere.”
- “Both gameplay and atmosphere have the makings of a long-term franchise, yet each one gets smaller and more of a tease.”
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
The music in the game is consistently praised for its quality, with multiple users highlighting the presence of good soundtracks that enhance the overall experience.
- “The game features an incredible soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.”
- “The music is captivating and perfectly complements the gameplay.”
- “The soundtracks are well-crafted and add depth to the game's atmosphere.”