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The Bard's Tale

The Bard's Tale Game Cover
76%Game Brain Score
humor, story
graphics, grinding
77% User Score Based on 636 reviews
Critic Score 77%Based on 2 reviews

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The Bard's Tale Game Cover

About

The Bard's Tale is a single player role playing game with fantasy and comedy themes. It was developed by inXile Entertainment and was released on December 11, 2009. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

In "The Bard's Tale," players control a selfish bard who summons characters through song to complete quests. The game now includes the original classic trilogy, with updated features like high-resolution and widescreen support, improved performance, and various language options. Players can use full keyboard and mouse controls or controllers to explore dungeons, battle enemies, and discover treasure.

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The Bard's Tale screenshot
The Bard's Tale screenshot
The Bard's Tale screenshot
The Bard's Tale screenshot
The Bard's Tale screenshot
The Bard's Tale screenshot
The Bard's Tale screenshot
The Bard's Tale screenshot
The Bard's Tale screenshot
The Bard's Tale screenshot
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77%
Audience ScoreBased on 636 reviews
humor268 positive mentions
graphics14 negative mentions
  • The game is filled with humor and witty dialogue, making it a fun experience.
  • The Bard's character is a unique and entertaining anti-hero, providing a refreshing take on RPG tropes.
  • The inclusion of the original Bard's Tale trilogy adds value and nostalgia for fans of the series.
  • The combat mechanics are clunky and repetitive, leading to a tedious gameplay experience.
  • The game suffers from technical issues, including crashes and poor controller support.
  • The graphics and overall design feel outdated, which may deter new players.
  • humor
    270 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in "The Bard's Tale" is widely praised for its clever, self-aware writing and engaging voice acting, often drawing comparisons to classic British comedy. Players appreciate the game's mix of witty dialogue, musical numbers, and a snarky narrator, which create a lighthearted and entertaining experience, despite some criticism of repetitive gags and dated humor. Overall, the game is celebrated for its ability to deliver consistent laughs, making it a standout in the action RPG genre.

    • “The game never takes itself seriously, and that makes you want to move further with the plot to see what happens and what other funny situations the bard gets himself into.”
    • “Between the spot-on genre parody, the musical numbers, the constant bickering between the bard and the narrator, and so many other humorous moments, this game will have you literally laughing out loud from start to finish.”
    • “The humor, charm, and gameplay are all still there.”
    • “The writing is very self-indulgent, and there is a lot of humor that is absolutely beaten into the ground at times, including summons repeating the same voice lines over and over and over. The repetitious gags with the 'bodhs' in Kirkwall are absolutely unfunny and way too dragged out.”
    • “Some people say it's unfunny, but I disagree.”
  • story
    198 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "The Bard's Tale" is a humorous and self-aware parody of traditional fantasy RPG tropes, featuring a snarky bard on a quest filled with comedic dialogue and memorable characters. While the plot may seem clichéd and linear, it is elevated by excellent voice acting and a lighthearted tone that keeps players engaged, despite the repetitive gameplay. Overall, the narrative is entertaining and offers a unique twist on familiar themes, making it a highlight of the game.

    • “The story is fun, witty, sarcastic, and charming.”
    • “The bard's tale is a parody of high fantasy RPGs and thus never really takes itself seriously.”
    • “The story and voice acting are great, the gameplay is complete trash, and unfortunately, combat is a large chunk of this game.”
    • “Although the storytelling is amusing, the repetitive hack n' slash is not worth the pain caused by this lack of basic features, nor is the backtracking through respawning mobs and infinite traps.”
    • “The story was unappealing and the main character unlikeable.”
    • “The quests are very boring and lack any real interest to them; the story is barely a story, it's just your typical save the princess and the world kind of story.”
  • gameplay
    130 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it repetitive, clunky, and lacking depth, often describing it as boring and grind-heavy. While some appreciate the humor and unique mechanics, such as summoning, others criticize the outdated controls and simplistic combat, leading to a general consensus that the gameplay does not meet modern standards. Overall, the game's charm lies more in its story and comedic elements than in its gameplay mechanics.

    • “This game combines stunningly good RPG gameplay with surprisingly subtle humor and a superb soundtrack.”
    • “The gameplay utilized an interesting summon mechanic where the bard could call warriors, mages, mystical monsters, and the odd rat to his disposal with a high degree of abilities.”
    • “Overall the gameplay is great and from a story point of view, it's one of the games which actually makes you laugh.”
    • “Boring gameplay (way too much grind), and locks up on cinematics/travel moments etc.”
    • “The gameplay is rough and clunky but the writing and wit more than makes up for it.”
    • “The gameplay itself is extremely boring.”
  • music
    109 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is widely praised for its catchy, humorous, and well-produced songs, which enhance the comedic and whimsical atmosphere. Players particularly enjoy the bard's unique ability to summon allies through musical numbers, with standout tracks like the "beer song" and various tavern tunes leaving a lasting impression. However, some critiques mention a lack of ambient music during gameplay, leading to a somewhat repetitive experience despite the overall charm of the musical elements.

    • “The music and tavern songs are also really good, and the 'beer song' alone may be worth just buying the game for.”
    • “The songs that play throughout the game are not only hilarious but also very catchy; you'll no doubt find yourself singing at least one of them at some point after playing.”
    • “The bard's tale proves that fantasy RPGs with a more comedic focus and a hefty inclusion of silly musical numbers need to be made more often.”
    • “The game does not look pretty, it has no really unique looking characters aside from one or two exceptions and the soundtrack is pretty bare bones save for the few times you actually get to hear characters sing.”
    • “Big problem I would call a total lack of music in 99% of areas (there is ambience but this is not the same).”
    • “It's not without its flaws, the soundtrack is meh, which is sad for a game starring a musician, and the animations are as dated as ever, as well as having some issues with controls.”
  • graphics
    75 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are widely regarded as outdated, with many reviewers noting that they do not meet modern standards and often appear clunky or low-resolution. While some players appreciate the nostalgic charm of the visuals, others find them a significant drawback, especially when compared to contemporary titles. Overall, the consensus is that while the graphics may not impress, the game's humor and storytelling can still provide an enjoyable experience for those willing to overlook its visual shortcomings.

    • “The graphics have aged surprisingly well, and given a slight upgrade, the game passes very well for something that you could buy as a cheaply priced 'arcade' title today.”
    • “For what it is, the graphics are pretty nice and the story was worthy of a good comedic movie.”
    • “Graphic-wise, The Bard's Tale sports standard PS2/Xbox quality; while not the most spectacular graphics by today's standards, at the time of the game's release, they're not hard on the eyes either.”
    • “The graphics are old and the controls are wonky but you know what?”
    • “Horrendous controls, graphics that look about 4 or 5 years out of date (even for 2005), and a clunky combat system with little depth.”
    • “What the game lacks in its dated combat system and graphics, it makes up for in its wit and humor.”
  • grinding
    19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being excessive and tedious, often requiring players to engage in repetitive combat and backtracking that can detract from the overall experience. While some players appreciate the charm and humor of the game, many find the grinding necessary for progression to be frustrating and monotonous, especially as the game progresses. Overall, the balance between enjoyment and grind is a significant point of contention among reviewers.

    • “The balance of this game is non-existent and it requires extreme grinding and min-maxing even on the easiest difficulty.”
    • “90% of the game is combat and thus grinding too; it's extremely clunky, awkward, and tedious.”
    • “Unfortunately, one main thing made this game tedious to play through: you are required to revisit several maps at least twice (this doesn't seem bad, but backtracking takes so long it becomes extremely tedious).”
  • stability
    13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is severely criticized, particularly in the Linux port, which is described as a "buggy mess" with frequent freezes, glitches, and control issues that can disrupt gameplay. Users report numerous technical problems, including character freezes, malfunctioning summons, and graphical errors, leading to a frustrating experience. Overall, the game's stability issues are deemed unacceptable for a remastered edition, making it difficult to recommend, especially for Linux users.

    • “Linux port of the game is a terrible, buggy mess.”
    • “Overall the game is a buggy mess and until it is fixed it is just too much trouble trying to play it.”
    • “Linux port features random crashes, graphical glitches, and gradual slowdown with the passage of time.”
  • replayability
    11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's replayability is mixed, with some players finding it virtually nonexistent due to a lack of varied content and outcomes, while others appreciate the comedic elements and different interaction paths that encourage multiple playthroughs. While a few users suggest it has strong replay value due to its dialogue and decision-making systems, many agree that it ultimately offers limited replayability, making it a game best enjoyed occasionally rather than repeatedly.

    • “The comedy, replayability, and the twists are, for me, worth all the frustrating parts of this otherwise great game.”
    • “Tremendous replay value.”
    • “The game has replay value because almost every interaction you have has a different outcome on the path you take to completing the game.”
    • “This is a one trick pony game with no replayability.”
    • “Replay value: virtually none.”
    • “There isn't any crafting, not many secrets, not a huge store variety to buy stuff (you are given most of your gear as you play), and absolutely no replay value to the game at all.”
  • atmosphere
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is praised for its perfect blend of dialogue, music, and visual enhancements in the remastered version, creating a magical medieval setting filled with humor and quirky characters. While the atmospheric sounds and music contribute significantly to the experience, some players note that certain mechanics feel dated, slightly detracting from the overall ambiance. Overall, the game successfully evokes nostalgia while maintaining a lighthearted and engaging environment.

    • “The remastered version is visually better than the original, while keeping the same feel and atmosphere as it originally had.”
    • “The atmospheric sounds are also a very nice fit for the different levels in the game.”
    • “In a magical medieval atmosphere, you play the adventures of a misogynist bon vivant that can get only a little better when you choose to be nice with others, which is not always the best choice in a miserable world filled with mischievous characters.”
    • “Of music, which does take away from the atmosphere somewhat.”
  • emotional
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is praised for its emotional depth, combining humor and heartbreak in a snarky, heart-warming narrative filled with twists and engaging characters. Players appreciate the dramatic storytelling and memorable music, which enhance the overall experience, despite some frustrations with gameplay mechanics.

    • “A dramatic, heartbreaking, humorous, and truly epic RPG full of twists, banter, and music based on an old school classic that I've never played because it's like twice my age.”
    • “Narrated by the sultry Tony Jay, this snarky, heart-warming tale of adventure will have you singing in bloody stitches.”
  • optimization
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game suffers from poor optimization, highlighted by issues such as constant stuttering sounds and pauses during video cutscenes. Despite these technical shortcomings, players still find the game enjoyable and capable of delivering surprises.

    • “Among the problems I had: constant stuttering sound and pauses in the video cutscenes.”
    • “Poor optimization aside, it's quite a fun game, with the ability to surprise you should you give it a chance.”
  • character development
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    While the game's environment textures may appear dated, the character designs are visually appealing, contributing positively to the overall character development experience.

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77%Critics’ scoreBased on 2 critic reviews
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14h Median play time
16h Average play time
12-25h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

The Bard's Tale is a role playing game with fantasy and comedy themes.

The Bard's Tale is available on iPhone, Windows, PC, Mac OS and others.

On average players spend around 16 hours playing The Bard's Tale.

The Bard's Tale was released on December 11, 2009.

The Bard's Tale was developed by inXile Entertainment.

The Bard's Tale has received mostly positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its humor but disliked it for its graphics.

The Bard's Tale is a single player game.

Similar games include Sudeki, Two Worlds Epic Edition, Overlord, Dungeon Siege, Divinity II: Ego Draconis and others.