The Bard's Tale

 PC
The Bard's Tale Image
Metascore
70

Mixed or average reviews - based on 11 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 103 Ratings

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  • Summary: 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 aOne 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
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The Bard's Tale Official Trailer

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 11
  3. Negative: 1 out of 11
  1. Computer Games Online RO
    84
    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.
  2. PC Gamer
    81
    Has nothing in common with the original series, but it's a solid action/RPG. [Sept 2005, p.81]
    All this publication's reviews
  3. CPUGamer
    80
    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.
  4. Jolt Online Gaming UK
    70
    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.
  5. Computer Games Magazine
    70
    Ultimately, incisive humor and caustic personality win out over dicey combat and console-itis. [Oct 2005, p.66]
    All this publication's reviews
  6. Computer and Video Games
    68
    While The Bard's Tale is told amusingly enough, the disappointing combat fails to lift it from the upper end of mediocrity.
  7. PC Format
    45
    A victim of its own sneers, this is the world's first self-parodying game. [July 2005, p.90]
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See all 11 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 26
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 26
  3. Negative: 6 out of 26
  1. RobeerC.
    Jul 10, 2005
    10
    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 ;)
  2. G.Doane
    Jun 7, 2005
    9
    If it's Bard's Tale it has to be good. I'm ready for the character to swing three times and miss!
  4. LarryM.
    Sep 13, 2005
    9
    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.
  5. ShadowRose2k
    Jan 26, 2018
    8
    Our "Protagonist" The Bard is someone I both love and hate.
    Arrogant, weaselly and horny may best describe him. Out on adventure for coin    Our "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
  6. QweSteR
    Nov 28, 2017
    7
    [7.0] Финал игры не вызвал тёплых чувств, лишь раздражительное послевкусие от утомительного прохождения второй половины игры. Bard's Tale по[7.0] Финал игры не вызвал тёплых чувств, лишь раздражительное послевкусие от утомительного прохождения второй половины игры. Bard's Tale по праву называют самобытной CRPG, ведь ряд уникальных черт впервые реализован именно здесь. Bard's Tale сюжетно-ориентированная ARPG, где игроку предстоит играть роль настоящего барда, а сюжетная миссия проста и нетривиальна, в ходе которой потребуется спасти вполне обыкновенную принцессу из башни коварного мага. Ролевая система ничем непримечательна.., но за одним лишь главным исключением, - успех барда в бою достигается магией "песни", более десятка мелодий позволяют призывать различных спутников. Спутники не только сражаются, но и участвуют в разрешении некоторых загадок. Так же игра изобилует весёлыми караоке и отменным юмором от лица закадрового рассказчика. И что же не так в этой игре? Магия призыва хоть и богата вариативностью, но большая её часть бесполезна. В целом дизайн локаций оформлен хорошо, но половина локаций выполнена в виде однообразных лабиринтов, которые игроку придётся посетить от 1 до 3 раз, пробегая насквозь. В основе игры музыка и юмор, но мелодии однообразны, песни повторяются и редки, шутки же в определённый момент пропадают или остаются незамеченными. Экономическая и боевая системы сбалансированы бездарно: ближе к середине игры пропадает возможность тратить деньги, а казалось бы самый сильный враг не сильнее своих приспешников. Bard's Tale состоит из 14 глав, приблизительно к 6 главе тайна принцессы становится очевидной, действия игрока ещё более рутинными, в такой атмосфере игру просто хочется скорее пробежать или бросить. Вновь возвращаться к Bard's Tale нет никакого желания. Неужели "гений" Brian Fargo заключается в создании ремейков и переизданий к собственным играм?… Expand
  7. DonnieBrasco
    Jun 15, 2005
    4
    Awesome, hilarious absurd humor a'la Monty Python paired with subpar graphics, no RPG elements and "dumbed-down-to-ground" playflow make Awesome, hilarious absurd humor a'la Monty Python paired with subpar graphics, no RPG elements and "dumbed-down-to-ground" playflow make this a very mixed game. With a nice skills/char development and much more depth concerning gameplay this could have been a classic. Does the name "Anachronox" ring a bell? Not far....… Expand
  8. MitchellS.
    Aug 23, 2005
    1
    This thing sucks. Barely worthy of the name Bards Tale. Sorry I paid full price for it. It's a cheap, shoddy effort to cash in on the This thing sucks. Barely worthy of the name Bards Tale. Sorry I paid full price for it. It's a cheap, shoddy effort to cash in on the name by the original creator, who must have had a bad run of business luck or something, and got desperate. And it shows. The graphics are circa 1999. They're SERIOUSLY BAD, and if you told most gamers this came out in 2004/5 and they'd not heard about it prior, they would have no reason to believe you. Gameplay is basically non-existent; I'm tempted to say this game isn't even finished, and that they decided to throw in the towel and release it at the "walk-through demo" state, which is pretty much what it is. That said, some of the content is damn funny. So it gets a one, not z ero. It just isn't worth $40. Or even $20.… Expand

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Awards & Rankings

51
#51 Most Discussed PC Game of 2005
30
#30 Most Shared PC Game of 2005

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