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Not just your typical RPG Game

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: June 17, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I borrowed Bard's Tale from a friend, and after I heard the drunk guys singing in the bar at the beginning of the game I returned the game to him and bought it the next day. From that point on I knew this game wasn't going to be your typical hack and slash RPG game. Even though there's plenty of sword slinging there's also a great dialogue. The graphics are pretty much typical but the voice acting on this is great. Besides all of that another thing I liked about this game is that it isn't that frustrating. It doesn't take a genius to beat this game so if you're looking for a major challenge than you're not going to find it here. This game is definately worth getting just for the story and dialogue, highly recommended.

A Tale of Two Bards

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: December 17, 2004
Author: Amazon User

On one level: I was really disappointed when the game finally rolled down to its conclusion - because I was having so much fun playing it and enjoying the characters and story line. I loved the whole melting of music and action too - and I only wanted more! The comedy was really great if your humor slithers along Python-like. One of the characters even says, "It's only a flesh wound." And best of all you get a puppy that you can actually teach a trick to! Like I said I was really disappointed when the game came to a close. I really wanted more adventure in this virtual theatre of the absurd.

On the other level: my only criticism lies in the fact that some of the characters seemed a overly cartoonish like they were from the Island of Misfit Toys - especially the merc. It makes clever stabs at both Baldur's Gate and Champions of Norrath, but in those games I really felt like I was on an epic adventure. The battles really feel lacking as well, and the enviroments are more tailored to narrative than exploration. And the weapons were cool up to a point (I loved the ax that sounded like an electric guitar) - but I also love multiple weapon choices (building them is the best). Also the creatures were cool up to a point as well, but come on if I'm going to San Fran I want to see the Golden Gate - throw in some orcs, goblins, unicorns, dragons, fairy folk, and wizards (Druids alone don't cut it) it's fantasy! If they would have put more detail into graphics and enviroment they would have had a really awesome game here.

To be a Bard or not to be - That is the Question!

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: January 10, 2005
Author: Amazon User

The game designers must have had a Bard - I mean a ball creating this game. The Bard's Tale was a fun adventure that I did not want to end. Poor guy has only met women that use him that's why he is the way he is - SNARKY. The voices and singing were hilarious. Guys would probably enjoy this game more than girls. A wonderful change from your standard RPG games. Here you have a character that is on a quest only for coin & cleavage (or is it the other way around?). This is no girlie man's game. I have a few Snarky remarks of my own. The special effects were great and the creatures were unique (never heard of some of those names before) but you couldn't see the detail of the creatures very well, and what's with the dark dungeons? I didn't pay over $40 to run around in the dark. Also why the air borne view fellows? With all the capabilities of the PS2, games should not be designed with this overhead view. So glad I put up with this annoying distraction because the ending was amazing and I can't get those songs out of my head. But I am not replaying a second time because of the camera angle, and with the cost of games nowadays, you really want to purchase a game with replay value. My suggestion to all you future Bards, wait until the game comes down in price, [...]

Lightend up - an improvement!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: November 21, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Back in the days of Commadore 64, the original Bard's Tale strung itself out as a magic carpet for fantasy role players, and transported us to the deadly serious world of dungeon crawling.

Now there's a new trip, a new bard, a lot less seriousness, and dog with a spiked collar.

The new game is not a redone version of the old - no mean feat given that collecting and leveling up are at the core of all most (if not all) RPGs. The bard is refreshingly crass and crude (by your mother's standards, not the FCC's) and the locations are the most authentic I've run across in a game.

I played the PS2 version, not the XBox rendition, and there may be some differences. As of this moment - 11/21/04 - there are no completed walkthroughs, but I do know that players truly addicted to collecting EVERYTHING will need to play it more than once. With some items and locations, if you have A you won't get B. This suits me fine - what good is a single trip through a fantasy world anyway?

The single real gripe I have about the game is the map interface. I'm not at all happy with the problem switching from full view to mini view to no view. It can be done, but it detracts from the experience since I have to try flipping the toggle three times before I get what I want.

Eh - I think I'll probably learn to live with that.

I've read another review or two of the game - the major complaints there seem to be that it isn't difficult enough and the script isn't Oscar material. The voices, however, are. As for difficulty and scripting - the best thing about this game is that it pokes at the genre without taking itself seriously.

I like that.

It sure sucks to be the chosen one.

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: January 09, 2007
Author: Amazon User

The Bard's Tale for Xbox and PS2 is a new title in a very old gaming franchise. Before talking about the game directly, let me tell you a brief bit about the history of its genre.

Once upon a time (80's, 90's), you could've roughly split up computer and console role-playing games (RPGs) into two groups: Japanese RPGS and American RPGS. Japanese RPGs tended to focus strongly on a plot. The game mechanics were just a mechanism to move the story forth. Character advancement was not nearly as important as story advancement. Ask anyone who has ever played any Final Fantasy or Dragon Warrior game and you will find this is true. Enjoyment of the tale the game presented was the main goal of Japanese RPGs.

American RPGs on the other hand tended to be very open adventures with a very heavy emphasis on exploration, character development, and game statistics in general. The `story' of these games worked more like a general game playing guideline than a strong dramatic plot. The stories presented would give you a rough idea of what needed to be done next, but would rarely push you into doing anything in particular until you really felt like unlocking some new area or getting some special item. Players would often run around the game world trying to build up their character statistics as high as possible. The emphasis of these games was enjoying the gameplay, not the story. Two series that were the hallmark of this type of game were Wizardry, and The Bard's Tale.

This trend has even continued into the new century. Just compare Morrowind to Final Fantasy X: an open book versus a staged Soap Opera. Both titles are good games, just very different.

The original Bard's Tale was a classic example of one these open, statistic driven American games. You created a party of characters using Dungeons and Dragons like statistics. Then you would run around a pseudo 3D dungeon, kill monsters, and collect treasure. After that, you would return to the inn to gain levels, heal your party members, and then repeat the whole process over again.

This new Bard's Tale eschews that type of design completely, opting for instead a Diablo type action RPG style of control and play. The menu based combat of old is replaced with good ol' hack and slash button mashing fun. You control a singular character from an overhead view, while partaking in multiple story and non-story related quests.

Another difference with this Bard's Tale is that it is a humorous game. Unlike the previous titles which had somewhat serious stories to follow, this game is a laugh all the way through. It parodies other games in the genre, picks on common elements such as killing rats, opening random treasure chests, chosen ones, and has a very witty script to back it up with. I found the Bard's dialog to be a constant source of amusement. The character you control and the games narrator often banter with each other, usually to humorous effect. This humorous script writing even shows up when you engage other characters in dialog. You are often give at least two response choices, a nice response, and a `snarky' response. You quickly find out being nice doesn't help you get what you want.

And, in another departure from traditional RPGs, the character you control isn't your typical hero. No wide eye farm boys, elven princesses, or honor seeking knights here. He's a roguish bard who takes advantage of people whenever he can. He is very fond of beer and the ladies, and doesn't have any loftier goals than finding a warm bed to crash in at night, preferably accompanied with a barmaid. This is an attitude that never changes in the game, fortunately.

The basic story is that your character of the Bard gets drafted into being `The Chosen One', and ends up trying to rescue to a trapped princess. You quickly find many other `Chosen Ones' who have met a sad fate, and also discover that all is not as it seems...

The controls are fairly simple. You use the primary buttons to attack, block, jump, and activate things with. The left and right trigger buttons activate your summoning spells. Summoning can get a little tricky in the heat of battle so you generally want to do that in advance. Over all I found that the controls worked pretty well.

I was happy with the graphics. Nothing overly special, but nothing shoddy either.

Other than the script writing and humor, the other place this game shines is the sound effects and music department. The sounds always seem to be on cue, and I loved all the amusing sing-a-long songs they had in the game.

Overall, I really enjoyed this game and highly recommend.

One would never think that such drunken lout would make such a great chosen one.

Stay Away

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 6 / 18
Date: November 05, 2004
Author: Amazon User

This game is funny...right up until the first time you get in a fight. You get hit by the monsters in the middle of your swing, and it's over. You can block, but it only lasts for a split second, and you have to time it just right. Otherwise, you will get ripped to shreds. If you get attacked by more than one enemy at a time, you might as well just reload, because you'll get attacked from 2-3 or more different directions at a time, and before you know it, you're dead.

The snark doesn't make up for the constant dying and reloading. Stay away from this one.

This game is very funny...for real!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 3
Date: May 30, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Its like the best of Diablo II, mix it with Baldurs Gate add some Champions of Norath, the humor of the Princess Bride and you got yourself one of the funniest most entertaining games ever made. That main character got a wicked tongue and mouth quick to insult and to get him in problems. You can choose which pact you want to take evil or good by certain actions.

Normal, Pratchetish, dark and Monty Phyton-ish humor+RPG

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 4
Date: January 26, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Well, this is a game that plays similar to X-men Legends and Baldur's Gate for PS2. You control one character and go around, exploring, bashing and shooting and also summon help by playing magical melodies you learn through the game. Just like in some other RPGs , when you level up you get some points to distribute and choose skills, most of which are battle-type.

Game is truly interesting in the beggining. There are lotsa neutral or male-female jokes but as the story unfolds, there are more and more things that are, well disgusting. Fortunately, game gets interesting again near end and finale is totally unexpected, at least one of three endings.

Graphics are good, but why does everyone wear brown? Could have they made summoned helpers a little more colorful? Lot of action goes underground, which is tiresome.

I also hated how simple some creatures are. Wolves, trows, invisible fighters, plants and finfolk were ok, but undead are all brown and simple looking and there are lot of them in the game.

There are mistakes you can make and can't recover after, especially while building up a character. Dexterity is as much important as strength and getting two handed fighting skill (sword and dirk) can help a lot. You also need to get flail early. Also, the thing that might happen is that you buy sword for all your money and find better one fifteen minutes later. Download FAQ to see what can you find on each level.

Overall, I mostly enjoyed game but I will first rent it's sequel...

Coolest and Funniest RPG

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 2
Date: February 04, 2007
Author: Amazon User

This game is entertaining and very funny. As you play you can also change the outcome of events by changing your answers. You create magical creatures to help you fight. All to save a princess that is willing to please you upon freeing her. A very witty game that is also easy to play but some of my best entertainment I've ever had playing a game. Although it is good to remember some content seems for adults only.

Just for Everquest fans...

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 2 / 19
Date: October 26, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I bought this game because the reviews were so great. But I am a fan of 1st person shooters, not the Diablo genre (gameface)-
and I didnt like looking down on my character. I also did not like the tedious spell stuff. Also, It was not funny. If you want funny- check out "evil dead-regeneration" now thats funny.
This game I anticipated, got and sold right off.

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