There are periods of randomly imposed time-limits, and conversation choices have only a superficial effect on the story. The game also has some collision detection issues, especially when firing the bow.Īnother frustration is that The Bard’s Tale falls prey to some of the very RPG conventions that it seeks to mock. The Bard can resummon, but he is vulnerable while playing music, so much of combat involves running around trying to avoid monsters while resummoning minions. The Bard cannot survive very well without the minions, but they have a tendency to die easily. The Bard would have something snarky to say about this.
These minions perform various roles such as the Knight, the Bodyguard, and a Trap-Finder who finds traps by setting them off – on himself. Though he can wield a sword and fire a bow, his main talent is summoning minions via music.
In keeping with the musical theme, the Bard is not a mighty warrior or grand wizard.
#THE BARDS TALE BARRELS FULL#
The Bard’s Tale utilizes the Norrath battle engine, but does not make full use of its potential. However after the story and conversation, the gameplay breaks down. Double entendres abound, and the conversation system allows the player to choose between nice or snarky responses – though nice may mean that the Bard simply insults the other person instead of running him through. The humor may not appeal to everyone, but fans of Monty Python and those able to laugh at RPG clichés will surely enjoy the dialogue. The game (and narrator) never take the Bard seriously, and the Bard only takes his quest for coin and cleavage seriously. Perhaps the best feature of The Bard’s Tale is its writing style and spot-on voice acting. Fitting in with the musical nature of the Bard, several humorous songs are inserted at different points, including “Beer, Beer, Beer,” several songs regaling the sorry lot of “chosen ones,” and one vituperative tune about the idiot who let loose a monster that slaughtered an entire village… ie, the Bard. For example, when the Bard opens a treasure chest inside a house, the narrator asks if people appreciate him rifling through their belongings while they stand there. Scattered throughout the game are Monty Python style outtakes and sarcastic remarks concerning RPGs. InXile based much of the story on the legends of the Scottish Orkney Islands.
#THE BARDS TALE BARRELS FREE#
To free her, he must defeat three guardians atop three towers, travel to new locations, visit the Obligatory Lava Level, etc. The story’s basis is the Bard’s quest to free his princess from the bondage of evil sorcerers so that he can retire early with great wealth and the princess being… grateful. The Bard is simply a man who is looking for coin and cleavage but gets caught up in worldwide catastrophic events - events which are partly his fault. Much of the game’s concept is aimed at poking fun of modern RPG conventions and clichés. Voiced by Cary Elwes of The Princess Bride fame, the Bard frequently breaks the fourth wall by arguing with the sardonic narrator.
The Bard is a man whose number one interest is himself, and he makes no apologies for it. Instead of a traditional turn-based RPG adventure around Skara Brae, this game is an action RPG with an attitude. Published by inXile Entertainment under the direction of Brian Fargo, creator of the original Bard’s Tale series, this modern incarnation is a complete departure from previous installments. ‘A key won’t even be safe in these things!’ Henry screamed…” Not exactly your typical RPG character history, but then again The Bard’s Tale is not your typical RPG. The best introduction for The Bard’s Tale game comes straight from the introduction portion of the game manual: “ tenure as a barrel maker came to an abrupt end when his barrel mentor Henry, the proprietor of The Barrel Barn, ran him out of town for producing barrels that shattered with a mere whack of a sword.
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