The Bard's Tale PC

The Bard's Tale Image
Metascore
70

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

User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 70 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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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]
    All this publication's reviews

See all 11 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 20
  3. Negative: 5 out of 20
  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. Jok`RdeMo
    Jun 20, 2005
    10
    This game maybe brings nothing new, but it is SOOO FUN to play. Very, very good.
  4. JackK.
    Jun 26, 2005
    9
    This game was better than a lot of the late generic RPGs, and had more of a catch to it than alot of other late PC RPGs. So this game This game was better than a lot of the late generic RPGs, and had more of a catch to it than alot of other late PC RPGs. So this game deserves atleast a "9" because it hit the PC. PC doesn't have too many great games drop on us.… Expand
  5. lefiath
    Dec 17, 2012
    8
    A decent, even if kinda stiff gameplay. Excellent humor and situations like from Monty Pythons. A lot of battles (which eventually get old,A decent, even if kinda stiff gameplay. Excellent humor and situations like from Monty Pythons. A lot of battles (which eventually get old, since the fighting isn't all the exciting), below average graphics, solid length and three endings. Overall I do recommend this game mostly because of story, the game mechanics are flawed, but not that bad so you would just give up on the game.… Expand
  6. AsheZx
    Nov 13, 2014
    7
    Has nothing original to bring to the genre, and the game play is mediocre. However, this is by far, the most comedic game I have ever played -Has nothing original to bring to the genre, and the game play is mediocre. However, this is by far, the most comedic game I have ever played - and I still laugh at it to this day,… Expand
  7. PrincessRose
    Feb 3, 2015
    5
    This game is sort of alright.

    Love the songs in this game. That is probably the only thing going for it, the humour and awesome songs.    This game is sort of alright.

    Love the songs in this game.

    That is probably the only thing going for it, the humour and awesome songs.

    The controls, combat and camera are very clunky and awkward and the constant load screens are annoying as well. No inventory, little depth to the game and it becomes repetitive.

    Though no inventory can be classed as a good thing especially if you're a hoarder who finds it hard to part with anything in case you need it later. Not so with this game, no need to sell anything, it is automatic, any loot you pick up whether it be wolf pelts, or jewels etc. immediately turn to silvers, the currency of this game. If you find a weapon more powerful then the equipped, it immediately equips it and turns the old into silvers. But it also means less depth and not really any choice of what you equip. Such as you would rather equip a faster sword that has less dmg, but nope it would equip the weapon does the most dmg.

    This game is also very linear and more like an action adventure game than an RPG.

    I like the main character he is rather snarky and selfish and not a typical save the world hero, which makes for a nice change. He's in it primarily for coin and booty.

    But even so the fun songs become repetitive and don't vary much, always the same bad luck song with slight variation sung by trow. So 7 Trow songs and only 2, more unique songs that I came across and Iam very thorough in exploring so don't think I missed any.

    Can't recommend this game for the humour alone does not make up for the negatives.

    I found it a bit too repetitive to recommend, I only kept playing as I hate leaving a game uncompleted and it was not so terrible that I couldn't stand playing and now that I completed it, it's not a game Iam likely ever to play again. And to see the other ending I can just watch it on You Tube.    … 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

See all 20 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

#50 Most Discussed PC Game of 2005
#33 Most Shared PC Game of 2005

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