The Bard’s Tale

Have you ever played a game where the main character is lazy, mischievous, but very articulate? A game where instead of saving the world or protecting justice, you collect duck feathers, play a guitar and sing “Beer, Beer, Beer” in the middle of a battle? If not, then welcome to The Bard’s Tale, where all the heroic stereotypes are shattered by a smooth-talking Bard, holding a musical instrument in his hand and a belly full of ambition to make money.

Introduce about The Bard’s Tale

The Bard’s Tale is a classic RPG series that started in the 1980s and has become a legendary part of RPG history. The series was developed by Interplay Productions and later inXile Entertainment. And the version I’m introducing to you here is a remake of the original game from 2004, developed by inXile Entertainment. This game offers a third-person action RPG experience, with elements of humor and satire. You will play as a Bard, an adventurous and somewhat… silly musician.

A pragmatic, rugged, and humorous character, Bard

First, let’s talk about the main character in The Bard’s Tale. You’re not playing a noble hero, nor a villain with a big plan. You play as Bard, a lazy, grumpy musician who only cares about two things, money and girls. His goal? To live as comfortably as possible, while still having someone else take care of everything for him. Bard’s personality is a breath of fresh air compared to the “justice” type of characters in other RPGs. He’s so lazy that he doesn’t even bother asking NPCs what’s going on, only accepting quests for the good rewards.

Unique summoning mechanism

As a Bard, instead of rushing into battle yourself, you can summon strange creatures to help you. Of course, you won’t summon the super cool dragon summoning, but you will… sing. The magical songs are an extremely interesting highlight, each bringing a different ally, from a muscular warrior, a talented archer, to a dumb “giant” who just rushes in to destroy.

An interesting detail is that when you summon a creature, you need a certain amount of energy and Bard will start to mumble complaints like: “Why do I have to spend so much effort?”. So, The Bard’s Tale is something very unique that those who follow the “heroic” ideology will not be able to understand him.

The Bard’s Tale action style

You’ll control Bard from a third-person perspective, weapon in hand, ready to charge into battle. Bard can wield a variety of weapons, from swords, bows, to grenades. But the truth is… you’ll only be summoning other people to fight! As mentioned, as a Bard, you don’t fight alone. The Bard’s Tale lets you summon strange creatures using Magic Songs. This is where the tactical element kicks in. Each creature you summon will have a unique role in the formation, and you’ll need to know how to combine them to be effective.

Bard doesn’t have a huge skill tree like other RPGs. Instead, you’ll unlock new magic songs and upgrade your Bard’s damage or stamina. Each skill is highly practical, whether it’s increasing your allies’ damage tolerance or summoning creatures to destroy obstacles.

Super funny dialogue

Not only does The Bard’s Tale have a satirical main story, but the interactions between the Bard and the Narrator are a painful comedy. The Narrator is like a “godfather” who oversees your adventure, and his only pleasure is… making fun of you everywhere. If you do a quest incorrectly, choose a silly answer, or even just get lost, he’s always ready to mock you.

When you start the game and try to destroy things in the tavern (a hard habit to break for RPG gamers), Narrator will immediately tease: “Oh, that’s surprising, a hero destroying villagers’ things. Is that how you save the world?”

Or when you take a shortcut to the main quest, Narrator will get annoyed: “Why didn’t you take the main road? You probably prefer mud on your shoes, don’t you?”

Open world but full of traps

The world of The Bard’s Tale isn’t as vast as Skyrim, but it’s full of detail and surprises. From small villages, to dark forests, to dark dungeons, each place has its own secrets and challenges. What’s more, you’ll encounter countless quirky and “crazy” NPCs, from old men telling long-winded stories to monsters… who love to write poetry. There are odd quests like being tasked by an NPC with finding a sacred object. But when you bring it back, it turns out to be just an… inflated wooden spoon. What the hell is that?

Graphics and sound

On the mobile platform, The Bard’s Tale has been graphically optimized to deliver sharper images while still maintaining its retro style. The game’s environments, from taverns to dungeons, are meticulously designed, and the effects when you summon creatures or fight are also very vivid.

Another highlight is the music. For a game with the main character being the Bard, music plays an indispensable role. The songs in the game are extremely catchy but also satirical and humorous. One of the most famous songs is “Beer, Beer, Beer”, a song praising… beer. And of course, while the Bard sings, you will see the surrounding NPCs also dancing silly to the rhythm.

Download The Bard’s Tale MOD APK for Android

The Bard’s Tale is a strange case among RPGs. It doesn’t try to be a serious RPG, but instead tries to make the player laugh with silly dialogue, absurd situations, and a protagonist who is unlike anyone else. If you want to play a game and laugh at the same time, this is the perfect choice.