The Bard's Tale

The Bard's Tale is a video game in the role-playing (rpg) genre developed by inXile Entertainment, Inc. and published by Ubisoft Entertainment SA originally released in 2005. It is currently playable on Windows.

The Bard is a cynical and opportunistic musician who travels the country in search of carnal pleasures. However, this impatient and selfish fellow is forced to accept the greatest quest of his life: to save Princess Caleigh from a demonic cult that has kidnapped her. The unlikely hero must now explore the land in search of the princess, accompanied by the omnipresent Narrator, who obviously can't stand the Bard and takes every opportunity to sarcastically comment on his actions. In addition, Fionnaoch, the mysterious kidnapper of the princess, does his best to stop the Bard, sending his minions after him.

Self-proclaimed 'quest for coins and cleavage', The Bard's Tale is an action RPG that is more a whimsical take on RPGs than a remake of the classic series. In the role of the bard, players can fight hordes of enemies with sword and bow, and summon companions through magical bard songs. Leveling up allows the player to increase the character's main attributes and invest specialization points in the different types of weapons he or she can use. Magical companions must be sought and then summoned during battles. After being summoned, they act more or less like AI-controlled party members; some of them specialize in physical attacks and offensive spells, while others can heal the hero.

During conversations, the player can choose 'kind' or 'sarcastic' responses to the protagonist. Although most of the time they are used for humorous purposes, some of these responses can affect subsequent events. The game uses the Dark Alliance engine and has a similar camera and control scheme.

The Bard's Tale is available at a reduced price on the following websites and is no longer abandonware.