View Full Version : Anyone remember Bard's Tale?
Spinbrett
11-21-2005, 12:44 AM
The series on the commodore 64? Part 2 sucked but 1 and 3 were amazing. You actually had to sit down and map out the dungeons by hand. You could buy a clue book, but it had nothing in it. They had these "spinners" as they were called that would spin you, and if you didn't pay attention, you'd head back the way you came from. Plus, you had to really explore to find out what to do, it wasn't so linear like to days games where they tell you exactly where to go and who to talk to. The Bards Tale was so inovative for its time. I miss that game so much. :(
Blanka789
11-21-2005, 12:48 AM
Yeah, that was a pretty fun series(even 2 imo), I wish someplace had it for download to play on regular PC"s.
Arkaign
11-21-2005, 01:00 AM
I always saw this sitting in Babbage's, but never picked it up. On a side note, I *LOVE* classic video game packaging, it was so diverse and interesting. I am not an EA fan now, but back in the day, those fold-open things were so cool.
You could buy a clue book, but it had nothing in it.
Nice "clue book."
I asked for the latest version for Xmas. Saw it for PS2 at Best Buy recently, but wifey says it's too close to Xmas to be buying up too much game stuff.
Yeah, yeah, I know. :roll: <whip crack>
calthaer
11-21-2005, 12:15 PM
I never played this on the C64, but you might be able to recognize my avatar as being from the Apple ][ version.
One of the best RPG series of all time.
FYI, the latest version is NOTHING like the originals - it's a Dark-Alliance-style dungeon hack with copious amounts of (decent) humor thrown in, spoofing the RPG genre and its clichés.
BUT - if you purchase the PC version, I believe it also contains all three of the original Bard's Tale games for the PC.
Mayhem
11-21-2005, 01:17 PM
The game took several months of my life away. And then I redid it again when I got the disk version finally (I had been playing on tape before!). Beat it at last about 3-4 years ago and started on part 2 but only got about halfway before I had no time left to devote to it.
Truffle
11-21-2005, 04:12 PM
I remember playing the hell out of the Bards Tale back when I was a kid. I was too stupid to get very far, and usually got killed alot.
Can anyone tell me if the NES version is any good?
Mangar
11-21-2005, 04:40 PM
Bards Tales remains my single favourite RPG series ever made. Even over the Ultima series.
I played all three(Even part 2 was quite decent) on the C-64, and i believe there was a Bards Tale Construction Set released after the third one for the Amiga and PC.
The new Bards Tale is a completely different game, but the closest modern equivalent is Devils Whiskey. http://www.devilwhiskey.com/
Sothy
11-21-2005, 04:53 PM
i played it on my old IBM PS2 and wasnt too impressed.
Of course The only sound support I had was modem speaker beeps so maybe i missed something.
tylerwillis
11-21-2005, 06:26 PM
BUT - if you purchase the PC version, I believe it also contains all three of the original Bard's Tale games for the PC.
:hmm: Can anyone confirm this? I usually stay away from PC versions, but it'd be sweet to have the old school stuff too.
And yes, the newer one is nothing like the old ones... but I gave it a good review (http://www.tylerwillis.com/2005/06/24/review-the-bards-tale/). Probably one of the funniest games I've played in a long time.
kevin_psx
11-21-2005, 06:28 PM
The best place to play old 80's PC games is not an IBM. 4 colors and beep-beep sounds? Gag me with a spoon!
Go for the Commodore 64 version with 16 colors and a real music chip. Or better Amiga with 4096 colors and near-CD sound. http://www.lemonamiga.com/?game_id=123
http://www.lemonamiga.com/games/screenshots/full/bards_tale_ii_-_the_destiny_knight_01.gif :image:
kedawa
11-21-2005, 08:50 PM
I had this game for Amiga, but I never got very far in it, despite playing for hours at a time.
I really had no idea what I was supposed to do or where I was supposed to go.
PS1Expert
11-21-2005, 09:23 PM
Funny how you ask this question. I was just on an Atari ST site and was looking at the Bard's Tale preview. I used to play Bard's Tale on ST for hours and hours. I spent many sleepless nights playing it. Oh how I loved those good ole days. I also remember playing Phantasie 1, 2, and 3. Those ruled too!!
kedawa
11-21-2005, 09:48 PM
I think I had Phantasie III for Amiga as well, if I'm thinking of the right game.
Did the game have damage for each limb?
PS1Expert
11-21-2005, 09:57 PM
I think I had Phantasie III for Amiga as well, if I'm thinking of the right game.
Did the game have damage for each limb?
I dunno. I didn't think it was released on Amiga (otherwise I would have remembered it??)
HEre are the ST's Phantasie 2 and 3. Damn, I'd buy an ST agian just for those.
http://www.atari.st/view.php?id=1248
http://www.atari.st/view.php?id=2180
kedawa
11-21-2005, 10:03 PM
Yup. That's the one. I don't know why I had so many RPGs back then. I could never get into them much.
Text adventures, on the other hand, had me hooked for months.
zerohero
11-21-2005, 10:06 PM
How can I forget that game... lots of reading ;)
PS1Expert
11-21-2005, 10:08 PM
Yup. That's the one. I don't know why I had so many RPGs back then. I could never get into them much.
Text adventures, on the other hand, had me hooked for months.
Text adventures?? Ugh. I could never complete those games although I did enjoy them. I never complete any of the Zorks...etc. Did you like King's Quest? You remember that one?
kedawa
11-21-2005, 11:00 PM
King's Quest was cool. My friend had it for PC Jr.
He also had Black Cauldron, which was also pretty good.
Best game ever. Part 2 was definitely the worst of the 3, but I would hardly say it sucked. Have you played Dragon Wars (the unofficial BT4)?
<= Note avatar. 8-)
jcheatle
11-21-2005, 11:44 PM
Can anyone tell me if the NES version is any good?
I liked it, but then, I also never played any of the PC versions. I was a late arrival at the Bard's Tale party, as it was one of the first games I picked up in fall of 98 when I really started "collecting". Played the hell out of it, though... at least until the battery reset on me. Never had my own PC until Christmas 97, so maybe somebody else could do the compare and contrast thing.
Truffle
11-22-2005, 12:00 AM
Can anyone tell me if the NES version is any good?
I liked it, but then, I also never played any of the PC versions. I was a late arrival at the Bard's Tale party, as it was one of the first games I picked up in fall of 98 when I really started "collecting". Played the hell out of it, though... at least until the battery reset on me. Never had my own PC until Christmas 97, so maybe somebody else could do the compare and contrast thing.
Awsome! As long as someone thought it was cool. Ive been known to like some really shitty titles though...
Ill do myself a favor when I find a copy, and replace the battery before I can forget.
I agree with Sothy. I had it on my Apple II, and was not impressed at all. Found it rather boring after a bit and just stopped playing it.
SuperPsycho
11-22-2005, 01:35 AM
I think the Apple IIgs had one of the best versions (http://www.whatisthe2gs.apple2.org.za/the_fairway/game_pages/bards_tale.html) of this game. You could download it and play it with a IIgs emulator.
calthaer
11-22-2005, 09:50 PM
BUT - if you purchase the PC version, I believe it also contains all three of the original Bard's Tale games for the PC.
:hmm: Can anyone confirm this? I usually stay away from PC versions, but it'd be sweet to have the old school stuff too.
There's no real reason to stay away from the PC version of this as long as you have a decent video card - it both looks and plays better than the PS2 or Xbox versions (as long as you have a controller, but what self-respecting gamer wouldn't have one for their PC?), and is exactly the same in content and all that.
And I just whipped out my copy to confirm: sticker on the box says "Bonus: Contains all 3 classic Bard's Tale games!"
Has PDF manuals and all that jazz, but yeah - all three PC versions of the original games can be installed.
tylerwillis
11-22-2005, 11:21 PM
BUT - if you purchase the PC version, I believe it also contains all three of the original Bard's Tale games for the PC.
:hmm: Can anyone confirm this? I usually stay away from PC versions, but it'd be sweet to have the old school stuff too.
There's no real reason to stay away from the PC version of this as long as you have a decent video card - it both looks and plays better than the PS2 or Xbox versions (as long as you have a controller, but what self-respecting gamer wouldn't have one for their PC?), and is exactly the same in content and all that.
And I just whipped out my copy to confirm: sticker on the box says "Bonus: Contains all 3 classic Bard's Tale games!"
Has PDF manuals and all that jazz, but yeah - all three PC versions of the original games can be installed.
Wow... that's one heck of a bonus. Can't believe that I haven't seen that posted/advertised before. I enjoyed the heck out of my xbox version, but I'll definitely add the pc ver to my "hunting for" list.
kevin_psx
11-23-2005, 09:55 AM
There's no real reason to stay away from the PC version of this as long as you have a decent video card - it both looks and plays better than the PS2 or Xbox versions
How does an 80's PC game with 4 colors look better than PS2???? Rather play the Commodore or Amiga with 32 colors. And free downloads at lemon64.com
tylerwillis
11-23-2005, 12:12 PM
There's no real reason to stay away from the PC version of this as long as you have a decent video card - it both looks and plays better than the PS2 or Xbox versions
How does an 80's PC game with 4 colors look better than PS2???? Rather play the Commodore or Amiga with 32 colors. And free downloads at lemon64.com
It's pretty easy... when you read the thread. He wasn't referring to the old Bard's Tale... but rather the new one.