Bard's Tale for the PS2 is not what you would expect.
It's a game with humor and loads of it. It's like playing a Necro in Diablo II with a sarcastic narrator that taunts your character and your avatar taunts back even harder. It really is well written.
Voice acting: fantastic
There is more going on in the voice work just for laughs then any other game to date.. Top notch work.. I was soooo f#cking happy to hear the game, that they didn't skimp on an old favorite (aka Spy Hunter.)
Teh Funney: fantastic
The first time you open a chest you get a funny speech about how it helps the person.. clear out.. ya know.. old stuff.. I won't go into it because of spoilers but lets just say that Bard's Tale is one of the funniest RPG's I've ever played. If characters break into song then you get the bouncing ball over text! and nothing is sacred.. it's like a sitcom in places. This is a Bard's Tale universe where Ompa Lumpa like goblins come in and sing a song Lumpa style. Lets just leave it there..
Graphics: standard
The graphics are like a PS2 game.. Camera can't go out far enough etc.etc they are not the reason I'm going to score this high. The camera is good enough. It doesn't get stuck or hide objects.
Gameplay:
Action/RPG at the basic level
Well, I haven't finished the game yet but your Bard is like a Necro in Diablo II or Summoner more then anything. You play songs to summon a pet or healing spell.. hack hack open fake tree etc. The gameplay is downright 1999.. Yet the humor and little touches make this game so much more.
It's not a hard game to figure out. The system of menu's reminds me of lots of games. I haven't even really been into a deep dungeon yet. It has been all quests.. silly quests like Monty Python and the Holy Grail type stuff. It's not boring like "LSL:cum loud" where you sperm around for a quarters game.. I WAS LAUGHING OUT LOUD BY MYSELF TONIGHT!
I have no Fire Horn or death groups of 99 Bezerkers but this game didn't say, "Bard's Tale IV"
I REALLY don't want to say more because I will spoill more. The game is, without a doubt, the funniest PS2 game on the market for RPG lovers. It's like Summoner on LSD with a dash of Rodney Dangerfield and Sienfeld.
This REALLY does not need to go one farther as a review. GO GET THIS GAME.
After 6 hours I think this game is a strong candidate for best voice acting of all time. It kills the GTA3 games like they were two bit hookers in a parking garage.
I have to say this, it is my duty as a Bard's Tale fanatic. This game is far from the universe I remember in 1986 with serious monks singing you back to health and graph paper maps.
..
..but it's so much fun.. and they actually put in the work needed to make a great game! There really is not a RPG on the PS2 market right now that can hold "fun" like this game does!
BRAVO!!