History VideoGame / TheBardsTale

Take your standard HeroicFantasy, except replace that hero with an AntiHero {{Jerkass}}, "a sardonic and opportunistic musician and adventurer, driven by carnal rather than noble pursuits". The Bard [[NoNameGiven (who is never identified by a specific name)]] is not interested in saving the world, his humble motivations are strictly "coin and cleavage". Then have his quest narrated by a mocking, biased man who cannot stand him.

** [[LegacyOfKain The Elder]] [[TonyJay God]] is also the Narrator.

* LemonyNarrator: Voiced by TonyJay.

Has nothing to do with the games of TheBardsTaleTrilogy (the first game being titled ''The Bard's Tale'' [1985]), although it does have a few shout outs to it (and some editions include the earlier games as an extra).

* AllGirlsLoveBadBoys: In the Starter Inn, being nice to the Innkeeper would get you nothing, while berating her for the huge rat in the basement actually gets the Bard some nookie.

* AllWomenLoveBadBoys: In the Starter Inn, being nice to the Innkeeper would get you nothing, while berating her for the huge rat in the basement actually gets the Bard some nookie.

** TheChosenZero: Not only is the Bard an unlikely hero (and has this pointed out to him), there are many other "Chosen Ones" (people who think the are, anyway [[hottip:* :They actually are, but they just sucked.]]) who end up dead or worse. And after you come across them, [[BigLippedAlligatorMoment some trow come out and sing about it]]!

** [[MassEffect2 Zaeed Massani]] must have been a firbolg in a previous life.

** TheChosenMany

* BribingYourWayToVictory: At least in the Android version of the game. You have the options of buying packs of items, stat points, talents and in game currency with real currency if you want to. Its all stuff you have acquire in game and its single-player so you're just paying to speed up the game.

* HeyItsThatVoice: Hey, it's Carey Elwes. [[Horrible/VoiceActing But, why does he sound like he's whispering into the microphone from across the room?]]

* SceneryPorn: It's based on the BaldursGate: Dark Alliance engine and looks quite nice for its time.

* InfinityPlusOneSword: The Ego Sword, [[spoiler: acquired by rescuing some firbolgs trapped behind a cave-in.]] It's not the most damaging weapon in the game, but you can summon creatures without unequipping it to draw your instrument, and it's got an [[RazorWind oddly long]] reach.

* LethalLavaLand: Parodied with the Obligatory Lava Level.

* KillItWithFire: Higher-level bows shoot fire arrows. You also get to summon a fire elemental and a [[NinjaPirateZombieRobot firey exploding triceratops skeleton.]]

** The vorpal rat is explicitly described like the rabbit from MontyPythonAndTheHolyGrail.

** First, you can summon various creatures and warriors to back you up in battle, spending energy out of your ManaMeter. They stay with you until they're killed or banished.
** Second, you can use magical artifacts in combination with a limited supply of adderstones. These artifacts call Caleigh or one of three[[DungeonKeeper tower bosses]] to cause some instant or temporary effect on the field.

* ThemeNaming: Many of the names and characters are influenced by Celtic mythology and the stories of the Orkney Islands.

** Watching the "Chosen Ones" (a small army of teenagers) get killed in stupid and hilarious ways is one of several [[RunningGag running gags]].

** Count the number of times that you can arbitrarily swindle, abuse, or threaten people to get money or goods. Don't make a drinking game of it though; you'll make yourself very sick.

* WanderingMinstrel: The Bard.

* {{Nakama}}: The Brute gets pretty protective of the Bard.

** The description of one of the Tokens, The Boots of Quickening, says that they were once worn by [[HighLander "the great highland warrior Duncan MacClaidh",]] and that [[ThereCanBeOnlyOne "there can be only one pair surviving to this day".]]

Take your standard HeroicFantasy, except replace that hero with an AntiHero {{Jerkass}}, "a sardonic and opportunistic musician and adventurer, driven by carnal rather than noble pursuits. The Bard [[NoNameGiven (who is never identified by a specific name)]] is not interested in saving the world, his humble motivations are strictly "coin and cleavage". Then have his quest narrated by a mocking, biased man who cannot stand him.

Take your standard HeroicFantasy, except replace that hero with an AntiHero {{Jerkass}}, "a sardonic and opportunistic musician and adventurer, driven by carnal rather than noble pursuits. The Bard [[NoNameGiven (who is never identified by a specific name)]] is not interested in saving the world, his humble motivations are strictly 'coin and cleavage.'" Then have his quest narrated by a mocking, biased man who cannot stand him.

Unrelated to do with the games of TheBardsTaleTrilogy (the first game being titled ''The Bard's Tale'' [1985]), although it does have a few shout outs to it (and some editions include the earlier games as an extra).

* WeCouldHaveAvoidedAllThis: [[spoiler:If only Fionnaoch told the Bard that Caleigh was evil.]]

* TheChosenZero: Not only is the Bard an unlikely hero (and has this pointed out to him), there are many other "Chosen Ones" (people who think the are, anyway [[hottip:* :They actually are, but they just sucked.]]) who end up dead or worse. And after you come across them, [[BigLippedAlligatorMoment some trow come out and sing about it]]!

The 2004 game provides examples of: