Mixed or average reviews - based on 42 Critics What's this?
Summary: The Bard's Tale IV returns to the classic fantasy RPGs of years past. Featuring dynamic turn-based combat, a full party of characters to build and customize, and first-person exploration of maze-like dungeons with devious puzzles and riddles, The Bard's Tale IV is a true successor to theThe Bard's Tale IV returns to the classic fantasy RPGs of years past. Featuring dynamic turn-based combat, a full party of characters to build and customize, and first-person exploration of maze-like dungeons with devious puzzles and riddles, The Bard's Tale IV is a true successor to the original Bard's Tale trilogy, and is crowdfunded by thousands of fans. Help us bring back the dungeon crawl and return to Skara Brae - the city that started it all.
* A single-player, party-based role-playing game, rich in exploration, combat and challenging puzzles.
* Dynamic phase-based combat, where the pace of battle is animated and fluid, but still gives you time to think and respond to your enemies.
* A game set to beautiful Gaelic music from Julie Fowlis (multi-award winning Gaelic singer) and Mark Morgan (Wasteland 2, Torment: Tides of Numenera), where the Bard's songs and melodies affect gameplay.
* Compelling story and narrative by acclaimed novel and game writer Nathan Long (Wasteland 2, Torment: Tides of Numenera).
* Built using Unreal Engine 4, taking advantage of the latest graphics technologies to create a lush and vibrant world with great interactivity and detail.
* Branching quests and a world that reacts to your decisions and party make-up.
Recruitable companion NPC characters, bring personality, and maybe trouble, to your party.
* Unlock another layer of secrets as you examine and physically manipulate your magic items and the environment.
* Brought to you by the team behind Wasteland 2 and Torment: Tides of Numenera.
This is your grandpappy's old-school RPG, but it is made for the modern day. It's made for RPG lovers of all types, ages, and experience. Bard's Tale 4 follows squarely in the footsteps of giants without missing a beat. It has taken all those classic features and brought them into modern game play. It feels both fresh and true to its roots, at the same time. I highly recommend this to veterans and newcomers to the series alike.
If you're expecting The Bard's Tale IV to be an action-RPG on par with some recent blockbusters, you may be disappointed. This is not a cinematic experience with bleeding edge graphics and breathless action and combat. However, if you approach the game as a super-enhanced, classic dungeon crawler that both fits into the legacy and moves the needle on a well-respected, beloved franchise, then you will be pleased by its story, puzzles, nuanced combat, excellent music and varied environments.
The Bard's Tale IV is a little retro pleasure that is difficult to ignore. The characters are fun, its universe is rich and the game mechanics are deep. Unfortunately, the game is not up to par visually and looks like something that was released ten years ago.
The Bard's Tale IV: Barrows Deep has a satisfyingly deep and flexible battle system, surrounded by heavy puzzle exploration and a narrative that doesn't manage to stay interesting. There are some really neat systems at play here for those looking for intricate combat, but performance issues and a lacking storyline make it a hard sell to a larger audience.
Equal parts fascinating and frustrating, The Bard's Tale IV is not what I was hoping for. With patching and better documentation, it could be a stellar roleplaying experience. As it stands, this Bard needs to practice her tune.
Without the bugs, The Bard's Tale IV is okay at best. With them, it's perhaps best to preserve your nostalgia and play the HD remaster of The Bard's Tale I to III instead.