The remaster of the classic Bard’s Tale is an engaging and atmospheric trip of nostalgia and history. It serves as a reminder of why this game became a classic role-playing experience in the first place and just how far games have come since.
I had just completed the Wine Cellar dungeon as well as the three levels of The Sewers. A hint found on the second level of The Sewers led me to the Mad God’s Temple and the catacombs underneath the temple.
The catacombs were atmospheric and the music foreboding. These underground ossuaries were lined with the remains of individuals who stare back at you as if in silent judgement. The visuals are reminiscent of The Catacombs of Paris.
These burial chambers consist of winding and twisting tunnels filled with hordes of undead. In one area I encountered 66 skeletons while in another burial chamber I encountered 45 zombies. These lethal encounters served to remind me of two things: the first being that the thief class is almost completely useless and the second that you are meant to take your time in the dungeons in order to grind your characters to higher experience levels.
The encounters with the undead hordes can be quite lethal but surviving them grants each party member with quite a bit of experience points. I decided to use this to my advantage and decided to drop the thief, Markus, from the party, despite all of the experience he had gained from the Wine Cellar and The Sewers. I replaced Markus with a 1st level Monk that I created whom I called Nomad. Nomad quickly gained levels in the catacombs and his physical presence in the party was immediately felt.
Bard’s Tale is truly a game in which you’re meant to take your time and grind your characters higher. If you attempt to speed your way through the dungeon levels without fully exploring your characters are going to pay for it with their lives. The game is extremely challenging, and it is best that you take your time and allow your characters to gain experience, power, and items to help them in their quest.
The second level of the catacombs contained the High Priest’s treasure chamber. Here you encountered his pet dragon, Sphynx, which was a large Grey Dragon. Bashar Kavilor, the High Priest himself, also proved to be a difficult encounter. The only other notable encounter on this level was a burial chamber containing 49 wights.
The third and final level of The Catacombs hid King Alldrek’s ancient burial chamber. He attacked the party and among the items strewn about the chamber was a glowing, jeweled eye. The eye is an important magical item which you will need to enter Harkyn’s Castle and is the object of entering and braving the catacombs. There are also hordes of undead in this final catacomb level. Examples of these lethal encounters include battles with 99 skeletons, 66 zombies, and 69 wraiths. A tremendous amount of experience points were gained as a result of exploring the catacombs.
Using the eye, I’ve just entered Harkyn’s Castle which represents the next challenge and phase of the game. Thus far, I have spent 23.7 hours with the game and I am enjoying it immensely.