BeetlejuiceGr

Yes i am 40+ years old. I have played bard's tale 1 and 2 and 3. I never managed to finish the first. The second and third, midway i was so busy rl, it was the first game that i hexedited a save, a hobby that i kept and loved. I still remember the first phrase in one of the trilogy "As i lay down and die..." Grandpa bard's tale was gone for years, few times i did install it and tried to play again, who has time nowdays to write down maps and so on. On to Bard's Tale 4. The music, the "not so well dressed for the occasion" bard and listeners video while loading a game, the battles, the story, the reminder that many "quality of life" scripts in other games is a plus if they dont exist in this game..makes you focus to important parts.. In general Bard's tale 4 tried to bring back the pure experience of old pc-rpgs, It reminded me King's Quest and Ultima IX The best of this game are You will return on the same areas to discover more things as more abilities are unlocked. You will have to read poems and text in order to solve puzzles and riddles and unlock abilities You will have to make compromises and put your characters back and forth and change them skill sets and whole setups and armor and weapons. You will search all the game to find materials for certain food or weapons.. The chat between your characters even the mercenaries is fun! and it exists (considering so many new games dont have more than 2 lines..) You will have so many things unanswered you will play the game from scratch again.! You will realize that a game without jump or speed/jump is better for rpg, no-action rpg is a pure rpg perhaps? but **** your brain not a trye to cheat jump a road or obstacle. I am surprised a game like this hasn' let me stuck at all in corners or stairs etc. Did i mention the music and songs? You think the vendors will give you better gear later on? Nope! You think you can sell everything ? nope! choices matter, purchases matter, sales matter, when you fill your inventory think well if you want ot clear it or destroy items..There are not so many apples!!! That's what i thought till i played it second time.. I played 1/3 of the game and then i realized there is teleport through special areas! I played 3/4 till i figure out what those offerings were, and half of it till i understand that there are special shrines to "upgrade" certain items The bad parts. There should be an option to search an item in inventory. There should be a "auto arrange/sort" inventory. Sometimes the game will disappear. (really few occasions with the latest patches) Graphics design amazing at some parts, average or bad at others... Overall too many puzzles ,i would prefer slightly less, i dont mean they are very hard, but too many at some areas.. The plot , it is interesting, you listen names that you have played spells with their name on ("mangar's malet "? ) however it is not very intelligent. An unknown villain has other villains (cant write more or there is spoiler) to do his biding (which is unknown) but all in all is linear. I was surprised about who he was in the end, didn't expect it but the truth isyou dont get so much contact with possible suspects to get an idea who or why. I would like to have more side quests and i would like some NPCs to really have a story and sidequest . The Cabbage for **** farmer that asks for some plants as if he sells them but not, the **** just like nameplaces and i would like to see a sidestory and quest..Thats why i hope for IV... If you want numbers Gameplay 8/10 (it needs some shining here and there) Sound/music/speech 10/10/10 Graphics 8/10 Immersion in RPG 10/10 Replayability 10/10 Difficulty 7/10 (i havent played hard but i am sure if i spend more time it is doable). PRiceless : The blacksmith's note about his daughter and the bag hanging on the top of his house..! Dont play the game on easy, normal is what this game should be played, dont take the "music to solve puzzles" its lame and you lose half the magic. This game brings back the "no pain no gain" and the pain is in the brain (perhaps i am not awesome puzzle solver or its becaues i play at nights as i have kids who occupy the pc) Teaches many things to players who are used in action rpgs, reminds to old players older rpgs which were not a full complete game but still had beauty Leaves you with surprises as a game should be. Weapon puzzles! Offerings!! and so on. You want to unlock healing? GOOD LUCK! :P (well it is not hard but you need to unlock it) Overall 8/10 Hope they give us Bard's Tale 5, The bar is high now InXile, i hope you are up to it, I want more NPCs more sidequests, more Humour, more music, better and more arced plot!