The Bard’s Tale Interview

eToyChest has conducted an interview with inXile’s Sean Patton, in which the designer answers a batch of questions about their recently released action RPG, The Bard’s Tale. Check it out:

Q: On a personal level, I like to think that the original Bard’s Tale games had a lot to do with my upbringing. Being sent to my room for whatever reason as a child often led to exploring Skara Brae for hours on end. What would you say to longtime fans of the franchise to entice them to give this new game a try?

A: If you remember the old Warner Bros. cartoons, I’m sure you are aware of their appeal to kids on one level and adults on another. That is similar to our approach on this game. If you are a young action RPG fan, you are going to pick up the controller and have a great time. Although it’s a single player game, it is party based. It adds a new dynamic to standard hack’n’slash because you will need to use strategy and tactics rather than just get the biggest sword and knock everyone down. Along the way, that same young gamer is going to find bits of humor and have a pretty good time. But remember, we are fans of the old franchise as well. And we’ve gotten a bit more wizened. So for the longtime fan, you are going to find not just humor but homages to some of your old favorite elements. Obviously, there is the much publicized killing of the rat quest. There’s also a teleporter puzzle. Little touches for those that have been around for awhile. Honestly, we hide a lot of geeky things in the game, because we assume those longtime fans are big geeks just like us.