Play Bards Tale , The - Tales of the Unknown | Commodore 64 Online Game (1986)

The Bard's Tale: Tales of the Unknown, written by Michael Cranford and published by Electronic Arts in 1985 for the Commodore 64, is a seminal role-playing game (RPG) that blends fantasy storytelling with innovative gameplay mechanics. Set in the fictional city of Skara Brae, the game tasks players with assembling a party of adventurers to combat an evil sorcerer named Mangar, who has plunged the city into eternal winter. The game features first-person dungeon exploration, turn-based combat, and a robust character creation system, allowing players to choose from seven classes, including warriors, mages, and bards.

The game's standout feature is its use of a 'bard' character, who can play songs to provide buffs or summon allies during battles. This unique mechanic, combined with the game's intricate spell system and detailed world-building, set it apart from other RPGs of the era. The Commodore 64 version was particularly praised for its atmospheric graphics and sound, which enhanced the immersive experience of navigating Skara Brae's labyrinthine dungeons.

Development of The Bard's Tale was influenced by earlier RPGs like Wizardry and Ultima, but Cranford sought to streamline the genre by reducing complexity while maintaining depth. The game's success led to two direct sequels and cemented its place as a classic in the RPG genre. Its influence can be seen in later games that adopted similar party-based mechanics and dungeon-crawling gameplay.