Summary
- Release Year: 1986
- Genres: Role-playing game (RPG)
- Platforms: Amiga, Apple II, Apple IIGS, Commodore C64/128/MAX, DOS
- Developers: Interplay Productions
- Publishers: Electronic Arts
The Bard’s Tale II: The Destiny Knight (1986)
Introduction
The Bard’s Tale II: The Destiny Knight is a classic dungeon crawling role-playing game released in 1986 for the Apple II, Commodore 64, and MS-DOS. It is the sequel to the highly successful The Bard’s Tale, and it expands on its predecessor in many ways, including a larger world, more character classes, and a more complex story.
Gameplay
The Bard’s Tale II is a turn-based dungeon crawler. The player controls a party of up to six characters through a series of dungeons, fighting monsters, solving puzzles, and completing quests. The game features a wide variety of character classes, each with their own unique abilities.
One of the most innovative features of The Bard’s Tale II is its dynamic lighting system. This system simulates the effects of light and darkness on the game world, and it can have a significant impact on gameplay. For example, monsters can be more difficult to see in the dark, and characters can become lost if they stray too far from a light source.
Plot
The story of The Bard’s Tale II takes place several years after the events of the first game. The evil Mangar has returned, and he is once again threatening the world. The player must assemble a party of heroes to defeat Mangar and save the day.
Characters
The Bard’s Tale II features a wide variety of character classes, each with their own unique abilities. These classes include:
- Bard: The bard is a support class that can use music to heal and buff his allies.
- Cleric: The cleric is a healing class that can also cast a variety of protective spells.
- Fighter: The fighter is a melee damage dealer who can use a variety of weapons and armor.
- Mage: The mage is a spellcaster who can cast a variety of offensive and defensive spells.
- Ranger: The ranger is a ranged damage dealer who can use a variety of bows and arrows.
- Rogue: The rogue is a stealthy class that can use a variety of daggers and lockpicks.
Development
The Bard’s Tale II was developed by Interplay Productions, a company founded by Brian Fargo. Fargo had previously worked on the original Bard’s Tale, and he was determined to make the sequel even better.
The game was developed over a period of two years, and it was one of the most ambitious games of its time. The game’s large world, complex story, and innovative lighting system were all groundbreaking for the time.
Release
The Bard’s Tale II was released in 1986 to critical acclaim. The game was praised for its graphics, gameplay, and story. It was a commercial success, and it helped to establish Interplay Productions as a major force in the video game industry.
Legacy
The Bard’s Tale II is considered to be one of the greatest role-playing games of all time. It was one of the first games to feature a dynamic lighting system, and it helped to popularize the dungeon crawling genre. The game has been ported to a variety of platforms over the years, and it remains popular with fans today.
Conclusion
The Bard’s Tale II: The Destiny Knight is a classic role-playing game that set new standards for the genre. Its innovative gameplay, complex story, and memorable characters have made it a beloved game for over 30 years. If you are a fan of dungeon crawlers or role-playing games in general, then you owe it to yourself to check out The Bard’s Tale II.
Review Score
8.5/10
Art
Cover Art
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