5

Summary

• Release Year: 1988
• Genres: Role-playing game (RPG)
• Platforms: Amiga, Apple II, Commodore C64/128/MAX, DOS
• Developers: Interplay Productions
• Publishers: Electronic Arts

The Bard’s Tale III: Thief of Fate (1988)

The Bard’s Tale III: Thief of Fate is a first-person fantasy role-playing game developed and published by Interplay Productions. It was released in 1988 for the Apple II, Commodore 64, and MS-DOS. The game is the third installment in the Bard’s Tale series, and a sequel to The Destiny Knight.

Thief of Fate begins with the heroes of the previous game, who have just defeated the evil wizard Mangar. However, their victory is short-lived, as they soon receive a letter informing them that Mangar’s master, the Mad God Tarjan, has unleashed his wrath upon the town of Skara Brae, completely destroying it. The heroes travel to a refugee camp nearby and embark on a quest to defeat Tarjan.

Thief of Fate is similar to its predecessors, being a first-person fantasy role-playing game in which the player explores maze-like pseudo-3D towns, dungeons, and wilderness areas. However, there are a number of new features that set Thief of Fate apart from its predecessors.

One of the most significant new features is the addition of two new character classes: the Geomancer and the Chronomancer. The Geomancer can cast spells that manipulate the earth, while the Chronomancer can cast spells that manipulate time. These new classes add a lot of depth and variety to the gameplay, and they allow players to create more specialized and unique parties.

Another new feature in Thief of Fate is the auto-mapping feature. This feature allows players to automatically map the dungeons and wilderness areas that they explore. This is a huge time-saver, and it makes it much easier to navigate the game’s complex environments.

Finally, Thief of Fate features a more complex and engaging story than its predecessors. The game’s world is divided into separate realms accessed by using time warps, each with its own theme and setting – including, among others, famous locations from Earth’s history such as ancient Rome or Berlin during World War II. This gives the game a much more epic and sweeping feel than its predecessors.

Thief of Fate was a critical and commercial success, and it is considered to be one of the best RPGs of its era. The game’s innovative gameplay, memorable characters, and epic story have made it a classic that is still enjoyed by gamers today.

Gameplay

Thief of Fate is a first-person fantasy role-playing game in which the player controls a party of up to six characters. The game is played from a first-person perspective, and the player explores the game world by moving through a series of maze-like dungeons, towns, and wilderness areas.

The game’s combat system is turn-based, and the player can choose to attack, cast spells, or use items during their turn. The game features a wide variety of spells and items, and the player can use these to customize their party’s abilities and strategies.

Thief of Fate also features a number of puzzles and riddles that the player must solve in order to progress through the game. These puzzles can be challenging, but they add a lot of depth and variety to the gameplay.

Characters

The player can choose from a variety of character classes when creating their party in Thief of Fate. These classes include:

• Bard: The Bard is a versatile class that can cast spells, fight with melee weapons, and use musical instruments to buff their allies and debuff their enemies.
• Fighter: The Fighter is a powerful melee combatant who can wear heavy armor and wield a variety of weapons.
• Mage: The Mage is a spellcaster who can cast a wide variety of spells, including offensive, defensive, and healing spells.
• Ranger: The Ranger is a ranged combatant who can use bows and arrows to attack enemies from afar.
• Thief: The Thief is a stealthy class that can pick locks, disarm traps, and backstab enemies.
• Geomancer: The Geomancer is a new class in Thief of Fate that can cast spells that manipulate the earth. These spells can be used to attack enemies, defend allies, and create obstacles.
• Chronomancer: The Chronomancer is another new class in Thief of Fate that can cast spells that manipulate time. These spells can be used to speed up or slow down time, as well as to create time loops.

Setting

Thief of Fate takes place in a fantasy world that is divided into a number of different realms. These realms are accessed by using time warps, and each realm has its own unique theme and setting.

Some of the realms that the player can visit in Thief of Fate include:

• The Realm of Skara Brae: This realm is the setting for the game’s opening act, and it is a land that has been ravaged by the Mad God Tarjan.
• The Realm of Ancient Rome: This realm is a recreation of ancient Rome, and it is filled with Roman legions, gladiators, and other historical figures.
• The Realm of Berlin: This realm is a recreation of Berlin during World War II, and it is filled with German soldiers, tanks, and other wartime artifacts.
• The Realm of Faerie: This realm is a land of magic and wonder, and it is home to fairies, elves, and other mythical creatures.

Legacy

Thief of Fate was a critical and commercial success, and it is considered to be one of the best RPGs of its era. The game’s innovative gameplay, memorable characters, and epic story have made it a classic that is still enjoyed by gamers today.

Thief of Fate has been ported to a number of different platforms over the years, including the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, the Sega Genesis, and the PlayStation. The game has also been released on a number of digital distribution platforms, including Steam and GOG.com.

Thief of Fate has inspired a number of sequels and spin-offs over the years, including The Bard’s Tale IV: Barrows Deep (2018) and The Bard’s Tale Trilogy (2021). The game has also been the subject of a number of fan-made remakes and mods.

Review Score

8.5/10

Art

Cover Art

Screenshots