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Bard's Tale: Fight Songs
Check out some of the cool spells you'll use to combat evil. Sarcasm is not your only weapon!
The Bard's Tale has gone gold and is set to ship next week for Xbox and PS2, with the PC version coming early next year. We've been playing the heck out of inXile's first game and loving it. While the biting humor is one reason to praise The Bard's Tale, it's the songs (or spells) the Bard casts that have really caught our attention.
Since The Bard's Tale uses the Champions of Norrath engine, it would be a rather obvious assumption that this is a multiplayer game. However, The Bard is played solo. However, you will have numerous companions on your journey, including an attack beagle and sixteen summoned creatures. Spells in The Bard's Tale are actually entities called forth by the Bard's music. They have health and personalities, and special abilities they use to aid the Bard.
As you progress, you'll earn better instruments that can allow you to summon more beings at once, but it will be your task to decide which spells to use in battle. They all have their benefits, some more so than others.
To give you a taste of what to expect next week when The Bard's Tale ships, we're offering a glimpse at seven spells. This isn't even half your arsenal and exemplifies many of the earliest spells. Still, they are quite potent when used properly.
Mana Cost: 100Special: The Heroine fires a burst of crossbow bolts at her foes.
The Heroine is your archer and is quite deadly from long range. Up close, she will be forced to swing her crossbow, which is ineffective. However, when utilized properly, she lends excellent support, especially against foes in high places.
Mana Cost: 100Special: The Mercenary will flail around with his axe, knocking foes to the ground.
A powerful hand-to-hand combatant, the Mercenary is an excellent choice for those who prefer to use long-ranged attacks with the Bard. Let the Mercenary get up close and dirty while the Bard sits back and fires from afar.
Mana Cost: 75Special: The Thunder Spider stuns opponents with its lightning attack.
A weak spell that has little health, the Spider is incredible effective while it lasts. Shooting arcs of electricity, the Thunder Spider stuns foes, leaving them ripe for your slaughter. Best of all, the Spider has no voice so it can never talk back.
Mana Cost: 100Special: The Bodyguard taunts ranged foes in combat, causing them to attack him instead of his allies.
This big brute is great for drawing enemy fire. The stronger the spell, the more damage it can take before disappearing. The Bodyguard is very effective when fighting a swarm of a half-dozen or more enemies.
Mana Cost: 100Special: The Crone will heal injured allies in combat.
Invaluable is a good way to describe this ugly old witch. She's a bit cranky, but always willing to help and will heal the Bard and other summoned spells. She has no abilities in combat, so keeping her out of range is key to maintaining the use of her special gifts.
Mana Cost: 50Special: The Light Fairy will not only light the way in dark places, but will also blind enemies in combat, stunning them.
This cute little fairy has an unexpectedly gruff voice. Useful when you need a light, the fairy is also excellent fodder in a fight when you want to distract (and sometimes blind) enemies. More of an adventure tool than a combat spell.
Mana Cost: 100Special: The Vorpal Rat launches itself at foes from a great distance.
Our favorite, the Vorpal Rat is, in essence, the killer rabbit from Monty Python and the Holy Grail. There's nothing quite like fighting a baddie only to see a tiny rat leap across the screen and decapitate him.
©2004, IGN Entertainment, Inc. All Rights Reserved
12:00 am PDT October 19, 2004