The Bard’s Tale: Tales of the Unknown is a classic first-person dungeon crawler RPG, released for the NES in 1991. Assembled in the cursed city of Skara Brae, players must form a party of adventurers to navigate treacherous, grid-based streets and labyrinths to defeat the evil wizard Mangar. This Japanese console adaptation of the influential computer RPG retains its notoriously challenging turn-based combat, deep character progression, and immersive dungeon exploration.
How to play
Your goal is to build a well-rounded party of six characters, map out the dungeons, and survive encounters to ultimately confront Mangar. As an NES game, the controls are mapped to your keyboard: use the Arrow Keys (D-pad) to navigate menus and move step-by-step through the world, Z (A) to confirm actions or attack, X (B) to cancel or go back, Enter (Start) to pause or open the main menu, and Shift (Select) to toggle options.
Tips
– Balance your party: Ensure you have a mix of front-line fighters (like Warriors or Paladins) to absorb damage and magic users (Conjurers or Magicians) for ranged attacks and healing.
– Map your progress: The dungeons are sprawling and easy to get lost in. Keep a notepad handy to draw your own maps, noting the locations of stairs, traps, and essential landmarks.
– Keep your Bard singing: True to the game’s title, the Bard’s songs provide crucial buffs to your party during combat, so keep their instrument equipped and use their abilities often.
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