The Bard's Tale
PlayStation 2 · 2004
About this game
The Bard is a cynical, opportunistic musician who roams the country in search of carnal pleasures.
However, this impatient and selfish fellow is compelled to accept the greatest quest of his life: save the princess Caleigh from a demonic cult that has kidnapped her.
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The unlikely hero must now explore the land in search of the princess, accompanied by the omnipresent Narrator who obviously can't stand the Bard and uses every opportunity to sarcastically comment on his actions.
Furthermore, Fionnaoch, the mysterious abductor of the princess, does everything he can to stop the Bard, sending his minions after him.
A self-proclaimed "quest for coin and cleavage", The Bard's Tale is an action RPG that is more of a whimsical take on role-playing games than a remake of the classic series .
As the Bard, players can fight off hordes of foes with blade and bow, and summon companions through magical Bard Songs.
Leveling up allows the player to raise the character's main attributes and invest specialization points in the different types of weapons he can use.
Magical companions must be sought out and then summoned during battles.
After being summoned, they act pretty much like AI-controlled party members; some of them specialize in physical attacks and offensive spells, while others can heal the hero.
During conversations the player can choose "nice" or "snarky" responses for the protagonist.
While mostly used for humorous effect, some of these responses may affect subsequent events.
The game uses the Dark Alliance engine and has a similar camera and control scheme.
About PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 (2000) is the best-selling game console in history, with a library exceeding 9,000 titles that spans everything from budget shovelware to genre-defining classics. That massive volume means PS2 collecting is accessible and affordable overall, but a handful of low-print-run RPGs and cult titles have become genuinely expensive — a common pattern once a console's original audience grows up with disposable income.
Gamevaro tracks The Bard's Tale for PlayStation 2 with separate market values for loose, complete-in-box (CIB) and factory-sealed copies, sourced from real eBay sales. Prices also vary by region — PAL, NTSC-U and NTSC-J releases of the same game often sell for different amounts due to print run sizes and regional collector demand.
Adding The Bard's Tale to a Gamevaro collection takes seconds — search by title or scan the box barcode, and the app fills in cover art, release details and current pricing automatically. This PS2 release dates back to 2004.
Market values by condition
Recent sales
| Date | Type | Region | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-29 | Loose / Item only | NTSC-U | €10.30 |
| 2026-06-29 | Sealed / New | NTSC-U | €24.53 |
| 2026-06-28 | Loose / Item only | PAL | €11.69 |
| 2026-06-28 | Loose / Item only | NTSC-J | €10.52 |
| 2026-06-28 | Sealed / New | PAL | €31.83 |
| 2026-06-28 | Sealed / New | NTSC-J | €24.53 |
Market insights
Rarity & condition
Only a handful of market sales have been tracked for The Bard's Tale, suggesting it doesn't trade hands very often — a sign of relative scarcity compared to more common PlayStation 2 titles.
Complete-in-box (CIB) copies typically command a premium over loose cartridges/discs because the original box and manual are more fragile and get discarded or damaged over time — fewer complete sets survive.
Frequently asked questions
How much is The Bard's Tale worth?
The Bard's Tale for PlayStation 2 is currently worth €11.69 loose, and €31.83 factory sealed. Prices are based on real sales and update regularly on Gamevaro.
Is The Bard's Tale rare?
The Bard's Tale has only a handful of tracked market sales, suggesting relative scarcity compared to more common PlayStation 2 titles.
What's the difference between loose, CIB and sealed for The Bard's Tale?
Loose means cartridge or disc only, CIB (complete in box) includes the original box and manual, and sealed means factory-sealed and never opened. These are tracked as separate market values because the price gap between them can be significant, especially for older releases.
Is The Bard's Tale worth more in PAL or NTSC?
The PAL version of The Bard's Tale is currently worth €11.69 loose, versus €10.30 for NTSC-U. Regional price differences usually come down to print run size and regional collector demand.
Ratings & Reviews
Also on other platforms
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