Despite the fact that it bears the name of a much-loved mid-'80s computer role-playing game, and despite the fact that it's the handiwork of one of that game's creators, InXile's reenvisioning of The Bard's Tale is not a nostalgia piece for fans of old PC RPGs. But the inclusion of the first three games in the series as a bonus certainly does give the overall package a nostalgic boost. Borrowing Snowblind's Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance engine, as well as its overall structure, the new Bard's Tale is a decent dungeon crawler that invests some energy into lampooning RPGs and high fantasy in general. But like a stand-up routine about airline food or the line at the post office, the game's perspective isn't very interesting, and it lacks any real follow-through. If you're not looking for an unofficial sequel to Monty Python and the Quest for the Holy Grail, and you can see past a few problems, you'll find that The Bard's Tale is a decent enough action RPG