Current version:PlayStation 4
A Bastard's Tale

A Bastard's Tale

A Bastard's Tale is a PlayStation 4 adventure game released in 2016 developed by No Pest Productions. It centers on location exploration, character and object interaction, and objective or clue progression, with controls and information arranged around the DualShock 4 twin sticks, triggers, directional pad, and face buttons, with touchpad, speaker, light bar, or motion input where the game uses them.

AI score · out of 10
5.7 / 10
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About this game

A Bastard's Tale is a PlayStation 4 adventure game centered on location exploration, character and object interaction, and objective or clue progression. Locations, objectives, and clues gradually open the main chapters, with progress divided into stages, tasks, matches, or growth milestones that make immediate goals understandable. Its value depends on whether these rules continue to create judgment and room for mastery rather than on length, sales, or series recognition. Short campaigns are judged by repeat-challenge value, while longer ones are judged by variety, pacing, and recovery after failure. Theme, character expression, and environmental clues need to support exploration together, while HD output, HDR or PS4 Pro modes, HDD streaming, surround audio, and television-distance interfaces need to preserve action, state, and text readability together. The genre-specific limitation is that guidance, objective triggers, camera behavior, or dense text can create search and comprehension costs. Platform conditions also include HDD installs and loading, patch version, storage space, DualShock 4 battery life, PS Camera or PS VR requirements, visual modes, frame rate, and network services affect the current release. This description covers only this platform release and does not import features or conveniences from remasters, emulators, or other console editions.

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PlayStation 4

AI review

AI reviews are subjective assessments, not player ratings. See each review for its evidence and limitations.Published date:

5.7 / 10PlayStation 4

Thoughtful sword duels weakened by slow trial and error.

A Bastard’s Tale reduces side-scrolling action to a series of deliberate duels. Equipment cannot solve a difficult encounter for you: three sword directions, matching blocks and enemy openings are the real tools. Finally understanding a stubborn opponent can feel worthwhile. The learning process is less convincing when an attack direction is difficult to read, however, and dying sends you back through slow walks and opponents already understood. Short stages limit the loss without removing that repetition. Layered pixel scenery gives the medieval setting character, but combat readability varies. PS4 also prevents directional-pad movement, adding an unnecessary adjustment for traditional platform players. It suits someone willing to study a small collection of encounters repeatedly, with patience for imperfect signals.

Strengths

  • Understanding individual opponents creates real mastery.

Weaknesses

  • Unclear tells and repeated walking wear down practice.

Who it is for: Action players willing to study patterns patiently.

Play notes: PS4 lacks D-pad movement; death restarts the stage.

View scoring basis
DimensionReview stateScoreWeight
Dimension

Slow repeated walks dilute useful practice.

Reviewed4.8 / 10Not provided
Dimension

Directional duels reward learning but invite trial and error.

Reviewed6.0 / 10Not provided
Dimension

Layered pixel art has uneven combat readability.

Reviewed6.2 / 10Not provided
Dimension

Learnable PS4 blocks meet restricted input options.

Reviewed5.8 / 10Not provided

Review sources

Not provided

Core information

Release date
2016
Platforms
PlayStation 4
Content kind
Game
Release state
Released
Region
Worldwide
Official website
Not provided
Offline minimum players
Not provided
Offline maximum players
Not provided
Online minimum players
Not provided
Online maximum players
Not provided
Tags
Third PersonExplorationSolo-friendlyLinear LevelsSlow BurnPuzzle Solving3D GraphicsStory-drivenMain Story 10–20 HoursInvestigation
Supported game languages
Not provided
Requires base game
Not provided
Standalone
Not provided
Age ratings
Not provided
Play modes
Single player
Perspectives
Not provided

Release editions

Sources

Not provided