Tag: Tale

Hot from the kitchens of the Lazy Bear Games studio delivered by Riot Forge, Bandle Tale: A League of Legends Story offers us a completely comfortable new adventure in the city of the Yordles, in Bandle City. Beneath its cute presentation, is the game interesting enough?

Bandle Tale: A League of Legend Story Technical Sheet

• Release date : February 21, 2024
• Style : RPG
• ESRB / PEGI rating : E/PEGI 7
• Developer: Lazy Bear Games
• Editor: Riot Forge
• Operating language: English voices and French subtitles
• Available on PC, PS4, PS5 and Switch
• Tested on PC
• Price during the test: CA$35.99 / €24.99
• Official site
• Version sent by publisher

Bandle Tale begins with creating your own Yordle which includes a host of options including naming it. Once created, the story starts you in the sleepy little town of Yarnville. This is where your character completes a 101+ year apprenticeship to be a master knitter. One thing leads to another and you find yourself on a quest to reconnect the city with its magic by solving the problems found in each part of Bandle City.

As with all games in the A League of Legends Story series, we are offered an in-depth look at an element of history and culture found in Runeterra, the world of the popular MOBA. In this case, the Yordles are in the spotlight with a direct look at their city and their very cute customs. From Yainville to Gadgeton via their illustrious university, we also meet the well-known heroes of League of Legends including Corki, Teemo, Tristana and Veigar.

Of life and fresh pixels

Lazy Bear Games took a pixel art approach in with an isometric view. Enchanting and above all lively settings in which we can see numerous creatures in striking detail. We must not be fooled, despite the choice of artistic direction which could suppose that it remains simple, the game delivers in small details and in numerous spectacular effects. Throughout all the exploration, each environment is unique, colorful, interesting and alive. The characters are expressive and their small movements still remain detailed despite their small size on the screen.

The music is relaxing, invites exploration, but can unfortunately become repetitive as you progress through Bandle City. Pieces often recur on the track and don’t help much in giving a real distinction of the different environments found there.

Made from scratch

The essence of Bandle Tale’s gameplay revolves around creating and crafting multiple items to advance the story. For example, you need to make a tool to undo a spider web or a shovel to collect dust. We accumulate resources and return to our house to make what we need.

Each thing we collect or craft gives us emotions and when our character goes to sleep, it transforms them into experience points. We can only accumulate a limited amount of emotions per day and everything that is done when our gauge is full is lost. It can become boring to go back and forth incessantly at the start of the adventure to be able to maximize the accumulated emotions. Fortunately, we increase our capacity to accumulate emotions quickly.

Experience can be spent in a talent tree which is divided into quite a few sections like knitting, nature, engineering or magic. Everything is connected to the creation of new things that we need to move forward in the story. By doing quests, we are allowed to collect badges which open new branches of our talent tree and pick up new recipes for tools and items.

Despite the choice that we are offered, it remains in the linear, it remains almost completely necessary to have ALL the talents to complete the game. Not that this is necessarily bad in itself, but to give the illusion of choice seems superfluous in the state of things.

Bombing and feasting

Another aspect of our character’s life is to offer meals to the inhabitants of the region he visits and to organize a big party. Each event offers their rewards, for example, full bellies will give you stars to be able to purchase resources in the store that are not available elsewhere. On the other hand, we can have a party with the locals to collect portal wool to allow us to teleport everywhere and reconnect the magical bond that unites Bandle City.

We can also modify different specific spaces such as the kitchen and the party to install new furniture as well as new tools to go even faster.

Each event is a mini-game. One involves stockpiling ingredients and delivering as quickly as possible while the other involves having enough of the attractions as well as being a most welcoming host. The choice of music or ingredient allows for better performance through the mini-games offered. The further we advance in the story, the more difficult it becomes while maintaining a certain simplicity.

However, the cycle remains repetitive from one region to another. Very often you have to remove an obstacle to be able to play the mini-games, but ultimately, you find yourself doing the quests and collecting the resources to be able to do the events to continue further.

Discover our other tests of games from the League of Legends universe

• Convergence
• The Mageseker
• Song of Nunu

Bandle Tale: A League of Legends Story Verdict

Bandle Tale is not a game of immense depth, but remains a good distraction between big action titles. If you are into cozy games like Animal Crossing or Spirit Farer, you will easily find your account. You risk, however, being left wanting more if you are looking for more excitement.