Fable

2004

Overall rating: 4 out of 5

from 700 members

Great things have been expected from Blue Box Studio?s Fable since Peter Molyneux started talking it up in its earliest stage of development. It was promised as a unique RPG that saw the main character growing from an innocent infant to a wizened old warrior. Every action the player chooses in the process was planned to have a direct effect on the character?s appearance and personality, subsequently affecting how all the other NPCs react to your presence. Yet only moments before its PAL release, after some fairly cynical murmurings from NTSC Fable owners, Peter Molyneux actually apologised (via the Lionhead community message-board) for delivering what many people think is a massive anti-climax. While it?s good to know that his future hype-mongering will be sensibly subdued, it was a strange thing for the game?s creator to say. Strange because, in reality, Fable is really rather good. Casting aside the towering expectations that Molyneux had built up, what we have with Fable is an original, highly-polished and entertaining RPG. Fable is fairly combat-centric, using real-time action in each battle, in much the same style as Zelda Wind Waker. The game universe (Albion) isn?t huge, but it?s certainly big enough, and contains a pleasing variety of environments, from woodland paths to bustling settlements with plenty to explore along the way. Fable also has the usual RPG staples, including an emphasis on improving statistics, learning skills and magic, and the essential wide array of clothing and weaponry. The player will also have the option to deviate from the game?s central quest, heading off on odd-jobs and doing voluntary missions. Sometimes you may choose to help people out, other times you might just want to irk these NPCs with some unpleasantly malignant behaviour. In turn, your character will take on an evil, middling, or angelic aura. The main storyline is fairly unremarkable as RPGs go, although it is partly of your own making. By strictly following the central missions, the player will, however, enjoy only a relatively shallow slice of the Fable experience. When Peter Molyneux suggested there would be 100+ hours of gameplay - the statement that has caused the most controversy amongst people who have played the game - he was exaggerating. Indeed the main chunk of the game could easily be completed within 12 hours. However, Fable is treated best as a toy-box of gaming gimmicks. If you willingly forget about the proper levels, there is a sizeable variety of distractions to last quite some time. Much of this comes from the inclusion of social gameplay. Instead of smashing trolls with big hammers and slashing werewolves, the player can choose to head down to the tavern and have a chat, flirt with the local barmaid, or set about intimidating people who look at you a bit funny. There are gambling mini-games, there are village fight clubs, you can go fishing, you can go digging for treasure?okay, so the list doesn?t go on for as long as Molyneux would have had us believe, but it?s certainly substantial. And the gay weddings and chicken-kicking competitions made it through. So, despite being a blatant anti-climax, Fable is a good game. Forget the early claims and the hype, and approach this as any other console RPG, and it should prove enjoyable. It sits somewhere in between Morrowind and KOTOR (the two other leading Xbox RPGs) in terms of style, quality and substance. Fable is, in fact, the very definition of a fable. It?s an ?improbable account? of the original vision, it is ?a story about supernatural, mythological characters? and it is also ?a short story with a moral?. The moral being, of course, Peter ? stop lying.

Fable details

Format:	16 Xbox
Players:	1
Genres:	Adventure, Role-playing
Developers:	BIG BLUE BOX
Rental release:	09 Jun 2006

Write your own review

Most helpful review Fable

Very nearly five stars

By a customer from Derbyshire, England , 04 Jan 2007

[Highly rated reviewer]

Very good, innovative game which all role players should enjoy. The main plot itself will hold no surprises for veterans of the genre who will see the 'twists' coming a mile off - but this doesn't lessen the enjoyment of the game. The innovative good/evil system changes your alignment on a sliding scale based on your actions throughout the game and affects your appearance (how about walking around town with a halo!), social expressions available to you, and how others react to you.

This is much more than a standard role playing game, allowing you to get married, buy and decorate houses and rent them out, buy and sell goods for profit as a trader, and randomly kick chickens for the fun of it...

The only downside as far as I can see it is the ending to the game. All throughout the game your actions have determined yur alignment but when it comes to the finale, a single choice will ultimately determine whether you are good or evil. Fortunately this 'minus' is not enough to outweigh all the 'plusses' of this game - but it does stop it from getting a five star rating. After enjoying the rental copy for weeks and weeks we had to buy our own copy before returning this. Highly, highly recommended.
- Was this review helpful to you?
- (2) Yes |
- No (0)
Report this review

All reviews

(6)

Sort by:

A great start to a great game series

By a customer , 08 Aug 2011

A great start to a great game series, Fable really does deliver another world at your fingertips. May the adventures continue.
- Was this review helpful to you?
- (0) Yes |
- No (0)
Report this review
Ok But Not Ok

By prmdc098 (61 reviews) from Dundee , 18 Jul 2009

Fable... it was ok but since i only just played it for the first time i didnt think it was great. I dont k it helped that i have fable 2 and played that so going back in time wasent a good idea as well as going back in graphics... really badly
- Was this review helpful to you?
- (0) Yes |
- No (0)
Report this review
Fable excelent - even for us oldies

By TinkerbellPan (53 reviews) from Leeds , 08 Aug 2008

Borrowed this game from a mates kid, its great. If you loved the 1st tomb raiders the ones for people who like logic problems & finding stuff or Sumner (the best game ever)this will quench your thirst.

If you dont like magic games this will change your mind as I am not too keep on all that spell throwing stuff. Loads of battles and loads of weapons with extra upgrades during the game

You must have a good memory & patience, there is also a very short extension version which is pretty much the same game with extra challenges.
- Was this review helpful to you?
- (2) Yes |
- No (0)
Report this review
Open ended

By a customer from UK , 02 May 2007

This game is very good it is unlike anything i have played before, it takes you from a young innocent kid and progresses him through different ages and experiences. Id like to see more games like this and i look for ward to the sequel.
- Was this review helpful to you?
- (2) Yes |
- No (0)
Report this review
One of the best games ever

By a customer from Dorset, UK , 04 Apr 2007

I don't tend to like fantasy type games, but I rented this a while back anyway and I loved it. There is so much you can do and you really feel part of the game as everything you do has an effect on the world you live in. Still my favourite game of all time and I can't wait for Fable 2.
- Was this review helpful to you?
- (2) Yes |
- No (0)
Report this review