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FABLE (XBOX)
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Publisher: Microsoft.
Developer: Big Blue Box Studios. Released: October 2004. Genre: WRPG. Other versions: PC. Posted 6th March 2021. By Shane Battams © 2021 |
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It’s tough to judge Fable in the context of its release, because it is difficult to convey the mammoth hype preceding this Xbox exclusive’s launch, after the event. Gargantuan promises from Peter Molyneux, many of which never materialised, soured the project for many players. But take the game on its own terms and there’s still a uniquely enjoyable RPG here. Oozing with charm, buoyed by British wit and offering a good deal of freedom to those who explore, Lionhead’s ambitious effort is great, albeit one which is over far too quick. But whether you want to explore your good or evil side, Fable offers ample opportunity to fulfil this.
Fable’s narrative is simple, yet effective. In the world of Albion, rural villages and grander towns are tied together with lawless stretches of land between. As the young hero celebrates his sister’s birthday, bandits raid and kill everyone save the young boy, leaving him alone with only comfort from his saviour, Maze of the Heroes’ guild. After training and gaining recognition, it’s up to the hero to seek revenge on those who left his village in ruins, whether through heroic deeds or dark anger. It’s not complex, and you can likely foresee some twists coming, but the thread is compelling despite the hero being mute, and some of the revelations you come across do leave you excited for what comes next, including a surprisingly adept villain.
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Fable offers an attractive and distinctive fantasy experience, with lots of charm
Fable essentially allows you to mould your hero as you desire, while partaking in a linear narrative and plenty of side quests. The litany of side quests prove quite varied, ranging from guarding a merchant to partaking in Archery competitions, providing great fun as you grow your Hero. Three key tenants power your hero: Strength, Skill and Will, and allocating points to each area changes your hero immensely. Strength seeks a bulkier and weapon-efficient warrior, Skill improves agility and height while Will revolves around magic, tattooing your hero with mystic blue lines. There’s a great deal of satisfaction yearned from character growth, watching your hero change with your play style. Utilising each aspect rewards XP, along with general XP from kills and quest completion, incentivising focus over varied play. It proves immediately compelling.
These three pillars also power combat, a strong aspect of Fable. As you take on bandits, elemental stone monsters and feral balverines, you can utilise three offensive attacks. Swords – with stronger characters being able to wield heavier axes – and bows provide both short and long-range attacks. You can easily lock onto an enemy, swap between targets or freely attack. Will allows you to execute a myriad of magic powers. Offensive spells include lightning and fire, defensive spells let you summon assisting spirits and barriers and buffs, such as Berserk, improve your offence further. Combat is consistently fun, letting you often tear through hordes of enemies with immense power, truly letting you feel like a strong hero of Albion. Experimentation often bears fruitful rewards, with different types of enemies requiring unique attacks to kill quicker.
These three pillars also power combat, a strong aspect of Fable. As you take on bandits, elemental stone monsters and feral balverines, you can utilise three offensive attacks. Swords – with stronger characters being able to wield heavier axes – and bows provide both short and long-range attacks. You can easily lock onto an enemy, swap between targets or freely attack. Will allows you to execute a myriad of magic powers. Offensive spells include lightning and fire, defensive spells let you summon assisting spirits and barriers and buffs, such as Berserk, improve your offence further. Combat is consistently fun, letting you often tear through hordes of enemies with immense power, truly letting you feel like a strong hero of Albion. Experimentation often bears fruitful rewards, with different types of enemies requiring unique attacks to kill quicker.
FOCAL POINT: VIRTUAL LIFE
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Fable earns some serious kudos thanks to its world and how you can interact with it. Though the subsections of Albion aren’t huge, they’re almost always teeming with activity; be it Bowerstone and its busy town life, respawning enemies in connecting sections and a slew of apprentices roaming the Heroes’ Guild. A handful of emotes, more of which unlock as you earn more Renown, let you interact with NPCs. Depending on your alignment, those you encounter will either cheer or fear you. But you can even establish something of a normal life, partaking in Pub mini-games to earn more gold without questing, buying and renting a house and, once you manage to woo a partner, marrying your love. Partial sim elements prove welcome, and while not the deepest, only add to the immersion of the world.
Unfortunately, this power trip proves a bit of a double-edged sword. Fable is one that rarely challenges you, as while mobs of enemies may lower your health substantially, you’ll be able to count the number of deaths on one hand, especially once you wrap your head around blocking and upgrading your hero. The other detrimental effect, perhaps as a larger consequence, is that Fable is pretty short. Even as you find yourself exploring a majority of the side content, most playthroughs will be lucky to break 15 hours. That being said, return runs are incentivised, thanks to the freedom of play and potential alterations to your character. You might focus on a single style, change your alignment and build yourself a virtual life, adding to the hours somewhat.
Fable benefits immensely from a barrel’s worth of charm. Lionhead’s British roots shine through, with potent accents from a range of subcultures, but it’s the humour that stands out. Whether it’s using the Fart emote, hilarious interactions with NPCs or genuinely funny moments, it’s endlessly endearing. The music, whimsical and switching seamlessly between cheery and sinister, is most notable for a main theme composed by Danny Elfman. The visuals mostly hold their end of the bargain too, with particularly impressive lighting and the ye-olde England aesthetic working well, only let down by some technical issues including frequent, fairly lengthy loading times and some serious slowdown during intense encounters.
Fable benefits immensely from a barrel’s worth of charm. Lionhead’s British roots shine through, with potent accents from a range of subcultures, but it’s the humour that stands out. Whether it’s using the Fart emote, hilarious interactions with NPCs or genuinely funny moments, it’s endlessly endearing. The music, whimsical and switching seamlessly between cheery and sinister, is most notable for a main theme composed by Danny Elfman. The visuals mostly hold their end of the bargain too, with particularly impressive lighting and the ye-olde England aesthetic working well, only let down by some technical issues including frequent, fairly lengthy loading times and some serious slowdown during intense encounters.
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Fable is a notable game, one which once you strip away its pre-launch hype and overly ambitious, proves a cheerily compelling RPG. The bevvy of freedom allotted to you is worthwhile, whether you sculpt your hero into a pillar of light or craft an utter rapscallion of a human. The combat works well, the selection of varied side quests is enjoyable and the story, while basic to a degree, keeps you motivated. The only shame, then, are a lack of challenge and length, though both are issues that can be overlooked. If you’re after something more challenging, it might be one to skip, but for most players, Fable’s mix of charm and malleability prove a winning combination.
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VERDICT
"Fable is a cheerily compelling RPG, with a bevvy of freedom and an abundance of charm proving a winning combination despite some issues.” OVERALL: 8/10 |
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