Fable III
SCORE: 46
Fable III is the much anticipated sequel of the less than stellar Fable II. Being the third installment in the franchise, many fans and critics were hoping for a more streamlined and enjoyable gaming experience from developer Lionhead. The anticipation and developer hype even landed Fable III on some of the industries most wanted list for 2010. Is the game all hype, or did the developers deliver?
Fable III is set 50 years after the conclusion of Fable II. The gamer will select either the son or daughter of Fable II's hero. Your older brother is now king and has lead Albion with an iron fist and brought the kingdom down into a depressed and corrupted state. Fable III takes place during (what appears to be) the beginning of the industrial revolution. The kingdom is faced with moral, economic and social issues that your character can change. Do you want to save your beloved Albion? If so, now is your chance. Travel around Albion and explore the region. Create alliances and make promises to help you gain popularity and support so you can lead an uprising and over throw your brother. The goal of Fable II is to rule Albion as King or Queen.
That sounds great, but the real challenge of Fable III is living out those promises and fulfilling those pledges you made in order to gain support. Once you become king people begin to request that you make good on all those promises. Each decision carries weight and has its own consequences. How will you rule Albion? The choice is truly yours.
The gameplay in Fable has been streamlined from it predecessor and is much more user friendly. From character interactions to combat the mechanics are easy to learn and well placed on the controller. The game environment is wide open and ready for exploration. If following the storyline the game is relatively short, but there are some many side quests and items to find that the game can be played for hours on end. Due to the complexity of the environments and size and magnitude of the game, there are some bugs and issues that come up during gameplay. One example is several people talking over one another which can get a little annoying.
Players can take jobs, go on quest and even get married. The openness that creates such a fun dynamic to Fable III is also what causes many of its problems. The game starts with the gamers learning to cast spells to get through levels. Characters can kill their spouses. They can run around the town half naked and even participate in sexual activities. Cooperative play also allows for co-op gamers to participate in sexual activities and get married to another.
The game is rated "Mature" for Blood, Language, Sexual Content, Use of Alcohol and Violence . And it does contain all of that content without filters. Parents will need to steer clear of Fable III for the youngsters, and even give it a second thought if they were interested themselves. The moral issues that reign supreme in Fable III have gamers trying to make decisions that will better themselves and those around them. One such decision will be passing on Fable III altogether.
I appreciate Lionhead's efforts in the scope of the game and the gameplay mechanics. I look forward to a game from Lionhead with the fun and entertainment value of Fable III, but one that contains more a more friendly family tone.
- Alan
Graphics: 29%
Sound: 47%
Replay/Extras: 49%
Gameplay: 69%
Family Friendly Factor: 25%
System: Xbox 360
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Rating: 'M' for Mature
{Blood, Language, Sexual Content, Use of Alcohol, Violence}
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