f13.net

August 24, 2004 - In development for nearly five years, Fable is finally finished. Today on its website, developer Lionhead let it be known that Fable has gone gold. This means that the long-awaited RPG is done.

Gimme gimme gimme now now now!!!!

Giddyup! Of course, it will probably hit the shelf the same week I am going to Tahoe. Bollocks.

So was Fable worth the four year wait? Most definitely. Will the game come under heavy criticism for its short length and lackluster storyline? Absolutely. Regardless of its shortcomings, Fable is a breakthrough in many ways. The method in which you react with the game world and the fact that you can play at your own pace makes the entire Fable experience a truly unique one. There are many nuances and secrets that will only be found by playing through the game a second time, or a prolonged first go. The combat system and control scheme are both very clean and easy to use allowing you to simply enjoy the game; something many games cannot claim.

Fable certainly falls a tad short on many of its original claims promising an epic adventure. When I think of epic, a strong story is first and foremost in my mind. Fable’s core story is very ordinary and even uninteresting and cliché at times. Most players will be able to guess the outcome of the game far before they reach it. My two biggest complaints are 1.) there are not enough quests in total and 2.) the choices you make do not affect the overall outcome of the story that much. Even though I truly enjoyed playing through Fable twice, I still can help but feel a little bit let down by the scope. This was an adventure that I didn’t want to end, yet it did far too soon.

Fable isn’t very difficult which also hurts its longevity. While you can trade and purchase items there really isn’t much need being that most things you’ll require can be readily found during quests or when battling enemies. Health and Will potions are overly abundant and I only came close to dying once or twice. To further ensure that you won’t bite the big one, there are plenty of Resurrection Phials to be found that will automatically fully restore your health bar if it reaches zero.

There is a lot of variation to the game, everything from the way that you complete quests, a multitude of mini-games, a deep expression and economy system, and a good amount of secrets. This game design of Fable will ultimately make it an attractive experience for various types of gamers, but it still has been scaled back tremendously from what we had originally been told. Does this make it a better overall game for the mass market? Possibly. Perhaps with so many years of Fable updates and information, we were expecting something that no game could possibly be; perfect. With that being said, Fable is still one of the must-have games of 2004. My advice…try to rid your mind of any previous expectations and simply take in the entire experience. You’ll be a better gamer for it.

The ultimate question must be asked since Peter Molyneux proposed the idea several times during Fable's development: Is this the greatest RPG of all time? No. No, it's not even the best RPG on Xbox (KOTOR's engaging story retains that crown). Okay, so it's not the greatest RPG ever, but I have to say it's one of my personal favorites. I really dig playing Fable, even multiple times. I know that some folks will be disappointed, that some will complain about what isn't there, but I still had a lot of fun and marvel at how involved I have become in my hero's life.

Fable opens a door for you, lets you see this wondrous treasure that the idea of an open world, competing heroes, and NPC interactions can offer -- but it doesn't let you through. There's a lot of great notions in the game that aren't fully realized. As I played, I kept thinking, "Why didn't they do this or that," but in the end I still had a blast playing Fable and to me that makes all the difference.

Fable's freedom is allowing you to play how you want, to make your own choices as to how you will reach the climactic battle at the end of your adventure. You will be a hero, but you can be noble like Galahad, a rogue like Robin Hood, or a tyrant like Genghis Kahn. There's not a lot to the main story, but the path to reach its conclusion is full of extras, including secrets, a bevy of collected stats (including how many times you've gotten wasted), and a giant sandbox world to mess around in. It's very difficult to enter this world without thinking about the promises made (but not kept), all of the things that once had everyone so desperately hyped for Fable, but if you can go in with an open mind, I think you'll find a game that will become one of your treasured Xbox favorites.

Other than the numeric scores, I find a lot of apologizing for the game and a pretty lackluster review.

I wish I had an X-Box and time.

-L

I'm looking forward to Grand Theft Auto: Puppy Head Shoes.

If it is such a great system, hopefully they will eventually release expansion(s) for it to make it longer.

It would be awesome to get some of that "premium content" for Fable, but is it even Xbox live enabled?

Why can't we have more good 40-65 hour rpgs? 12 hours is over before you know it pretty much. I like my rpgs 1000 page novel sized.

Why can't we have more good 40-65 hour rpgs? 12 hours is over before you know it pretty much. I like my rpgs 1000 page novel sized.

I'm hoping that the sound of crickets in this thread is an indication that the people playing Fable are so absorbed that they don't have any time to post opinions.

I feel an illness coming on. I may have to leave work... the pain...

That's just the rat poison you drank for breakfast.

So, does this game invoke tingly sensations like KOTOR?

Just fucking buy it. It's that simple. This is a Must Own Game.

I wouldnt say its that good. I have about 3 hours played, and so far my feeling is, "Its pretty cool".

I saw the skull and crossbones and just thought it was a pirate drink. NOT MY FAULT MAN.

Hey, my ship status is changed from Hold to Open. Is that good? God I hate ebgames.com.

But why's the rum gone?

...I can't take time off work for games, my boss is also a gamer and knows when they come out...then again...he wasn't here all morning! The bastard!

I've gotten the combat multiplier up to 7. I think that guildmaster wants us to hit 10. Use the right analog stick to cycle through l-targeted people. Also, you only have to hit L-target once, if you hold it down it will go to the next closest thing after you kill an enemy - probably why you were targeting the escortees.

Anyway, Morphiends just upset because he can't handle the twitch. Ignore him. Go to EB, Peter Molyneux needs new performance upgrades for his Bugatti.

What I can't shake is this feeling that Fable could have been 2x what it is now if it were designed for a PC.

I wouldn't want to play Fable on the PC. Too much twitch. It's almost Soul Caliber like in terms of combat.

Can't believe you even compared them.

My current melee attack combo consists of X-X-X-X-X-X

Can't believe you even compared them.

My current melee attack combo consists of X-X-X-X-X-X

maybe you should parry a little.

Just fucking buy it. It's that simple. This is a Must Own Game.

Would you consider the game (and the rest of them, I suppose) worth investing in an XBox?

I'm tempted, but I fear Rome Total War will come out and then I'll never touch the console again.

Would you consider the game (and the rest of them, I suppose) worth investing in an XBox?

I'm tempted, but I fear Rome Total War will come out and then I'll never touch the console again.

I would consider buying an Xbox for KOTOR and Beyond Good and Evil probably before buying one for Fable. But if you do buy one, you can get all of them. yay.

I think there is also an obscure game called Halo 2 that might be kinda fun.

But this is a Fable thread so ... I bought the game yesterday. Within 5 mintues, I was beating up a little boy and stealing his teddy bear. Good times.

As for Fable, can any one tell me where I change my title? I am getting real sick of being called Chicken Chaser. Also, where do I find a Tattoo artist or a hairdresser? I have some card but cant find any.

Nein! Verderben Sie es nicht!  He has to learn for himself, our wee Morphiend!

I thought I heard that kotor2 and jade empire were not going to make pc.  but I could be wrong.

So I"m playing Fable and having a blast.

A question:

I've bought 2 houses so far, and both times I chose to rent them out.

How do I collect said rent?

Kill the rentee and take their money. Then rent it out again.

What?

It won't let me in the door.  When it rents out the door closes..

I was kidding. Maybe you automatically get zee moneyz.

I specced mainly in Strength, Health, Speed, and use Battle Charge A LOT. Perhaps an overpowered combo?

Bought this last night and made it through the tutorial area.

Holy shit, do I like this game. It's like an MMOG, without the second M or the O, but with tons of G.

I've used those. THe most efficient thing I've found though is Slow Time + Assassin Rush + Multi-Hit. That's just a ridiculously overpowered combo. Made the arena a walk in the park.

Gabe doesn't like it (http://www.penny-arcade.com/news.php3?date=2004-09-17). Just in case people thought it was universally applauded or something.

Me? I have no XBox, so I get to choose from the million or so PS2 and GC RPGs instead.

I think you're being a little to forgiving when saying that he didn't like it - saying that he hated it might be better.  Wow, he made it sound like ass.  I don't have have an X-Box so I guess I'll never know.

Well you’re playing an extremely linear and limited hack and slash adventure game combined with a shitty version of the Sims mixed with animal crossing only minus all of animal crossings charm and inspiration. If you want to just play through Fable as fast as you can, it’s a boring but passable action RPG.

Because I'm casting alot as well as fighting, I believe my avatar is 'scrawny'. He doesn't have that huge build that I was expecting from swinging around his hammer.

Toughness will make you big and muscular. Or you could just stuff yourself with pies and become obese.

You can become permanently huge like berserk by doing the following:

    * Get the spell.
    * Cast berserk.
    * Save after you cast.
    * Reload the game load after you cast the spell, and Volia, you are now the hulking hero you always wanted to be!

If you cast berserk again after using this technique, when it wears off you will return to normal size.

Toughness will make you big and muscular. Or you could just stuff yourself with pies and become obese.

Ya, I did that to open up a demon gate.  How do I get my svelt figure back?

I went back to slim after the Prison chapter. I guess I wasn't well fed while in there. Also, each time I trained (at least in Strength and Toughness), it reverted back to a slim figure.

One question though:  why is my guy so damn old (52) when I haven't finished the game, and only 10 game days have gone by?

Five hours in: Big Fat Meh.

Knights of the Old Republic now costs 1/3 the price, and is at least 3x a better game.

I saw the skull and crossbones and just thought it was a pirate drink. NOT MY FAULT MAN.