Fable.
Where have you been?
I loved the first game. Then the second. And if you can see the pattern emerging you get 10 cool points because I love the third one; the graphics are better, the moral choices are better, there are consequences to your actions that can’t be undone, among other things. I am so much more invested in Fable 3 because I can see how bad the world is and I can see how I can change it for the better (or worse if you so inclined but John Cleese’s voice always strikes a blow of guilt in my heart as I massacre a town). I can see this huge, immense task ahead of me like never before; I have to get people to like me so I can kick my brother off the throne and reign supreme! Until crunch time when I find out that SPOILER will happen in SPOILER and I must choose whether to have SPOILER (kinda) and be good or SPOILER (kinda) and be bad.
I like how the game is so huge that if you want to do everything and be the nicest guy ever, you better be willing to put the hours in because man! It is a long one. Especially if you like achievements as much as I do.
It isn’t just the main storyline or how the game is presented that’s the only improvement; the map makes it A LOT easier for you to manage the multiple properties you will own (you won’t get far without a hefty income from shops and homes), the co-op is SO much better this time round! For those of us that remember those horrible times when your partner would run off after their dog in one direction that was always the opposite way to the quest, will breathe a sigh of relief when we see that you can be on the other side of Albion from your partner. Glorious.
One of the improvements from the previous game was the fact that you properly interacted with people other than through the Guild seal (in the first Fable you had the never infuriating *sarcasm alert* Guild master repeatedly saying “Hero, your health is low, watch that” in your ear every 2 minutes, along with some competitions with Whisper, chasing after your sister and a brief encounter with your mum. Oh and facing Jack of Blades that wanted to basically destroy the world). In Fable 2 you got Theresa and 3 other buddies plus your ever faithful dog to go hand in hand while facing the evil and old Lucien in order to save the world. The notion of comradery was increased tenfold in Fable 3 by not only having Theresa hiding in the background but with 5 characters (and Jasper) stood by your side leading an army to fight the SPOILER with 6.5 million people behind you.
However, and it pains me to say, it is not a perfect game. I’ve heard a lot of people grumble about bugs but I can’t say I’ve really had any. My problem is with the 3D map that is supposed to show you an overview of a place and you can plan your way through it. I tried this with Mourningwood. I wanted to get to the little town so see what’s up and so I go to my map, see that the town is on one side and Mourningwood Fort is completely on the other side. I then spent about 10 minutes walking up and down from Mourningwood Fort to where I had fast travelled into until I gave up and headed through the Fort, only to find that after a while, if you take a left you will end up where I wanted to be, and if you take a right you go to Bowerstone. Am I just unable to comprehend the map or does it suck?
Unfortunately that is not my only grumble. One of the greatest things I found was the fact that you could adopt little kiddies and take them home to your spouse (I now have 10 children in 6 different houses) but that is not my problem. My problem is the gifting. In the last game I could give whatever I want to however I want how many times I want. In Fable 3, I have to wait for them to tell me they want something. What am I supposed to do when my child (adopted or biological) looks up at me with eyes full of love and says “Mummy/Daddy” (depending on which play through I’m on) “will you get me a present? I need one, to cheer me up” and I can’t get them the gift so they never say they love me? Tell me Lionhead, why are some gifts NOT at the gift store? I’m not bitching about it, just observing…
Overall, I love Fable 3 because of … well everything. But I do have one last question.
Fable 3, will you marry me?
