The new week kicks off with another selection of Fable III reviews, though it seems like nobody can agree on what the game’s strengths and weaknesses are.
I’ll start things off at Unreality Magazine, where they’ve (harshly) outlined many of the same problems I have with the game – ridiculously easy combat, a minimap-less navigation system, shallow NPCs and NPC interactions, and a few annoying intricacies:
I marry the girl the game more or less sets me up with, try to have a family with her, and I get an STD, even though she’s the only in-game woman I’ve slept with? You gave the female lead in your own game an STD? Seriously?
So finally, after a whole lot of itching, I did manage to pop out a child. It was actually kind of a magical moment, as I’d skipped doing so in the previous games as I heard they were simply chores. I had a little infant girl I named Ivy, and I would sing to her and be a good dad.
But what did I find when I returned from my long voyage to Aurora? My little Ivy had grown into a seven year old BLACK GIRL. Look, I’m not trying to be racist here at all, I’m merely pointing out the supreme laziness that accompanies something like this happening. Though as far as I can tell, you can only be a white hero (an issue in itself, as I’m pretty sure you get even whiter with (increased moral standing)), and the girl’s mother is most definitely white as well. Clearly rather than take the five minutes necessary to write code that factors the parents’ race in, there’s just a completely random child generator system in place that can produce a kid of any kind of appearance, regardless of pesky things like genetics. Pure laziness. I’d try for another kid to see what would happen this time, but I don’t want any more STDs.
About gives it a 4/5:
Ultimately, Fable III is still a fun game even if it has lost some of the unique things that made the series interesting in the first place. It is a much more tightly focused and story driven game than the previous Fable games, and even though all of the optional stuff is still there (interacting with villagers, getting married, having kids, etc.) none of it is all that important this time around. The character customization and moral choices that Fable was built on so every player would have a unique experience has also been greatly toned down. In that way, Fable III is a bit if a disappointment. The core game is still fun, however, and the story is fascinating even if the actual choices you make when you become monarch aren’t all that complex. Fans of the Fable series will definitely still enjoy Fable III, and it is interesting to see how the world of Albion has progressed over the course of the three games. It isn’t a great game, but it is good enough, and long enough at 25+ hours, that it is worth a purchase. Just like the first two Fable games, it is a game that shows a ton of promise, but because of little design issues (in this case, an oversimplification of everything) doesn’t live up to its potential. So, I guess I’d call it a fun disappointment. Worth playing, but nothing mind blowing.
OXM gives it an 8/10:
Once you’re King, the cost of being good becomes overwhelmingly clear, as your noble promises become linked to hard cash prices. A series of good expensive options, and evil, profitable options define your tenure as King – and although it’s occasionally annoying to have to decide between a brothel and an orphanage (both would be ideal), it’s a relief not to have micromanage your cities.
WorthPlaying gives it a 7.0/10:
The Fable franchise has always been ambitious, promising big things and often failing to deliver. Unfortunately, Fable III suffers from the same plight, serving up a mediocre experience that’s difficult to get excited over. If the series continues, it would be wise for Lionhead to pull back on the big ideas and spend some time working on the little things. Once they get that right, we can talk about grand experiments. Your parents’ fairy tales may have ended with “happily ever after,” but the Fable series needs a hero to ride in and rescue it from itself.
Wolfs Gaming Blog doesn’t score it:
But Albion is as funny and charming as it ever was and I still found myself lost in this unique world as I led a rebellion and became King of Albion. It may not be an RPG anymore, but Fable III is still a damn fine game.
The A.V. Club gives it a “B”:
In Fable III, you can bring in your own hero and adventure alongside the primary player, sharing gold and experience points that you keep when you go back to your main game. For some quests, the second player is relegated to spectator status, but getting to fight back-to-back and set up combat combos with a friend is a blast. With a little more polish, Fable III could have been a great game, but it fails to live up to its potential. Instead, it’s good, but disappointing.
Bullz-eye gives it a 4/5:
(Fable III) is everything that fans of the series have come to expect. The introduction of hand holding isn’t quite as revolutionary as marriage, sex, kids, or even your faithful dog, but it’s a smart addition that takes the level of immersion another step forward. The trademark humor is also still very much intact from the opening cinematic, to the dialogue and items like a wearable chicken suit and it’s one of the only games around that actually rewards you for allowing the NPCs to ramble on. Add to that a top-notch voice cast that includes John Cleese, Simon Pegg, Ben Kingsley, and Michael Fassbender, and you have yet another well-rounded adventure in Albion that does something most games can’t it gives you a conscience.
Front Towards Gamer gives it an 8.5/10:
Overall, the game has a lot to offer. The graphics received a welcome upgrade, the humor is on target, the story is compelling and the gameplay is still enjoyable. Even with the ending being somewhat of a let down I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this game. Just be sure to remember this isn’t Halo: take your time and enjoy everything this game has to offer.
Orange gives it an 8/10:
The plot, however, is a complex and deep one. It’s conveyed to you through well-rounded characters, voiced by some major talents including Stephen Fry, Simon Pegg and John Cleese. So although Fable III doesn’t move the series on, it’s still one of the most joyous and charming games ever made.
LazyGamer gives it an 8.7/10:
The main story line should give you at least a good 16-18 hours of play if you moved through the game quickly. As with the Previous Fable chapters there is also a good possibility you would want to play it again, and do things differently, or with a friend the second time around. Not to mention that if you are after achievements or just adamant on finishing every aspect of the game, the side quests and collectables will keep you busy for a while.
GameDot doesn’t score it:
Overall Fable III feels like it is offering you another slice of story to do with its overall legacy, but has a feel of (more of the same) considering the plot of Fable II’s rise to king, it’s just the way to get there that is different. There are also some closed off areas that feel like they were being held back on purpose for DLC. If these areas didn’t exist, or at least didn’t offer that closed off feeling, Fable III would have been the better experience for it. But in the end the lack of non story based quests hurt its replayability. However the story is better than the very good one offered in Fable II. It’s just a shame that the overarching story feels like a slice of Swiss cheese, lots of holes in terms of long term franchise character development and world consistency.
Digital Battle gives it a 7/10:
Overall, Fable 3 is an improvement over Fable 2, and while it doesn’t live up to the great hype, if offers a lot of interesting gameplay, has a great art-style and humor, and despite the few bugs and glitches (and some repetitive gameplay), it’s a worthy addition to the Fable franchise.
Blast Magazine gives it a “B”:
Fable III is both as close to what Peter Molyneaux originally promised, and the most far off. Traveling through Ablion is a deeply rewarding and interesting experience that you’ll want to keep going back to. It’s not perfect, but there’s enough here to keep even the most seasoned heroes satisfied for quite some time to come.
Xblog360 gives it a 9/10:
Fable 3 is a definite improvement over Fable 2. In such a beautiful world it is placed in and such a beautiful story it tells it’s hard to resist this wonderful piece of work. Fable 3 is that gorgeous woman you’ll find and fall in love with and even if it has flaws, you’ll overlook them because everything else is so damn perfect. I admire Lionhead from what they created from a beloved world to a great, traditional story. If you want a game you will enjoy for sure, it’s Fable 3. Make sure a few flaws don’t detract from this magnificent experience.
And D+PAD gives it a 4.5/5:
Casting your eye over Lionhead’s back catalogue, it seems that ‘˜it’s not perfect, but.’ should become something of a mantra. The studio consistently reaches for the stars, but its’ games almost always seem to contain enough niggling problems to keep them from attaining perfection; and this is absolutely the case with Fable III. As a game, it is far from perfect and there is much to criticise; be it numerous bugs, the dull minigames, the hit and miss humour, the sometimes dire facial animation or the fact that there are as many restrictions placed on you as there are opportunities to act freely. Under normal circumstances, this list of issues would be damning, but Fable III still manages to be something very special; most significantly it gets as close to being all things to all men as we’ve ever seen. All at once it is accessible, deep, beautiful, exciting, cerebral, frustrating, annoying, challenging, charming, mediocre, violent, family-friendly and touching, to name just a few adjectives that spring to mind. To be more succinct, Fable III is a beautiful mess, and for a game that attempts to capture the complexities of what it means to be human, maybe that’s entirely fitting.
