Summary
Playground Games' upcomingFablereboot, though shrouded in mystery, is exciting to many fans of the classic games from Lionhead Studios. So far, many signs point toFablereprising several aspects of the original trilogy. But really, it’s hard to know exactly what to expect, for better or worse.
A lot of this uncertainty comes down to two major factors:Fable’s development team and the franchise’s history, or lack thereof, following the release ofFable 3. Playground Games, previously known for its work on theForza Horizonseries, is helming the reboot, which is obviously a major departure for the developer. Then there’s the matter of theFablelegacy, as the game has received nothing but questionable spin-offs likeFable HeroesandFable: The Journeyfollowing its third entry in 2010. All of this is to say that, whileFable 4will hopefully honor the franchise’s traditions, it will almost certainly feel very different from the original trilogy, which could be a good thing in some ways.
The Next Fable Needs to Break the Original Trilogy’s Tradition of Slow Intros
Fables 1 Through 3 Kick Off at a Snail’s Pace
The originalFabletrilogyholds up remarkably well in the modern age. Its one-of-a-kind rendition of a fantasy world, absurd humor, and surprisingly deep and unique world design make it unlike any other mainstream RPG franchise, and all three games are extremely replayable due to their focus on player choice. It can be frustrating, then, that they start off so excruciatingly slow.
Whether it’s a result of gaming conventions of the time or one of the manyquirks of the original minds behindFable, all three mainline entries take an oddly long time to get the ball rolling. This is especially true for the second and third games, which force the player through extended, sometimes unnecessary, tutorials. These tutorials, though contextualized within the game world, often take the form of busywork or other bland activities.
Take the beginning ofFable 2, for instance. The game starts with players as a child, making their way through the streets of Bowerstone with their sister in an attempt to raise enough money to get a music box. To get the money, players must participate in tedious tasks like collecting posters and eliminating oversized bugs in a warehouse. This sequence teaches players about a number ofFable2’s mechanics, like the morality systemand basic combat, but it’s dragged out to the point where it feels like a chore, especially on repeat playthroughs.
How Fable 4 Can Start Off Strong
In defense of the originalFabletrilogy, these slow openings that focus on trivialities do serve a purpose: they offer a strong contrast, showing the protagonist in their status quo environment before everything goes pear-shaped. It can certainly be argued that this sort of incredibly slow intro helps elevate the feeling of satisfaction players get when theirFablecharacter becomes more powerfullater on.
That said,Fable 4’s intro doesn’t need to be boring in order to offer a similar experience. Considerations like more mechanically interesting gameplay scenarios and less tutorialization could go a long way toward streamlining the beginning of the game, even if Playground wants to retain the slow-burn approach. Alternatively, certain tutorials could be skippable, as many players probably won’t need too much explanation for basic, ubiquitous mechanics like aiming or swinging a sword. If the newFablecan focus more on its cast of charactersand world-building during its first few hours, and less on tedious tutorialization or frivolous dialog, it will have a better chance of hitting the ground running.
Fable
WHERE TO PLAY
Fable is an RPG developed by Playground Games and published by Microsoft. Set in Albion, the game challenges players to define what it means to be a hero.
