|
|
|
 |
review: The hype around this game has been brewing for a long time. Microsoft has finally pieced together another game for their somewhat failling platform, the XBox.
You are a hero, either sword wielding, fireball casting or archering your way to fame and fortune in a
fantasy world. So, nothing new in the story line. But that's ok. We don't play video games for the story, right?
So that leaves us with the actual gameplay. Fable controls fairly easily. There are a series of menus to access your equipment and perform everyday expressions --- like farting or flirting (I always thought those were the same thing). This allows you to interact with NPC's and increase your renown. The more well-known you are, the cheaper it is for you to buy goods, etc. One nice aspect of this renown is that it works in the other direction, as well. If you want to become a nefarious warlord who randomly hits people, you can do that, too.
Me, however, I already have a cute little house in a nice little town with a wife who is--get this--a dude. That's right, Fable puts the "gay" back in "gamer". And under the personality menu, it even states that my sexuality is gay. So it's not just something the sexually-repressed programmers put in as a wink and a nod, the ever-progressive virus purveyors at Microsoft actually allowed this.
Anyway, the fighting controls could be a little tighter. I find myself button-mashing most of the time without the pleasant results in Ninja Gaiden, but even button-mashers are pleased when a bandits head pops off with a spray of blood coating your armor.
So, final analysis: The game looks great, it is fairly easy to control, the learning curve is next to nothing, the depth of game play is there (even if you don't want to go back and replay it), and I'm guessing that the game is VERY long. Go out and buy it? Nah, just rent it a few times so you can visit your virtual wife (who happens to be a guy). (jeremy.10.04)
addendum: So, I was a pretty big fan of Fable when it came out. The gameplay was pretty seamless and it appeared to have great depth and replay value. I rented it for a weekend and got to what I imagined to be about a quarter of the way into the game. As it turns out, I was about ninety-five percent of the way done. I rented the game again, turned it on, and in a matter of minutes, beat it. I think EGM said, "What good is having a game as deep as the ocean, if it's only as big as a swimming pool?" My sentiments exactly.
Fable is a great start for what is sure to be a long-lasting franchise--let's just hope they can make the game long-lasting. (jeremy.07.05)
related links