Gameplay (contd)
Another strange change is that even though all of the typical Fable stuff is here - you can drink in the bar till you puke, make friends with people, give gifts, get married, have kids, etc. - none of it matters. You can play the whole game without owning a house or getting married or having kids. You don't really even have to bother buying anything from shops. You find pretty much everything you need as you play, and potions aren't really necessary because you can't die and just get knocked out (and wake up a few seconds later) and keep on fighting. The villagers and interaction with them used to be the key part of Fable. In Fable III you don't really need them. Because of this, Fable III is more of a Zelda-style action adventure, than something truly unique. It is still fun, but not special anymore.
It Still Does a Lot Right
Microsoft
The game is also genuinely funny. Dialogue during quests, comments from people as you pass by, and the insults from the 40 gnomes hidden around the world you have to find are all really funny. It is usually rude, crude humor, but it has made me laugh out loud through the whole game. And I love the "Lute Hero" minigame.
Some sequences in the game are also absolutely amazing. One section of the game takes place in a dark cave and bleak desert against shadowy enemies on the new continent of Aurora, and it is the coolest and most memorable area in the whole game. I wouldn't mind if Lionhead made a whole game with the same feel and tone as Aurora. It would be amazing.
The glowing quest line from Fable II that leads you to your objective also returns. I always liked this, as it keeps you moving in the right direction. The game overall is generally enjoyable. The quests are decent and the combat, even as simple as it is, can be fun. You sort of get into a rhythm of fast traveling around, following the quest line, finishing a quest, and then starting a new one. You have a dog again that leads you to treasure and fights alongside you. It is still a fun game, even if it is a bit too simple.
Co-op returns in Fable III, and it is actually good this time around. You can play both in local couch co-op, or online co-op on Xbox Live. Fable II's Live co-op was pretty half-assed, but it is fully featured in Fable III. You play co-op with your real character, and you aren't tethered to being in the same screen anymore so you can both explore how you want. You can even buy property with your co-op partner, get married, and have a kid if you want. Neat.
Graphics
Fable III looks good for the most part. The character models are little exaggerated and odd looking, but everything else looks good. The environments are great looking, and range from bright forests to snowy peaks to deserts and they all look nice. One issue is that the framerate is very unstable, and can chug along in the single digits at times. Moving around the city of Bowerstone in particular causes the game to slow to a crawl.
Sound
The sound is excellent overall. Funny, awesome dialogue and a great musical score are the highlights. Sound effects for combat are decent, but don't particularly stand out.
Bottom Line
Microsoft
