• Welcome to the Fable Community Forum!

    We're a group of fans who are passionate about the Fable series and video gaming.

    Register Log in

[PREVIEW] IGN Preview First Few Hours (A Couple of New Images Too)

Status
Not open for further replies.

hobbes_pwn

Man's Best Friend...Hobbe
Joined
Sep 2, 2008
Messages
1,436
Reaction score
0
Points
78
[PREVIEW] IGN Preview First Few Hours (A Couple of New Images Too)


Some Possible Spoilers but well worth the read, the tutorial seems to have improved.​

IGN said:
Once upon a time, there was a man with a tiny acorn. And when that tiny acorn refused to grow, everybody on the internet got cross. Of course, this isn't a sad tale of mid-life impotence; it's the story of Lionhead's Fable franchise. With the 2008 release of Fable II on Xbox 360, some of the studio's original ambitions for the series finally became reality and now, in 2010, Fable III promises to add just a little bit more.

We bring this up as, for all the lofty chat surrounding the game, it's hard to shake the feeling that we're firmly in incremental upgrade territory here after our first few hours with the game. Think of it as a fantasy FIFA, with added orgies. Of course, we could be proven wrong and, let's be clear, there's plenty to Fable III that Lionhead's still keeping close to its chest. You can blame the studio's burnt fingers for that, by the way, having realised that it's better to show than tell these days.

Anyway, as Fable III begins, the first significant revelation is the fact you're finally free to play as a lady hero, should you so wish. It's a feature that Peter Molyneux's been talking up since the original Fable's inception (a common theme as you'll quickly see) that's now a reality. It's the first of many nods to Fable III's newfound inclusiveness and it opens avenues for female gamers, sexual adventurers and even cross-dressers to represent, with merkins and bodices for all.

From there, it's onto the game itself and Fable III opens with a spectacular chicken-based intro movie (already doing the rounds on the net). It perfectly sets the scene for the game's new-look Albion, firmly in the oppressive iron grip of the Age of Industry. It's a dirtier, scarier place this time and while Albion hasn't been shorn of its trademark charm and whimsy, this third Fable outing feels much darker from the start.

For the first time in the series, as our story begins, you play not as a blank child-shaped canvas but as a fully-defined character in the form of a teenage Prince (or indeed Princess), sibling to tyrannical ruler of Albion, Logan. This time, you have a voice which leads us to another significant shift in Fable's previous dynamic. Earlier Fable games sought to increase immersion by planting players firmly in the shoes of empty, characterless vessels - and Lionhead readily admits that decision worked at the expense of the game's narrative drive.

Think back to Fable II's abrupt denouement and it's unlikely anyone would contest this point. For Fable III though, Lionhead has taken a step back, with full cinematics designed to increase the dramatic and emotional impact of the game's epic yarn. It's a move that's paid off based on our relatively brief hands-on time and Fable III doesn't waste time getting its hands muddied in dark narrative waters.

Things begin innocently enough as your trusted manservant Jasper (voiced by John Cleese) wakes you from your slumber to meet your nubile young lady friend Elise in the castle grounds. It's worth noting that things might play out slightly differently if, unlike us, you opt to play as a female adventurer - it's entirely possible lady heroes might get a bit of, say, Elton action, but don't quote us on that.

Incidentally, one of the most obvious differences to the game this time around is its visual overhaul. While environments still have that familiar mix of classic fantasy and British whimsy, character models are far better defined. You'll note it again and again - from the fur on your canine companion to incidental NPCs with their own recognisable characteristics. Distinct character design benefits everyone from your hero to key characters you meet on your travels and it makes for a far more engaging narrative experience when you're dealing with recognisable faces rather than featureless Play-Doh blobs.

Back with Elise in the castle grounds, your brief encounter is soon interrupted by the sound of baying mob in the distance. With Logan's guards ill-at-ease, you grab Elise by the hand and race inside to prevent your brother from allowing events to take a violent turn. This brief bit of handholding is really the only time we got to see Fable III's much-vaunted 'touch' mechanic in action so it's hard to say what impact, if any, this new feature will have on proceedings.

As you enter the castle, a rapid succession of sequences reintroduces the Fable series' central notion of choice. Variously, you're tasked with quelling the castle's jittery staff with a rousing speech, selecting the most appropriate options from a conversation tree, you can sign or ignore a petition against poverty bought by one of the city's protester, plus you're faced with a number of other, far trickier, moral conundrums which we won't spoil here.

Pausing long enough to meet your guardian Sir Walter - who introduces the basics of melee combat, a familiar combination of button-taps in the game's early stages - events quickly escalate and soon you're embarking on a daring escape from the castle with Walter and Jasper in tow. Making your way down to the catacombs, you gain access to the Guild Shield, a relic which transports your party to the Road to Rule.

A long, winding path cutting through misty waters, the Road to Rule offers a series of locked gates between your starting point and the dim silhouette of Albion Castle in the distance. In story terms, you're tasked with collecting followers to pass through the gates, return to the castle and revolt against Logan's tyranny. It's actual purpose is a little more interesting: as Lionhead explains, its research showed that very few people got stuck into some of Fable II's more peripheral features - be that property management, relationships or otherwise.

Now, as you play the game and earn Guild Shields through your various actions, you can revisit the Road to Rule and unlock chests scattered between your current location and the next impasse. Items inside chests act as a form of levelling up, offering everything from spells and combat upgrades to property packs and expression expansions. Rather than dump everything on you at once and hoping for the best, Fable III drip feeds its multitude of features this time around, encouraging experimentation with each new purchase. Certain quests have also been tailored to more cursory activities too, bringing them closer to the core of the game - Lionhead's intention is clearly to ensure even the most impatient players get a sense of Fable III's incredible breadth as they race toward the finish line.

Suffice to say, Fable III's first few hours take you through a typically diverse range of locations - from snowy mountain tops and quaint sun-speckled hamlets to dank underground caverns. There's little room for genuine exploration though and these opening hours act as an extended tutorial, introducing familiar game mechanics at a more gradual pace than before. Thankfully though, tighter pacing and a far more fluid sense of progression ensure that even series' stalwarts can enjoy these opening hours.

Once out of the castle, you're whisked away to the snow-strewn Dweller's Camp in Mist Peak, an area on the brink of collapse thanks to poverty at the hands of nefarious Logan. Here, you're tasked with winning over your first batch of followers and these early objectives offer a grand tour of Fable's more familiar tropes, seamlessly introducing melee, magic and ranged combat, plus dungeon-crawling and sim-based busy work. While combat appeared similar to Fable II during our time with the game - each discipline assigned to a specific button and served up by combining button presses and directional strikes on the left stick - there are some changes, largely based around the game's new focus on streamlining and accessibility.

Mostly, these adjustments revolve around the way Fable III handles weapons. Now, rather than drowning players in multiple upgradable armaments, you get one of each weapon type (initially limited to a sword and hammer in the melee category, plus rifle or pistol for ranged devices) and these evolve depending on your play-style. So, depending on your actions in combat, your weapons visibly evolve into new forms, your sword becoming longer and sharper, and your hammer becoming larger and heavier. We can see some players loathing the apparent lack of customisation this time around but, taking Lionhead at its word, what essentially promises to be an intelligent automatic upgrade system should make for a more fluid, seamless experience.

Incidentally, weapon selection occurs in your father's Sanctuary - Lionhead's response to complaints over Fable II's cumbersome menu interface. It's a branching hub area, manned by Jasper the butler, and presents all your menu options as a series of easily accessible chambers. The central room offers a map for instantaneous travel across Albion while other doorways lead to your armoury, wardrobe, achievements and online options in the game. Truthfully, we were worried this might present an unnecessary layer of faff to proceedings but instant loading (by hitting the Start button at any time) and contextual travel to rooms as required by the game does genuinely take the headache out of item management.

While it's hard to gauge any real evolution of the combat system given our relatively brisk hands-on with the game, it's reassuring to see a shift in focus when in comes to Fable's dungeon-crawling elements. Although enemies - from bats to skeletons in the early stages - are plentiful, it seems Fable III intends to deliver more than the series' usual hack and grind progression. An early dungeon, set in vast underground catacombs, offered a welcome degree of variety with some clever traps and a handful of platform and puzzle elements. While not exactly ground-breaking, it's good to see Lionhead attempting a more sophisticated approach to dungeon design.

Beyond the main quest, we also had a chance to see some of Fable III's other treats. These included a new set of money-making career opportunities (pie-baking and Lute-playing being highlights) presented as rhythm-action-style mini-games, plus the usual roster of property management and home-decorating distractions. Side-quests seem plentiful too, with one fellow event attendee branching into the mountains for some off-the-beaten-path heroics after inadvertently belching in a maiden's face.

Then, of course, there're the much-touted co-op improvements. Once again, it's a feature that's been bubbling away at Lionhead since the original Fable started development. Fable II made headway here but, ultimately, failed to deliver a satisfying co-operative experience. This time around however, visitors to your world aren't stuck playing as generic henchman. Now, they can bring their hero wholesale into your game, with distinct monetary benefits for their efforts. Ghostly orbs are back as other players go about their business in their own universe and co-op partners can now join in quests proper, rather than being relegated to hired muscle, and loot is split 50-50. Interestingly too, you're free to go about your own business, doing as you please in someone else's game, provided you both remain in the same region. What's more, while visitors can wreak havoc in your version of Albion, their actions merely affect how the land's denizens perceive them rather than you.

Lionhead promises other benefits to co-op too, highlighting co-op marriage during our demonstration. Exchanging vows is yet another nod to building bonds in-game that extend into the real world. Not only do doting couples get the full theatrics when they tie the knot, your heroic earnings get lumped into one shared account. Needless to say, there's ample room for abuse here and it's perfectly possible for one partner to slip into a life of decadent sloth while the other does all the hard graft. However, divorce is always an option, assuming you can decide who's going to collect the kids from the orphanage, and you're offered a chance to suss out your potential spouse with a pre-marriage proposal that outlines their income, number of previous partners and divorces - not to mention the number of times they've been widowed in case you suspect foul play.

That then, is pretty much Fable III as we've seen it. You could certainly argue that it's unfair to judge a game when we've barely scratched the surface - and we'd entirely agree. However, if there's one thing we took away from the experience, it's that this third iteration of the game simply didn't blow our minds in the same way that its predecessors did at preview stage. As we mentioned at the start, there's the sense this is almost incremental upgrade to the series, ironing out the wrinkles and implementing features that have danced around the design document for years now. That's not necessarily a criticism though - we simply adore the Fable universe and it's always a pleasure to return. What's more, it's readily apparent that Lionhead's obsessive tweaking to the formula has made for a far more fluid, engaging experience. All that said though, we know there's a least one more big reveal to come, Lionhead teasing a cataclysmic shift in the game once your revolt has brought Logan to his knees. And, with Fable III set for a late-October release, that leaves plenty of time for Lionhead to knock us for six all over again. Come on guys, bring it on.

Images

fable-iii-20100817034727445-000.jpg

fable-iii-20100817034701290-000.jpg

fable-iii-20100817034731226-000.jpg

fable-iii-20100817034738366-000.jpg

fable-iii-20100817034734913-000.jpg

fable-iii-20100817034707180-000.jpg


fable-iii-20100817034704415-000.jpg

Also From Eurogamer​

ss_preview_Embargoed_until_August_17th_12.30CEST_03.jpg.jpg

ss_preview_X16_96296_01_Controller_FOB_tif_jpgcopy.jpg.jpg
 

SimonKalevra

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 12, 2007
Messages
1,413
Reaction score
29
Points
110
Age
36
Re: [PREVIEW] IGN Preview First Few Hours (A Couple of New Images Too)

Beat me to it ^_^

+ rep anyway :p

Sure took their sweet time though, IGN that is
 

The Invisible Hero

Psst, behind you...
Joined
Aug 15, 2010
Messages
29
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Re: [PREVIEW] IGN Preview First Few Hours (A Couple of New Images Too)

the road to rule with chests thing sounds stupid and gimmicky
 

Azer249

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 16, 2010
Messages
1,503
Reaction score
400
Points
235
Age
28
Re: [PREVIEW] IGN Preview First Few Hours (A Couple of New Images Too)

May i put this in my news thread :)
 

Albion Knight

Avatar the Old
Premium
Joined
Nov 25, 2006
Messages
3,204
Reaction score
139
Points
205
Age
54
Re: [PREVIEW] IGN Preview First Few Hours (A Couple of New Images Too)

Great article thanks :) I'll rep you when I'm not on my phone ;)
 

Shadowtree

Winner of Lil'Miss Zerg 2010
Joined
Jul 28, 2010
Messages
189
Reaction score
2
Points
35
Age
30
Re: [PREVIEW] IGN Preview First Few Hours (A Couple of New Images Too)

Nice find, especially love the pics. +rep.
$50 says the first one is the king of mist peak...

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh possible Elton action... :wub:
Wait, who the hell is Elton??? :hmm:
 

Blestb

Colour me intrigued
Joined
Feb 15, 2010
Messages
236
Reaction score
7
Points
35
Re: [PREVIEW] IGN Preview First Few Hours (A Couple of New Images Too)

Shadowtree;417046 said:
Nice find, especially love the pics. +rep.
$50 says the first one is the king of mist peak...

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh possible Elton action... :wub:
Wait, who the hell is Elton??? :hmm:

That's Logan. Am i looking at the wrong picture?
 

Wasabi

Cant play Fable 3 till Dec.
Joined
Jul 20, 2010
Messages
65
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Re: [PREVIEW] IGN Preview First Few Hours (A Couple of New Images Too)

Nice find. Looks like a very action-packed, information-packed beginning to a promising game!
 

joslen1

Resident Psychiatrist
Joined
Sep 21, 2009
Messages
436
Reaction score
14
Points
70
Re: [PREVIEW] IGN Preview First Few Hours (A Couple of New Images Too)

Blestb;417059 said:
That's Logan. Am i looking at the wrong picture?

first picture definitely isn't logan
 

SimonKalevra

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 12, 2007
Messages
1,413
Reaction score
29
Points
110
Age
36
Re: [PREVIEW] IGN Preview First Few Hours (A Couple of New Images Too)

Shadowtree;417046 said:
Nice find, especially love the pics. .
$50 says the first one is the king of mist peak...

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh possible Elton action... :wub:
Wait, who the hell is Elton???
Elton John? the singer?
Elton John the gay singer?

Elton Action?

You know what? I'm gonna leave that one for you to figure out... :shifty:

Anyway great pictures, yeah
And here they are, in case you guys are too lazy

Naked would-be Lumber Jack
fable-iii-20100817034651713_640w.jpg
Got N'uff ammo?
fable-iii-20100817034655009_640w.jpg
Treasure chest!!!
fable-iii-20100817034658493_640w.jpg
Captain Magic vs. Baddies
fable-iii-20100817034701290_640w.jpg
Dungeon Entrance?
fable-iii-20100817034704415_640w.jpg
Aurora
fable-iii-20100817034707180_640w.jpg
King Turd of Sh!t Mountain
fable-iii-20100817034727445_640w.jpg
EXPLOSIONS!
fable-iii-20100817034731226_640w.jpg
Fairy prince, soon-to-be-king
fable-iii-20100817034734913_640w.jpg
Goatee + Mullet = EVIL!
fable-iii-20100817034738366_640w.jpg

And that's all of 'em
 

Blestb

Colour me intrigued
Joined
Feb 15, 2010
Messages
236
Reaction score
7
Points
35
Re: [PREVIEW] IGN Preview First Few Hours (A Couple of New Images Too)

joslen1;417082 said:
first picture definitely isn't logan

On the article? It is
 

Dark Drakan

Well-Known Member
Guildmaster
Town Guard
Premium
Joined
Feb 6, 2006
Messages
18,655
Reaction score
2,305
Points
365
Age
38
Re: [PREVIEW] IGN Preview First Few Hours (A Couple of New Images Too)

Im liking the more realistic looking character models.
 

mjmarin12

Tex-Mex Gamer
Premium
Joined
Apr 29, 2010
Messages
807
Reaction score
107
Points
155
Re: [PREVIEW] IGN Preview First Few Hours (A Couple of New Images Too)

Its looking very good +rep
 

Shadowtree

Winner of Lil'Miss Zerg 2010
Joined
Jul 28, 2010
Messages
189
Reaction score
2
Points
35
Age
30
Re: [PREVIEW] IGN Preview First Few Hours (A Couple of New Images Too)

SimonKalevra;417095 said:
Elton John? the singer?
Elton John the gay singer?

Elton Action?

You know what? I'm gonna leave that one for you to figure out... :shifty:

Anyway great pictures, yeah
And here they are, in case you guys are too lazy


And that's all of 'em

Oh ha. freakin ha. your sooooo funny :rolleyes:
but seriously if this char is remotely based on Elton john I shall regret my bad joke till the day I Die!!!! o_O
*points finger* and its all YOUR fault.

Blestb said:
On the article? It is

Dude, there is NO way that this guy is logan. like at all.:(

fable-iii-20100817034727445_640w.jpg
 

GhostlyIcicle

I'm so lazy that...
Joined
Aug 6, 2010
Messages
265
Reaction score
9
Points
60
Re: [PREVIEW] IGN Preview First Few Hours (A Couple of New Images Too)

Blestb;417059 said:
That's Logan. Am i looking at the wrong picture?

Actually, it really isn't.
The last picture is Logan. ;)
 

Blestb

Colour me intrigued
Joined
Feb 15, 2010
Messages
236
Reaction score
7
Points
35
Re: [PREVIEW] IGN Preview First Few Hours (A Couple of New Images Too)

ON THE ARTICLE. Dammit i said it about an hour ago. Simple miscommunication, i apologise.
 

Lynne

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 17, 2010
Messages
222
Reaction score
17
Points
65
Age
42
Re: [PREVIEW] IGN Preview First Few Hours (A Couple of New Images Too)

This is lovely. Lots of nice information. I guess I'm not all that worried that it's more of an upgrade of the old game than a new one. The good always outweighs the bad for me with regards to Fable, just for it's sheer enjoyability for a female gamer who gets to both fight evil and redecorate houses in the same game.

Side note. I do think it's weird that they mention at the beginning of the article "finally" being able to play a Lady Hero- which isn't new. Do they mean something other than what I'm thinking?
 

POOP

Whatever floats your goat
Joined
Jul 22, 2010
Messages
356
Reaction score
12
Points
50
Age
30
Re: [PREVIEW] IGN Preview First Few Hours (A Couple of New Images Too)

Dark Drakan;417130 said:
Im liking the more realistic looking character models.
I was just thinking the same thing. I haven't seen any behemoth heroes yet.
 

Shadowtree

Winner of Lil'Miss Zerg 2010
Joined
Jul 28, 2010
Messages
189
Reaction score
2
Points
35
Age
30
Re: [PREVIEW] IGN Preview First Few Hours (A Couple of New Images Too)

Blestb;417180 said:
ON THE ARTICLE. Dammit i said it about an hour ago. Simple miscommunication, i apologise.

No apology nesscessary. :D
I assumed you meant the article as in the orginal thread post, not the actual linked article... I should have thought about it more...
But if you really feel bad, You can just say how awesome I am, and how much you love my pool shark. Then we'll can call it even :p
 

Wasabi

Cant play Fable 3 till Dec.
Joined
Jul 20, 2010
Messages
65
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Re: [PREVIEW] IGN Preview First Few Hours (A Couple of New Images Too)

I'm so happy for the improved graphics. The clothing, hair and characters just seem more 'polished,' too.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top