Video Game Review: ‘Fable III’ Transports Players to Another World

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CHICAGO – The fully-realized world of Albion returns in the very-good “Fable III,” a game that seems to have been dismissed too readily by fans expecting a more radical departure from “Fable II” but that will almost certainly be embraced throughout the upcoming holiday season and beyond. Despite a relatively-disappointing ending, this is one of the most-mesmerizing games of 2010.

Video Game Rating: 4.5/5.0

I’m a sucker for two elements that “Fable III” absolutely nails — storytelling and a fully-realized world. The best and most influential games of the last several years from “Grand Theft Auto IV” to “Fallout 3” have both stories that keep the player coming back and environments that feel uniquely alive. Anyone can design a shooter or a puzzle game but to create a gaming universe that feels as completely realized as Albion does in “Fable III” is a stupendous achievement. The main reason Albion feels so vibrant is that it’s the decisions you will make as a player that will shape its destiny. Moral decisions have become a major part of the gaming landscape but “Fable III” takes them a step further, implying that there is no good or bad when powerful people face impossible odds — in times of crisis, every decision comes with a cost.

Fable III
Photo credit: Microsoft

“Fable III” starts as the story of a Prince, the son of the man who saved Albion in “Fable II,” who has watched his brother Logan become a despicable tyrant King. The first major decision you’ll be forced to make is a “Sophie’s Choice” variation in which the King will either kill a group of peasant workers or the girl you love. Do you take the personal cost knowing that it will save multiple lives or do you favor the person you know over those you do not? It’s these complex decisions that will shape your time in “Fable III.” Rarely are you forced to make a truly evil decision — this is a game after all in which the first trophy is given for holding hands — but paths of good and evil will constantly be open to you and every choice will come with a later cost.

Fable III Photo credit: Microsoft

Under the guidance of the same force that led your father, your hero escapes the palace and begins the process of rallying the people against their tyrant leader. Can you be the man to bring Albion back into the light? Driven by a series of quests, you will meet many residents of Albion and make many promises that will come back to help or haunt you later in the game. “Fable III” might frustrate those looking for a deep RPG experience in that the game is a relatively-linear experience. Sure, there are side quests like finding some rare books or capturing chickens, but the main quests are always clear and relatively straightforward.

Most would expect that “Fable III” ends with the ascension of your hero to the throne after you’ve gathered the forces to lead the revolution. In a fascinating gameplay twist, the title is far from over after you become King. It is then that you learn that something truly evil is coming to Albion. Do you keep the promises that you made to the people who made you King, knowing that doing so will leave the Treasury bankrupt and the government unable to stop the impending doom, or do you turn your back on them for their own safety? Over the course of an accelerated year, you will face a series of throne room decisions along with a few quests, all while you slowly realize that no matter what decision you make, people are going to die.

The sense of rising and impending doom in “Fable III” makes for some stunning storytelling. As I weighed each decision and tried to determine which promises to break and which to keep, the game just got more and more fascinating. I found that I chose favorites early, keeping all promises to certain towns and breaking those to others. And I anxiously awaited the big day when all my decisions climaxed in an all-out war. Sadly, the biggest disappointment about “Fable III” has to be the final scenes, which don’t have the length or gravity one would expect given their immense build-up. I expected a massive quest to end a title this expansive but was greeted by something lesser.

Fable III Photo credit: Microsoft

My disappointment in the end of “Fable III” is a minor complaint. This is complex, daring fantasy entertainment that’s enjoyable on every level. Even the combat has been refined and improved from the last game with an excellent mix of melee, gun, and spell-casting attacks. It won’t be long before you’re alternating weaponry with magic seamlessly. Some of the animation when combat gets intense can be a bit laggy and even glitchy but it’s never a pervasive issue. And it should be noted that “Fable III” often looks amazing. The different creatures and areas of Albion feature some of the best graphics of the year.

“Fable III” contains RPG elements like potions, spells, and quests but it’s a title that I believe could appeal to all levels of gaming fans. If you’re into incredibly-deep role-playing experiences you may be disappointed by what is somewhat shallow but it’s a trade-off to make a title this accessible to all. And the key to this game is the storytelling not the RPG elements.

And that’s what I keep coming back to with “Fable III” — the story. Lionhead Studios have created a world and populated it with characters that become hard to leave behind. It’s a world that sucked me in so completely that I wanted to return to it to keep exploring, interacting, and questing even after I had finished the main story. And it’s a world that I can’t wait to return to again with DLC and an inevitable sequel. Don’t miss it.

By BRIAN TALLERICO Content Director HollywoodChicago.com brian@hollywoodchicago.com