Fable (1996)

"An off-beat adventure game that still stands the test of time."

Introduction:
While this was released in 1997, I recently picked it up again and realized it is still as funny as ever. I doubt you'll find any copies of this game, but if you happen to see one in the bargain bin and you are a fan of King's Quest or other similar old-school adventure games, pick this one up! You won't regret it.

Gameplay: (7/10)
This is your standard adventure game. You collect items and find ways to use them to get more items or solve puzzles to new areas. Its been done before, but its a good formula. What makes Fable a good adventure game is the humor it implements throughout (more on that in the Story section). Overall, I'd say it is somewhat more difficult than other mainstream adventure games of its time due to the odd uses you find for items. One thing is certain, you will test your creativity and (il)logical thinking while playing this game. Where the game loses points is from the fact it doesn't really expand on any of the other adventure game formulas. That doesn't make it a bad game, but it also doesn't make it revolutionary. Also, like nearly all adventure games, it is extremely linear. There is only one way to get to the end, yet there are many many ways to fail. The game also lost a point simply because you will find yourself dying... a lot. It is very easy to die in Fable, for the most mundane things at times, like putting on a ring.

Story: 9/10
You are Quickthorpe, not the brave muscle-bound hero of most adventures but a scrawny teenager who is overly polite. As Quickthorpe, you are sent out of a village to recover gems that unlock the secrets of the Mecubarz, a long-extinct race of beings. Why do you want the gems? You aren't told but your fully-matured girlfriend back at the village promises you two can cuddle all night if you succeed. That's a good enough reason as any.

The process throughout the game is to find the guardian of whichever realm/land you happen to be in, kill it, recover the gem, and gain access to the new land. While completing the game will provide plenty of challenge, the real meat of the game is from conversations with the characters. They are incredibly well-scripted and many humorous dialogue paths are available to you. Again, I put emphasis on the its wit and humor that really sell the game.

Audio/Video: 8/10
First off, the game was made in 1997, but even now the graphics are appealing to the eye. The nature of adventure games (most of them being in cartoon-drawn fashion) allows them to age better than most games *cough* Final Fantasy VII *cough*. The graphics being no problem, where Fable loses points is in the audio. While all dialogue is spoken (by superb talent), the music is lacking (and sometimes non-existent). Either that, or the music is incredibly annoying, such as in the hermit's home near the Engulfed Fortress. Normally, I would give this section a 7/10 but the voice acting pushed it up a point; it really is impressive. I still remember the Genie's voice, who you expect to have a somewhat omnipotent, godlike tone, is soft-spoken and flamboyant.

Replayability: 5/10
Nearly all old-school adventure games are very linear, so it is hard to hold that against it. However, by today's standards, the game really only deserves one play through by most people. Unless you use a walkthrough on your first play, you are very likely to see and experience every scenario and dialogue path simply by trial and error. The game didn't try to put in any replayability, but neither did any other adventure game of its time, so I give it an average 5/10.

Buy or rent:
You can't rent the game and you probably can't find the game anywhere to buy so... ummmm, I guess you are out of luck. Seriously though, if you do find the game to buy somewhere, I highly doubt it will be more than $10, which is well worth the price for some off-beat entertainment.

Final Thoughts:
If it weren't for the great, memorable characters with their dark humor, the game would have easily been a 5/10. Just another average adventure game from the good old days of Sierra and the like. Thankfully, the designers really focused on making the world that Quickthorpe lives in an unrealistic, yet surprisingly imaginative one. It is well worth playing, if you can find it anywhere.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 05/03/04