Fable: The Lost Chapters

"Will you quest for good or for evil?"

Fable is a game that attempts to allow one to do anything. It comes fairly close to that. The options for what can be done are fairly expansive; the options of killing random villagers, stealing from them, buying out towns/shops and thus owning an entire village, get married, age over time, etc. It's a very intricate system. I never played the original Fable on Xbox, so I won't be comparing this game to the original.

Graphics/Sound: 9
All-in-all pretty good. The graphics are stunning, but at times have a bit of a comic appearance. Nonetheless, the visuals are very good, bright, and high quality. Sound is overall good, but then again, there's usually not alot to rate in the sound effects area. It's got some pretty cool music scattered through out the game, but it's the typical repeated short-phrase videogame formula for music for most of the ones found in-game.

Gameplay: 9
After you go through guild training and the prologue, you gain access to three fields of combat: magic, ranged, and melee. At the guild you can learn skills, upgrade stats, and improve proficiency with a certain field based on the experience you earn using a certain weapon. If you use a sword to kill a monster, you get x strength points. So it lets you pick and choose how you want to specialize your character.

The world isn't a very free-roam set-up like in Morrowind or Zelda games, since it's divided into smaller sub-maps. While playing, getting from location to location, you basically just feel like you're walking down a series of hallways with monsters in them. Traversing the map by foot is fairly monotonous each time after the first. The community feels relatively "alive," in the aspect that people will respond to you based on your alignment (good or evil) and your renown (how well-known you are). You've also got emotes that you can use to get certain reactions from characters and to reflect the demeanor of your character. It doesn't really let you get too attached to any characters besides the few core plot characters; 90% of the villages are expendable filler-NPC's, so it begins to feel like a fabricated world after a while.

The alignment system is an interesting thing. It allows you to be either good or evil (neutral being neither) based on your deeds and quests. Alot of quests have an evil and good way to end them, so when it boils down to it, you start to notice how blatant the game is trying to prove that you can play as a bad character, and it begins to feel cheesy. However, you could look at it from a perspective that it's giving you plenty of options, and a pretty interesting way to play as an evil character. Personally, I've had a hard time playing evil, since when you kill monsters you gain good points - so, if you're out hunting for exp, you're gaining good points. Not to mention, I'm morally a good person, so I have a difficult time being a jerk, even in games.

Your character will age over time, and his physical appearance will change. If you get alot of sun, your hair will steadily turn blonde-ish, you'll get a bit of a tan, etc. By staying out of the sun your hair should stay dark and you'll have a pale skin color. 65 is the oldest you can get in the game, and by then, you've probably accumulated some scars across your face/arms/back/etc, and some wrinkles. You've also got the option to use tattoos and a barber to completely customize your appearance through hair cuts, beards, mustaches, and tattoos (arms, legs, chest/back, face). These styles, however, will affect your attractiveness and scariness, which will play a factor in trade deals and flirting with women.

If you just went straight through the plot-missions, you could probably beat the game in about 14 hours - it really isn't that long. However, you'll probably wind up spending time hunting for exp, searching for treasure, doing side-quests, etc. and thus the gametime will go up. I had 29 hours in my first playthrough. Could've been a bit longer, however.

Story/Difficulty/Replayability: 8
The plot is basically the typical "antagonist wants to take over the world, but needs powerful item x to do so," and you're trying to stop him (either for the good of the world, or you want this incredible power to rule with). Normally it wouldn't be very unique (it even has the standard "jail" scene that's found in every RPG), but with the evil/good alignment it makes it take certain curves off the standard path. Because it will change based on your alignment, you'll probably wind up playing the game at least twice to get the full spectrum of the possible plot.

All-in-all, I felt the game was too easy. There was never a part that I ever struggled with; did everything my first try with complete, utter success and ease. The strongest armor (until you reach the extended content, which is a long time away) can be obtained relatively early in the game, and if you spend plenty of time hunting for treasure/exp, it'll be no problem to get. All of the best weapons can be found in the game for free (more or less (you get most of them through Demon Doors, which hold secrets behind them if you can solve the riddle to get through)). So, you'll have the best equipment fairly early on and will then just wind up stockpiling gold.

However, in the end-game, after you've completed it, you can use this money to and buy-out towns and continue to try and own all of Albion, etc.etc.etc.

Overall: 8
This said, the game was pretty fun. It's a deviation from the standard formula of video games, but could have been much more expansive and more in-depth. It felt a bit too simple and cheesy at times. However, 90% of the gameplay was entertaining, and it was interesting seeing my character age and change over time, allowing me to take the plot how I want (within limits). It's definitely worth buying, however, if you played the original, perhaps not. I've been told that the extended content isn't a whole lot, and thus doesn't make it worth purchasing. If you ever get the opportunity to come by this game, go ahead and get it; you won't be disappointed.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 10/13/05