Fable Anniversary Review - Slack of Blades

[Jimothy Sterling]

Fable Anniversary Review - Slack of Blades

A classic of yesterday, not so much today.

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[Scars Unseen]

I will admit that some of the mechanics of the game are a bit sloppy, but I'll still take it over the 1,001 God of War clones that make up a lot of today's action games.

 

[Doclector]

I dunno about the love affair with HD re-releases being over. I could probably list ten games off the top of my head that I'm dying to see again.

But, I'm a nostalgic fool.

I might pick up fable anniversary at some point, but not at full price, it seems. I was actually looking forward to it. I was a huge fable 2 fan, and even fable 3 didn't seem that bad to me. Everyone I've ever talked about the series with has always said that the first game was the best. I might learn how much of that was blind nostalgia in time.

 

[Scars Unseen]

I might pick up fable anniversary at some point, but not at full price, it seems.

This seems to be my default stance on HD remakes. I'm just now looking at picking up the Zone of Enders HD Collection.

 

[That Eeyore]

One thing I didn't like about the Fable series is that it seemed to lose a bit after the first one, mainly in the sense that Armor was done away with (You could wear armor, but it was only for looks, and didn't do much for you) Will powers were reduced to the point where all you got were attacking type spells, with buffs and healing abilities falling by the wayside.

I always said that a game with the armor and non-attacking spells of Fable 1 with some of the advancements introduced later installments (the dog, ability to choose your hero's gender) would be nice.

 

[Shocksplicer]

Still the best Fable game of them all, though that's hardly surprising considering that they seemed to intentionally do the exact wrong thing in every aspect of every subsequent release...

 

[Mahorfeus]

Sucks that they didn't polish the gameplay, but frankly, despite all its obvious flaws, I still found the original a hell of a lot better than 2 or 3. I suppose that puts me the the crowd that is all right with buying this game again.

 

[Daaaah Whoosh]

This is my dilemma whenever I think about playing earlier games in a franchise I've enjoyed. I love Fable 2 so much, but I realize there are many things that could be better; the same can be said with a heavy emphasis on the latter for Fable 3. I just don't know if Fable 1 would solve those problems, or introduce new ones. And these days, after burning so much money getting a PS4, I have to be very careful with my game purchases.
In fact, if the original is on PC, it might just be old enough for my computer to run...

 

[Lightknight]

I recently tried picking up Fable 2 before playing Fable 3 and noticed how much it has aged. If Fable 2 has aged that much then I can certainly believe Fable 1 having aged that badly.

It does feel like we're living in an area that old games are more playable. I didn't play the original bioshock until 2011 and it was beautiful despite being a 2007 game. I'm really hopeful that some of the games I'm enjoying now will be perfectly enjoyable 30 years from now.

 

[putowtin]

They could have done so much more....
Seems to be Lionheads tagline!

I wanted this to be better, re-live on of my favourite Xbox games, but alas.... it'llave to wait till it's on sale!

 

[Crazy Zaul]

So they didn't upgrade the rent collecting system to the one from fable 2 or add the minigames... that sucks. But at least they kept the spell system the same instead of Fable 2s completely stupid system of upgrades not actually being upgrades.

 

[THEMILKMAN]

The first Fable had the most ambition of the series I feel and although it was by no means a great game, in any technical sense, that ambition and clear joy of the developers in making the game translated to a fun experience. However as the series went on, I felt Lionhead kept straying from their original vision and although the games became slightly more technically sound they really lost their ambition and charm until the point when I stopped caring.

 

[Dandres]

Thanks Jim, glad to know that I should not expect to get more than extra graphics from the Anniversary game. I still play the 1st one on my 360 so I will be getting it when it comes out. I was hoping the glass feature would enhance it for. Can you go in depth as to what it actually does for the game? On a happy note I am glad I can wear the Blades outfit on my evil hero when I fight Blades.

 

[SonOfVoorhees]

I enjoyed all the Fable games, though they all had their faults. I hope they do a new one and make it more open work like the Bethesda games. I enjoy the setting and graphic style of the Fable games, they have character, but just need to fix all the rubbish like the farting etc Now there is no more Peter Moly in control, the next game should be excellent - in my opinion he ruined those games with all his new additions that sucked and yet never dealt with the core issues of previous games.

 

[VanQ]

The original upgrade system and combat mechanics are mostly in tact and they've given it a HD coat of paint? I was on the fence about this one and this article has convinced me that it's worth my purchase after all. I'm sorry Jim, but the combat of the first game was leagues more fun that Fable 2 and 3, in my opinion.

I can't wait to get this and play through it with my sisters. We had SO MUCH FUN with this game when we were kids and I'm looking forward to re-introducing my youngest sister to this now that she' at an age she can also play it.

 

[Roofstone]

I pre ordered it. Fable is one of my favourite series, both 1, 2, 3 and journey was excellent in my head. With number two being the very best.

And if you don't like it you can take your opinions all the way home to the boring side of town, daddy-o.

 

[Rad Party God]

Back in 2005 when I played it for the first time, my previous experiences with action/adventure games was with The Legend of Zelda games, especially when I recently finished Wind Waker six months before. Even back then, I didn't treated Fable as a full on RPG, I treated it as an "action/adventure" game and it definitely was sloppy with everything it tried to do, from the inventory to the combat.

Heck, I barely remember the story, the only thing that stuck up with me was the "chicken chaser" and the dragon at the end of The Lost Chapters.

I'm not saying it was a bad game, quite on the contrary, I had a lot of fun with it back then and I'd definitely like to revisit it someday, out of pure nostalgia.

I'm not buying a 360 again just to play this, I'll simply dust off my copy of Fable: The Lost Chapters and it's 4 installation CDs. Those were the days

 

[Goofguy]

If I still had my 360, I'd consider getting it. I haven't played Fable since it first came out and I really liked it at the time. It may not have aged well but I always thought it was a charming and fun game.

 

[Flutterguy]

I actually still own a PC copy and just finished it again a few weeks ago. Still a great game. Although it is 'casual in difficulty' and often made fun of for it, that is by no reason something worth mocking.

If you are looking for a newer yet similar game I would recommend Kingdoms of Amular. Had a very weak intro, but gameplay and art style is similar to Fable and I am really enjoying it so far.

 

[soren7550]

I might pick up fable anniversary at some point, but not at full price, it seems.

I wanted this to be better, re-live on of my favourite Xbox games, but alas.... it'llave to wait till it's on sale!

Fable Anniversary is already being sold at discount: you can get it brand new for $40 USD.

OT: I've been wanting to play this game since before it came out. Never was able to, I really enjoyed the other two, so I can't wait to see what all the hubbub is all about.