Poll: Fable took the wrong turn?

[Mr. GameBrain]

I loved the first Fable.
It could have been taken so much further though.

Fable 2, was definately different, and easier, but it wasn't bad though, I enjoyed it.

Fable 3.

You know a game is bad when as a sequel, its actually WORSE than its predecessor.
And my God Fable 3 was tripe. Utter tripe.
I hated EVERYTHING about the game. EVERYTHING.
Couldn't bring myself to finish it. Traded it in for a decent trade in value and NEVER looked back.

 

[Arnoxthe1]

This could be used as a scapegoat for many failed or mediocre games. Not dissing your point but just pointing out how common it is.

Yeah it is common but you know how publishers are these days. Besides, as I said, I can see that in Fable 3, they had a lot of good ideas. I liked the weapon evolution idea and the in-game menu (Sanctuary). However, you really can't make a decent AAA game in just a year or so.

 

[ICantBelieveItGoesBoom]

The funny thing is...I loved TLC when I first picked it up, and it's the only one of the 3 I've played to the end. I picked up 2 based on this, was tremendously disappointed, and left it on the shelf unfinished. When my wife and I got a house together, I recommended she played 1, she didn't like it, so I figured what the hell try 2 then.

She LOVED it. Beat it at least 5 times, and begged me to pick up 3. She did the same for 3, and as I watched I couldn't believe the glaring plotholes and lapses in logic and how much more gimmicky it had gotten. She didn't seem to notice that, so to each their own I suppose. We both agree that the XBLA game was balls, however.

I'm had the same situation as your wife I'm afraid, just couldn't get into the first one after having the played the second. Just finished 3 since it was on the Steam summer sale and loved it too but I still think that 2 was the best.

 

[Zantos]

Fable TLC, with the dog and emotion wheel from 2, and the inventory system from 3, would be a fantastic game.

Captcha: Whole shebang. Good Idea captcha

 

[GAunderrated]

This could be used as a scapegoat for many failed or mediocre games. Not dissing your point but just pointing out how common it is.

Yeah it is common but you know how publishers are these days. Besides, as I said, I can see that in Fable 3, they had a lot of good ideas. I liked the weapon evolution idea and the in-game menu (Sanctuary). However, you really can't make a decent AAA game in just a year or so.

Yup we are in agreement then. Games have great ideas but since all publishers are loving making C rated games in a year than going for the B/A games over a 2-4 year period, we arn't getting very good AAA games overall.

Captcha: Since when. About 2010 this started happening. Thanks for asking captcha.

 

[Orphillius]

Played the first one a lot, thought it was great. Got the second, it was pretty good, but I stopped playing after the (!!!SPOILER ALERT!!!) jail segment, because my save glitched out and I was just sliding around instead of having a walking cycle. Didn't hear enough good about the third to play it. Journey I'll admit looked kind of interesting when they showed off the magic casting system with kinect. Very gimmicky, though. Not really sure what else I was expecting from the Kinect.

 

[masticina]

Hard to beat Fable 1/TLC
Don't get me wrong here okay lets be fair how many titles didn't end up in the trap of "the first was great the rest.. was weaker" Sometimes the goose only can lay one golden egg. And the others are silver.. can happen!

Fable 1 was different at the time, quirky, english I would call it. I like it for that reason it is odd has some funny things to it and just feels cozy. A game that made you happy and left you with a good feeling.

Yes no trees that grow and so on a shame.. but so it be!

Where I think fable II began to fail was well.. sure it was bigger and more and had an odd ending. But erm it lost a bit of its humor and cozyness.

I am not going to talk about Fable III, that piece of. Lets just say enough is spoken about that!

Fable 1 just left you with a good feeling..

 

[Exocet]

Fable 1 was hilarious, and the upgrade system was actually good. The combat system, while lacking, remained diverse by having a pretty good assortment of weapons and spells, all while having a simple health system complemented by straightforward, no bullshit armor.

Plenty of side quests, an story that really felt engaging at times, and you really saw your character grow and age, and scar.

Then Fable 2 decided not to be on PC, so I ignored it.

Then Fable 3 went on summer sale on Steam, and I saw the full extent of dumbification.

Stop catering to the idea that the average console gamer is a fucking moron that can't handle a simple inventory screen, a journal and can't understand the idea behind mana, because the already OP as fuck mages in fable come back with a vengeance the third. Enemies? Press a button as fast as possible and watch the problem go away on its own. You can block a sword, but not a fucking fire nova.

 

[Frozengale]

Fable TLC stands as one of my favorite games of all time.

Fable 2.... ehh... it was, odd. It's not terrible, but it's not great. Worth at least a play through if nothing else I think. Most memorable part was the fact that you could resurrect and then marry Lady Grey from the first Fable game. That was freaking awesome. Aside from that the combat went a bit downhill.

Fable 3. I really like this one despite what people say. I think the evil being that becomes the main villain is freaking awesome. How they handled the final battle, that was poorly done. The whole bit where I suddenly was making decisions that poorly represented good and evil... that was problematic and should have been done better. The combat was an improvement from 2 but still wasn't as good as TLC. Also it was a bit to easy. I went the whole game without being knocked out. They need to rethink the difficulty curve for sure.

 

[neonsword13-ops]

I didn't play Fable 1, but I liked 2. It wasn't amazing but it was good and I still go back to tool around in it from time to time. 3 had some good elements, but just fell short of the mark. Is Fable 1 worth playing now? Does it still hold up, or was it just good for its time?

Hell yeah, it's still excellent, and still the best of the trio. I'm re-playing it right now, actually. Certainly some good times with it in the past.

You can find it one steam for $10. It's definitely worth a purchase.

 

[Trippy Turtle]

Original was amazing. Fable 2 I didn't really like. Fable 3 was a little better. The other one was just another nintendo game but on xbox and with Fables name stuck on it.

 

[ReinWeisserRitter]

Fable didn't so much take a wrong turn as drive into a ditch from the beginning. The series has never been particularly good, and while it's marginally improved over the years, it's still pretty damn mediocre and forgettable.

 

[Casual Shinji]

Fable was born on the wrong turn.

It was never really any good. The first game benefited from the novelty and the lack of proper RPGs on consoles at the time, but the moment this generation came around the franchise got squashed like a grub by dozens of similar games that were a hundred times better.

Fable 3 was the worst of the bunch though. Who knows what Lionhead was thinking when they decided to toss easy and quick menus for walking to each item individually. But then Lionhead seemed to be the only developer who was able to make menus that didn't run for shit.

 

[Cavan]

I have to say I haven't played a single fable game which I didn't find to be substandard in general.

In general Fable was: linear, painfully shallow and hilariously badly voice acted by about 5 people.

It also suffered from a bad case of button mashing combat, unbalanced and unoriginal skills and a predictable story (HOLY CRAP HE BETRAYED ME?!) blended into a pretty heavily padded and short, unimpressive campaign.
It was one of the forerunners of the retarded black and white moral choice system (eating tofu gave you good points if memory serves) and the effects levelling up skills and that system had on your character were pretty grotesquely badly done.

There were a couple of decent moments (the arena still sticks in my mind). I cannot fathom how people overlooked so many really blatant flaws to overrate it so much (yes, each to his own..that's why this is a rant and not general consensus ;__.

I might go back and try TLC eventually, I'm sure they fixed a few of my problems with it. The fable franchise has still always gone from average to steadily worse.

Fable 2 was awful and I didn't bother trying Fable 3.

 

[Captain Anon]

i should probably say for those who don't know Fable 1 and TLC are one in the same.
anyways onward

Fable 1 TLC - Fantastic probably one of my favorite rpgs of all time and it was my first rpg i payed

Fable 2 - very good worthy of the name: Fable

Fable 3 - nice graphics and Walter was funny too and very little numbers of different ememies

Fable The Journey - a first person rail will magic only shooter on the kincet. i don't think i need to say anymore about that.

 

[Easton Dark]

I liked Fable 2 because it added guns and using them looked super cool.

Magic's fun.

I liked the buying and rent charging on properties.

If it wasn't an xbox exclusive I'd probably buy it on PC. (which is weird since the others arent)

Fable 3 and that other one just... don't do it right.

 

[spartandude]

Fable TLC - Amazing superfantasical game

Fable 2 - Not as good by any stretch of the imagination, but still alot of fun, especially with friends

Fable 3 - NNNNNNNNRRRRRRAGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!.... just thinking about that thing makes me need an angry dome

 

[sunsetspawn]

Fable was special. Though the gameplay was barely above average, the tone, artistic direction, and music gave us a Burtonesque medieval fantasy world, built upon an ancient mystery, that felt like jumping into a Trina Schart Hyman illustrated Grimm fairy tale. To sum that up more for the layman, Fable felt like twisted Disney.

Shit, Danny Elfman did the main theme, AND every other theme in the game is primed from that main theme and ALL of the games music maintains Elfman's signature sound.

Remember the Oakvale theme?

Fable 2 brought the gameplay firmly below average AND disposed of all of the charm.

Fable 3, I couldn't be bothered to play because, "fool me once, shame on you, fool me, fool me, can't get fooled again." - GWB


Edit to add...

For those looking to play games that seem to resemble the GOOD parts of Fable, in spirit, I can recommend Gothic 2 and Risen. Yes, they're REALLY HARD, but, I feel that they capture the small scale wonder and adventure very well. Gothic 2 is more straight Euro-medieval while Risen is more medieval Greek Byzantium.