When the original Fable released, it was to wide praise from audiences and critics who delighted in the humor and storytelling. However, Fable 2 began to exponentially evolve the time period where Albion was set, so new aspects of science and machinery began to make their way into the canon. This ultimately led to the departure from fantasy and introduction of a steampunk into the Fable universe. Fable 2 and Fable 3 relied too much on machinery, vehicles, and guns because that was the time period they were set in. While these games also had their perks, Fable would be best forgetting those entries and forging ahead with its own story entirely.
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Going Back For the Future
Weirdly enough, what made the first Fable so good was the simplicity in what it accomplished. It had nothing to prove but the story it came to tell, and it excelled in that. However, the next entry takes place over 500 years after the initial. Fable 3 added another 50 years to that timeline, further progressing Albion’s human society, with new steampunk inventions, vehicles, and guns.
With such an absolutely giant leap into the future between Fable and Fable 2, it probably only seemed logical that the citizens of Fable’s Albion would have invented new and improved ways to do things. While a strange choice, it could have possibly allowed for Fable 2 to be accessible to players who didn’t get the opportunity to play the original, and the fact that Fable 3 only takes place around 50 years later seemed to seek to be much more connected to Fable 2.
It would have also been hard to make a dutiful sequel that close to the original Fable, as it felt like a complete experience in itself. When the player finished it and were faced with their choices, it was a nice end to the storybook the game set itself up to be. It would be in the new Fable game’s interest to at least try and recreate a similar feeling of exploration, storytelling, and freedom.
Too Many Human Enemies
In a world that thrives with magic, one would hope to see that flourishing within the creatures and wildlife of Albion. While the game series has featured various forms of new and inspired magical creatures, it would be really cool to see a world alive with all kind of species and varying creatures, running across Albion’s fields and forests. The trailer showcased fairies and hungry frogs, but fans would like to see them take it a step further as well.
The last two sequels featured a large amount of human enemies with guards and enemy armies featuring no small part. Even more so that friendly enemies could be possessed by some outside dark force, but there were few physical incarnations of the Crawler physical appearance itself. While the Crawler and the Darkness were intended to play into a larger lore in Fable: The Journey, it didn’t really make a lasting impression.
Evolve the RP
Something that has been requested by fans, and would help boost the role-playing aspect, would be to include the transferable Balverine plague in Fable. Ideally, this would take a hint from The Elder Scrolls and give players a playable version of the rabid howling beasts. To balance, there could be moments that are impacted when someone recognizes that the player is infected, while the constant bloodlust could also add a negative impact to the character’s honor.
While Fable 3’s properties let the adventurer play “Real Estate Tycoon,” it would be interesting to see that tied into the story or the concept evolved on. Normally players would save up to purchase a property, then they would receive money back on their investment periodically. However, its not often landlords get to just sit back and wait to collect their investment. It would be interesting to see players occasionally tasked with fixing a water heater, or whatever Albion’s comparative is.
Something that attracted players to the original Fable was the morality system that let the main character constantly choose between acting as a hero and as a villain. Leaning more to one side would start to alter a character’s appearance, making them appear brighter and clearer if they are heroic while a villainous character will be sneered at and begin to grow demonic horns.
Fable 3 has its own merits and fanbase, to be sure. Being a king after deposing your own brother was the right kind of drama, but the execution and time period were flawed. It would be interesting to see the new Fable start players out in a small place and allow them to depose a king, but the game should build up to that point instead of letting players immediately have access to the royal family as a jealous and spoiled prince. However, whatever Fable does under Playground’s development will likely be something new and unique to the genre.
Fable is in development for PC and Xbox Series X.
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