Review by: Michael Rack
Published: September 27, 2004

I can only imagine the terror felt by game store employees when Fable finally hit the shelves. I’m sure they had to field countless, “Are we there yet?” calls, placate angry consumers demanding satisfaction, and mop the floors clean of drool from mobs of eager Xbox owners (myself included) frothing at the mouth to get their hands on what was expected to be the next big thing – the legendary Morrowind-killer. After all, few titles are so thoroughly hyped for so long, carrying gamers’ anticipation levels high enough to touch the sun. To make matters worse, the Xbox is still light on RPGs, so demand is very much in the red zone. However, many cried foul prior to Fable‘s release, citing a list of dropped features which cast some doubt on its opening. Now, only one question remains: Was it worth the four-year wait?

Fable starts you off slow, as you learn the basics while still just a young boy. Your first mission is to find a last-minute birthday present for your sister. Your father makes a deal with you, offering you one gold piece for each good deed you perform to put towards a gift. However, one of the main principles is that you can play as any kind of character, from a bright knight to a seedy assassin. This being the case, there are also evil deeds to be done that can net you some cash. Your character can take either approach, helping a girl recover her lost teddy bear, guarding a farmer’s supplies, or instead terrorizing the general populous.

Whatever your decision, there are others who have their own ideas about how you’ll be spending your sister’s special day. Bandits raid your village, kill your father, and drag away your mother and sister while you hide in the bushes. The entire town is enveloped in flames, while you scramble around searching out a safe haven. Fortunately, you are saved from the turmoil by a man named Maze, who quickly teleports you to safety within the Guild, a training ground for would-be heroes. The peace and tranquility you once took for granted is now gone, but life must go on.

Fable then fast-forwards a few years, bringing you to young adulthood. You can now begin your apprentice training, and learn more advanced controls for melee, ranged, and magical combat. You don’t have to jump through the hoops laid out though, as you can find a couple of small side quests, or simply become familiar with the grounds and its denizens. Once you complete your tests, you’ll be ready to graduate and enter the world as a fledgling hero, full of promise but unknown to the masses.

As a hero, you’re free to take on whatever disposition you desire. You can escort merchants through dangerous territory, run goods for profit, capture the hearts of the people, slaughter battalions of evil beasts, gamble, steal, fish, murder, buy / sell property, bully, defile a few graves … or just get a haircut. How much time you spend in any given activity is up to you. When all else fails, the Guild accepts quests from around the world, and offers them to any hero with the time and inclination to pursue them. If you’re feeling confident, you can also make a boast to accomplish the mission under difficult circumstances, such as proceeding without armor or promising a high body count. Besides looking tough, you’ll also get some bonus gold if you succeed, but failure will disappoint the people and lighten your money pouch. Sometimes you’ll be pitted against mighty creatures, which take a significant beating to bring down. Completing such tasks often earns you a trophy, such as the monster’s head, which can be mounted on the wall of your home, or paraded around town to earn acknowledgment from the masses.

Along the way, you’ll run into a number of mini-games and side quests as well. For example, traders are constantly looking for safe passage to Orchard Farms, and if they see you on the road, you may be asked to assist them. In city taverns, there’s often some form of coin or card game the locals play, which you can try out and place wagers on. You’ll also encounter a number of Demon Doors, who will only open when you have satisfied their demands, such as becoming fat, offering a gift, or eating a dozen cute furry animals in their presence. Doing so is often worth the effort though, as inside you’re sure to find something useful, ranging in value from a full set of clothes to possibly a legendary weapon.