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Fable - RPG Evolved |
by Dan
7/19/2003 |
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What if you could play a game where everything you do affects the future? Where each plant destroyed and piece of grass trampled stayed that way? Your answers for such a game have been answered. Fable (previously known as Project Ego) is changing what an RPG is.
Unless you don’t ever read videogame news, you probably already know a lot about Fable. It seems every bit of info that is leaked or released is a huge news flash. Instead of rehashing what is already out there, I will start out with something that isn’t talked about much; the story. Don’t go expecting a Final Fantasy Story here, because you won’t find it. Fable’s story is very simple; One day a 15 year old hero (you) is sent out on an errand by his parents. He returns to find his parents missing and his dog nailed to the front door. Thusly, he sets out on a mission: to avenge the death of his dog (yes he is actually going to avenge his dog) and find his missing parents. Of course, this story is just a cheap way to get the game started, and throughout your adventures you save the world a few times over.
Many of you may now be saying; so what? The game seems to have no plot. Well, really the plot has nothing to do with this game. What makes this game so interesting and groundbreaking is its gameplay and features. In Albion, the world in which Fable takes place, every action you take causes a subsequent reaction that reverberates throughout the Fable universe. It helps to think of Albion as Earth, with magic of course. Every action you take has a direct effect to you, your future and the world. For instance, if you have a battle and chop down a tree in the process, when you come back 10 years later, that tree is still chopped down. There has been talk of the game being so granular that every flower that is trampled stays trampled, but we will have to wait and see where the developers decided to draw the line.
 
An entire aging system has been made from scratch, and it is as impressive as the world that surrounds you. Every action you take throughout your life will reflect on what you look like and how strong you are. If you stay in the shadows, you will be a pale person, if you bask in the sun, you will get a nice tan. If you decide to build up your body, then you will be a ripped muscular man. If you decide to hang around the pubs, you will develop a gut. If you don’t treat a cut, then it will turn into a scar for life. Go out and get a tattoo maybe? Well it will stay there as well. Heck, they have even incorporated stress levels. If you have had to much stress throughout you life, you will get bags under your eyes and wrinkles. But have no fear, the system is designed to age you appropriately so as not to make you die of old age before you complete the game, unless, of course, you are really, really slow. Then you might really die before you finish the game.
Your appearance also plays an important part in the game. Unlike most RPG’s, where you design your character and it doesn’t really matter since you would be treated the same now matter how you look, in Fable how you look will affect how Non Playable Characters (NPC) interact with you. For example, if your hero is dressed in dark clothes, with a pale body, and tattoos all over their face a lot of NCP’s will not be so friendly to you, actually most will be afraid. If you have a nice tan, and dress in good clothes then you will be able to befriend NCP’s very quickly and obtain hero status in villages. In fact, if you become a town hero children will actually run behind you, yelling, and pretending to be you. That’s not to say that dressing like a gothic person will make the game harder, but it will take longer to complete certain tasks since you will have to befriend NCP’s to gain information.
Even more impressive in the game is your physical strength even has an impact on how you will be able to draw your sword. Maybe you’re a weak person, and thusly would grunt when pulling your sword out. Where as a ripped hero would whip out the sword with minimal effort and show off a little while doing.
 
It has even been said that your hero will be able to settle down, get a job, a wife, have a few kids, and let the years pass by as they do. Of course, many gamers would probably not do this; after all we don’t want this game to be another Sims. There probably are a few people out there that would love to do that, but when you do settle down this doesn’t mean you won’t get bothered. Many NCP’s will show up to your house, or work, or the pub and ask you to help them/save the world.
While very little is known about the combat system in Fable, from all appearances it will be very action oriented. Basically, hit action buttons to swing your weapon and attack enemies, not unlike Morrowind, but more defined. The enemies will be very smart; in fact the developers are saying the baddies in Fable will be the smartest AI to date. Enemies will hide in tall grass, surround you, try to flank you, and even set traps. In fact they will even learn from mistakes – your mistakes and their mistakes. For example, if you never seem to look up into the trees, enemies will learn this through word of mouth and try to spring attacks on you by hiding in trees. It really is impressive when you sit back and think about just that part. As for weapons; think of a WWE hardcore match, anything goes. Everything can be used, from chairs and stones to swords and arrows. Staying true to RPG’s, there will also be magic to some extent. Though unlike most, where you usually just take a potion to recharge from using magic, in Fable when you use magic it draws directly from you life force. So all those RPGers who love to use magic will find them selves old, weak, and wrinkled by the end of the game.
Sadly, Fable will not be online, but newly released info has something that is just as good. If one of your friends has Fable but he can’t beat a certain part of the game, you will be able to play co-op games with your friends by adding another controller to your console. Your friend’s character will take on the role of a sidekick, but this can be switched at the press of a button, giving your friend the role of the Hero and you the Sidekick. If your friend has their own character from playing his own game, they can load it onto a memory card and use that in the co-op game. When your friend finish's playing co-op with you, any new encounters and techniques that their character learned will be saved to the card and can be transferred back to their game.
 
Now that I have finally got done with the gameplay and features, it’s time to talk about the graphics. Though it may seem like all of the developers time is being spent on gameplay, this is not even close to the truth. From the gameplay footage I have seen, Fable is shaping up to be one of the best looking videogames ever. The draw distance is unreal (you can see distant mountain ranges surrounding the cities), and the world itself is designed with every small detailed considered. An example that speaks for itself: each individual raindrop will be reflected in pools of water, and will react differently depending on the surface that it lands on.
From what has been shown, and what is being said, Fable is shaping up to be another Halo. This game could be a console seller; I can envision people buying an Xbox solely for this game. Fable has been confirmed to be out before 2004, and is being developed by Big Blue Box and published by Microsoft Game Studios.
 
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Foppin Phil
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Wow, this game looks amazing...nuff said.
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TerpsX
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Very nice article man, thanks!
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War_Bunney
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Well, recent interviews with Peter have said that the whole, "every flower, blade of grass, etc." feature has been taken out. Still, looks to be a great game.
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Toxic
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What the heck, xbox365 didn´t even get a pre-release demo or a press-briefing with BBB, so how are they supposed to review it? It´s all just a bunch of old info from other previews.
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doodx
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I CANT WAIT!!
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Hunter X
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Who cares it´s info....and it´s Fable we all can see hear they don´t need a demo to review this game.
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TheGargoyle
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I´d be willing to bet this is gonna be one of those games everyone has...just like halo...aaaaaaahhhhhhh
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caddysittinon20s
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i know some ps2/gamecube only gamers that are talking about this game a lot(my best friends). if this game turns out, they will buy an xbox. they already want one because of star wars kotor.
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Ckron
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It is time for the momentum to shift. With Fable, KOTOR, Deus Ex, and maybe even Halo 2 comming soon, PS2 and GC have nothing that can even be compared. I expect Xbox to sell between 2.5 to three million systems this holliday, at least!
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The LEADER
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What the F!!! This is regurgitated crap! It seems like you people just read what has already been said in IGN. You should really think about doing something else for a living.
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Peter Molyneux
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Some people are easily amused by the stupidity that you claim is "Inside Information" I have yet to discuss anything with any of you so quit lying to these poor saps.
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HardWire
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Well I kinda wanted to choose weather or not I can choose a female or male.
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dgtlfnk
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Oh.... my.... GAWD!! I simply can NOT wait for this game!!! But, alas... it is beyond my control. And so, therefore... I must. :: sigh ::
Until then... LOOKS AND SOUNDS FRIGGIN´ AWESOME!!
... funk... out.
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unreal championship, champion
X365 Member
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halo, kotor, halo2, and fable. if you own that, you can talk to any one with an xbox.
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Mr. Big Black Box
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Well, JUST BRING IT!!!!!
I have picked up SW:KOTOR. It is a must have title just like HALO, Splinter Cell and Mech Assult.
If this game comes close to what they are saying we are all in for some VERY late nights. Say good bye to your friends and family for a while! :)
GAME ON.........ONLY ON XBOX! ;)
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Adolf_Hitler
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Mr. Molyneux, I doubt you have talked to them. But as much as you are The Peter, I am Adolf. Bow to me.
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charles72489
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Shut the Fuck up leader
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TFC’s:Men Hunter
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sounds good - SOUNDS good.
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alijohn
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This website rarely gives news and writing as good as this. Nice article.
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unreal championship, champion
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i just read that this game is going to be short. is this true???
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Darkpunisher
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this game is the next big hit this is going to be the hottest rpg to date no rpg got nothing on this
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unreal championship, champion
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kotor does. if it beats kotor, then i will be ammazed.
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Jason O.
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This is the reason I am buying an Xbox! I haven´ baught a console system since Dreamcast, but this along with Halo (duh), and KOTOR, along with the the SEGA sports games that look/play better on the ´box, I´m just soooooo excited! It´s kinda nice getting back into consoles this late in the game; there is already a ton of good stuff out there :)
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Lady Revan
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You know - I really did go out and buy an XBOX just for this game only to discover one tiny problem, it wasnt out yet. But now i have it preordered and I am patiently awaiting it's arrival as most big RPG buffs,like me, are probably doing.
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Jysala Kethmaryn
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This has already been said, but add me to it to when I say that I am buying an X-Box soley for Fable :)
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jones
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i 14yers old
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kleber.k12
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kleber
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122_123@hotmail.com
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