Most over-hyped, but still one of the best RPG’s of all time.
GAMEPLAY
Lionhead did a great job converting the controls from the Xbox to the PC. It feels very natural, and gives you the ability to custom your toolbar. Some elements, like the lock-on ability, could have been done better. It tends to be difficult to switch targets in the middle of a large battle. Some of the good vs. evil choices aren’t as fleshed out as they could have been, and usually defaults to a “yes” or “no” choice. A more open-ended mission structure would have been nice too.
GRAPHICS
Stunning. Absolutely stunning. The level of detail is amazing. Especially when using the up-close hero view. Shadows can be a little pixilated, but I can’t find anything else wrong with the graphics. Really helps draw you into the game, and looks like a fantasy world come to life.
SOUND
Voice acting is well done, and the British accents help you feel like you’re in Albion. The music is epic and flows well, as you would expect from a legendary composer. The only downside to this is the sound effects could have been a little better. Ambient sounds could be more noticeable, and the combat effects are weak as well.
VALUE
Fable’s biggest problem on the Xbox is still here on the PC: it’s over too quick. Even the additional areas only add on a few extra hours, and they feel a little tacked on. Some of the new missions do add a lot more depth to the story, but don’t add a lot more over the original game.
The original game for the Xbox was greatly over-hyped, but still turned out to be a great game worthy of any RPG fan’s time and money. Now it’s even better on the PC. The best improvements come in the form of graphics upgrades if you have a high-end PC. The extra content isn’t enough to warrant buying the game if you already played it on the Xbox.
The story, while not the greatest, is still enjoyable. Being able to fully customize your character based on how you play is a great feature, and sure to be cloned in other RPGs to come. Many other smaller elements, like how NPCs react to you based on your alignment are fun and enjoyable to watch.
Overall, if you’re willing to forgive its high expectations, you’ll find an enjoyable an original RPG. Elements introduced here first, are sure to be cloned in weaker RPGs. Fable also paves the way for an even better sequel that hopefully has more down-to-Earth goals.