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| | Title:
Fable: The Lost Chapters
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System:
Xbox
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Genre:
Action RPG
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Publisher:
Microsoft
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Developer:
LionHead Studios
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Release:
October 2005
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Online:
No
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ESRB:
Mature (M)
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The Xbox is known very little for the quality (and quantity) of role-playing games. Big Blue Box changed all of that around with the release of a 2004 game called Fable. It wasn’t the greatest RPG of all time, but for the Xbox it was quite groundbreaking in the quality and comparative edge when measured up to the likes of the Xbox’s own Role-Playing Games, and even some of the RPG’s on the PS2 and Gamecube. Well the creative minds at Big Blue Box have re-emerged the tales of Fable for more player-controlled character development adventuring. Unlike other games where you pick a character, or a class, or a race, or a face, and head out onto the battlefield to level-up and uncover some plot to destroy the entire planet, Fable actually allowed the player to manipulate the physical and social outcome of a character based solely on what actions they took, failed to take, or reacted to in just about any given situation within the game.
Despite giving the player so much control over the development of the protagonist, the original Fable was actually story driven: Young boy whose father was murdered and seeks retribution through joining a guild of Heroes, etc. While there you learn of the three traits to which you will focus on attaining and refining your abilities: Strength, Skill, and Will. The first allowed you to utilize more weapon/fighting abilities while Skill allowed you to focus on Guile, Speed and Accuracy. Will, was that to the equivalent of a mage; and being capable of using magic and such. The game gave players the promise of open-ended gameplay beyond the 30-40 hours of story originally offered.
Fable: The Lost Chapters picks up the better pieces of its predecessor with a much more improved story plot--and quest directions that affect larger parts of the “moral standard”--players will more or less affectionately try and manipulate to the likes of their Hero. But that tolls as a less important feature when compared to the fact that Fable veterans will be happy to know that there is a box-load of whole new content to dabble in, and hats that will spark your fancy faster than you can say “Fable TLC’s Brothel is bigger and better than ever before.”
All those hats, oh boy!
That’s right, new armor, new clothes, new poses, new dance moves, new face expressions, more deeply woven intricacies involving reactions and player involvement, and a list of other features I’ll be sure to scratch over in just a wee-bit.
The Big Finale, All-Over Again
For those disappointed with the ending in the original Fable (or the lack of one), the guys at Lionhead and Big Blue Box have made it a personal goal to relinquish the bad-taste of what players might consider ill-developed. This time around Fable: The Lost Chapters is being released as a bigger, badder, re-release of the original Fable with the promise of an ending worthy of only the truly great “heroes” out there.
Nevertheless, for those who also felt the content slagged in the amount of available missions or the lack of available things to do outside the main Story quests, will find that there are much, much more vignettes and added side-quest available through the Hero’s Guild and from the townsfolk.
I want to be a Hero, can I?...Please?!
Yes, that is correct; for anyone who asked “Can civilians now accompany you on your journeys?” Civilians can now accompany on your journey... so can other Heroes, etc., But be warned, it has been said that civilians make for terrible bodyguards. As a matter of fact, the interaction involved with civilians has been vastly expanded: From the way a player parades down the streets in there “pimp-daddy” hat with their large masculine chest bare for all to see, and their bearded face striking a rather undignified glance across the townsfolk who would otherwise look-down on a magic touting, muscle-bound, brothel owning pimp...Oh yeah, who just so happens to always dance down the streets in just his skirt and hat.
Reactions are key to developing the ego of your Hero. Face expressions will be read and reacted upon accordingly by NPCs. What’s more, is that not all reactions have to be from actions taken, sometimes players gain (or lose) based on what actions they fail to initiate, during a given circumstance. This, the developers feel, definitely adds the greater feel of immersion.
They can’t be weak, they must be strong, very strong
Aside from newer weapons, clothes, and interactivity features, Fable: The Lost Chapters boasts whole new bad-guys (including a new final boss). For those who already know about Jack, well, let’s just say his story involves less of the finale than it did before. A much tougher, very, very tough opponent is taking the reigns as the Final Boss. Without giving much away, he ought to be a real “shock” to the unsuspecting challenger.
Aside from the new bosses, there are also new assortments of fodder for your hack-n-slash appeasement: Ranging from small to big, the varied range of enemy forces has expanded, to say the least, and in ways that are rather more and less challenging depending on where you are and who you’re facing off against. This is yet another re-vamped addition to this RPG behemoth; a more advanced A.I., from civilians, to other Heroes, to the bad-guys. The A.I. has been given a face-lift to fit the ever demanding needs of the most ambitious Fable fanatics.
And you thought that was all?
For those who felt the original Fable featured far too few scenarios of adventure and distant-traveling, will find that Fable: The Lost Chapters houses much more than what first meets the eye. The developers have made sure that players get a good healthy meal of environmental expenditure and a little bit of eye-candy along the way. That’s right, a whole new continent, so to speak, to explore and defile with swords, fire-balls and troll fighting. The new island continent is apart from the original continent you start on, so it must be reached by boat. It features new environments that the original Fable only dipped its toe in, when it came to environmental diversity. For instance, the Mysterious Northern-Waste, (which was not playable in the original Fable,) consists of snow-capped hilltops, a whole new snow village, a place called the Necropolis, and if that isn’t enough, a very cryptic Bronze Gate.
Fable: The Lost Chapters is prompting one-third more content than the original Xbox version, and features more polished gameplay, weapons, armor, etc., and even a new spell that will have multiple enemies burning alive (or possibly worse?). Anyone who remotely was curious about Fable but didn’t have the gusto to pay full price for it, or if you already own the original Fable but what more, this is definitely for you, as it is being released at an Xbox classic price of $19.99. What more can be said?
This game is looking to be shipped to the store nearest you, come mid-Fall 2005.
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