Fable

[csuzw]

Well my copy hasn't arrived yet (fingers crossed for tomorrow morning) but I've just read Gabe's grievances with Fable on Penny-Arcade. Just wondered what other peoples views were on the issues (linear,long load times,no charm, and the list goes on) he talks about.

[November Tango]

I'm 7 hours in. I'd say the real stand out positives are the graphics, music, atmosphere, and the very real sense that the world around you is alive. The game has a charming sense of humor. Not as laugh out loud funny as I expected, but 'cute' (Chicken Chaser!).

The graphics should put the fears of skeptics to rest. They're gorgeous. Surprisingly, the very liberal use of bloom lighting never comes off as over-done. It fits the dreamy, fairy-tale setting of the game perfectly. As does the music, which is absolutely top notch. Fable OST, please.

My only real concern with the game thus far is its length. I seem to be proceeding through Fable at an alarming rate. Granted, I've shunned many of the side-quests, and I've only opened a few of the demon doors. But I had better get more than 10 hours out of the main quest for my $50 dollars.

[Spatial]

About the scarring - I was wrong earlier on.

After taking on those Werewolf things I've ended up with a nasty scar across the left hand side of my characters face - the result of a particularly vicious knockdown blow.

Later whilst running around naked trying to woo a young lady ( and before anyone says anything, yes it is in game and yes it did work ), I noticed my hero's chest and back have been scared badly as well.

Its a great little addition than adds that extra feeling of depth to your character. Though at this rate my guys going to look like a London Underground map by the time I've finished.

[Kotatsu Neko]

Just started playing this now, about 3 hours in Really looks like a mixed bag to me. I'm certainly enjoying playing it, but the graphics... Not great, in fact downright ugly a lot of the time. It certainly looks dated, like a PC game from 3 or 4 years ago. The lip sync/facial animation is especially poor, embarassingly bad. Animation is also weak, with far too many snaps and judders for my liking. There's an air of roughness to it all which really makes it look unfinished. Compare it to a Japanese RPG such as Wind Waker, really makes Fable look cobbled together.

But, graphics do not make a game, and I'm having fun with the world. The subtle humour is nice, and there plenty of activity in the world to keep it interesting.

The sound, especially the music, is excellent. Considerably more accomplished than the visuals are.

[November Tango]

I don't see what your gripe with the graphics is, friend. I'll be the first to agree with you about the lip-synching; I winced the first time I watched a character speak. But besides that, the only visual eye-sore has been a few "transitionary" animations that look unatural and awkward.

The enviroments look absolutely stunning (if a bit small). The wheather effects are equally awe-inspiring. Little details like butterflies and scaring on your character's body are all masterfully implemented. The animations are decent over-all. Even Japanese RPGs suffer the odd studder or jolt from time to time. My biggest complaint so far has been a very nasty graphic glich that I've repeatedly encountered in Oakvale.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I think the game has a wonderful style that is unique amongst RPGs. Especially when compared to the scores of big-eyed, spikey-haired, Buster Sworld-weilding clones that dominate the genre.

[November Tango]

Well my copy hasn't arrived yet (fingers crossed for tomorrow morning) but I've just read Gabe's grievances with Fable on Penny-Arcade. Just wondered what other peoples views were on the issues (linear,long load times,no charm, and the list goes on) he talks about.

Keep in mind Gabe is the internet equivalent of a shock radio jock. His website attained and maintains its popularity through sheer force of his insults (which manage to be quite funny some times). He gets thousands of hits an hour because he "Tells it like it is." This basically amounts to him skewering one aspect of a game or another, interspersed by the word "****" and a really lame, not funny psuedo-tangent about workplace sex.

With that said, all of his complaints are more or less valid (minus the exagerations). The game is anything but non-linear. In fact the only branching path in the game is the Good or Evil alignment system. Load times are longish, and uncomfortably frequent for such small areas. I realize that BBB packed a huge amount of detail into these tiny maps--but DAMN! If I was a pastey internet-comic artist with the attention span of your average Unreal Tournament player, I'd be skwirming in my seat too.

Personally, I've always kept my expectations of Fable tempered and in check. An unproven, small development team taking on a massive project with PM as their bombastic spokesman should give any jaded gamer pause. Ironically, because of this I've ended up quite enjoying Fable. Linear and load-stricken as it is.

[JRMacumber]

I'm certainly enjoying playing it, but the graphics... Not great, in fact downright ugly a lot of the time. It certainly looks dated, like a PC game from 3 or 4 years ago.

As a personal rule, I hardly ever use the eye-roll emoticon. I just don't like it. At all. But, if I did, this might be a time for it. Granted, it's your opinion and you're more than welcome to it, but I couldn't disagree more if I were twins. The graphics are rock solid, the particle effects are amazing, and the colors are so dreamy and storybook like. Would these graphics work for a Final Fantasy? No. Do they work for this Grimm fairytale sort of game? Absolutely. How anyone can find fault with the graphics is beyond me.

[marcus]

I was playing last night and as I wandered through the woods, with the sun setting and the thick woodland and trees it struck me just how beautiful the game is at times, I almost felt as if I was 'there'. Id disagree about the graphics being poor, its not the smoothest game around but its certainly not lacking in visual impact.

The load times are bad, as is the strange save method, Im still unsure as to why developers havent learnt from the way Halo loaded in the next section almost seamlessly, Im sure there is a technical reason why it couldnt of been incorporated here. I might try copying it to my Xbox hard drive, in the hope that it speeds the loads up considerably.

[Adam Stone]

Its came! (as well as my ToS figures!)

I'm really excited! Off now to play!

[csuzw]

Was that from VG+? Mine still hasn't arrived.

[Adam Stone]

Yeh, VG+. Sorry to hear yours hasnt arrived yet. Is it just a matter of the postman not been, or has been but left no passle? Here's hoping its the former

I've just sent 15mins putting my TOS models on display (my god they are beautiful. Utterly adorable. I need them all now dammit!) And now am ready to indulge into Fable!

^_^

[csuzw]

I'm hoping the postman hasn't come yet - not got any mail today but then that isn't entirely unusual.

[Bleeders]

Mine either.

Still, got Michigan to play through.

[Kotatsu Neko]

Getting further in now, and the visuals are certainly much prettier when they're darkly lit. The marshes, forests, and caves look very nice.

Enjoying the game too, and it really reminds me of Knights of the Old Republic. Just feels so similar, the control, the rough round the edges frame rate and animation etc. Perhaps that's just the way Western RPGs are, Fable is only the second one I've ever played.

The way my character is changing is another thing which really reminds me of KOTOR. Already I have no hair and horns! I looked like the Emperor at the end of KOTOR...

Music is very nice in Fable, a little repetetive perhaps but very tranquil and suits the game.

If only it could have been more polished, and if they could have got rid of all those loading delays. Maybe next time!

[Prine]

No luck yet. Still waiting for my copy from VG+