As soon as the newFablegame was announced and even before then, fans were speculating about where and when the game might take place. There were rumors that it would serve as a sequel to the original trilogy, but it was quickly debunked and it now seems that this new entry will serve as a new beginning for the fantasy series.Fablewill likely see players return to the world they recognize, complete with magic and mystical creatures in a faithful RPG open-world, but in an all-new rendition. While it should and likely will be an homage to the games of the past with similar themes, it should leave a lot of what happened after the first game in the past.
When the originalFablereleased, it was to wide praise from audiences and critics who delighted in the humor and storytelling. However,Fable 2began to exponentially evolve the time period where Albion was set, so new aspects of science and machinery began to make their way into the canon. This ultimately led to the departure from fantasy and introduction of a steampunk into theFableuniverse.Fable 2andFable3relied too much on machinery, vehicles, and guns because that was the time period they were set in. While these games also had their perks,Fablewould be best forgetting those entries and forging ahead with its own story entirely.
Going Back For the Future
Weirdly enough, what made the firstFableso good was the simplicity in what it accomplished. It had nothing to prove but the story it came to tell, and it excelled in that. However, the next entry takes place over 500 years after the initial.Fable 3added another 50 yearsto that timeline, further progressing Albion’s human society, with new steampunk inventions, vehicles, and guns.
With such an absolutely giant leap into the future betweenFable and Fable 2, it probably only seemed logical that thecitizens ofFable’s Albionwould have invented new and improved ways to do things. While a strange choice, it could have possibly allowed forFable 2to be accessible to players who didn’t get the opportunity to play the original, and the fact thatFable3only takes place around 50 years later seemed to seek to be much more connected toFable 2.
It would have also been hard to make a dutiful sequel that close to the originalFable,as it felt like a complete experience in itself. When the player finished it and were faced with their choices, it was a nice end to the storybook the game set itself up to be. It would be inthe newFablegame’sinterest to at least try and recreate a similar feeling of exploration, storytelling, and freedom.
Too Many Human Enemies
In a world that thrives with magic, one would hope to see that flourishing within the creatures and wildlife of Albion. While the game series has featured various forms of new and inspired magical creatures, it would be really cool to see a world alive with all kind of species and varying creatures, running across Albion’s fields and forests. The trailer showcased fairies and hungry frogs, but fans would like to see them take it a step further as well.
The last two sequels featured a large amount of human enemies with guards and enemy armies featuring no small part. Even more so that friendly enemies could be possessed by some outside dark force, but there were few physical incarnations of the Crawler physical appearance itself. While the Crawler and the Darkness were intended to play into a larger loreinFable: The Journey,it didn’t really make a lasting impression.
Evolve the RP
Something that has been requested by fans, and would help boost the role-playing aspect, would be to include thetransferable Balverine plague inFable.Ideally, this would take a hint fromThe Elder Scrollsand give players a playable version of the rabid howling beasts. To balance, there could be moments that are impacted when someone recognizes that the player is infected, while the constant bloodlust could also add a negative impact to the character’s honor.
WhileFable 3’s propertieslet the adventurer play “Real Estate Tycoon,” it would be interesting to see that tied into the story or the concept evolved on. Normally players would save up to purchase a property, then they would receive money back on their investment periodically. However, its not often landlords get to just sit back and wait to collect their investment. It would be interesting to see players occasionally tasked with fixing a water heater, or whatever Albion’s comparative is.
Something that attracted players to the originalFablewas the morality systemthat let the main character constantly choose between acting as a hero and as a villain. Leaning more to one side would start to alter a character’s appearance, making them appear brighter and clearer if they are heroic while a villainous character will be sneered at and begin to grow demonic horns.
Fable 3has its own merits and fanbase, to be sure. Being a king after deposing your own brother was the right kind of drama, but the execution and time period were flawed. It would be interesting to see the newFablestart players out in a small place and allow them to depose a king, but the game should build up to that point instead of letting players immediately have access to the royal family as a jealous and spoiled prince. However, whateverFabledoes under Playground’sdevelopment will likely be something new and unique to the genre.
Fableis in development for PC and Xbox Series X.
