Πέμπτη 2 Ιουνίου 2011

FABLE 3 PC REVIEW

The Fable franchise is one of the biggest titles that came from Lionheart.Fortunately, the 3d installment came to our pcs.The first one was a really great game but the second never came on pc so I can't compare.Let's see if Fable 3 worth the anticipation.
You begin the game being the prince of Albion with your brother being the tyrant king that nobody likes.After eavesdropping,you are forced to make a difficult choice which ultimately leads you out of the castle as a runaway.Together with your trusty servant and your weapon trainer (also your dad's best friend) you must help oppressed people,give promises and raise an army so you can take the throne.
I'll split the story in two parts,part one being what you must do to be a king and part two what happens when you take the throne.The story may sound good but it doesn't have the depth that anyone might expect.You follow your friend to village leaders where you must perform a couple of tasks in order to gain their trust and after that is done,you give them a written promise that you will help them when you become king.At that point the game seems pretty linear,you follow where your friend goes.Of course you can do a few side-quests but the problem is that...they're few!There are a couple of very funny quests that I really laughed but that's all.Nothing to keep you interested besides the main quest and no fun levelling.
Speaking of levelling,the game presents you with the Road to Rule,a plain where,when you kill enough monsters,you gain seals and you can exchange them for abilities.The useful ones are close combat,ranged and magic but you can reach each one of them to level 6 and that's it!No level ups,no points to Strength or Intelligence.Other things you can buy with seals are dye to paint your clothes,expressions to be effectively good or bad,ability to make more money from the mini-games and such.
You can do your battles in close combat,from afar using a gun or using magic.There are not many weapons in the game but each time you use them and if they meet the criteria, they become stronger and more effective against enemies.Some of them let you kill beasts easily,others give you money with each hit and such.The cool thing is that they change when you level up your close combat from the Road to Rule.You can also use magic with the help of a gauntlet.If you choose,you can spent seals and buy a second one to do combined and devastating spells.That part of the game is also cool.
It is really important in the game to make money and you are presented with many ways.You can buy houses and rent them,you can buy shops and collect their profits,you can gamble at the chicken races or you can play the mini-games.There are three of them,blacksmith,pie maker and lute hero.In each game you are presented with mixed numbers from 1 to 3 and you must press each number on the right time.Just like Guitar Hero.You can earn good money playing the games and if you buy the ability,you can make even more gold.Friendly advice,buy shops and level up lute hero early in the game.
Coming to the second part where you become king and things get really interesting.This is the part I enjoy because you are faced with difficult decisions.REALLY difficult decisions.Unfortunately that doesn't last much.Can't say more because I'll spoil the game.After finishing the game you are free to do what you like.Marry,raise a child,do the side-quests you left,buy everything and so on.
Conclusion.Well,I wouldn't call Fable 3 an Rpg.It's more of a game you give to your 6 years old cousin if you want to get him into Rpg games.It's not a big game,I reached the time before the final quest in 3 days and spent a week to raise money(because money are important).I expect from an Rpg to be a big game and Fable 3 isn't.I didn't like the quests(save two or three).They are boring and unimaginative.Way too many go-and-fetch-this or escort quests.There is no sence of achieving something.I want my character to begin as a wimp and become a power monster.This game makes you king,sure,but it takes away all the fun(and the sweat) in becoming one.Each time I watched the characters I thought I was playing Sims.Very similar expressions.There are only a dozen of locations you can visit and that happens with a loading screen.Though the loading is really quick,the feeling of open ended world is not there.All the secondary things you can do (mini-games,marriages eg.)would be ok if the main element,the role playing,was much better.Now it seems pointless to play the game just to do that.
In it's defence,the game has good orchestral music and awesome voice casting (the great John Cleese,Stephen Fry,sir Ben Kingsley and others).
Verdict.Not a nice game.If you must play it then rent it but it's not for experienced Rpg players.You'll find that many things are missing.
6 out of 10

Δεν υπάρχουν σχόλια: