"The Great Battle for Albion" - Review of Fable III (PC)
Accompanied by the keyboard and mouse, back in 2005, we embarked on a journey from "rags to riches" (and that was on PC; the first release of Fable was in 2004 on Xbox). Who would have thought back then that in a small village in vast Albion, a future Hero would be born – a warrior destined to shape the fate of this world? The original Fable remains etched in our memories as a marvelous, original game, whose story unfolded in one breath. The talented British team at Lionhead Studios created not just a video game; they managed to tell us a cohesive and damn captivating tale, the chapters of which still resonate in our minds.
Of course, after such an overwhelming success (don't pay attention to ratings on metacritic, shame on them), it would have been a crime not to think about a sequel, and the creators, in fact, had grand plans for the future. Thus, in 2008, the second part of Fable hit the store shelves – an exclusive for the Microsoft console, unfortunately. Loyal fans of the series who did not own a console could only hope for a miracle while waiting for the announcement of a sequel for personal computers. Instead, at GamesCom in 2009, the head of Lionhead Studios, Peter Molyneux, delivered a speech announcing that there were indeed ongoing efforts in his studio for a continuation. A new sequel. And crucially - Fable 3 would be available not only on Xbox 360 but also on PC.
Maybe this is all a dream? The Hero is in pajamas
You Can’t Fool Us
Fable 3 reached us, the computer owners, only seven months after its release on the “box.” During that time, the authors polished the graphical interface, which had already started to look dated, fine-tuned the controls for keyboard and mouse, and added unique content to the PC version – players must get interesting bonuses for such a long wait.
The first thing to consider when starting the game is that you shouldn't form an opinion based on your first impressions. They can indeed be misleading, so that introduction can be counted as one of the team's missteps – it could even hinder your gameplay. Fortunately, quite soon Fable 3 will show us its true face, which, let's say, you must feel, touch, and explore. The main character, whose name is, um, Hero, is living in the shadow of his powerful brother Logan, who has taken Albion under his absolute totalitarian control. Discard those cute plush bears, because the main principles of the current king are tyranny and cruelty, power, and complete submission of his subjects. “This is my Albion, and I will destroy it, but I will not give it to anyone,” our wicked brother whispers under oppressive music. The Hero is tired of constantly enduring his relative's reproaches and humiliation; it is time to take active measures. “Calm down,” says our experienced companion Walter, a humorous man and simply a great person, “everything has its time..”
Every king sometimes feels like a rooster
The path to revolution, to a massive uprising, to a rebellion, if you wish, is far from as simple as it might seem at first glance. The Hero's veins carry not just royal blood (the Hero is the son of the King, the main Hero of Fable 2), but also the blood of brother Logan, so the distrust of those around him can be easily explained by sound reasoning. Earning the love of those around us, the trust of the diverse peoples of Albion – this is our task for the first seven to eight hours of the game. We will help not only protect the brave Major Swift's fort from hollow attacks (skeletons, to put it simply), defeating the enemy and scattering their bones around with powerful mortar shots, but also liberate the people of the mysterious Aurora, save numerous towns and villages from inevitable ruin and oblivion. The Hero needs a united army capable of defeating the King's army. By proving our loyalty to the country with our deeds and virtues, we will secure support not only from common folk but also from numerous warriors who had once sworn allegiance in various parts of Albion. Only then will the time come to become the new ruler, toppling our brother from the coveted throne.
Gaining recognition and glory
Feel Our Power
In the end, Logan will meet his fate, and the Hero will become King, bearing the heavy burden of ruling the world. And this crown turns out to be heavier than one would think. This is not what I’m sure the young King expected from the recently acquired power. Managing the country directly depends on the decisions we make, which, rest assured, will have consequences and undeniably affect the appearance of Albion and its inhabitants. In such moments, one indeed contemplates the fidelity of the decisions made, the correctness of one's beliefs and actions. Should one fulfill a promise made long ago, that is, act honestly but not economically beneficially, or should one act otherwise, betraying a friend? Albion will soon face a new, previously unseen threat, and only we can prevent the horrifying consequences, merely by agreeing or disagreeing with a proposal. Lionhead Studios truly gave the player an opportunity to feel the weight of power, and one can't help but reflect on the complexity of the plot and its cover.
Remember the cute hobbs from the original? Time hasn't passed for these creatures in vain - they have become even more horrifying and powerful
The authors have crafted a truly intriguing and nearly unpredictable scenario. The only disappointment is the ending itself, more precisely, the final battle; however, the entire narrative arc flows seamlessly – it's literally impossible to tear oneself away. A special variety of locations (and here we all collectively say