Summary
20 years have now passed since the release of Lionhead Studios’Fable, and no game has come close to replicating its whimsical formula since.Fableis an anomaly in just about every way, offering players a unique experience that they can’t find anywhere else with its over-the-top style, crass humor, and innovative alignment system. Any noteworthy game that has survived this long and also manages to avoid reproducing copycats deserves the utmost attention, especially on its twentieth anniversary.
Despite being 20 years old,Fable’s impact is still felt today, and that is even more realized byPlayground Games’Fablereboot, currently set for release sometime in 2025. The fact that no other game has been able to accomplish whatFabledid in 2004 and there is now a reboot of the franchise says a lot about its uniqueness and the bold statement that it was.
20 Years Later, Fable Is Still an Anomaly
Other Games Have Yet to Match Fable’s Style and Humor
Even after 20 years, no other game has come close to matchingFable’s humorand style. It was a bold approach to storytelling then, and it still is now. Its visuals are massively exaggerated, making it look incredibly silly compared to other games that came out around its heyday. It looks even sillier 20 years later, at a time when visually stunning games likeHorizon Forbidden Westhave claimed the throne. Even so, that and its graceless humor are a significant part of what makes it so unique.
Fablespecializes in making fun of fantasy tropes, British culture, and social norms. It uses its dark humor and frequent innuendos to make light of things generally considered more serious and could be compared to aMonty Pythonfilm in that way. It doesn’t rely on shock value to make a scene, but it does take things a bit too far at times. This is something othergames likeBorderlandshave attempted and succeeded in their own way, but still lackFable’s distinct style.
Fable’s Choice and Consequence System Is Still One of a Kind
Plenty of games have choice systems where players make narrative-defining decisions, andFablecertainly wasn’t the first to implement such a system. However,Fable’s unique take on choice and consequence still makes it an anomaly among any game released since. Most games that emphasize player agency tend to limit the player’s choices to only affect the story or relationships.Choice-driven franchises likeMass EffectandDragon Age, for example,
WhileFable’s alignment systemdoes affect certain outcomes in the game, the most noticeable effects happen to the player character’s physical appearance. The more good actions the player does, the more angelic their character looks until a halo appears above their head. On the other hand, the more evil deeds the player commits, the more devilish their character looks until horns grow on their head and their eyes begin glowing red.
The world then reacts to the player character’s appearance, whether it be more good or more evil.
Fablealso includes sliders for the player character’s weight, age, and attractiveness. The more the player consumes, the larger their character becomes. Additionally, theplayer character’s attractiveness inFableis ultimately determined by their physical appearance, which is also affected by their morality. All in all,Fablehas a choice system that no other game has come close to replicating, and that’s likely due to how involved it truly is and the engineering required.
Fablemay continue to be an anomaly for many years to come, as it seems more likely by the decade that no developer will have that iconicLionhead Studiostouch. Despite the reality that whatFableonce was will never be again, it remains a joyous experience to this day. Hopefully, the upcomingFablereboot has managed to capture the essence of the 2004 classic, but only time will tell.
Fable Anniversary
WHERE TO PLAY
FOR EVERY CHOICE, A CONSEQUENCE.Fully re-mastered with HD visuals and audio, Fable Anniversary is a stunning rendition of the original game that will delight faithful fans and new players alike! The all new Heroic difficulty setting will test the mettle of even the most hardcore Fable fan. With no Resurrection Phials and even more lethal enemies to contend with, will you be able to survive?Forge a hero based on your actions: age and evolve a hero or villain through the actions you choose and the path you follow-be it for good, evil, or in-between. Build your living legend: through deeds and actions, build a name for yourself across the land. Recruit allies and followers. Gain glory or notoriety. Who will you be?With an entirely new lighting system, slick new interface, all new textures, models and gameplay, Fable Anniversary is the full HD, definitive Fable experience. Ready to relive your story?
