The Fable series has grown since its debut on the original Xbox back in 2004. With what originally started with our character on a solo quest quickly took a different route as our character turned into a hero in Fable 2 to now your complete rule as King as or Queen in Fable 3. Fable 3 introduces many new features including adding the difficult decisions between good and evil. It’s heavily influenced in the game and something that takes front and center on the games main theme. It also introduces you to full world of Albion and we’re here to tell about what its like to live and work in this powerful country.

Fable 3 starts off a half a century passed the events of Fable 2 and gives you your first choice of the day of becoming a Prince or Princess, remember you are the child hero of Fable 2. Your brother Logan is the King of Albion and hard times have befallen its people. He’s a very unpopular leader that some even goes so far as to call a tyrant. It isn’t long before you and your dog are whisked away by your mentor Walter into a journey hell bent on giving Albion a revolution and overthrowing its King for you to take his place. The game itself is more then just an RPG and is as much an action-adventure game. The whole point of the game is to gather enough followers so you can progress down the Road to Rule and upgrade your characters strengths and weaknesses and in the end overthrowing your brother to become King or Queen. You can do everything from shaking hands to giving money to beggars and completing quests to increase your hero’s popularity, and that’s just the beginning.

Once you become King or Queen, the promises you’ve made and the people you met along the way will come back with demands and to see if you’ll keep up with your promise you made to them and their people. This is the one portion of the game that truly focuses on choice and is probably the most difficult area of the game to play. In the end, Fable 3 is not a difficult game; even the most novice of players should be able to finish a play through without getting knocked out or at the very least feel too frustrated. I found the decisions you have to make in this game to be one of the more difficult then any previous title to come out this year. It’s an emotional journey no matter how you end up, good or evil and questions your moral standing on several different issues. I only wish it was longer.

You won’t be seeing yourself collecting orbs to increase your melee, ranged or magic abilities. Instead all of your actions depending if their good or evil will earn you experience points towards Guild Seals. You can spend these seals on different chests, which you can unlock on the Road to Rule. These chests carry everything from expression packs, to job upgrades and upgraded attacks and even new spells to learn and here is where you’ll shape your character on your journey. The first change you’ll notice is that you be able to finally mix together spells to bestow even greater damage. You’ll also find various amounts of clothing and weapons, as well as items around the world. In the beginning you are given your choice of different Hero weapons like a sword, rifle and pistol.

There is still plenty of freedom in the game and this is where the balance shakes up a bit as it both compliments the game and is the source of its issues. You can build a family, get married, have sex (protected or otherwise) with various women find a job, commit murder and even customize the look of your character are all part of your side quests if you want to take a break from the main road. You can also buy houses and shops and be the slumlord you’ve always dreamed of to earn quick cash. However, because of so many things happening on screen, bugs will show up and it’s because the game is so pre-scripted this is where some of the issues come into play. You’ll notice voice work overlapping each other among slow loading times at certain points depending on certain situations.

Fable 3 is still fun to play, there’s no denying that from everything to the near lack of menus to the simple combat. The interactive world you encounter in Fable 3 is a definite improvement over Fable II. Your combat evolves with you as you gain followers and is one of the more exciting parts of the game as you move through the ‘road to rule’.  The combat finishes are most enjoyable are a treat to watch. While there is a more lack of traditional RPG elements, it doesn’t get in the way of playing and the action-adventure works perfectly. So, while there are your run-of-the-mill and boring fetch quests…etc, you’ll also find perfectly clever imaginative quests as well. If you get the chance, explore Albion, the place is huge and I found myself getting lost at times and there are many hidden goodies scattered across the world. At the time of this writing, co-op wasn’t available for use and will be updated once we experience that portion of the game.

The voice cast is probably the most impressive you could ask for in a highly anticipated sequel. With over 80 voice actors and John Cleese leading the way as your butler, Jasper it’s an impressive voice cast that will have you laughing and crying from start to finish. Even the small side quests will feel more personal as you get in touch with each character along the way. The soundtrack has always been Fable’s highlight experience and outdoes itself here as well; you’ll hear many overpowering themes and instrumental work to go along with it. Let’s not forget the fairy-tale like presentation either; sucking you in and never letting you go. The graphics of the game are certainly an improvement of the past and help further along your experience.

Verdict: I greatly enjoyed my experience with Fable 3 and despite some bugs that appear the game is still a lot of fun, and that is the ultimate mission of every game. The few technical bugs that rear their head around as well disjointed design decisions take away from the emotional part of the game. It’s certainly a great game that is well worth your time and money.  It’s a massive game that will be accessible to all players on any level and completely rests on your choice as to whether Albion will survive and thrive or crumble to even worse times.