I was never particularly interested in theFablefranchise growing up. I missed out on the original games when they were at their peak, instead preferring to playRatchet and ClankandJak 2on my PS2. As I got older, my love of RPGs grew exponentially, yet theFablegames still didn’t appeal to me. There was something about their lack of sincerity coupled with their reliance on very British humor that put me off them, even though they’re considered classics for good reasons. Unfortunately, this meant that when the latestFablegame was announced, I cheered unenthusiastically.
However, since that initial reveal,Fablehas begun to feel increasingly real, with each subsequent trailer offering a more compelling picture of what it may become. Rather surprisingly, it has made me finally check out the originalFablegames, many of which are considered to beXbox’s best RPGs. Yet, it wasn’t until the game’s most recent gameplay trailer, which was dropped rather unceremoniously, yet was nevertheless appreciated, that I finally got on board with this new entry. To be specific,it was just three seconds of that trailer that managed to make me change my mind.
Fable Got A New Gameplay Trailer
It Came After The Delay Announcement
After it was revealed during theXbox Podcastby the head of Xbox Game Studios, Craig Duncan, thatFableis delayed yet again, fans were treated to new pre-alpha gameplay. While nothing special,it has given us the best look atFableyet, at least when it comes to gameplay. Sure,previousFabletrailersfeatured gameplay, but it often felt scripted and lacked the believability that this pre-alpha footage has. The jankyness of it coupled with how it feels player-driven is endearing to me and a clear display thatFableis a real game, and not something I dreamt up.
In the footage, we see the protagonist exploring rolling hills, bustling cities, little villages, and dense forests, before fending off a giant chicken, fighting Hobbes, and riding around on her horse.It’s all very striking, especially when interspersed with narrative footagethat is expertly directed. It looks like it hasall the featuresFableneedsto entertain fans and myself and make it a fresh new experience that newcomers can enjoy as well. However, crucially, the trailer also showcases howFableis sticking to its roots, namely with its immersive and interactive world.
Fable’s Latest Gameplay Is Exciting
It Shows Quintessentially Fable Action
The most exciting part of this trailer was the final three seconds in which the protagonist, while standing by a mind-bogglingly photorealistic wheat field, kicks an innocent chicken into the skylike it’s Jessie and James fromPokémon. It is brief, and to non-Fablefans, may seem like a fun yet innocuous moment not worth dwelling on, the kind of last-second tease in a trailer that only true fans will understand. Importantly, however, this short clip illustrates that not only does thisFablecarry over the chicken kicking from the original games, but it also retains their interactivity.
What made theFablegames so unique for the time, and still, admittedly, impressive RPGs - I really have come around to love them - is the ways they let the player interact with their surroundings. Whether it was kicking chickens or becoming a maniacal landlord,theFablegames really made the players a part of the world they were exploring. It led to some truly fascinating player-driven gameplay moments that can’t really be replicated in any other RPG.
The chicken kicking at the end of this trailer indicates that this fundamental tenet of the original games is just as important to the newest entry, which is amazing to see.
The chicken kicking at the end of this trailer indicates that this fundamental tenet of the original games is just as important to the newest entry, which is amazing to see. It also further illustrates the game’s tongue-in-cheek tone that offers a whimsical adventure in a high-fantasy world, something I strongly feel that RPGs need more of. It’s why I lovedAvowed, despite the fact fans believe it’sObsidian Entertainment’s worst game.
I Hope Fable Has More Ways Of Interacting With The Environment
Kicking Chickens Should Just Be The Start
As entertaining and reassuring as the chicken kicking is at the end of theFablepre-alpha gameplay clip,I hope it is just one small part of the game’s efforts to capture the immersive and interactive nature of its predecessors' worlds. Many believe they’ve spotted a real estate feature within the trailer, which is certainly possible, and exciting if true, but I need more confirmation than a hunch. Of course, I have no real reason to doubt that it won’t.
Fable 4 May Be Taking A Big Cue From The Witcher 3, According To Insider
A recent report claims the highly-anticipated Fable 4 will feature combat that draws plenty of inspiration from CDPR’s The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt.
However, thehuge changes thisFablemakesover the originals, especially in terms of its more realistic visuals, have somewhat convinced me that the more whimsical immersive features will be left behind. I’m sure that I’ll love kicking chickens inFablewhen it launches in 2026 - hopefully, at least - but I hope there are more ways to interact with the world and the environment beyond this. If there is, then I’m certain that this will be the bestFablegame in the series.
