Fable 4 - Playground Games. Open world RPG.

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Floex
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PostRe: Fable 4 - Playground Games. Open world RPG.
by Floex » Wed Jan 17, 2018 2:27 pm

Photek wrote:
Floex wrote:It’s been a longtime but 1 was the peak of the series to me. Maybe it was a surprise at the time, maybe there was other software around that meant 2 didn’t grab me but the series has progressively gotten worst with each iteration, IMO.

Horizon and BOTW must be the influence going forward so I’m very keen to see where they take the series.

They've hired a Project lead from Horizon ZD and some Rockstar people also.

You're wrong about progressively worse. 2 is WAY better than 1. It's even Peter Molyneux's favourite.


This really doesn’t help your point :lol:

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PostRe: Fable 4 - Playground Games. Open world RPG.
by Garth » Wed Jan 17, 2018 2:27 pm

a story and character-focussed open-world action RPG

At last! That's what I want from Fable.

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PostRe: Fable 4 - Playground Games. Open world RPG.
by Photek » Wed Jan 17, 2018 2:28 pm

Floex wrote:
Photek wrote:
Floex wrote:It’s been a longtime but 1 was the peak of the series to me. Maybe it was a surprise at the time, maybe there was other software around that meant 2 didn’t grab me but the series has progressively gotten worst with each iteration, IMO.

Horizon and BOTW must be the influence going forward so I’m very keen to see where they take the series.

They've hired a Project lead from Horizon ZD and some Rockstar people also.

You're wrong about progressively worse. 2 is WAY better than 1. It's even Peter Molyneux's favourite.


This really doesn’t help your point :lol:

Possibly but there's a reason eurogamer have done entire peices about Fable 2, it's Lionheads favourite Fable. I love both 1 & 2 but 1 didn't quite know what it was doing, Fable 2 knew plus it has a dog FFS. :wub:

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PostRe: Fable 4 - Playground Games. Open world RPG.
by Meep » Wed Jan 17, 2018 8:16 pm

I had honestly written the franchise off but am pleased to see a possible new game in the works. Fable 1 and 2 were great games and while 3 failed to live up to them I still see huge potential there.

Of course, any new game will be a completely new beast compared with the previous ones but not necessarily in a bad way.

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PostRe: Fable 4 - Playground Games. Open world RPG.
by Seven » Thu Jan 18, 2018 7:21 am

Ooh, been wanting to see Fable come back even if it'll be done by different team but happy to give them a chance.

I loved 1 and 2. I do enjoy 3 but I was really disappointed by it; here's hoping it'll have quality like 1/2 if not better.

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PostRe: Fable 4 - Playground Games. Open world RPG.
by Parksey » Thu Jan 18, 2018 8:20 am

I find it odd that people think Fable 4 and a Perfect Dark sequel are going to be enough to tempt people over to the Xbox. I would argue that we're deep into a generation now, and people probably have a console or two already. Part of MS's problem this generation has been it's exclusives. They all have a following but there has been a distinct lack of general excitement surrounding the console's exclusives and that have failed to tempt people on the fence or those deliberating over a PS4, Xbox or Switch. It's widely held that the PS4 has the best exclusives and that the Switch has the Nintendo factor and portability. Where does that leave the Xbox?

Is bringing back it's franchises from the very first Xbox going to give it a boost? First, I would say that relying on the old Xbox "brands" like Gears, Forza and Halo have hardly had people rushing out to buy an Xbox.

Second, these franchises have been dormant for a while now, and suffered from a few missteps. Fable 3 was planned and PDZ didn't really get much critical favour when it was basically the only online FPS in the launch line up. I'd argue that the FPS genre had already passed PDZ by by the time it was released (maybe due to its protracted development originally on the GameCube and original Xbox). The franchise needs something radical if it's going to stand out in a genre that is even more crowded now. And to win back people when there's only been one installment since the original back in 2000.

Fable is a bit different, as like many others I really liked Fable 2. It wasn't anything mind-blowing but it was a lot of fun and enjoyable to play. Personally, I'd actually like them to stay clear of the open world genre. How many of these do we need? I don't actually mind self-contained stages in a world map if they are designed and crafted well. Fable was always about the character and I fear it may lose that if it's a big open world or tries to be The Witcher or Zelda.

For me, Microsoft need to focus on new and interesting IPs, like they did with the original Xbox and what brought us the likes of Fable, Gears and Halo in the first place. Maybe it's just me, but the most exciting MS exclusive on the horizon is Sea of Thieves, and more stuff like that would make me take the plunge on their console. Otherwise, I look over and think that, sure, Gears 4 and Halo 5 might be good games and enjoyable enough to play, but I'm not short of titles on the PS4 and Switch, and there's nothing there to make me want to drop a couple of hundred quid just to play them.

The other area they are strong in now is gearing their console towards their uservase, ironic given that everything about the console prior to launch was about shafting them. They've recovered from that and thingsike backwards compatibility and improvements to those games are genuinely great and something their competitors don't do. Had they offered it at the start, due to being a 360 owner I would have been tempted. Heck, I don't actually have that console and it's games with me right now, but if they bring out a few more unique titles like Sea of Thieves then when I go back to the UK I may even pick up one cheaply...

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PostRe: Fable 4 - Playground Games. Open world RPG.
by Photek » Thu Jan 18, 2018 9:47 am

I hope they have some new IP's coming down the line. The stuff about Xbox One sales is not really true when it comes to the US and Europe. PS4 is way ahead sure but it's still sold more than 360 did at same point and outsold the PS4 over Christmas in the states.

Opinions gonna opinion but I can't see much on PS4 to win me over to that side. It comes down to personal preference. I love Halo, Halo 5 was (to me) excellent as is the Halo Collection. I loved Sunset Overdrive and the Forza Horizon games and more recently I play PUBG every night of the week.

I still play Fable 2 on back compat so I hope they can make it truly great. In fact, even though you hate it Parksey I'd love a Fable 2 remaster in the interim, same music and voice work just looking a bit less rubbish.

Sea of thieves is a ton of fun but State of Decay 2 is my most anticipated Xbox Exclusive and I know I'm in the minority in this. News of more Exclusives is surely good news for Xbox One owners, existing IP's or not.

It's unfortunate that instead of speculating on what could be achieved in an open world albion some concentrate on if a new fable will bring in PS4 owners...forums gonna forum though.

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PostRe: Fable 4 - Playground Games. Open world RPG.
by Preezy » Thu Jan 18, 2018 9:52 am

I played one of the Fable games on the 360 and thought it was pish. I'm therefore going to assume this will also be pish and refuse to be convinced of the contrary.

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PostRe: Fable 4 - Playground Games. Open world RPG.
by Photek » Thu Jan 18, 2018 9:53 am

Preezy wrote:I played one of the Fable games on the 360 and thought it was pish. I'm therefore going to assume this will also be pish and refuse to be convinced of the contrary.

As is your right! :D

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PostRe: Fable 4 - Playground Games. Open world RPG.
by Photek » Thu Jan 18, 2018 10:01 am

The Biggest problem I have with Fable 2 is the breaking up of the Areas and the loading screens in between, despite the BC version having vastly faster load times than 360 its still a pain and robs Albion of a sense of place. An open world Albion will at least alleviate this but what about Horses? You don't see many around in Fable games but surely you'll need one so you don't run about constantly.

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PostRe: Fable 4 - Playground Games. Open world RPG.
by Parksey » Thu Jan 18, 2018 10:41 am

Well Photek my comments were in response to Floex talking about MS being in a stronger position soon enough. Of course, like you said, if we talk about sales the Xbone isn't done that bad at all. Don't have the figures to hand but I'm sure it's still one of the best selling-consoles and not paling in comparison to its predecessor. The main problem is that the PS4 is doing way better than the PS3 was (I think PS3 sales edged 360 ever so slightly in the end).

It's less about Fable tempting over PS4 owners and more the problems MS faces this-gen if they aspire to be market leader after their very sluggish start.

And it's less a case of "opinions gonna opinion" but more that the Xbone iterations of MS's core franchises haven't quite been as critically lauded as past games.

http://www.metacritic.com/game/xbox-one ... -guardians

http://www.metacritic.com/game/xbox-360/halo-3

http://www.metacritic.com/game/xbox-one/gears-of-war-4

http://www.metacritic.com/game/xbox-360/gears-of-war-3

Maybe it's just amongst "serious" gamers, but whereas past games in the series used to launch to fanfare and cross-media events, they've met with more of a quote murmur of appreciation this time. Halo 2 and 3 were watercooler launches but Halo 4 and 5 have been more subdued affairs. Not bad games by any stretch of the imagination, but not the industry leaders or must-haves that they once were.

This is why I say I wonder where Fable 4 will take us, and any potential PD seqeul. Both will enter genres that have seen a lot of games - a lot of great games - in the past few years. Both franchises have been dormant for a while.

For me, it won't just be enough to make Fable open-world. The thought of another massive world full of icons and busy work doesn't appeal to me.

I'd rather they went in an opposite direction, kept it on a small scale, with proper towns and characters. Characters with a routine, with a name and with a personality. Not just faceless crowds or areas with one treasure chest or collectible in it. I'd like it to get some mileage out of its locations, rather than a place you rush through or finish in five minutes and then never see again.

Eventually most open world maps degenerate into a bunch of fast travel points and three or four key locations anyway. You tend to just move as close as you can to a quest or to tick stuff off. I'd like a quest with consequences too. Fable used to change its world based on how you acted, and a smaller scale would allow bigger and more obvious effects. A lot of RPG choices normally just affect the end result - maybe a character dies who you were never goig to encounter anyway. Or you get a different weapon. Fable was famous at the time for a few big choices - it should go one further and let you physically change the world.

If it's just The Witcher/Assassin's Creed/BOTW/Horizon bit with quirky British voices and farting, it's not going to be enough for me.

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PostRe: Fable 4 - Playground Games. Open world RPG.
by 7256930752 » Thu Jan 18, 2018 10:46 am

I can't remember anything about Fable 2 other than I loved it at the time.

If it was done right it could be the ideal time to bring back Perfect Dark. The success of Doom has shown there is still a market for FPS games with traditional levels and objectives and if they could bring back the objectives at different difficulties it would be perfect (dark).

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PostRe: Fable 4 - Playground Games. Open world RPG.
by Tafdolphin » Thu Jan 18, 2018 10:49 am

Like I said previously, being a more whimsical, joy-filled game than the likes of Witcher and Horizon this is immediately going to force comparisons with Breath of the Wild. I doubt very much it will come out the better there. Although I agree that a smaller, more character driven experience would no doubt be playing to the Fable series' strengths this doesn't look as good on the back of a box.

My prediction is that it will be a fairly decent RPG that misses the certain sparkle brought by Lionhead, and that it will do average to good numbers. It certainly won't tempt many to make the Xbox plunge (and it is a plunge).

Sidenote; I know 3 people IRL who have an Xbox One. All three, without prompting when I mentioned I had a PS4, remarked they regretted their purchase and were planning on, ha, switching to Playstation in the near future.

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PostRe: Fable 4 - Playground Games. Open world RPG.
by Photek » Thu Jan 18, 2018 11:39 am

I'm generally a fan of open world games, they all have a tendency to become grindy and the best ones over come this by having genuinely interesting side quests and brilliant main stories. The Witcher 3 has this in spades and so far AC Origins is excelling. I do have open world fatigue like many and titles like Far Cry 5 just don't excite me as it looks like another reskin of 3 or 4. Breath of the Wild is a bit grindy too, its epic in parts but the sidequests are very linear and I hate that the shrines mini dungeons all have the same visual aesthetic. It's on my Switch though so it's essential,

Microsoft is throwing a TON of money at this, I mean Playground games opened their second studio a year ago to work on a AAA RPG and I think MS had them on this from day 1 given their relationship. I could be wrong and maybe MS jumped in after seeing what they were doing but seeing as this projects alone is going to have 200 employees I'm hoping for something unique and Fable is unique. I don't see it like Zelda at all, im wracking my brain to think of a world and setting like Albion and it's eccentricities in gaming and I can't. Possibly the secret of monkey island in terms of attitude and delivery.

I have no doubt that Ex Lionhead employees who are at Rare will be massively influential in direction. The lore and world is there, I hope they can deliver a game as endearing as Fable 2 and can marry that to the open world genre.

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PostRe: Fable 4 - Playground Games. Open world RPG.
by Samuel_1 » Thu Jan 18, 2018 11:55 am

Photek wrote:
Opinions gonna opinion but I can't see much on PS4 to win me over to that side. It comes down to personal preference. I love Halo, Halo 5 was (to me) excellent as is the Halo Collection. I loved Sunset Overdrive and the Forza Horizon games and more recently I play PUBG every night of the week.

So Nier, Nioh, Horizon ZD, Yakuza series, Last Guardian, Spiderman, Days gone, Death Stranding, Last of us part 2, God of War, none of these appeal to you? I find that amazing.

In my opinion the Fable games are hugely overrated, the first one was fun but extremely short for the genre, the second one was better, but still lacking in depth. I did like the universe overall though, so perhaps it could be something special on the Xone....?

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PostRe: Fable 4 - Playground Games. Open world RPG.
by Tafdolphin » Thu Jan 18, 2018 11:59 am

Yeah, PS4 is strawberry floating killing it at the moment.

Regardless, I'm really strawberry floating glad Fable is back. It is, as Photek points out, a unique franchise despite its flaws.

Last edited by Tafdolphin on Thu Jan 18, 2018 12:13 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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PostRe: Fable 4 - Playground Games. Open world RPG.
by Jamo3103 » Thu Jan 18, 2018 12:06 pm

Fable 2 for me remains the biggest reason to own an Xbox 360, it's a charming, funny and brilliantly enjoyable game and one of my fondest gaming memories was playing through it the year it came out. I thoroughly enjoyed the first (and Fable Anniversary) as well despite them being flawed.

The return of the Fable franchise is definitely appealing to me but the aesthetic and British humour are a big part of what I loved about them and Lionhead's other major franchise, Black & White (Which desperately needs to be revisited at some point). I'm not really sure how well another studio will be able to replicate that look and feel, the last thing I want is for Fable to become a generic open world game. If they get it right though then it would be a great addition to the Xbox One and good exclusives are something that system desperately needs.

Last edited by Jamo3103 on Thu Jan 18, 2018 12:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Photek
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PostRe: Fable 4 - Playground Games. Open world RPG.
by Photek » Thu Jan 18, 2018 12:15 pm

Samuel_1 wrote:So Nier, Nioh, Horizon ZD, Yakuza series, Last Guardian, Spiderman, Days gone, Death Stranding, Last of us part 2, God of War, none of these appeal to you? I find that amazing.

I'm a gamer so of course some of them do, and I don't want to derail but I haven't the time or money to have 2 main consoles. Plus I have an Xbox One X so all the multi plats run/look better.

I have a switch cos my job gave me a €500 voucher and I play it on the train.

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PostRe: Fable 4 - Playground Games. Open world RPG.
by Moggy » Thu Jan 18, 2018 3:01 pm

It helped that I got it for free, but I didn’t think Fable 3 was as bad as people made it out to be. It wasn’t as good as 2, but it was far from a bad game.

Fable 4 is something I will look forward to, but I am not getting excited until we know more about it.

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PostRe: Fable 4 - Playground Games. Open world RPG.
by Garth » Thu Jan 18, 2018 3:08 pm

Glad the series is staying in the UK too, it wouldn't be the same without its Britishness (no UKIP).


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