Video Game Review: 'Fable III': Are you ready to rule? Be prepared for a long fight
Third game in the "Fable" series is a solid story with many diversions.
In "Fable III" you can become a regal ruler, loved and respected by all. Or you can grab a villager by the neck and give him a nasty Dutch Oven.
That must be what absolute power is all about.
What they're selling: From Lionhead Studios - "In 'Fable III,' you will be called upon to rally and fight alongside your people, ascend to the seat of power, and experience the true meaning of love and loss while defending your throne."
What we're telling: That sounds like earnest ambition, but this game wears its emotion on its sleeve.
The nut graph: The nice thing about the "Fable" series is that it can't decide to be beautiful or crude so it settles for both. The story is as good as it gets in video games, even if it does meander and stutter at times. And there are a million diversions to keep you from finishing - odd jobs, quests, real estate accumulation, building relationships.
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The story casts you as the offspring of the lead character from "Fable II" (you can choose male or female) several decades after that game ended. Your brother is ruling Albion with cruelty, but taking control of the land from him is really just the beginning of the story.
You have to make promises and commitments while you gather forces against him, and this leads to some really tough calls later in the game. "Fable III" really makes you think about the consequences of your decisions, and there's no going back.
The gameplay and fighting are fairly simple, although modified just a bit from "Fable II." It's not too difficult to hammer through most fights, although you can spend some time building up your weapons if needed.
It's a long game, especially if you spend some time getting to know the countryside and people. Some of the side quests are brilliant, although many are simple fetch missions.
Anyone expecting a drastic re-imagining of the series might be a little disappointed ... it plays a lot like "Fable II." For anyone expecting a great game with a solid story that is worth playing through a couple of times (try the good-guy and bad-guy approaches), then this is a no-brainer.
Reason to smile: If you think off-color humor is funny, then there are several laugh-out-loud moments.
Reason to growl: Some of the menu systems are a little clunky, especially when it comes to finding interesting quests.
robert.mcginty@jacksonville. com, (904) 359-4250