Don't Wait For Fable, Play Fable 2 Instead

Buried within this week's Xbox Podcast was exciting, albeit bittersweet, news about Playground Games' Fable. A rare glimpse of gameplay was revealed, but unfortunately, accompanied by a delay. Initially slated for release this year, Fable is now set for 2026.

While delays are rarely welcome, they often signal a commitment to quality. Hopefully, this extra time allows Fable's richly detailed world to fully flourish. In the meantime, there's no better way to spend the wait than revisiting the Fable games, particularly Fable 2—a series high point and a truly unique RPG.

By today's standards, Fable 2 is remarkably unusual. Even compared to its 2008 contemporaries (Fallout 3 and early BioWare 3D titles), its vision stands apart. While boasting a traditional campaign structure with a linear main story and optional side quests, its RPG systems are refreshingly streamlined. Forget complex stat blocks; Fable 2's accessibility is remarkable.

Only six main skills govern health, strength, and speed. Weapon damage is the sole stat to consider, with no equivalent for armor or accessories. Combat, while frequent, is surprisingly straightforward, enhanced by creative spellcasting (like the delightful Chaos spell). Even death is inconsequential, resulting in only a minor XP penalty.

Fable 2 is the perfect RPG for RPG newcomers. In 2008, Oblivion's vast world could feel overwhelming. Fable 2's Albion, however, offered manageable, easily navigable maps. Players freely traverse these areas, aided by a loyal canine companion, uncovering hidden treasures, caves, and challenging Demon Doors. This creates a sense of scale exceeding the game's actual size. Albion's geography is restrictive, guiding players along linear paths. It's not a world designed for getting lost in the traditional sense.

Albion pales in comparison to the expansive worlds of BioWare's Infinity Engine games and Morrowind. However, judging it against modern or contemporary expectations is unfair. Fable 2 prioritizes a vibrant, bustling world over sheer size. Consider it akin to The Sims—a remarkable societal simulation.

Albion functions like a complex, organic mechanism. Citizens wake, work, and sleep, with town criers announcing daily events. Each citizen possesses an independent life, driven by roles, preferences, and dislikes. A vast library of gestures allows players to interact, charming or antagonizing NPCs. A well-timed fart might elicit laughter in a pub, while mocking children might send them running. Fable 2 masterfully creates reactive NPCs and a truly alive city.

While the player is a hero destined for grand adventures, Fable 2 shines when integrating into its society. Properties (houses and shops) are purchasable, and jobs (woodcutting, blacksmithing) provide income. Players can become landlords or furnish their homes. Romance is also possible, leading to marriage and even parenthood. The individual elements feel artificial, yet the overall effect creates a remarkably authentic sense of life.

A well-executed fart might elicit laughter in a pub. Few RPGs have replicated this. Even Baldur's Gate 3 lacks Fable 2's organic romances and property market. However, Red Dead Redemption 2 offers a similar, albeit more refined, approach. Rockstar's game features incredibly responsive NPCs who react authentically. A system reminiscent of Fable 2's gestures allows for varied interactions. Meaningful interactions, such as saving someone from a snakebite, can have lasting consequences. If Playground's Fable wishes to stay true to its roots, Red Dead Redemption 2 should serve as its modern touchstone, rather than current tabletop-inspired RPGs.

Other crucial elements need preserving: Fable's British humor, witty satire of the class system, and a memorable cast of characters (already evident with Richard Ayoade and Matt King in trailers). Most importantly, Lionhead's approach to good and evil must remain.

Peter Molyneux, Lionhead's founder, has a fascination with the good vs. evil dichotomy. This defined Black & White and continued throughout his career. However, Lionhead's approach differs from the nuanced choices in The Witcher or BioWare games. Fable 2 offers stark choices: angelic or demonic. This comedic extremism works; early quests involve either helping a trader or destroying his goods. Later, a ghost asks for revenge on his former lover, offering only extreme options.

Modern RPGs prioritize player expression through nuanced choices. Moral dilemmas are complex, unlike the simple choice between saving or harming children. Fable thrives on this binary, allowing players to become the most heroic hero or the vilest villain. The first game showed this with devil horns for evil choices, but Fable 2 perfected it. The branching quests and reactive world shape reputation and alignment. Moral choices in RPGs often feel underwhelming due to focus on the middle ground, making true evil feel unsatisfying. Fable 2 embraces the extremes, allowing players to go full Sith.

Playground Games' success in capturing this aspect remains uncertain. The recent gameplay footage showed a more detailed world than previous entries, with less restriction and a beautifully rendered forest. A brief city shot, dense and full of life, hints at a Sims-like societal simulation. The prospect of interacting with its citizens is exciting.

However, all this is a year away. In the meantime, revisiting Fable 2 is highly recommended. It's crucial that Playground Games retains Fable's unique oddities. We don't need a Witcher, Baldur's Gate, or Dragon Age clone. We need Fable to be Fable, in all its glory.