Fable: The Journey

Fable: The Journey
Developer(s)	Lionhead Studios
Publisher(s)	Microsoft Studios
Director(s)	Gary Carr
Series	Fable
Engine	Unreal Engine 3
Platform(s)	Xbox 360
Genre(s)	Action role-playing
Mode(s)	Single-player

Fable: The Journey is an action role-playing open world video game, the fifth in the Fable series. It was developed by Lionhead Studios and published by Microsoft Studios for Xbox 360, as an exclusive Kinect title. It was announced at the 2011 Electronic Entertainment Expo, with a debut trailer and demo shown. It was also stated during E3 2011 that the game is a standalone title, separate from the main series. A new gameplay trailer was unveiled at E3 2012 which led to Fable: The Journey being a nominated for the Game Critics Awards: Best of E3 2012, under the category 'Best Motion Simulation Game'. Unlike previous games, Fable: The Journey was developed using Unreal Engine 3.

Plot

Gabriel takes the place as the Hero of the latest story for the Fable series, starting out as an ordinary Dweller. His journey begins when he is separated from his fellow Dwellers while staying near Bowerstone. As he attempts to reunite with his people, he encounters Theresa who is wounded and fleeing from the Corruption. At first Gabriel acts cowardly, beginning to run at the first sight of trouble. However he soon returns, helping the blind seer onto the cart and urging Seren to avoid the devastating forces of the Corruption's first lieutenant, The Devourer. Narrowly escaping the attack, Gabriel's relief turns to horror when Theresa admits that the Devourer's attack poisoned his horse. She offers a way to heal Seren, but warns that it will take personal sacrifice on Gabriel's part. Gabriel readily agrees. Travelling to the Spirit Chambers, a temple of the Enlightened, Gabriel was told to dip his hands into the Pool of Sight to recover the power that would enable him to heal Seren. After receiving a disturbing vision of Albion's downfall at the hands of the Corruption and passing a series of tests in a spiritual realm, Gabriel returns with a pair of gauntlets, much like those used by the old Hero King. Using their power, he heals his animal companion, only to realize that they are stuck on his arms and cannot be removed. Revealing this to be the sacrifice she warned of, Theresa offers a way out of this predicament for Gabriel. This solution, however, was located in the far-off Forge of Fire, another Enlightened temple that was located on the edge of the massive forest of Thorndeep. Begrudgingly, Gabriel took Theresa back on the cart and set off for the temple.

Passing through the thick forest, the duo came across a series of hobbe forts blocking the roads. Setting off on foot, Gabriel travelled through the old gold mines before coming across a local woodsman named Fergus, who had been tied up and captured by the hobbes. Releasing him, Fergus and Gabriel reunited with Theresa and Seren, and the group made their way further into the forest. Deciding to stay at Fergus' place for the night, Gabriel and Fergus were interrupted by the sudden appearance of native balverines. Fighting their way to Seren and Theresa, the two warriors managed to fight off the creatures. The next morning, upon leaving Fergus' home, the Devourer came upon the group once more, forcing Fergus to join Gabriel and Theresa on their journey. Once again running for their lives, the trio managed to escape into the light, back on course to the temple. Facing a myriad of foes on the way, the group nevertheless managed to safely arrive at the Forge of Fire, where Fergus found the remains of his wife, Peg. With Fergus busy burying the remains, Gabriel managed to pass the trials and tribulations of the temple, claiming the Willstone of the Hero Blaze in the process. Unfortunately, it was at this moment that the Devourer personally attacked the group, determined to stop them once and for all. Fighting off his minions, Gabriel was still no match for the Corruption's lieutenant, who disabled his opponent and proceeded to taunt him, warning the Dweller that there was no hope left for Albion. Desperate, Gabriel called upon Fergus to aid him in his hour of need, a request that drove the once-cowardly woodsman to put aside his fear and save his friend. Distracting the Devourer, Fergus' death gave Gabriel the opportunity to destroy the abomination for good. Mourning the death of Fergus, Gabriel admitted to Theresa that he would not take off the gauntlets, resolute in helping Albion in its time of need and moving on to the next temple.

Travelling through the dangerous hills of Miremoor, Theresa and Gabriel were stopped by the wreckage of a long caravan of carts, left burning in the open road. Looking for survivors, the duo only found one, a farm girl by the name of Betty. Claiming to be one of the few survivors, the sympathetic Gabriel let Betty join Theresa and himself in their attempt to cross the River Ironwash, as Betty believed that her father may have escaped there. Betty guided Gabriel through a shortcut to the River Ironwash, past the haunted lands of the Fallen Fen. Fighting alongside the ghosts of the Albion Royal Army, Gabriel used his power to drive off the hollow men and light the great beacon, which banished all remaining hollow men, freed the soldiers from their curse, and made the Fallen Fen safe again.

Proceeding to Sable's Crossing, Gabriel blasted a way through the bridge, much to the disgust of the Toll keeper, and made his way to the Whitespire Mountains. Fighting through Northward Fort, the group made a much-needed stop at the abandoned watchtower known as the Far Watch, where Betty and Gabriel made their feelings clear for each other. Interrupted by Theresa, Gabriel kept watch at the campsite while Betty allegedly went out to get more firewood before she was captured by the second of the Corruption's lieutenants – the foul Temptress. Urging Seren to catch up, the Temptress lead the Dweller and the Seer to The Shattered Prism, the last of the temples and home to the Willstone of Sol, the Hero of Light. Passing its trials, Gabriel emerged victorious, Willstone in hand and ready to get Theresa to the Spire to fight off the Corruption once and for all. It was here, however, where the recently recovered Betty revealed her true nature as the Temptress herself, blasting Theresa aside and attempting to kill the Dweller in an intense battle of the wills. Pulling himself together, Gabriel managed to cast aside the Temptress' tricks and defeated her in single combat, destroying her at long last. Helping Theresa back on the cart, the group continued their journey.

Continuing westward, Theresa and Gabriel once again had to fight off the Corruption's growing forces, battling their way through the Echo Hills of Albion. It was here where Gabriel at long last caught up to his old friend, Katlan, who had been mortally wounded in a vicious balverine attack. Fighting off the creatures, Gabriel could only console his dying friend, who readily admitted that Heroes did indeed still exist upon seeing Gabriel's ability before passing away. Resolute in his campaign against the Corruption, Theresa and Gabriel went through the nearby tunnels and emerged in the canyon-ridden landscape of Deepgorge. With the Corruption having completely overridden this once-rich area, the duo had to fight their way through the industrial town of Bastion before arriving at their final destination, the beach of Kraken's Jaw. Preparing to take the deactivated Cullis Gate, it was here where Theresa revealed that she only had the power to teleport two people to the Spire, abandoning Seren to the approaching hordes of the Corruption. Though apprehensive about leaving his lifelong companion and friend, Gabriel finally gathered the strength to let Seren go, taking Theresa's hand and teleporting to the ancient Old Kingdom tower.

There, in the Spire, Gabriel had to undergo one last trial – the sacrifice of Theresa herself. Channelling the light through the Seer, this power was enough to drive the Corruption back, buying Theresa the time to make her final wish. Escaping to the heart of the Spire, Gabriel managed to escape the doomed tower mere seconds before it was destroyed, apparently killing both Theresa and the leader of the Corruption, the Corruptor himself.

Walking the beaches of Kraken's Jaw, Gabriel reflected on his journey and his new destiny to protect Albion from any future threats before finding Theresa's blindfold, left lying in the sand. It is at the end of the game that Gabriel is revealed to be newly blinded, just as Theresa had been, before adorning the Seer's blindfold.

Gameplay

Fable: The Journey is an action role-playing open world video game that has players use Kinect to manipulate magic in order to defeat enemies. By using their hands to perform certain gestures, players can cast a variety of spells, ranging from electric bolts to magic shards. As enemies are defeated, experience is collected which the player can use to upgrade health and spells.

A large portion of the game takes place with the player character's horse. Driving the horse requires "holding" the reins and guiding the horse along a path. The player must also care for their horse by petting and brushing it as well as caring for it when it gets hurt.

There will also be cross-game interaction with Fable Heroes. Playing Fable Heroes will level up the character in Fable: The Journey as well as unlock additional items.

Reception

Reception

Aggregate scores

Aggregator	Score
GameRankings	63.69%
Metacritic	61/100

Review scores

Publication	Score
Electronic Gaming Monthly	9/10
G4	2.5/5
Game Informer	5/10
GameSpot	8/10
GamesRadar+
IGN	7.2/10
Official Xbox Magazine (US)	6.5/10
Hardcore Gamer	4/5
Giant Bomb
Destructoid	3.5/10
The Escapist
Midlife Gamer	7/10

Fable: The Journey has received a range of mixed reviews. It received an aggregated score of 63.69% on GameRankings and 61/100 on Metacritic.

Midlife Gamer said that "Fable: The Journey makes no attempts to pretend it is not a linear game, instead stepping up and making the undeviating nature of the levels as interesting, exciting and varied as possible." and that "If you are a fan of the series or if you happen to own a Kinect...then this is a clever little title that will entertain for a good 8 - 12 hours."

Despite the game’s mixed review scores, the majority of reviews praised the game for its story, characters and emotional engagement. Gaming website Giant Bomb praised the game’s characters, humor and emotional depth, stating that, “You end up genuinely feeling sorry for certain characters on several occasions when bad things happen to them, and the game culminates in a moment that will likely be among the most poignant seen in a game this year.”

Website Electronic Gaming Monthly wrote that, “The most impressive thing about this game — and this should please Fable fans tremendously — is the story. By adding a new take on the original three Fable games’ story, as Theresa tells things from her point of view along the way, you see now how they all tie together as the story progresses. This brings closure to the last few loose ends of those great tales while also setting the foundation for a brand-new epic down the line. With tremendous voice acting, a script that maintains a dark humor throughout, and a plot that’s more than worthy of the original trilogy, Fable: The Journey’s story will suck in fans of the franchise and won’t let them go.”

Xbox 360 Achievements praised the way the game creates a connection between the player and its cast of characters, stating that, “With Gabriel’s gradual acceptance of his role in Albion’s fate and his touchingly filial relationship with both the tribe leader and Theresa, Fable: The Journey draws you into its world. Even the bit-part players are wonderfully drawn. Yet it’s Gabriel’s relationship with his horse Seren that really pulls at your heart strings.”

Gaming website Gamespot voiced similar views, stating that, “Fable: The Journey makes great use of the few characters who make an appearance in this story. When Fergus tells the story of his deceased wife, ravaged by balverines years before, you nod because you've heard this tale of woe before. But as you travel the road, Fergus is forced to confront his demons, and you form a deeper, more nuanced understanding of his grief. Fable: The Journey provides occasional moments of levity to keep you smiling, but it strikes a more somber tone than previous games in the franchise. And the heartfelt moments carry serious weight because the game earned your sympathy.”

Of the game’s story, British broadsheet newspaper The Telegraph wrote, “By turns amusing and affecting, its (Fable: The Journey’s) narrative is a significant piece of Albion lore, a terrific piece of fan service, and a fine piece of storytelling in its own right,” while Official Xbox Magazine praised the game’s characters and story, stating that, “Strong characters entertain throughout the game's uncharacteristically involving story,” going on to say that, “There are tears, laughter - and most importantly, the first successful stab at Kinect-enhanced immersion - as Fable: The Journey gallops toward its epic conclusion.”

Website GamesBeat praised the game’s storytelling and humor, stating that, “The developers have crafted a breathtaking interactive storytelling experience,” with the review going on to say, “Theresa gets some great one-liners, and Gabriel plays up his naiveté with a self-aware charm... I found myself laughing out loud (for real) in many spots throughout my time in Albion,” while gaming website RPG Site claimed that, “The Journey presents the most interesting and real feeling cast the series has managed to date - including a named protagonist with a personality for the first time. The world of Albion feels more real thanks to these characters.”

External links

• Official website
• GameSpot - Fable: The Journey preview impressions
• Molyneux: Fable demo a 'horrendous mistake'
• The Fable Wiki, an external wiki