Fable Was "Innovative" But Was It Good?

This is the 4th video in an ongoing retrospective review series on the games of Peter Molyneux and Lionhead Studios. This time we look at Fable: The Lost Chapters. A game that's reputation is split between nostalgia fueled lovers and those who wanted a game that met the ambition of the increasingly outlandish statements by Lionhead founder Peter Molyneux.
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[@garycurrier1037]

You said "strength, speed and will"... It's strength, skill, and will.

[@erikmcswain]

You got me! To be fair speed is the only one worth upgrading so that mixed it up in my head.

[@pandorum67]

@@erikmcswainhow could you

[@Kevin-jb2pv]

My favorite thing to do in the tutorial was to catch the guy cheating on his wife, take his money to keep my mouth shut, then run directly to his wife and tell her, anyways.

[@erikmcswain]

Hell yeah

[@Robert-ln8ct]

And collect the money from pops for the good deed!

[@Forsc]

This game helped me learn to read when i was a kid. I still find myself coming back every couple years to do a playthrough.

[@erikmcswain]

That’s so cool! I think I’ll definitely have more fun my next playthrough when I’m not review brained and can just mess around.

[@luckbisquick]

When I was a kid Fable blew my mind and was my first M rated game. I’ve lost countless hours exploring the world inside and out and this video was a nice trip down memory lane as it’s been a few years since I revisited it.

[@Vohtwomax]

Fable was another tale of the game that could have been. While i had my fair share of fun with it(2&3 as well) but i felt like Fable really suffered from not having a long enough story, a lack of some the "extra" things to do and the combat basically forcing melee. I think if blue box made this today, it would be a truly wild game.

[@Greatdictator]

I feel like your starting to get into your own a bit more as you keep makein these and i hope you keep on makeing videos

[@UhhhColin]

Dude i'm usually kinda of a "judge a book by its cover" type of guy and I ignore smaller channels but thank god I watched that black and white 2 video, all of your videos are insanely well made and I'm genuinely excited for your next videos, keep up the good work dawg.

[@erikmcswain]

Wow thank you so much this made my day!

[@Robotization]

I was one of those kids who was wowed by the magazine previews for Fable back in the day. I remember buying the game on release and being INCREDIBLY disappointed that it wasn't open world like Morrowind. I still liked the game enough to finish it, but my enjoyment was definitely soured by the deceptive marketing. Good retrospective. I appreciated the context of the game's development, and I'm glad that you didn't give it a pass for the mediocre combat. It's not a bad game, but I think that it's mostly held together by its style and charm.

[@Adam-je2xs]

I really enjoyed Fable at the time, but I do remember being let down somewhat because the hype was way too much for what the game ultimately was. I don't think I could play it again, but it will always have a special place in my heart, especially the opening and early game.

[@erikmcswain]

I played the early game so many times over and over again as a kid. I only really remember beating it once. It’s probably why I hold such nostalgia for it compared to Fable 2 which I did get stuck in the hype cycle for.

[@AvariceOverlord]

It feels great to see someone else actually playing the game in 1080p. Unlike back when TLC was released.

[@coffeefox5703]

Ah, I love long-form content. 73rd subscriber reporting in. Keep it up and you'll hit a thousand in no-time!

[@erikmcswain]

This made my day haha. Thanks for watching!

[@AvariceOverlord]

"Strength, Skill or Will" I am guessing you meant?

[@erikmcswain]

I’m gonna pin the first person who corrected me lmao.

[@slopstink]

peter molyneux had 14 year old me hyped beyond belief for this -- the reality of all the removed features broke my hype heart right apart.

[@cbs1710]

Ah, Fable... I remember thee fondly. Especially being pissed-off that the sequel was console only. Apropos B&W 2, it was quite a disappointment for me, since the "you're the only god" change/extrapolation just kind of ruined the point of it all. It ended up feeling/being more RTS than god simulation, compared to the original.

[@erikmcswain]

Yeah I get that and see that a lot on B&W2. I’m still collecting all my thoughts on it as I work on the next video.

[@cbs1710]

@@erikmcswain Looking forward to it! Ah, yes, another observation, if I can trust my memory: B&W1 was much more whimsical & playful in its quests, and I remember probably 50% of them (at least!) off the top of my head... for comparison, I cannot remember a single one from B&W2 (but I also only did a single playthrough). If the first one made me feel like a child playing god in a sandbox, the latter probably feels like a "mature" god, with it being "just another let's-get-this-over-with day in «paradise»". Magic wasn't lost - just there never was any. Anyway, now I really have to try and replay it ASAP... memory is a fickle thing.

[@erikmcswain]

@@cbs1710B&W1 was another one where I played the first 2 lands 500 times and would restart maybe beating it once those are definitely my favorite parts of the game still even after a replay. The rest gets a little bogged down in trying to have a story and placing restrictions on what you can do. I definitely would have loved to see the original formula iterated on rather than a complete overhaul. It’s definitely a really interesting and often pretty fun game.

[@rbg9602]

You can be pure mage with mana pots. Really fun playthrough, especially with the runic mage tattoos u get from using will.

[@Reaperx420]

I use the hero save to get more and more and more silver keys from one spot, but my original Lost Chapters did scratched and now I don't even have my regular Xbox anymore. The anniversary edition does not have hero save. They completely changed the save system so that you can't do that

[@bernardopratademelo6571]

I forgot to comment on this, lord Erik. I'm sorry. Great video as always.

[@13Cobra91]

19:45 "You can't really be purely a mage due to how fast you run out of mana..." Whoa whoa WHOA, did you forget about mana potions? It's not very difficult to stock up on them. I seem to remember some items giving faster mana regeneration to help some with that as well (or was it a skill/attribute thing? I know it's there somewhere, been a while). Pure caster is overpowered. Go through spamming high level enflame with an occasional Infernal Wrath/Divine Fury while chugging mana potions and just try to tell me it isn't the easiest, breeziest way to play the game. Beyond that some spells like lightning are also good and have the potential for stunlocking enemies. But enflame specifically turned all of the areas that were a slog on all of my other playthroughs/builds (like the arena) into a breeze, there's nothing like it for ease and power fantasy. This is especially important to convey for people who might like the game for reasons other than the combat and just want to get through combat as fast and easy as possible.

[@erikmcswain]

The mana regeneration never really gets to a point where you don’t have to stock up on mana potions to actually only use it. I do agree though that it works for the pure power fantasy and note that in my Fable 2 video when criticizing the implementation of magic there.

[@13Cobra91]

​@@erikmcswainRight, I think mana regeneration only helps to a certain point, but usage of mana potions is a small price to pay regardless. It's easy to get tons of potions. The wording in the vid made it sound like pure caster isn't feasible, which is what I took issue with because someone who wants to be a pure caster might be turned off by statements like that. See I'm doing it again, "Guys seriously! Pure caster is good, mana potions aren't a problem!" XD No hate, I'm enjoying the series! I'm here after seeing your Black and White 2 video. Thanks for the vids!

[@erikmcswain]

@@13Cobra91 nah I always appreciate any corrections!

[@erikmcswain]

And appreciate your kindness too!

[@stinkbanana2522]

This is a good vid. have some engagement

[@xlhooka666]

Even the transitionary spaces in this game stick with me.

[@LoveRolo24]

Fantastic games !! I’ve got a ps5 but I will buy an Xbox when the new game comes out. The only game that can make me buy an Xbox

[@justin9744]

Hell yea it was good.

[@erikmcswain]

Thank you!

[@XIGuyIX]

I missed the Fable hype due to ignorance, I suppose. The game was extraordinary to me as a child. Upon revisiting, I think it falls short of the mark. As a child I didn't really acknowledge the humour, as an adult it's just annoying. The quests are underdeveloped, not to mention their choice and morality system. The dialogue is unbearable and the remastered textures look like body horror. It will also have a place in my heart though, as a game that captured my imagination as a child. Needless to say I think the dev team didn't understand what made the first game special, as those special elements seemed to be abandoned in the subsequent games. Music still holds up though!

[@erikmcswain]

I can definitely see why someone would find the dialogue annoying. It’s the kind of camp I get a lot of enjoyment out of. Especially how amateurish the voice acting is. I am very interested in how the replays go I remember being annoyed with both of them when I finally got to play them in 2010 after finally getting an xbox and being hyped up for years on it.

[@RobertWWD]

I liked Fable for what it was and it’s sad a company is coming to ruin Fable by making the Reboot Fable game protagonist Transgender. I like how the Black guy in the video wasn’t even interested in talking about the game that says a lot about how badly the reboot will be.

[@erikmcswain]

Your first point is just not true and weird. Your second point I don’t know what you’re referring to but we’ve barely seen anything from the game it might suck it might not let’s wait and see.

[@luckbisquick]

@RobertWWD please log off and touch grass.

[@RobertWWD]

@@luckbisquick Why are you being rude?

[@luckbisquick]

@@RobertWWD Why are you mad there is a transgender protagonist?

[@bernardopratademelo6571]

Your mother should quit smoking. It seems that didn't help what little brain her son has from developing.