Fable III Previews

A bunch of new previews have surfaced for Lionhead’s Fable III following hands-on time at the show floor. IGN.

Equipping magic employs a similar system. Different gauntlets contain different spells, and to arm one you just slip it on. It’s also possible to combine spells in this way wear a fire gauntlet on one hand and a lightning one on the other and your spells will be bring the two together, delivering a fireball that crackles with electricity.

It’s a radical solution to the characterless lists of not only Fable II but many other games of a similar bent, and it extends beyond inventory management. Go to a shop and instead of seeing its wares spelled out it’ll all be on display on the shelves. See something you want and again you’ll just have to walk up to it to select it.

GameSpot.

However, you’ll also see the world changing in other ways based on more heady decisions, like those made over the course of the story. At a certain point in the game you’ll encounter a group of travelers led by a character voiced by Sir Ben Kingsley. Being people of the land, they’re very familiar with the fact that Logan is chopping down every tree in the kingdom, so you’re able to work with them to stop Logan from demolishing Mother Nature. The same goes for the factories in the city. As you gain wealth and power, you can eventually own those industrial factories and make the decision whether or not to continue employing children. Once king, your influence is felt in things like how viciously you tax the poor. All of this is a means to the same end: letting players see their experience reflected not only in their own character, but in the world around them.

GameZone.

One of the most striking changes in Fable III is the menu system, or lack thereof. The game lacks any semblance of a traditional menu, instead relying solely on the game universe from the moment you hit the start button. Changing clothes now requires you to use a dressing room that features all of your wardrobe possibilities, using magic requires that your character puts on specific gauntlets instead of changing them through the HUD, and shops contain their inventories on the shelves instead of in purchase screens.