Fable The Journey
What We Liked:
First title that the Kinect actually does work once set up properlyWhat We Disliked:
Too much time spent looking at the back end of a horseFable The Journey Fable The Journey is now the fifth in the Fable universe, and is also a totally stand alone title which was developed by Lionhead Studios and published by Microsoft Studios for the Kinect market. I have not played a lot of Kinect games as I have not found one yet [...]
Fable The Journey
Fable The Journey is now the fifth in the Fable universe, and is also a totally stand alone title which was developed by Lionhead Studios and published by Microsoft Studios for the Kinect market. I have not played a lot of Kinect games as I have not found one yet that the developer has got right enough to be enjoyable. Typically I think that a lot of developers still have not found a way to master this technology yet, and despite their bet efforts have ruined what could have been a great title by adding their poor knowledge of Kinect to their game. So let us see if this will change my view of this and for the first time be able to use my Kinect to good effect.
Graphics and Gameplay,
The game is set fifty years after the events of Fable III. The player controls a normal Dweller named Gabriel who has been separated 
from his tribe. Gabriel comes across Theresa, who has been wounded by a darkness called The Corruption. The Corruption is taking over Albion, and Gabriel must take her to the Tattered Spire to restore her power. The game takes place throughout large portions of Albion. The events of Fable III are still felt during Fable The Journey. You’ll split your time in Fable The Journey between steering your horse, Seren, from the seat of the cart and hopping off to use your magical gauntlets. The controls for horse driving actually works surprisingly well; you slap the reins to make Seren go faster, pull one or the other to steer her side to side, and pull up towards your chest to make her slow down. As approximations of driving a horse cart go, it’s pretty effective and the hand motions required to make it all happen are pleasingly simple to learn. In fact I found all the controls simple to learn and pick up throughout the game. You forced you to steer around trees, tossing in some chase sequences and making the different colors of experience impossible to pick up unless you’re going the correct speed, but mostly, you’re just looking at Seren’s butt as she clip clops along the trail.
With this being a Kinect game there is a lot of arm waving, but not waving in frustration because your movements have not been picked up, far from it, Fable The Journey works really well, casting spells by thrusting your right arm forward or blocking incoming objects with your left are constantly recognised by the sensor A Kinect game you actually feel connected to… plus you get to sit down when playing. The best and most exciting part of Fable: The Journey is when you get off your horse and cart and take on Hobbes, Rockmites (spiders) and Trolls. Cast your ‘Bolt’ or ‘Fireball’ spell towards the enemy and watch them burst in flames – if the spell misses you can still use ‘Aftertouch’ which allows you to redirect the spell after it has been cast, which is great for hitting an enemy hiding behind walls. Throwing Rockmites off ledges to their doom with the ‘Push’ spell is such a great pleasure as is pulling Hollow men apart and smashing them against walls.
Graphically the Fable universe has not looked so good with the developers having hit the spot, the world is very pleasing to the eye and sets the scene beautifully. Couple that with some great voice acting and music and you have again a fully immersive Fable world that transports you away your daily life.
Conclusion,
I think most of the problem people have had with this game is not having their Kinect set up properly, or not having the corect amount
of space in the room in which it is set up. I personally found little wrong with the control system once I set it up, but there was a few times when my magic shots went astray, was it a bad Kinect set up or bad game that I cannot answer. The other thing I didn’t like about the game was the amount of time spent looking at the back end of your horse, yeah you are supposed to love him but please!!….
I played this game at Eurogamer Expo and so did a lot of others and I didn’t hear any complaints then, it is the best Kinect game we have ever played and it has restored our faith in the Kinect control system. Will you all like it ? download the demo and try it, if you set it up right it will give you a Kinect experience better than anything you have experienced before.
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There are some great parts of Fable 3 but I’m glad I didn’t spend $60 on it. Like Fable 2, it’s addictive but full of bugs. They cairetnly put a lot of effort preaching their liberal politics. They couldn’t add more weapons, spells, (any) armor, or free roaming (like Oblivion)?? No, no, instead add gay marriage and slow dance as the default interaction with all other players. Lionhead, focus on game-play and stow your politics. Buy the new Fallout you get more for your money.