I was never particularly interested in the Fable franchise growing up. I missed out on the original games when they were at their peak, instead preferring to play Ratchet and Clank and Jak 2 on my PS2. As I got older, my love of RPGs grew exponentially, yet the Fable games still didn't appeal to me. There was something about their lack of sincerity coupled with their reliance on very British humor that put me off them, even though they're considered classics for good reasons. Unfortunately, this meant that when the latest Fable game was announced, I cheered unenthusiastically.

However, since that initial reveal, Fable has begun to feel increasingly real, with each subsequent trailer offering a more compelling picture of what it may become. Rather surprisingly, it has made me finally check out the original Fable games, many of which are considered to be Xbox's best RPGs. Yet, it wasn't until the game's most recent gameplay trailer, which was dropped rather unceremoniously, yet was nevertheless appreciated, that I finally got on board with this new entry. To be specific, it was just three seconds of that trailer that managed to make me change my mind.

Fable Got A New Gameplay Trailer

It Came After The Delay Announcement

After it was revealed during the previous Fable trailers featured gameplay, but it often felt scripted and lacked the believability that this pre-alpha footage has. The jankyness of it coupled with how it feels player-driven is endearing to me and a clear display that Fable is a real game, and not something I dreamt up.

In the footage, we see the protagonist exploring rolling hills, bustling cities, little villages, and dense forests, before fending off a giant chicken, fighting Hobbes, and riding around on her horse. It's all very striking, especially when interspersed with narrative footage that is expertly directed. It looks like it has all the features Fable needs to entertain fans and myself and make it a fresh new experience that newcomers can enjoy as well. However, crucially, the trailer also showcases how Fable is sticking to its roots, namely with its immersive and interactive world.

Fable's Latest Gameplay Is Exciting

It Shows Quintessentially Fable Action

The most exciting part of this trailer was the final three seconds in which the protagonist, while standing by a mind-bogglingly photorealistic wheat field, kicks an innocent chicken into the sky like it's Jessie and James from Pokémon. It is brief, and to non-Fable fans, may seem like a fun yet innocuous moment not worth dwelling on, the kind of last-second tease in a trailer that only true fans will understand. Importantly, however, this short clip illustrates that not only does this Fable carry over the chicken kicking from the original games, but it also retains their interactivity.

What made the Fable games so unique for the time, and still, ittedly, impressive RPGs - I really have come around to love them - is the ways they let the player interact with their surroundings. Whether it was kicking chickens or becoming a maniacal landlord, the Fable games really made the players a part of the world they were exploring. It led to some truly fascinating player-driven gameplay moments that can't really be replicated in any other RPG.

The chicken kicking at the end of this trailer indicates that this fundamental tenet of the original games is just as important to the newest entry, which is amazing to see.

The chicken kicking at the end of this trailer indicates that this fundamental tenet of the original games is just as important to the newest entry, which is amazing to see. It also further illustrates the game's tongue-in-cheek tone that offers a whimsical adventure in a high-fantasy world, something I strongly feel that RPGs need more of. It's why I loved Avowed, despite the fact fans believe it's Obsidian Entertainment's worst game.

I Hope Fable Has More Ways Of Interacting With The Environment

Kicking Chickens Should Just Be The Start

As entertaining and reassuring as the chicken kicking is at the end of the Fable pre-alpha gameplay clip, I hope it is just one small part of the game's efforts to capture the immersive and interactive nature of its predecessors' worlds. Many believe they've spotted a real estate feature within the trailer, which is certainly possible, and exciting if true, but I need more confirmation than a hunch. Of course, I have no real reason to doubt that it won't.

However, the huge changes this Fable makes over the originals, especially in of its more realistic visuals, have somewhat convinced me that the more whimsical immersive features will be left behind. I'm sure that I'll love kicking chickens in Fable when it launches in 2026 - hopefully, at least - but I hope there are more ways to interact with the world and the environment beyond this. If there is, then I'm certain that this will be the best Fable game in the series.

Source: Xbox Podcast