Playground Games, the developers behind the Forza Horizon series, has picked up the mantle of Fable and is spearheading the development of the upcoming game. While there are many core gameplay aspects that Playground Games can update since Fable 3 was released 12 years ago, there are several mechanics that the developer should keep as is - especially the famed morality system.
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Fable’s Moral System – Classic Fun
In 2022, players have access to many games that allow them to explore the gray areas of choice, such as The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and Mass Effect; Fable shouldn’t go too far in that direction. The upcoming addition to the beloved Fable series should keep the good versus evil morality system the way they are simple choices. There is still fun to be had in the absurdity of a simple good against bad choice, with some upcoming games like The Lord of the Rings: Gollum providing something similar – Smeagol choices equal good; Gollum choices equal bad. Sometimes, simple choices are all a game needs.
Even if drinking five alcoholic beverages realistically shouldn’t have the same ‘badness’ as murdering a villager, it’s the ridiculousness of this system that is one part of what made Fable enjoyable. Dragging a villager to force them to work equals eating two crunchy chicks. If a player has gone too far into ‘good’, their Hero will have a halo over them and grow white wings. Too evil, and their Hero will sprout horns and own a pair of dark, ragged wings instead. That type of moral simplicity is both fun and funny to experience, and Playground Games shouldn’t take it away in favor of something more modern. Maintaining the classic morality system is a surefire way to help the new Fable stand out from Avowed or Elder Scrolls.
Fable’s magic system was also attached to morality. Heroes could only cast certain spells depending on which side of the morality spectrum a player’s Hero landed. Spells like Berserk and Drain Life were only mastered by those on the evil side, while Heal Life and Summon could only be wielded by good Heroes. Then, there were spells like Divine Fury or Infernal Wrath from Fable: Lost Chapters, which would increase or decrease in cost depending on whether the player Hero was good or evil. Details like these made the relationship between morality and Fable’s magic systems underrated.
Sometimes choices aren’t black and white, but sometimes they are. Playground Games could still update Fable’s morality system somewhat by providing different standing with Albion’s factions or giving different towns their own core alignment, which can thrive or struggle due to the player’s alignment. There are many other aspects to renew and modernize for modern times, but the moral choices can and should be kept simple.
Retaining the classic moral system in the upcoming Fable game should be something Playground Games considers. That isn’t to say that the next iteration shouldn’t change anything from the previous titles, far from it. There are plenty of aspects of the Fable series that need modernizing and updating. However, the morality system isn’t an area that needs to be refined. Fable’s slow-paced development is excellent for Playground Games, as not only does it have the power of player commentary, but the developer also has the time to implement it well. When it comes to the morality system, it is important to remember how much fans enjoyed the original approach.
Fable is in development for PC and Xbox Series X/S.
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