Fable - The Lost Chapters Review Summary

Last updated: 2026-02-07
  • Highly praised music and voice acting
  • Engaging and charming story
  • Variety of activities and quests
  • Combat and controls criticized
  • Graphics and visual issues
  • Camera and motion sickness
Fable - The Lost Chapters header

Emotions

What players like:

Common complaints:

Gameplay feedback:

Performance notes:

Recommendations:

Other player notes:

Review evidence

Why players say this

What players like

Highly praised music and voice acting: The game's music and voice acting are frequently highlighted as standout features, contributing significantly to the game's atmosphere and overall enjoyment.

Engaging and charming story: The story is described as engaging, charming, and well-written, with a fairy tale style that resonates with players. It is often noted for its humor and memorable characters.

Variety of activities and quests: Players enjoy the variety of activities and quests available, including fighting, fishing, buying houses, relationships, tournaments, and more. This variety adds to the game's replayability and enjoyment.

Good graphics and visual style: The game's graphics and visual style are appreciated for their charm and nostalgia. The cartoonish and bright visuals are seen as unique and fitting for the game's atmosphere.

Humor and memorable characters: The game's humor and memorable characters are frequently mentioned as highlights. The quirky characters and dry humor add to the game's charm and enjoyment.

Common complaints

Combat and controls criticized: Players frequently mention that the combat system feels outdated and clunky. The controls, especially with a joystick, are reported to be problematic and not well-optimized for modern systems.

Graphics and visual issues: The game's graphics are criticized for being outdated and not well-optimized, especially in the Anniversary edition. Low-resolution cutscenes and poor character animations are frequently mentioned.

Camera and motion sickness: The camera behavior is described as nausea-inducing and poorly optimized, causing motion sickness for some players. The camera's constant swaying and bouncing contribute to this issue.

Game crashes and technical issues: Players report frequent game crashes, freezes, and technical issues, particularly on modern systems. These issues can occur during intro cutscenes or while using controllers.

Linear and short gameplay: The game is criticized for being too linear and short compared to other RPGs. Players feel that the game lacks depth and replayability, with a straightforward and non-complex quest system.

Gameplay and performance

Moral choices impact character and world: The game features a robust morality system where player choices significantly affect the character's appearance, abilities, and the world around them. These choices can lead to different endings and alter how NPCs react to the player.

Freedom of choice and activities: Players have the freedom to engage in various activities such as fishing, playing games in taverns, exploring, and interacting with NPCs. The game offers a high degree of freedom in shaping the story and character.

Combat mechanics and variety: The game offers a variety of combat styles, including melee, ranged, and magical abilities. The combat system is intuitive and fast-paced, with a variety of enemies and locations to explore.

Character customization and growth: Players can customize their character's appearance, skills, and abilities. The character's growth is based on actions and choices, with a unique progression system that includes aging and physical changes.

Engaging story and quests: The game features a rich narrative divided into chapters, with a variety of quests and activities. The story is influenced by player choices, adding to the replayability and depth of the gameplay.

Game does not load: Many players report that the game does not load or crashes on launch. This issue seems prevalent across different systems and configurations.

Graphics and performance: The game's graphics are considered pleasant and good for its time, though not top-notch. Performance varies, with some players experiencing stable frame rates while others report issues.

Crashes and bugs: Players have experienced frequent crashes and bugs, including game-breaking bugs and crashes during specific actions like casting lightning or during intro cutscenes.

Camera behavior issues: The camera behavior in the game causes discomfort for some players, affecting their overall experience.

Compatibility issues on modern systems: The game has compatibility issues on modern systems, including Windows 10 and Windows 11. Some players have had to emulate older versions of Windows to get it to work.

Recommendations

Highly recommended game: The game is highly recommended by many reviewers for its engaging storyline, rich mechanics, and high replayability. It is considered a must-play for RPG fans and is praised for its charm, simplicity, and memorable characters.

Recommend original over Anniversary: Many reviewers suggest playing the original version of the game over the Anniversary edition due to various reasons such as design changes and better value for money. The original is preferred for its lasting impact and is recommended for those seeking a light RPG with moral choices and British style.

Must-play for RPG fans: The game is described as a must-play for fans of choice-driven RPGs and is highly recommended for RPG lovers. It is considered a no-brainer purchase for RPG fans, especially when on sale.

Worth playing for everyone: The game is considered worth playing for its atmospheric experience and replayability. It is recommended to play by making decisions as you go rather than choosing to be entirely good or evil at the start.

Unique British fantasy with humor: The game is noted for its unique British fantasy setting and humor, providing a distinct experience with unique encounters.

Platform notes

Steam Deck: The analysis of user feedback reveals significant issues with the lack of native controller support and the need for workarounds to use controllers. Additionally, there are technical issues reported with using Proton, which further impacts the user experience. These issues collectively contribute to a less than optimal gaming experience on the Steam Deck.

Other review notes

Community and friendship building: Players have reported finding a sense of community and making friends through the game. This highlights the game's social aspects and its ability to bring people together.

Japanese language support: The game offers support for the Japanese language, which is important for accessibility and inclusivity for Japanese-speaking players.