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TGS 08: Peter Molyneux thinks you should skip Fable 1, go right to sequel photo

Peter Molyneux is proud of what he and Lionhead have done with Fable II, slated to hit the Xbox 360 on October 21. 

"I look at Fable II, and I think it's one of the best games I've ever done," he tells me during a private demo of the title at Tokyo Game Show today. 

When he asks me if I had played the original, I admit that I never finished it. It sits in my pile of shame, I tell him, and I promise that I'm going to do my best to sit down and play it through before the sequel is released. 

"No you won't," he says firmly. "Don't."

He calls the original title a "fractured experience," likening it to a "glass vase that's been stuck together slightly wrongly."

"And I'm being honest," he continues. "There's some mechanics in there that just didn't work. There's some other mechanics that are brilliant that are never shown off properly. The story wasn't told with any great skill."

There's nothing about Fable II, based on what I see, that looks like a stuck-together glass vase. Still, I want to go back and experience the original, but Molyneux insists: "I'd skip it, I really would."

Check back next week for more tidbits from my conversation with Molyneux about Fable II, designing a game that can make you cry, and more.








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37 comments | showing # 1 to 37
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NinjaElf's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/10/2008 11:22
NinjaElf
I agree. I got the bad verion for Fable at release. If FII is as good as he says, then by all means forget about the first Fable.
wfolse1's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/10/2008 11:23
wfolse1
Wow talk about honesty. I actually quite like the first game, but I feel like the second game is shaping up to be quite a bit better.
Freefall's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/10/2008 11:23
Freefall
My god! It's like a parent abandoning a child!
He'll probably call Fable 2 a fractured vase 3 years down the line.
king3vbo's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/10/2008 11:26
king3vbo
Interesting... I'll admit the original Xbox release had some wonky parts to it, but the Lost Chapters release was really well done
Timmeh's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/10/2008 11:34
Timmeh
I only played The Lost Chapters and unless the original release was a different game I wish Molyneaux would stop pandering to the internet hate machine. Fable 1 was not garbage. It wasn't. It was a good fucking game that didn't live up to the hype. I defy anyone to sit down with it and an actual shit game and not find Fable considerably more enjoyable an experience.
Holyetheline's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/10/2008 11:40
Holyetheline
No dude. Finish Fable. Don't listen to him. Fable was wonderful.
hoboman725's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/10/2008 11:54
hoboman725
It's quite fashionable to hate on Fable. I played it almost 3 years after it was released, so I never got overhyped for it and I thought it was a decent game.
moocow21's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/10/2008 11:58
moocow21
I bought Fable on Xbox Originals about 6 months ago and still haven't gotten around to completing it (I intend to shortly), but I still think it was a pretty solid game. Nothing great by any means, but the world in Fable just has such a unique charm that I couldn't help but enjoy it (even though I know it wasn't even a fraction of what Molyneux promised it would be). My expectations for the sequel are thus not that high, but I'm holding out the hope that it will really be what Fable 1 should have been.
neiltc13's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/10/2008 12:10
neiltc13
That must be immensely difficult for the team to hear one man say "I think it's one of the best games I've ever done" about a game they worked on.
Druid 01's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/10/2008 12:11
Druid 01
The lost chapters is IMO substantially better than just the first version of Fable I, its just shinier with a few more additions. It still is one of my favorite RPGs to this day.
Knigge's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/10/2008 12:11
Knigge
I planned on doing that anyway.
Tubatic's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/10/2008 12:21
Tubatic
I love that dude.

He's made it no secret that Fable I was not what he wanted it to be, by any stretch of the imagination.

I agree, Fable, as its own thing separate of hype, was a pretty fun experience.
elsteveo's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/10/2008 12:26
elsteveo
i loved fable 1, one of the few games i actually went and played through twice to see which side is more fun. Evil is fun
J03yyz's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/10/2008 12:27
J03yyz
god this guy is such a fucking loudmouth.

if fable was well received he would be saying the exact opposite of what he is saying now.

this is what i hear him saying "hey guys i know you think i screwed up last time and i agree with you i AGREE with you now, yeah, that was total shit - but dont worry this new one isnt shit like that was, i see what i did wrong now but this is better i promise - we're still friends right? guys? friends? buds?"
Bob Muir's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/10/2008 12:34
Bob Muir
This is really funny to hear, because I have a copy of Fable: The Lost Chapters sitting on my desk, waiting to be started as soon as next week. Oh well, guess I'll play it anyway!
emuscles's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/10/2008 12:35
emuscles
you're a fucking loudmouth; what he said is more accurate than the shit you just spewed right there.
emuscles's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/10/2008 12:39
emuscles
you too necros! jk

i had been curious and wanted to try it out but i didn't have an xbox and it wasn't worth going out of my way; this time around i've jumped on the hype train-- and though undoubtedly overhyped again, the magic word 'co op' gets me hard.
bluemeep's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/10/2008 12:52
bluemeep
I need to get my goddamn combo points even higher.
Brian Szabelski's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/10/2008 13:15
Brian Szabelski
First game was okay, but the second looks just fantastic. :D
J03yyz's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/10/2008 13:25
J03yyz
way to flex emuscles, way to flex.
Big Z's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/10/2008 13:33
Big Z
You know, I really respect the guy for being able to appreciate that his first effort was lacking. It takes more stones to say "you know what, it wasn't what it could have been" than it does to open your mouth like Dyack.
Slique's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/10/2008 13:56
Slique
@J03yyz: Fable was well received.
Darren Nakamura's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/10/2008 14:29
Darren Nakamura
It's not bad but if you've got other games to play, I agree, you won't miss much by skipping it.
Dan CiTi's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/10/2008 14:48
Dan CiTi
I agree.
Grasshopper7's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/10/2008 15:02
Grasshopper7
I agree with Big Z. People get sick of Molyneaux for being so vocal but I think he's an entertaining personality. And to see a bit of humility about ones work is really refreshing in the industry.
Blue Ryd3r's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/10/2008 16:00
Blue Ryd3r
I had one major problem with the original Fable.

The entire game world cosisted of one road. Let me repeat that for you...ONE FUCKING ROAD!!!

It was like a rail shooter/RPG. You couldn't really go anywhere but where this one road took you and there wasn't many branch off points from it.

I still played the hell out of that game. And I'm looking forward to Fable 2. I just hope the world is larger and rounder so to speak. Not just a straight line.
Cube's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/10/2008 16:01
Cube
I have been saying that since fable one came out since it sucked.
Mikular's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/10/2008 16:05
Mikular
Just like to say, sorry for being a bitch, but its Molyneux. I don't want to over hype this or anything, but there you go.
Sharpless's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/10/2008 16:19
Sharpless
I like Peter. He's very enthusiastic and honest, though sometimes the lines between the two blur a bit. F2 does look much better than F1. I can see why he wouldn't want you to play the first one. I'm not really sure I want to play it again, anyway. I beat it once, and then I only got a tenth into my evil run. Decent, but not that great.
MrNiceguy's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/10/2008 22:10
MrNiceguy
everyone bad mouthing Peter Molyneux is stupid... Why? because if your a creater such as a writer, its really easy to think that what you have is the best thing there is or something. Hes human hes bound to make mistakes, and even if theres alotta fable 2 hype things going around, its because the people want to see it and people are excited for it. If people weren't interested about the game then those guys in the company wouldn't waste money to advertise the game... if they were smart.
ajaxender's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/11/2008 00:46
ajaxender
Fable wasnt perfect by any means, but it was fun.

Tbh, i wouldnt just throw it aside. Its still a good game, worth a playthrough (particularly since its not very long or difficult). But its no big deal if you never play it again.

Also, ive said it before, and ill say it again - anyone who wants Molyneax to stop talking is a moron. We (or rather, the media) are the ones who give him a voice.
Jetsetlemming's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/11/2008 05:18
Jetsetlemming
The only gameplay element broken in Fable 1 was the trading and item prices system because they didn't put in any sort of shopkeeper AI or price fluctuation delay. The game's solid, and is still solid, and this guy's just coming off as a great big phony with everything he says. He's now making up bad shit to say about himself and his work because he heard people claim he hyped shit last go around. No, Petey, this really isn't any better.
Kayka's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/11/2008 06:06
Kayka
I loved Fable 1.
Dr Terror's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/11/2008 07:35
Dr Terror
That picture of Molyneux makes him look like Holly from Red Dwarf. "Wots happnin dudes" lol.

Fable 1 wasn't all shit, especially at the time. It was the closest Xbox got to Zelda imo, close being quite far in this case. As for Fable 2 - I be getting it along with Dead Space - Keeping one - returning the other within 7 days for Fallout 3. Pretty sure I know which one...
Brandon Undead's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/11/2008 07:53
Brandon Undead
Peter said too much about Fable 1 and it didn't meet expectations. It was still head and shoulders above many games at the time, and it is impressive that we still enjoyed the game even after it wasn't what he promised. Now, he's making the same mistake again. He just needs to chill. If Fable 2 is as good as Fable 1 I'll be happy to play it. If it's better, flippin' SWEET!
Qraze's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/12/2008 03:22
Qraze
so by saying he's being honest he's lied before? like the online co-op or fact that no other network can handle the fable? because i heard today the "other" system can handle 256 people or even 60 for that matter. and without lag. or about how the fucking dog is so smart it will become a template for A.I. but then re-nigged on that saying it's just a stupid dog that humps legs. or by just talking the talk but not walking the walk? he needs to shut up but i guess once it sells he'll disappear just to make his true vision of fable, after the mob of angry false advertised gamers can't find him because he lives in his moms attic of course. what ever became of that Dyderk guy? he did the same thing. you don't see kojima ranting and fucking raving before a game (okay, a little but more self criticism) i don't see will wright doing the bs either or the tim shaffer either, those people wait to be judged after, not before and often criticize their own work, playing the modesty button.
cjpkiller's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/14/2008 06:28
cjpkiller
heeeeey me and mr molynewoxnewmewtwo agree
fable 1 sucked dicks.
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