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Where to begin? First of all, this game is amazing and you should absolutely buy it if you haven't already. Better yet, you should play the darn thing!

The world is gorgeous.
The art style and fantasy influences really remind me of the hidden corners you find in World of Warcraft; the little areas you stumble upon that really allow you to appreciate the beauty of a well-designed world. It makes you feel at home whilst also giving you a sense that you're on a grand adventure, and that is rare. The bright areas are magical and make you feel at peace, the rainy areas make you feel like seeking shelter & warmth, and the dark areas make you draw your weapon & prepare for a fight. The design of this world is marvellous and the story fits perfectly; there's dragons, wizards, assassins, female heroines, mighty knights, cool weaponry, spells and more.

Around each new corner of the beautifully crafted world is a new, charming NPC that is bound to draw you in.
Of course, this game is not a grand AAA title with NPC's that have deep backstories. However, what it offers you is an opportunity to feel as though you're living in a storybook. The NPC's are funny - usually casually crude - and have their own unique challenges that only you, the Hero, can help them with. There's love letters you can deliver on behalf of an admirer- or lie to the recipient and say you wrote it yourself - there's traders that need protection in the darkest parts of the land - or killed, you wicked person - there's NPC's under the effects of magic mushrooms that you can cure - or leave to enjoy the trip. You can interact with NPCs however you like, and no matter your choice, they'll always bring a smile to your face, making you eager to meet more of them.

To begin, as just a novice adventurer, they'll pay you no heed; "Chicken-Chaser" they'll call you.
Though once you brave the harsh environments, besting bandits and monsters alike, they will come to celebrate your triumphs. Should you choose to take the evil path, the NPC's will be sure to let you know of this with the same level of intensity. Buy a title and you shall be known by that name in towns, and along the beaten path by passing strangers. Experiencing your hero's growing popularity is incredibly satisfying, making every dangerous quest feel worthwhile as the townspeople celebrate your triumphs with you.

Need a break from questing?
Drink at the tavern that night with the locals, play bar-games, join a fight-club, use your gold you earned from questing to get yourself - or a villager - drunk, marry a new woman in each town, buy houses (and rent them out if you so choose), compete in archery contests, see how far you can kick a chicken (my current best is 71 metres); the world is your oyster!

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Story: 8/10 - Reminiscent of a classic storybook with some darker elements intertwined, it won't amaze you, but it absolutely works for the sort of game this is.

Gameplay: 9/10 - Fun combat (plenty of spells/weapons to mix it up), engaging quests, great freedom to pave your own path in the world - it's amazing. The only nitpick I can make is that enemies shouldn't be able to infinitely block light attacks. Though there is the heavy-strike mechanic to overcome that, I feel like block-fatigue should be a thing, since using the heavy-strike once every 3 hits to down an enemy became a bit of a chore when you're trying to slash through large groups quickly; it broke up the flow of combat is all.

Graphics (not calculated in overall score): 9/10 - Charming, classic-style graphics that enhance the atmosphere and world around you. The cutscenes are a bit of a miss though - they seem as if they're played in 480 or 360p for some reason.

Fun Factor: 8.5/10 - I haven't felt this glued to a fantasy world since I spent 300+ hours playing the Witcher 3 across two consoles.

Level of Charm: 10/10 - Casually crude British humour woven into every interaction and a beautifully crafted world.

OVERALL: 9/10 - An solid RPG I thoroughly enjoyed playing, though not something that blew me away. I still cannot recommend it enough.

[h2]A charming little RPG that captures the essence of roleplaying, Fable Anniversary offers a non-linear adventure where your hero's choices truly shape the world.[/h2] [hr][/hr] [b]Where to begin? First of all, this game is amazing and you should absolutely buy it if you haven't already. Better yet, you should play the darn thing![/b] [h3]A comforting world that also gives you a sense of grand adventure:[/h3] [b]The world is gorgeous.[/b] The art style and fantasy influences really remind me of the hidden corners you find in World of Warcraft; the little areas you stumble upon that really allow you to appreciate the beauty of a well-designed world. It makes you feel at home whilst also giving you a sense that you're on a grand adventure, and that is rare. The bright areas are magical and make you feel at peace, the rainy areas make you feel like seeking shelter & warmth, and the dark areas make you draw your weapon & prepare for a fight. The design of this world is marvellous and the story fits perfectly; there's dragons, wizards, assassins, female heroines, mighty knights, cool weaponry, spells and more. [h3]Charming NPC's and your freedom to choose how you interact with them:[/h3] [b]Around each new corner of the beautifully crafted world is a new, charming NPC that is bound to draw you in.[/b] Of course, this game is not a grand AAA title with NPC's that have deep backstories. However, what it offers you is an opportunity to feel as though you're living in a storybook. The NPC's are funny - usually casually crude - and have their own unique challenges that only you, the Hero, can help them with. There's love letters you can deliver on behalf of an admirer- or lie to the recipient and say you wrote it yourself - there's traders that need protection in the darkest parts of the land - or killed, you wicked person - there's NPC's under the effects of magic mushrooms that you can cure - or leave to enjoy the trip. You can interact with NPCs however you like, and no matter your choice, they'll always bring a smile to your face, making you eager to meet more of them. [h3]A reactionary world that pays attention to your growth:[/h3] [b]To begin, as just a novice adventurer, they'll pay you no heed; "Chicken-Chaser" they'll call you.[/b] Though once you brave the harsh environments, besting bandits and monsters alike, they will come to celebrate your triumphs. Should you choose to take the evil path, the NPC's will be sure to let you know of this with the same level of intensity. Buy a title and you shall be known by that name in towns, and along the beaten path by passing strangers. Experiencing your hero's growing popularity is incredibly satisfying, making every dangerous quest feel worthwhile as the townspeople celebrate your triumphs with you. [h3]A role-player's paradise:[/h3] [b]Need a break from questing?[/b] Drink at the tavern that night with the locals, play bar-games, join a fight-club, use your gold you earned from questing to get yourself - or a villager - drunk, marry a new woman in each town, buy houses (and rent them out if you so choose), compete in archery contests, see how far you can kick a chicken (my current best is 71 metres); the world is your oyster! [hr][/hr] [h3]Final Scores[/h3] [b]Story: 8/10[/b] - Reminiscent of a classic storybook with some darker elements intertwined, it won't amaze you, but it absolutely works for the sort of game this is. [b]Gameplay: 9/10[/b] - Fun combat (plenty of spells/weapons to mix it up), engaging quests, great freedom to pave your own path in the world - it's amazing. The only nitpick I can make is that enemies shouldn't be able to infinitely block light attacks. Though there is the heavy-strike mechanic to overcome that, I feel like block-fatigue should be a thing, since using the heavy-strike once every 3 hits to down an enemy became a bit of a chore when you're trying to slash through large groups quickly; it broke up the flow of combat is all. [b]Graphics (not calculated in overall score): 9/10[/b] - Charming, classic-style graphics that enhance the atmosphere and world around you. The cutscenes are a bit of a miss though - they seem as if they're played in 480 or 360p for some reason. [b]Fun Factor: 8.5/10[/b] - I haven't felt this glued to a fantasy world since I spent 300+ hours playing the Witcher 3 across two consoles. [b]Level of Charm: 10/10[/b] - Casually crude British humour woven into every interaction and a beautifully crafted world. [b]OVERALL: 9/10[/b] - An solid RPG I thoroughly enjoyed playing, though not something that blew me away. I still cannot recommend it enough.