Lionhead’s Journey at E3 2012 – Part 4

We had a great E3 this year; with lots of people playing our game and getting some hands-on time in Albion. For their reactions and experiences, see our coverage overview in Part 3.

Part 4 is all about the new assets we released in the E3 Press Kit. We start with the gameplay footage, which we have to stress is not a trailer, but rather footage we give to journalist to inter-cut with interviews. It is all in-game gameplay images and shows different parts of Fable: The Journey.

Here are the latest in-game screenshots.

Let us know what you think of the new screenshots in the comments below and we’ll try and answer all your questions!

http://www.facebook.com/jsacomano Joseph Sacomano

Is this game going to be longer and have more re playability than Fable 2 or 3. I was pretty disappointed when the game was easily beaten and played through within an afternoon of gaming. As well as I felt not much of the game really changed the core story if i chose to be good or evil. Was fun for me on the first play through but sadly not much more.

http://www.facebook.com/coolguycarey Mike Carey

Woah! Hold up! Fable II was great. I do agree though… Fable III was a terrible fail. I wouldn’t get my hopes up for this one though. I’d rather wait for the next non-kinect installment.

http://www.facebook.com/jsacomano Joseph Sacomano

I’m not denying the fact that they weren’t great. i rather enjoyed them myself, all i’m saying is that i can’t justify paying another 65 dollars on a game that provides a limited story line and almost no re playability. I am a fan of the series itself even with its glitches. But after Fable III i just can’t justify paying 65 dollars on a title that although looks good now that they’ve released some info on it. But how is the game play and will it be enough to draw people like me in to actually want to pay 65 dollars on a game that is limited in how many hours you can enjoy it.

http://www.facebook.com/crystalslimjim Crystal Wright

Woohoo! Can’t wait to buy this!
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001016132678 Shain Jackson

Cant wait to be the hero of Albion again… Im going to miss the dog but the horse may be better
http://www.facebook.com/people/Michael-Woolley/618901827 Michael Woolley

looks horrible… the kinect ruined this game

http://www.facebook.com/Galactic.Emperor George Charles Lichty

Considering it was made SPECIFICALLY FOR KINECT and wouldn’t exist in any other circumstance, I somehow doubt your exaggeration. Unless you have played it, don’t judge.
Marcus DiPasquale

how can you say something is ruined when it’s not even out yet…. have an open mind…
http://twitter.com/MrHabbman MrHabbman

Why the hell should Kinect the ruined it?
You’ve not played definitely still there and then they do stop a Kinect game and cut in the next year again a normal fable out.
So bad? -.-

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000305468308 Devin Scott Girard

kinect ruins all of it im a huge fan of the fable series but the fack of first person lect alone using the conect ruins the entire basis of what fable is supposed to be as well the kinect is time consuming and not nearly perfected it often loses coordination and has to be recalibrated so this game i see it as a 3/10 not going to be goood at all
http://twitter.com/AnnieFlan Annabelle Asker

Do you have to use kinect?
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000305468308 Devin Scott Girard

the kinect is time consuming and not nearly perfected it often loses coordination and has to be recalibrated so this game i see it as a 3/10 not going to be goood at all
PC/PS3 gamer and huge fable fan
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1555219122 Alexandria Corrine Aguirre

The art is stunning! I’m really excited for this game. Yes I hate that it is only for kinect but I LOVE fable and will play it anyway! GET OFF THE COUCH AND SAVE ALBION! Don’t judge it before you have given it a real chance!
http://www.facebook.com/navazarian William Evans

During that troll fight there, it looks like some of the magical attacks fired off went off track to the left of the screen at… well… nothing. Now, this happened a couple of times and looks like it may be something to do with kinect not picking up a players movement properly. I experience a VERY similar issue in other games, so I guess I want to ask; is this something we need to worry about, or was the person playing at the the time doing that on purpose. Looks great otherwise
http://www.facebook.com/dianna.spain Dianna Spain

I am a huge Fable fan, LOVE EM! But after seeing that it is first person (which I can not stand, that’s why I loved Fable in the first place, a great adventure game in the third person) Another thing that I don’t like is that it is only for Kinect and no other option to play it.

I was excited to hear that a new Fable is coming out but to the people that don’t like the Kinect and have the original 360 are screwed and won’t be able to enjoy the awesomeness that is Fable.
http://profile.yahoo.com/QTIUCEYCN5CGSOLNXJMF7MR6WI Andrew

the fact that this is for kinect is going to ruin this game completely! i am a huge fable fan and have played the first three numerous times through, yet i can honestly say there is little chance i will ever play this one. such a shame for such a good series
http://twitter.com/MrHabbman MrHabbman

i love the Screenshots
http://www.facebook.com/Laswagga Norris Little

Yeah, I could honestly care much less for this version of Fable.

Should’ve just hurried up and began working on Fable 4 and left this idea on the table.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=719940359 Ryan Lawlor

yaa i cant believe this complete fail in my opinion i rather the 3rd person able to see my self ,custom clothes sry to say won’t be playing…. FABLE 3 WILL LIVE ON
http://www.facebook.com/Smalesh Bastien Theron

Why a lot of people say this game sucks ??? IT IS NOT FABLE 4 ! It’s a Kinect game using the world of Fable and in my opinion it can be a good game. I’m looking forward to try it and if Kinect is well used (I’m sure of it) I’ll buy it. Kinect is a great piece of technology but it’s even greater with good games !
But of course I’m waiting for a Fable 4 and I hope this one will be harder and more complicated than Fable 3, in fact more like Fable 2.
http://twitter.com/youcantrewind Sarah / crunkette

I’m excited for this. Screw the whiners who can’t handle something new once and a while. At least give it a chance first.

Jacob D’Andrea

agreed

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1129691319 Fred Lewis Weatherby

Fable has been the best series that I have ever played, but this, I can not see how this is in any way Fable. The game itself is dressed like fable visually, but is itself nothing like the game. First off, movement!?! yes you can steer a carriage, but where is the dodging, rolling and running round opponents? The fights are atrocious, you stand there and fire magic at objects moving towards you, pointless, like a free online game. I could go on, for a very long time, but I just realised that it is not worth my energy to criticise a game that you will not stop making, or care enough to stop making, maybe, if you make another good fable, I may support you again, but this seems a terrible idea that could potentially ruin your fan base.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=506120088 Christian Danger Helser

stop trying to be skyrim, and start being fable 4.
http://www.facebook.com/steven.rivest.7 Steven Rivest

Good luck if you sold more than 1000 copy! Get to the Fable II style, it was the best of the serie. Fable III sucks and this is worst! Zelda on Nintendo 64 is lookin more fun than that!

http://www.facebook.com/cjpthatsme Chris Page

Well thats just not helpful…

http://www.facebook.com/HardHEDED310 Jessi Gomez

Giving you props on the look. Movement looks great too. I’m not a fan of the kinect, but this was a different turn of experiencing fable in the eyes of a Mage, im guessing. I do like the idea of Fable IV but back to Fable I or II gameplay and the third-person view. Like someone said we want the running the dodging and rolling. Maybe expand the story from the end of this new edition to the Fable series. Good luck.
http://www.facebook.com/cjpthatsme Chris Page

I’m sure its gonna be a good game in its own right… Im just a little underwhelmed as of recent with this game (and Fable 3 for that matter). Fable 1 and 2 had me calling out of work and cracking out on it for days. The last thing i want to do is play a kinect game for hours. I long for the days of Fable 1 and 2′s customization and leveling. I just want to know if Fable 4 is still planned … if so I’ll gladly get on the Fable the Journey bandwagon. Especially if we can get back to the customization and control that made the first two classics.

I wouldn’t say I am necessarily against change… I am a fan of evolution in the games as long as it isnt at the expense for the immersion that the player felt in one and two. There were good things about three that were great to that experience… but the linear upgrades some of the plot devices just made it painfully clear that you were playing a playing a game just to get through it… not to find out what happens next. Luckily with how short it was that wasnt a problem for too long.

Fable is one of my top two series and I am going to get this one… and Im sure it will be enjoyable… I just find it sad that as of right now I consider Fable Heroes to be the third best in the series. It at least kept me entertained to the end.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=705922853 Tiffany Casey

I hate that Fable has become a first person Kinect game. I hope there is a option to turn it off other wise I will not purchase. I’m extremely disappointed! The game play trailer looks great except for the first person view and that you have to use Kinect. I’m sooooooooooooo bummed out I loved Fable, Fable 2 and Fable 3.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000784278302 Ecanius Sim’el

I still belive Fable 1 was the best of all of them. For the story and the setting. It really looked like a fairy tale. Fable 3 was nice for its gameplay and soundtrack but the story sucked and so did the setting. And now you make a first-person Fable?! Please…just don’t.
http://www.facebook.com/nigel.minty.3 Nigel Minty

hope thay do a new fable 1 not the same but more G like the new look. like to sit an play dont know untill
i buy it if the Kinect is going to feel the same .
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002478181322 Matthew Shannon

i think this is terrible coz it is kinect (hope they make a non kinect version)
http://twitter.com/S_H_Sloan Spring-Heeled Sloan

Well, I like how they’re trying to “change it up”, as it were, and use an existing mage-character as a protagonist, however those with a preference to swords and guns will probably find the game sorely lacking. Although I will miss the customization you could do in Fables I, III and III, it does give the player a break from the main game-line and to explore a different point of view in the Fable world. While quite a few people have been complaining that it’s breaking the tradition of a Fable game, it’s good to reach out to other types of gamers. If they start changing the main game-line into first-person, though, then we have a problem. However, that hasn’t happened yet, so I think people should stop whining about it. Just because it’s set in the Fable world doesn’t mean it has to have the exact same gameplay as the other games.
I also like the promise of involving the previous game via save game files (unless this promise has been retracted). It would be especially cool to be able to see the your King/Queen’s reign play into your game- it would make the Journey feel a little more personal and that gives the chance that other plot characters from Fable III will be involved. The horse is also a nice touch; it’s always neat when your immediate actions change something/someone around you.
My main concern is with the Kinect gameplay and some of the plot points. A lot of people (myself included) aren’t too prone on playing this type of game on the Kinect for hours on end. There’s also the issue of the Kinect’s difficulty reading certain movements (if the person’s too close or if their hand movements aren’t exaggerated enough), which I can see being a major annoyance to players. Having the Kinect gameplay as an option would probably be the best idea for The Journey, as it would appeal to both average gamers and Kinect enthusiasts.
My other concern is with the antagonistic force called “The Corruption”. First, I am slightly tired of this fad of using smokey black clouds as an evil force. While it can be useful (and sometimes looks cool), it does get repetitive and I miss seeing a person- or at least a humanoid-like being. If I can see the villain and if I know this person is doing something truly evil, it makes me wonder why. It makes me want to play the game, even if it’s just to understand the villain more. But if it’s just, “Oooh, the big ominous cloud has come to Albion to do something evil! Gasp!”, it doesn’t leave me interested at all. It’s an evil cloud, it can’t really make me question my choices, or make personal shots at me and abuse what weaknesses my character has (unless it has mind-controlling powers). If there is a person who made the Corruption, then I’m all for that, but right now the antagonist leaves me less than impressed.
Otherwise, it looks to be a very handsome game and I might buy it as long as it’s reasonably priced.