Welcome to the Gameathon. One girl's insane quest to actually go back and play all those games that are sitting unloved on the shelf. First up: Fable - previously played for 27 minutes and then discarded.

So, here we go. It's been so long since I booted up the Xbox that the time and date need setting again. I scroll through my game saves to remind myself of what I've played. I don't remember a lot of them.

Now, listen closely...

I bought Fable pre-owned but it must have been not that long after it came out because the price sticker is £18.99 (from Summit Games in Bangor, nice little indie store, lots of imports). I once played this for all of half an hour before consigning it to the pile previously, not because it wasn't any good but because I always have something else newer and shinier to play. I think it had a fair amount of hype behind it, being a Lionhead game and all.

I remember the hook with this game was that your actions and deeds determine how the game develops and I'm immediately tasked to earn some money to buy my sister a birthday present. Running around the little village I'm struck by the accents of the locals; at least 2 of them seem to be from Bristol, and one is a Scouser, which is rather startling after playing so many games full of mid-Atlantic accents. At one point Daphne, the Lancastrian house keeper from Frasier, asks me if I've seen her philandering husband! Makes a refreshing change though, and the quality of the voice acting is a cut above most games I've played.

A certain moral ambiguity is evident from the outset; my first 'good deed' is thumping a bully who is threatening to pull the head off a little girl's teddy bear. Later on, I find Daphne's philandering husband whispering saucy comments into the ear of another woman; do I agree not to tell her, or do I dob him in? The woman he is with looks a right wanton hussy and he is clearly a waster so I tell Daphne I caught her sleazebag husband with some strumpet. My father rewards my good deed with a gold piece.

There are obvious parallels with Zelda games here; an idyllic opening level, some simple tasks, collecting cash and items, later training with stick then progressing to sword. There are even barrels to break open but in this game indiscriminate barrel smashing is discouraged - 'Barrels can be smashed open, but remember, they are someone's property!' the game tells you. I leave them intact, not wanting to bespoil my earlier good deeds. A local kid calls me a sissy but I ignore him.

Hit him. With your... stick? Yeah, that'll work.

A shocking event turns my hero's world upside down (and it is genuinely shocking after the happy opening) and the training starts. I'd got as far as learning how to fight with stick and sword before my hour was up. Looking through the game menus it's obvious there's a lot to collect, see and do in this game and I wouldn't be surprised if it could last me upwards of 30 hours.

Will I go back and play it again? Definitely.

January 2008

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