Fable III

The problems start with the characters, a majority of whom are walking clichés distinguished more by their style of clothing and accents than their actions. What should theoretically be a gut-wrenching decision as I consider whether or not to ignore their demands and promote child labor or establish a brothel falls flat. With the exception of my mentor and frequent companion Walter along with Logan, the villain king, the characters are imbued with such one-dimensional personalities that few feel like anything more than diorama props. When, as king, I break my promise, it's tough to feel anything but the key underneath my finger to input a command that tells them to get lost.

In between Fable III's main story recruitment missions there's plenty to do, but little that's genuinely interesting. There are side quests, though most are genre-standard escort and kill tasks. I can buy and operate property, but am given only the most basic options for customization, reducing what could have been an intriguing game of empire management to a dull, tedious process punctuated by a tinny sound effect as income is regularly added to my in-game wallet. I can kill or court Albion's citizens, but the juxtaposition of goofball humor with the potential for senseless violence strips meaning from the encounters.