Charles Barrientos

The first thing to know about Fable 3 is that it's pure and simple fun. Traveling through the land of Albion is an enjoyable experience, interacting with the locals, completing quests, battling monsters and saving the day. The second thing to know is that Fable 3 is flawed in some key areas which prevents it from being an elite g While many gamers have the press conferences for both Sony and Nintendo pretty well figured out, the big question mark in the room is the Microsoft conference. There are a few titles that most expect to see from the company, but there is a lot of mystery in the air, and a hope that some really huge surprises are lying in w There are portions of the game that can be explored deeper, like property customization , but they're side quests that can completely ignored. Gamers looking for a deep role-playing experience like Mass Effect 2 or Dragon Age will be disappointed with the lack of depth in Fable 3 . But gamers looking for the equivalent of a ‘summer popcorn movie’ will be happy with Lionhead Studios latest offering. Through all of it's low points, Fable 3 never becomes a chore to pFable Anniversary is a port of ten year old game released on eight year old hardware after we’ve witnessed the power of next-gen. Yet even with so much stacked against it, it manages to impress. There’s not much of a "wow-factor" because of its ill-timed release, but with the exception of completely rebuilding the game for Xbox One, there simply isn’t much else that could be done that isn’t accomplished here. Sound, functionality and graphics are all substantially improved and breath new life into a game that has aged remarkably well. Even after two sequels and console generations, Fable has the uncanny ability to suck you into its Adventure games Guide through the world of Albion. Anniversary is more of a preservation if anything, ensuring that the entire franchise can now be played in the same manner on the same console. As a museum piece, it’s a wonderful effort that ensures the game will remain relevant for a new generation of players. As a game, it’s the definitive edition of a superb title that has a lot to offer even in 2014.The final new feature in Fable Anniversary (besides achievements) is that of SmartGlass, something that is weighing heavier and heavier in overall experience these days. As admitted by Lead Designer Ted Timmins, it was basically implemented here as way to test the technology’s capabilities for future implementations. Thanks to that, there are actually a few interesting features that the app offers. Unsurprisingly, it’s basically an interactive map, but they’ve worked with Prima to also provide the locations of key items and characters (without going into too much detail). While this may seem a bit like cheating at first, it’s helpful enough only to ensure that you won’t get lost and makes it so you won’t result to using a full-blown strategy guide. This is of course just a small taste of what we could potentially see from Microsoft at this year’s press conference. There are a few other third-party titles, like Metal Gear Solid Rising , that might make an appearance, but given Kojima’s no-show at the event it seems unlikAnother big improvement is that of the interfaces. The previous ones were rough even in 2004, seeming basic enough to be more at home with PS1-era games. Thankfully, they've been completely overhauled for this release, matching up better with the subsequent Fable games. Navigation-wise, they’re a bit too clumsy. The triggers, shoulders buttons and analog sticks all come into play when scrolling around, resulting in a learning curve that shouldn’t exist for menus. Still, there’s only so much that can be done and at least the old interface wasn't simply re-skinned. The Electronic Entertainment Expo, or E3, was at one time the only major video game trade show that mattered. While its importance and profile has decreased in recent years, mostly due to the rise of company-specific shows like BlizzCon and QuakeCon, as well as the bleeding of video game interests into the wider pop culture conventions like Comic Con, E3 is still a major focal point for video game market The next big thing for Nintendo is it’s upcoming console-handheld hybrid device. The Nintendo Switch will allow gamers to play in the comfort of their home, or take their gaming with them wherever they go. While there’s still a lot left to be revealed about the Switch, with more details to be released in January , the trailer easily built initial excitement for the Swit Ever since Bungie stepped away from the Halo franchise and passed the reins over to 343 Industries, gamers have been dying to see just what the developer has been working on. While rumors have bounced between that title being a remake of Halo: Combat Evolved and Halo 4 , we presume that confusion will be cleared up at this press confere Besides the games Nintendo has already announced for E3, fans should be able to expect some surprise game announcements, in addition to new looks at previously revealed Switch titles like Yoshi and maybe even Metroid Prime