Now I don’t want to jump to conclusions on why people online wouldn’t want to play exclusively as a female protagonist in an RPG, especially as past Fable games have included gender options for the main hero. However, I do believe that every Fable trailer that has been released thus far paints a pretty clear picture that this entry won’t feature any form of traditional character customization, and that, as much as fans may not be best pleased, the female character we’ve been seeing will be who we play as. Frankly, I think that’s a great thing.
Fable Probably Won’t Have Character Customization
It Looks Like There Will Be A Set Protagonist
We have seen a number of trailers for Fable since it was first announced way back in 2020. Each and every one of those trailers has featured the same female protagonist, who, in the Fable’s new art style, looks vastly different from previous heroes in the series. While each trailer has been somewhat different, they’ve all certainly held the same tone and style of gameplay clips, indicating a consistency between them all. Naturally, this has led me to believe that this protagonist is the one we’ll all be playing as when Fable eventually releases.
Of course, the same character appearing in every trailer doesn’t necessarily indicate that they will be the only character model for the player to choose from, at least within the context of RPGs. Cyberpunk 2077, for example, heavily featured male V in its promotional materials in the lead-up to launch. However, as there has been no official word on whether Fable will have character customization, and this exact female character appears in Fable’s new gameplay clips, it seems unlikely that there will be extensive customization akin to Cyberpunk 2077’s.
Character Customization Doesn’t Work With Fable
The Player Changes With Their Choices
Importantly, I don’t really think Fable needs character customization, at least in the traditional sense. The original Fable didn’t feature any character customization, or the ability to pick a specific gender. Later Fable entries did allow players to pick a gender, but again lacked any meaningful character customization options. This, in my opinion, was the right move, as it allowed the developers to implement character customization through in-game decision-making, rather than a menu at the start of the game.
If players increased their stats, their character would change accordingly. The stronger they got, the buffer their hero became, and the more evil acts they committed, the greater their horns would grow. It was a novel twist on the character customization mechanic and something that made the original Fable games some of the best RPGs of all time. The new Fable should also feature a similar approach to character customization while retaining its pre-defined hero.
Not Every RPG Needs Character Customization
A Pre-Defined Hero Can Be Good
Frankly, I’ve grown rather fond of the character we’ve all seen throughout the trailers, and I hope that she’s the one we get to play as in the final release. While I’m certainly not opposed to there being more inclusive options, such as body types, I think a pre-defined hero with a set personality, goals, aspirations, and quirks makes for a far better narrative experience. Frankly, not every RPG needs to feature character customization, even if it does lend itself better to the free-form nature of Western RPGs.
Fans probably shouldn’t hold out hope for character customization in Fable, and I, for one, think that’s a good thing.
I think that focusing on this particular protagonist could actually make this Fable better than the originals, as it would allow for a more focused and ultimately immersive narrative. It also wouldn’t have to rob the series of its trademark freedom, as players could still shape her journey and story throughout the game, just while taking into consideration her backstory and choices prior to the start. Regardless, fans probably shouldn’t hold out hope for character customization in Fable, and I, for one, think that’s a good thing.
