There’s still very little known about Fable 4 but based on an insider’s report, it could be taking inspiration from one of the best RPGs of the last decade. Playground Games has been keeping its cards close to the chest as it has revealed very little of its highly-anticipated fantasy game beyond a handful of fun trailers. Some glimpses of the game’s systems have been spotlighted but generally speaking, most of what’s been shown off focuses on the world and the cast of eccentric characters.

Speaking on the Xbox Two podcast, Windows Central journalist Jez Corden explained that he’s very recently seen alpha footage of Fable 4, noting that the combat system looked very similar to CD Projekt Red’s The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt.

Corden explains that Playground Games employed the combat designer who worked on The Witcher 3, suggesting that the similarities between the games are evident. Perhaps most reassuringly, the journalist also exclaimed that the early build he saw was “fantastic,” giving fans hope that Fable 4 might stick the landing.

Fable’s Combat Was Never The Best

It Was Okay But Never Great

It makes sense that Fable 4 may be iterating on the combat used for The Witcher 3: The system seen in the original Fable trilogy is also reminiscent of The Wild Hunt. With a combination of melee attacks and magic abilities, the connection is obvious but whether Playground Games can iterate on the established mechanics is what’s important. Fable‘s combat was never the star of the show; While it may have been a decent chunk of the gameplay, the older games are more fondly remembered for their stories and world-building.

Fable‘s combat has always had the problem of being a little too floaty, like players’ hits don’t have the kind of impact they should. Once some of the game’s more powerful spells are introduced, most combat encounters become trivial, turning into a nuisance rather than a challenge. The Witcher 3 has also been criticized for having fairly repetitive combat so one can only hope that Playground can bring out the best of both systems to create something fresh and exciting.

Fable 4 Has A Lot To Prove

Hopefully It Doesn’t Disappoint

Fable is undeniably one of Microsoft’s most recognizable video game franchises and its prolonged dormancy means there’s a great deal riding on the fourth entry. The game has been in development for a while and I’m optimistic that Playground can deliver a satisfying RPG with all the humor and wit of the original titles. Until more is shown off though, it’s difficult to make any bold claims even with the positive reports.