3. Fable Anniversary
Platform: 360 Peter Molyneux's Fable series became a part of the mainstream gaming culture during the Xbox 360's life cycle with the excellent Fable II and Fable III. Despite the popularity, and controversy, the games generated, a much smaller segment of console gamers actually ever played the first game in the series, which debuted on the original Microsoft Xbox. In order to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the original game, Lionhead Studios is giving Fable a complete overhaul for release on the Xbox 360. A typical HD remaster this is not. Fable Anniversary is a complete rebuild of the original game from the ground up. Now running on the Unreal Engine 3, Fable Anniversary retains the look of the original game while giving the entire experience a modern makeover. Animations, textures, and effects have all been redone to shine for the HD era. On top of the crisp new look, core gameplay improvements are being implemented, such as updated controls schemes that reflect those of Fable II and III, an improved checkpoint system, and overhauled menus that are easier to navigate. Also, by including the extra content that was included in the PC edition of the game known as The Lost Chapters, fans of the series will now have the opportunity to have the complete Fable saga on their Xbox 360's when the game releases in February. While the Fable series may never have quite lived up to the unsustainable hype generated by Peter Molyneux, there aren't many games that possibly could have. In the end, Fable is one of the most charming, hilarious, and enjoyable series of video games out there, and giving many fans the chance to finally experience the first chapter of the game in a modern context is something to celebrate.