Just two years after the triumphant return of the Fable franchise in Fable 2, Lionhead's exceptional realization of the original game's promise, comes Fable 3. For Peter Molyneux and team, much of their mandate was streamlining the experience so more players would experience more of what Albion had to offer. That means bringing the comedy to the surface instead of just beneath it, clearing up the menu system, fixing co-op play, and dozens of other targets. Think evolution and not, despite its narrative predisposition, revolution. Unfortunately, Fable 2's technical shortcomings weren't targeted and reappear - with a vengeance - in Fable 3, distracting from a mostly exceptional, albeit simplified, experience.

The story itself has been streamlined. How many of you can remember what happened in Fable 2? Despite the dozens of hours I spent playing the game, I couldn't recall what the Tattered Spire was built for when I spotted it from the shores of Fable 3's Driftwood. In comparison, Fable 3's structure provides a basic narrative arc - you go from revolutionary to ruler. Simple.

You play as a male or female hero, the child of Fable 2's Hero King or Queen (yes, it checks your save file). Your brother, Logan, has taken the throne and rules as a tyrant while the world of Albion is buzzing with revolutionary fervor. But who can lead them? After one particularly nasty turn by your brother, your character sets off with his or her mentor, Sir Walter, to do just that. The game's foil - which I won't spoil here - has even been simplified. Gone is Lord Lucien and his struggle for power (yeah, I looked it up on Wikipedia) and in his place is, well ... Evil. I'm glossing over the specifics because the writing is one area where Fable 3 really excels. Its story and, more importantly, its structure will help you keep the narrative thread, and not lose it amidst the bounty of distractions that Albion offers.