Review: 'Fable' goes hands-free in new adventure

• Move to Kinect more welcome for 'casual' rather than 'core' gamers
• Hands-free is fun, but game keeps you on a path
• Tip: Check it out at a friend's house before you buy

As someone who reviews video games for a living — no violins, please — I can tell you critiquing a game like Fable: The Journey is no easy feat.

You see, this is the first Fable role-playing game to drop the Xbox controller in favor of hands-free control — utilizing the camera, sensors and microphone in the Kinect for Xbox 360 accessory that sits just above or below the television.

On one hand, "casual" gamers might welcome Lionhead Studios' bold new direction. You're now outstretching your arms to steer a horse-drawn carriage, touching water in a pond or thrusting your hands forward to zap enemies. On the flipside, "core" gamers might dismiss this motion-sensing adventure as a gimmick. It's an "on rails" game that doesn't allow you to move your character in an open-world. Rather, you're on a predetermined path and must perform the correct actions, often at the right time, in order to advance.

Depending on your preference, you'll love or loathe Fable: The Journey. While I prefer role-playing games with full control, vast environments and gameplay depth found in the likes of The Elder Scrolls series or the Mass Effect trilogy, it's hard to deny The Journey's unique controller-free approach and overall charm. It just won't be to everyone's liking.

At the start of the game you're introduced to the protagonist, Gabriel, a young man trying to keep up with a caravan. After falling asleep at the reins, Gabriel falls behind his tribe. While lost, he rescues a blind "seer" from an evil force wreaking havoc on the land. Theresa, who has appeared in other Fable games, leads Gabriel to a mystical cave to heal his injured horse, and here he learns to wield magic powers of his own. As with many other fantasy role-playing games, he also discovers why he was "chosen" to fight back against this malevolence that threatens all is good in the world of Albion.

Played from a first-person perspective while sitting in front of your television (most Kinect games have you stand), you'll learn to steer your horse, lean from side to side to avoid obstacles and engage in combat against a variety of enemies, beginning with shooting magic blasts from your right hand and controlling objects with your left (including pulling and pushing them in various directions). You'll soon master new spells, block attacks using your forearm (as if you were brandishing a shield), solve environmental puzzles, heal yourself and your horse and collect objects, such as orbs, used to buy upgrades for your character (or horse).

Some of the motions and voice commands work well — steering your trusted steed through obstacles, for instance — but I had issues with aiming magic shards and fireballs (even after calibrating it more than once). I'd aim to fire a blast in the top right corner of the screen to take out a goblin, skeleton or giant spider, but instead the projectile would land toward the bottom corner of the screen. This wasn't always the case, but happened more often than I'd like.

Visually speaking the game is mediocre, but is faithful to the familiar Fable art style seen throughout the series. The game does manage to impress with its smart voice acting, humorous dialogue and memorable characters. The dramatic action sequences and larger-than-life boss battles are also highlights.

Fable: The Journey is one of those games you need to try before you buy — be it at a friend's house or store with Kinect set up — to see if the experience is ideal for you. Don't expect an epic fantasy role-playing game like Skyrim. That's not what Fable is all about. Instead, it's a whimsical and magical 8-hour-or-so tale designed to deliver a fresh way to control the action. In this respect, it works. Younger gamers or more novice players should especially fall for The Journey's charm and accessibility.

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Fable: The Journey

Platform: Kinect for Xbox 360

Genre: Action/Role-playing

Developer: Lionhead Studios

Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios

Web site: xbox.com/fable

Price: $49.99

Rating: Teen

Score: 3.0 stars (out of 4)

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Contact Saltzman at techcomments@usatoday.com.