When I spoke to Fable creator and 22cans founder Peter Molyneux about Masters of Albion earlier this year, he told me that he simply wanted it to bring "joy." It's a word that resonated throughout our discussion: one that Molyneux is clearly passionate about. It's been a rocky road for him, after all: post-Lionhead, things haven't been easy. Unfortunately renowned for his tendency to "overpromise" and underdeliver - something he's since apologized for profusely - there's a lot riding on Masters of Albion. Reputationally, it could be the salve that Molyneux needs, but it could also mark the triumphant return of the god game - a genre that hasn't really been well-served since the Black and White days. It's a title that I've been excited about since its reveal - I'm a longtime Fable fan, and spent my youth tinkering with Black and White. My hopes, then, were high.
I got lost in Pragmata's New York. It was a little embarrassing, actually. I was in the shopping center, which is maze-like but not exactly huge, and entered a small area with three different exits. I wasn't paying close attention at that point, having swapped to a different screen briefly, so I couldn't remember which exit I had entered from. It was a dumb mistake Pragmata let me make, and I was thrilled.