Xbox One review code provided by Shedworks.
I got a taste of Shedworks’ and Raw Fury’s game, Sable, earlier this year when they released a demo as part of the Summer Games Fest. I came away from that demo intrigued by what Sable had to offer, but not entirely sure it would keep that allure for the entire game.
I’m happy to report that my lack of faith was unfounded; Sable is a magical experience throughout, rife with interesting characters, clever puzzles, and some of the best dialogue I’ve ever encountered in a video game. Though there are some notable technical issues, Sable shines as one of the best titles I’ve played all year.
Story
Sable approaches its storytelling in a refreshing and novel way. The first couple of hours of the game are fairly linear, focusing on Sable (the title character) beginning a rite of passage known as the “Gliding.” It’s a coming-of-age ritual that sees adolescents leaving their homes and exploring the world to find their true calling, whatever that might be.
This style of story opener isn’t new, not even for video games, but Sable commits to that theme of true freedom in a way many other games don’t. Other titles with a similar introduction quickly find a central storyline to follow, whether that be clashing with a villain or trying to stop some sort of catastrophe.
There’s nothing like that in Sable, and it’s all the stronger for it. There’s no distinction between side quests or the main campaign. Instead, the game gently encourages exploration, guiding the player toward whatever objective suits their fancy. It doesn’t rush you either, offering a lovely message about taking your time and ending your journey when it feels right.
It doesn’t matter if you’re collecting beetle husks or investigating the ruins of a crashed starship, it all feels pivotal to making progress. And there are dozens of these quests that will bring you into contact with people from across Sable’s vast, beautiful world. The characters are what make this game truly great, breathing a shocking amount of life into every interaction.
It helps that the writing is incredibly strong; every character I met had a distinct personality, and even short conversations left me invested in that person’s life. Some of the best quests in the game are deeply personal and involve meeting characters in various different locations. This gives the entire game a lived-in feeling, as though you are only ever experiencing one piece of everything that’s going on.
One quest that stood out to me involved following coded symbols throughout a town to find an old man’s mask, only for him to ask you to use it to save his son. What follows is a hilarious, interactive cutscene that sees Sable play-acting as a Batman-like figure that concludes with one of the game’s most heart-wrenching moments.
The whole game is like this. Characters persist across the world, and they all have stories to share. Sable herself is no silent protagonist either. Not only does she share her own thoughts (that the player can sometimes choose), but she also supplies a healthy dose of internal monologue. It’s a truly inspired bit of character design, and her writing is some of the best the game has to offer.
She’s sarcastic, witty, and often very introspective for someone so young. Shedworks has somehow crafted a character that functions both as her own person and as a vehicle for the player. There’s at least one critical decision the player can make on her behalf, but Sable demonstrates maturity and ingenuity all her own.
Gameplay
Sable is a game predicated on exploration; the story itself begins with the main character embarking on a journey to find her place in the world. Rather than point the player in a specific direction with clear instructions, Sable instead offers a rare sense of total freedom. You’re free to explore every inch of the world map once you’ve acquired your jetbike, and there’s a lot out there to discover.
Various icons dot the landscape, looming large on the horizon, and you’re free to explore any of them at any time. There are no special abilities or necessary items required to navigate a puzzle or climb a tower. You’ll only ever need what you have on hand, and this gives each prominent location a refreshing sense of possibility.
Emergent gameplay is present in just about everything you do in Sable. While some quests will provide waypoints for you to follow, many others force you to rely on your wits and awareness of your surroundings. It’s always deeply satisfying to discover something unexpected buried in the sand or hidden just out of sight, and there’s no end to the delightful discoveries Sable offers.
Making your way around the world feels decent, at times flirting with a true feeling of exhilaration. Climbing is Sable’s key exploration technique, as she can scale almost any surface. Its limitations are often emphasized in some of Sable’s trickier environmental puzzles, some of which would give any 3D platformer a run for its money.
The jetbike is a bit of a mixed bag when it comes to traversing the world. It feels good most of the time, but there are just a few hitches that hold it back from being truly great. Catching air off a dune feels great until you hit the ground and the bike spins out of control. New customization parts make this a little better, but it’s still a persistent issue.
Unfortunately, that’s not Sable’s only drawback, as its technical performance is a mild nuisance at best and makes the game borderline unplayable at worst. Framerate dipping is the chief offender, slowing the game down to little more than a crawl when what’s happening on-screen gets too busy. It happens most often on the jetbike, which makes the already uneven riding experience even harder to handle.
Environment clipping is another recurring issue, leading to numerous botched platforming attempts. Sable will often clamber over a ledge before reaching the top of a climbable surface, resulting in her falling most if not all the way back down. Asset pop-in also results in some admittedly hilarious wipeouts on the jetbike, but the humor quickly fades after hitting yet another spontaneous bush.
Audio & Visual
Sable is without a doubt one of the prettiest games to listen to in recent memory. The soundtrack, composed by recording artist Japanese Breakfast, sets the perfect tone no matter where in the world you might be. Each locale has its own distinct sound that aligns with its theme, and even the barren wastes between settlements sport lovely, melodic compositions.
In addition to the music, the sound design is simply sublime. Different surfaces react with unique sound effects, creating an ambiance that meshes beautifully with the score. Whether you’re running through the metallic interiors of a derelict ship or leaping onto giant crystals, Sable’s footsteps resound with a poignant echo that stands out among a game already stuffed with beauty.
While Sable has no voice acting, Shedworks still manages to give every character a unique voice. From a guttural rumble to a melodious patter, everyone Sable meets on her journey speaks in their own voice in a way that wonderfully captures their personality.
The visuals are no less astounding, with a striking color palette that subtly shifts throughout the game’s internal day-night cycle. The skybox is often so beautiful that it would stop me in my tracks to take pictures, and it’s a crime that this game doesn’t have a dedicated photo mode.
Unfortunately, the performance issues make it hard at times to fully appreciate the splendor of the game’s art design. Framerate hitches and asset pop-in could get so bad that I would miss important details in the environment, and at times became so egregious that it started to give me motion sickness.
What Could Be Better
I would love to see how Sable performs after a few patches are pushed out. The game just needs some fine-tuning on a technical level to smooth out those framerates. If it could run at a stable 30fps it would be a perfect experience. The best part is that the fixes it needs are viable, possibly even imminent. I’ll be eager to revisit the game if they decide to push for those improvements, and I’m willing to give Shedworks as much time as they need to pull that off.
Verdict
Sable is one of the most striking games I’ve played in recent memory and a clear Game of the Year contender. Despite persistent technical issues and bugs, Sable’s mix of striking visuals, daring exploration, and heartfelt storytelling leave a profound impression that I’ll be talking about for years to come.
