TL;DR: The new Fable game removes the traditional good and evil morality system, focusing instead on a location-based reputation that changes with each settlement. Players won’t alter their appearance based on deeds but can customize their hero’s look with cosmetics and gear.
I don’t think the headline is fair at all. I think it’s there, just reimagined. And personally I think it sounds really cool. If I want the old system, I can play the old games.
Well, if I get what they’re doing this time, it’s different.
Heroes in Fable are driven by narrative forces, they are supposed to be literally heroes of a fable. Morality in these games is not reputation, it’s not supposed to be realistic, it’s like a natural law of the world. And, along with a few other character development traits, morality changes your character physically.
You can even “boost” your evilness with stuff like eating live chicks. Nobody witnesses you doing that.
There’s a whole shtick in Fable that sets it apart from most RPGs, in that, Fable never even pretends you’re a character among others. You’re one of 5 or so heroes destined to shape the story, and the rules applying to you are just different from everyone else.
It sounds like this time, they’re going for something a lot more classic, i.e. scoring how people feel about your choices.