It’s hard for any game to live up to its hype. The video game world has been supplied with colossal misfires that have taken years and years of development only to crash and burn upon release.

Without being able to delay the game anymore, the creators have finally released “Fable” into the public. Does this ambitious RPG live up to its hype? Overall, no. But that doesn’t mean this game falls flat.

Many of the features once touted as ground-breaking — a hidden and seamless experience system, branching story paths, levels of interaction with other characters — have disappeared.

“Fable” is no longer the ambitious, experimental game that was going to break down walls of gameplay. Instead, the game is a fine example of solid RPG action.

The game starts out with your character, a young boy. Your town has been ransacked by bandits and your mother and sister are kidnapped, while your father is killed right in front of you. Before you are seen, a mysterious man helps you escape, then takes you to a training academy.

The bulk of the game goes from there, with your character becoming a hero of the land while you search for clues to the whereabouts of your mother and sister. You will age over time, starting as a young adult and possibly living to the ripe old age of 65, complete with wrinkles.

To appeal to a large audience, the game keeps the interface simple. Walk around, hit one button to talk to people, hit another button to take out your weapon, another button to strike and another to block.

There are many other things you can do, such as drop-kicking chickens and playing bar games.

“Fable” has set aside a table in the menu that shows you statistics on practically everything that you do, from the longest chicken drop-kick, to your favorite weapons, to your kill count separated by species.

Players might be bummed they can’t create their own character, but the level of detail and customization for your hero is so astounding, there will hardly be two creations that look similar.

You can choose different hairstyles and facial hair or a number of different tattoos. There’s also numerous clothing items and accessories to help define your character.

All these choices have an impact within the game. If you wear black and have a menacing tattoo across your face, people will react in fear when they see you. If you dress handsomely with well-groomed hair, the ladies — and even some men — will swoon over you.

This kind of detail isn’t only limited to your character. Details, such as the vines growing on buildings or a crumbling bridge with grass growing in the cracks give the “Fable” world an authentic and genuine look. Graphically, this game has no close competition on the Xbox.

When you go out into the fields for battle, the combat system is set up for everyone to understand. Hold down one trigger to lock on to an opponent. Select a weapon, then attack with one button or block with another. That’s about it. After a while, it starts getting a bit tedious to beat up creatures in the same fashion.

The biggest disappointment of “Fable” is its length. Most people will be able to beat the game after renting it for a week. When you get to the ending, it comes too abruptly to fit with the rest of the game. It is possible to keep playing the game after the credits, but only to wander around for little secrets you missed.

Try not to be too disappointed.