The menu system in Fable 3 has been getting a lot of attention because of how different it is than conventional games but may I point you to another excellent game, which is actually quite old and had an almost identical menu system.  

Just like the Gun Game in Black Ops isn't new, but that won't stop ignorant "professional" journalists from praising it to death.

I don't think anyone is really sitting around, freaking out that Fable III has a similar menu system to Terranigma. Menu systems can feel fresh and do the same thing something else does.

It's new to Fable.

Whatever...its only a minu and not a make or break system for me in the game.

Sadly,  Terranigma was never released in the US. I had to import the PAL version. It came in an oversized box though. That is probably why most journalists aren't comparing the two. I would venture to guess that more than half of journalists have never even heard of Terranigma. 

" It's new to Fable. "

Alright...

" @Raymayne said:

"Also @valrog, you can't expect professional journalists to have played every game ever released and have knowledge of the origin of every concept and gameplay mechanic that has ever existed. You dumb fuck.  "

Ya except that "one game" happens to be counter-strike which is agruably one of the most popular pc games so chances are they played it or have heard it. "

" @RavenX302: That's what I'm trying to point out, it's only a menu and people complaining about it should realize that it has been done before successfully. "

" @xyzygy said:

" @RavenX302: That's what I'm trying to point out, it's only a menu and people complaining about it should realize that it has been done before successfully. "

Sure, but in Brad's eyes (maybe other reviewers' too, I don't know) it was not done successfully in this case.  That said, it's his opinion and not the only gripe he has with the game.    The game looks really cool, and it's one of a few that makes me want a 360. "

" @Lukeweizer said:

" It's new to Fable. "

this, no one said it was brand new never before seen.  literal space equaling navigation is an old idea used in many games.    "

It's the terminology that kinda bothers me. Fable 3 aside, a form of gameplay mechanic adaptation being called "streamlined" or "evolved", when mechanically it's just a reinterpretation. The question then is: Does the mechanic do a good job functioning as an alternative. From the looks of Fable 3, reading most of the reviews so far, it hit's a very large subjective territory. 
 
So yeah, I can see where some people might roll their eye's in this instance when a game get's heaps of attention for an unorthodox menu system. Especially with such a strong comparison like this. The discussion should be how it functions, which Brad's review illustrates, not that Lionhead chose this manner for your inventory. In other words: Forget that they made this choice, and consider "Is it a good alternative to the previous title?"

Interesting, although it must be said that Fable III has essentially introduced the menu system to modern gaming.

People like to say "This obscure 90's game did it first!"
 
But whoever says that is the only person who gives an honest fuck about that game. 
 
Fable III has done it in such a way that it is actually of note in the present day. 20 years from now another game will do it, people will cry Fable did it first but no one will care because in the moment its new.

Terranigma was not an obscure title.  It was a hit when it was released.

Very interesting, but I never remember hearing anybody say this was brand new. Just new to Fable.

Why do people always do this? its like when Inception came out and someone posted a topic "Inception is not new, a Disney comic used the same concept years ago!" lol.

are they exactly alike the menus? as for that I really don't care the menu system in fable 3 is currently my most hated part...imagine the memory, and system resources and disc space used by the stupid menu system in fable 3...all stuff that could have gone to making the game better...I mean crap the resources it takes to have the menu system ready to load up at any time could have been made to make the FPS in this game remain constant...

you can chop down trees and watch them grow

Whether or not it's "new" is completely irrelevant. All that matters is if it works or not.

" Very interesting, but I never remember hearing anybody say this was brand new. Just new to Fable. "

Actually, the way it is made kinda reminds me of the interior of the Temple in Black and White, another Lionhead game. You had the option of using simple menus outside of the Temple in order to save and change options, but the map, your creature cave, stats etc are in different rooms. Kinda like in Fable 3. I haven't played it yet, still waiting for it to arrive in the mail, but this is from what I saw in the QL. 
 
Also, it doesn't matter if it is new or not, as long as it works. That cannot be said enough.

I dont see any problem with the menu system in fable 3. It's easily better than fable 2s menu system

Meh original or not, I'm not a big fan of the lack of menus. I can see why they did it, and they did do it well, but for me the whole idea is kinda flawed from the get-go. You're just going to be faster than a menu, or hotkeys for equipment.