It’s been a few years now since Fable II’s RPG/Empire-building/Dog Ownership mishmash hit the 360, and we’re still not quite sure what to make of it. On the one hand, it features a brilliantly realized fantasy world that the player can actively shape. On the other hand, it’s a six-hour long story experience without any real sense of challenge or accomplishment. And that’s not even getting into the farting minigame.

While we ponder whether Fable III will adjust any of the franchise’s many strengths and weaknesses, here’s a look at the game’s opening cinematic, which balances slapstick humor, pathos, and animal abuse to surprising effect:

Expect Fable III to arrive on October 26 for the 360.