Review: Fable 2

Mike Bantick
Monday, 03 November 2008 06:57

Opinion and Analysis

So much to do, so many decisions both big and small, Fable 2 expands on its forebear in scope, without taking away the soul of the original.  Peter Molyneux and his Lionhead Studio team flirt with the dangerous when it comes to game design, but they pull it off in this classic RPG.

I have calmed down somewhat from my initial impressions of Fable 2 .  But only a little, the sequel brings back and expands upon the original’s virtues in a game that should become a classic.

Fable 2
	Developer	Lionhead Studios
	Publisher	Microsoft
	Rating	M
Xbox 360

Flirting with danger along the way, the Xbox 360’s DVD drive whirs away almost constantly, and sometimes the ambition of Fable 2 leads to its unravelling, but so far the journey of my hero has been without major technical incident.

Taking place 500 years after the first game – not much in the way of technical progress has occurred in the sleepy world of Albion.  In fact, pretty much the game plays out in the same sort of social setting – a darkly humorous world full of Victorian architecture, rolling lush green hills, forests, ruins and more sinister locals.   It also rains a lot.

You are a hero, whether you are a female, male, good, evil, greedy, generous, good looking, pudgy, well groomed, derelict, kind or dismissive hero is completely up to the player.  Doing heroic deeds (sometimes of a dubious nature) gain the player Renown, used to unlock further progression in the game.

The main quest plays out pretty quickly, but the secret weapon of Fable 2 is its distractive nature.  There is much to do in Albion, from the mundane experience of getting a job, chopping wood, or working in a Blacksmith to name a couple.  To having statues of one-self erected, taking on a myriad of side quests, going for a swim, opening demon gates or simply exploring.

A shimmering bread trail leads you to your current objective location, but, unless under time constraints, you are free to wander around the enticing countryside at will.  Unlike the original game, Fable 2 enables a broader range of rambling, only restricting your hero to the path in some locales.

Happy wandering is a chance for your new buddy, the pet dog to strut his stuff.  Your mutt will sniff out points on the map to dig for treasure, he will growl when enemies are nearby and will fight those enemies alongside your hero when push comes to shove.  All without direct player input other than some training, occasional treats and praise.

Once piece of trivia: The dog companion was inspired by the 1987 ASCII based game of NetHack.  Furthermore the pooch’s AI routines are lifted from the earlier Lionhead Studios game of Black & White.

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