Fable 2 is the sequel to the tremendously popular Xbox game of the same name, made by Lionhead Studios. Fable introduced a new concept within RPG games, which was character morphing. The consequences of the player’s alignment were expanded to include changes in the character’s actual appearance. A player who chose to be good may find himself with a halo, while an evil character may soon be followed by a group of flies and crested with horns. The passing of time also held a strong influence, with the hero aging from a youth to an adult to an old man before the player’s eyes. The groundbreaking concept of character morphing was continued and even expanded in Fable 2.
Just one of the many appearances your hero may take.
Fable 2 returns us to the land of Albion about 500 years after the events of Fable. Much has changed, with the heroes of Fable’s era reduced to myth and legend and will abilities relegated to fairy tales. Albion has also seen the invention of guns in the recent past, which has made bow weapons nearly obsolete. Bowerstone, formerly the small seaside town near the Hero’s Guild, has become a booming metropolis, and this is where we are introduced to our hero.
The beautifully updated city of Bowerstone.
The gameplay of Fable 2 is similar to that of Fable, but still introduces some unique elements. The style is third person, and the story is similar to that of Fable, with the main point being to stop a malevolent character from inciting events that will destroy Albion. Boss battles are few and far between, and some aspects of the main quest require the completion of side-quests before moving on. The ending of the main storyline is also disappointing, with the closing moments of the story feeling somewhat anti-climactic. Fortunately, the gameplay itself is interesting enough to make up for some of that disappointment.
The antogonist, Lucien.
Your hero, once again, will go through changes as the game progresses, and everything has consequences. As in Fable, there is the good vs. evil alignment, but also morality and purity. Almost everything affects some aspect of your alignment, even food. As in Fable, the crunchy chick is present, earning you evil points every time you crush the skull of the adorable fuzzball. Fortunately, eating celery will give you good points, even if it leaves you still hungry. Eating in a vegetarian style will also earn you purity and morality points, while eating meat will lose them, since after all, an animal died for your meat. What foods you eat will also affect your weight, so if all you eat is meat pie, watch your girth. Gold is no longer earned from completing quests, but from jobs. Several jobs are available in Albion, with some to suit the good and evil hero alike. Unfortunately, these jobs are mind-numbingly repetitive. The NPC interactions have been greatly improved, with the added ability to select a certain person and see exactly how much they like you, what gifts they like, etc. Polygamy is easily achieved in Fable 2, and those who offer…relations are easily found. Though, if you don’t use protection, prepare to accept the consequences, be it an STD or an unwanted child.
Making a female character is one of the new options.
Another addition for Fable 2 is the canine companion who is with you constantly. Some love the dog and some wish they could strangle the dog, though no one can say he is not useful. Your dog will find you dig spots and chests hidden in Albion, as well as kill any opponent you have knocked down. My dog found me my first condom buried in the woods. Your dog will also change in appearance based on your alignment and how you treat him. Books can be used to teach your dog tricks and improve his treasure hunting and fighting skills. Luckily, for those who love the canine companion, your dog cannot be killed. If he is injured, he will limp around sadly and whimper, which can easily be fixed by offering him a biscuit. However, if you feel like being cruel, when your dog is hurt, run away from him, then fast-travel far away. Several days later, he will show up, having limped faithfully all the way there.
I absolutely love my dog.
The biggest and best change from Fable to Fable 2 is the world of Albion itself. Albion is much the same as in Fable, with some of the names changed. Some places, like Witchwood, have been removed from the map entirely. This does not change the fact that Albion in Fable 2 is about ten times bigger than in Fable. Albion is no longer a world of linear paths that cannot be left, but has been made into a freeform world that can be traveled at will. The paths between towns still have fences, but when approached, you will be offered the option to vault the fence and run free into the hills. The hero can now swim, allowing you to access islands and to cross rivers without bridges. Hidden throughout are treasures and Easter eggs, as well as miscellaneous quests. Gone is the map to find things, replaced by a “breadcrumb” trail that glows on the ground before you. Of course, if you find the shimmering line annoying, you can turn it off. Cullis gates have been replaced by the ability to fast-travel to a location you’ve visited before, but an appropriate amount of time will still pass for the character. Exploring Albion alone offers several hours of entertainment.
Recommendation:
This is a game I would reccomend for any RPG fan. The story is well thought out, even if the end seems a little lacking, and the world is beautiful. Though certainly entertaining, Fable 2 does fall a little short of the bar set by the great free-world RPGs like Fallout 3 and The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. The world is not as thorough and the character design is rather limited. My overall verdict is that this game is worth your money, but if you are expecting something like Oblivion, you may be disappointed. But seriously, the dog is awesome.
Systems: Xbox 360
Developer: Lionhead Studios
Publisher: Microsoft
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All reviews are based on final retail code unless otherwise noted.
February 5th, 2009 at 3:31 pm
You know i really enjoyed this game, despite alot of put downs from people, however those bloody accents were like nails on a chalk board the entire time.
good review hun!
February 5th, 2009 at 5:23 pm
52 of 53 achievements for me as of yesterday…. I’m a little obsessed.
February 5th, 2009 at 9:44 pm
Glad to know you think Oblivion is better overall—I can actually play that one since I have a PS3! LOL!
February 6th, 2009 at 11:06 am
I almost have every achievement. Those hero dolls though are gonna be a pain or easy to get if you find the right person who’s willing to trade.
February 6th, 2009 at 11:10 am
I can’t believe how many people bought into this game when it’s no better executed than the first one.
February 6th, 2009 at 1:38 pm
Wow you couldn’t be more wrong Lnlycmpn. The storyline is much better than the one from the last Fable. The gameplay is where this game truly shines. The combat feels fluid and is really fun. There’s hours upon hours of side stuff for you to do, and it’s all good enough that I would certainly recommend playing through it all. I actually spent the time to buy every piece of property in the game, which took me quite a long time. You can now make a ton of money really easily by getting a five star ranking with a job, buying property, and then going adventuring, all the while bringing in income from your property. Interaction with villagers is amusing. I am very pleasently surprised that Lionhead was able to come through and deliver on all the hype for this game. I hope the gaming community is able to appreciate just what an awesome game this is, I know I did.
February 6th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
I’m with the companion cube on this one.
I will admit though, for a Wii game Fable 2 looks pretty nice.
February 6th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
I did enjoy this game, but I liked the first one better.
February 8th, 2009 at 7:50 pm
I love Fable II- the combat is SO much better than the first. Though I still wish they’d go much, much farther with the overall difference in character appearance and world reflection in the good vs. evil area… as well as more character customization.
Also, they need to tweak the spell set. The way it works in II is outstanding, but some of the spells are worthless or redundant- I mean, you can have Inferno and blow people up, or you can have the electrical one I’ve forgotten the name of (oops) and blow people up while STUNNING them. Why just blow people up? (I know, some beasts are more damaged by fire, but, they should differentiate it more.)
I also want to see true good/evil paths in Fable III- instead of HAVING to go out and (as in II) kill the bad guy… give you the choice to either go out and fix the bad problem going on, or join up and help cause the bad problem. I’d like to see them add that extra level of branching between if you do something good vs. bad.
But, I’ll be most happy if they add a ton more character customizations. =D
I don’t compare Fable to Oblivion because I’d never get Oblivion on the Xbox- that’s SO much better on the PC with the mod tools and increased graphics/performance.
February 8th, 2009 at 10:00 pm
I LOVED this game and also became a little obsessed
That hero doll achievement is pretty annoying though…
February 10th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
I really enjoyed the game and it was worth my money. However, I agree, the ending wasn’t that well thought out, and even with DLC I don’t particularly have the urge to go back and play again. It entertained me for a few weeks and provided some good laughs, and I can’t complain too much about that. Not the best RPG out there, but it had some fantastic moments.
However, I do have one major qualm. In the next game, I hope not all female characters look like transvestites.