Fable 2 Review

FABLE 2 REVIEW:

Finally, here is the review for Fable 2 -- or should I say, Peter Moleneux's Fable 2 (and don't worry - it's spoiler free)...

[I have not been able to add everything I would have liked, due to an attempt to keep the article as short and informing as possible]...

We received the first Fable game back in 2004, and it blew most of us away (setting aside Mr. Moleneux's broken promises of total freedom and gaming evolution), with it's never - before - done aging system, it's exciting combat system, and it's interesting plot...

Almost as soon as Lionhead Studios had finished on this ambitious project, they set out to make an even more ambitious game, that actually contained everything they promised it would; they named it (aptly), Fable 2...



So, you're probably wondering, by now -- is this game truly "Fable 2", or is it simply, "Fable V2" -- well, let's get started...

Story:

Set more than half a century after the first game, the world of Albion has both grown economically and geographically (in fact, Fable 2's world is almost ten times the size of the first game), and -- wait, I forgot one -- Albion has also grown mature enough to handle better technology, such as pistols and rifles, and the odd camera (and no, you can't take snapshots for your friends to see), here and there (see gameplay for more on this)...

You are (once again), set into the shoes of an orphaned child, who loses everything and everyone he or she knows, early on in the game...

The plot is pretty blunt (not necessarily in a bad way), and it makes sure you know who your friends are, as well as who your foes are, pretty early on in the game, but it does take the occasional twist here and there (with a rather suspicious twist at the end of the game)...

Fortunately, for the most part, there isn't a time - limit on the main quest, and you are free to explore Albion as you see fit, before even embarking on the story or any other quest, what - so - ever...



While the main quest is (in my opinion) nothing epic, I can still safely say, that each and every Fable is timeless, and they always have some sort of implication(s) on our own lives, in whatever size, way, shape and/or form...

Value: 8.6/10...

Gameplay:

Weaponry and Combat:

So, seeing that the world of Fable is no longer still in the Dark - Ages, many new inventions have made their way to the many both stationary, and traveling traders of Albion -- and as if you hadn't guessed, most all of these innovations are made to kill...

While you will still get the old Hammers, Axes, Maces, Swords, and Crossbows -- you will also come across countless Rifles and Flintlock - Pistols, which can be used in different ways depending on your skill levels in which - ever given area of expertise...

Combat Is pretty creative, if a little rudimentary...

For instance, the X button controls combat -- the Y button controls ranged weapons -- and the B button controls magic...

Yet, if you hold each combat button down, you will be able to power - up your attack (depending on your skill levels)...



Melee combat is seamless, for the most part. Ranged attacks add some new variety to the action - rpg genre, and there are eight individual spells to be leveled up five times each, available for purchase at anytime in the game...

Now, dying within the world of Fable 2 IS way too forgiving -- once you die in battle (which is very rare), you simply fall unconscious, loose a little XP, get a visible scar, and get back up again with full health...

So combat in fable 2 is pretty versatile, and yet, while it's not a let - down, it is pretty easy -- most likely aimed at more casual gamers than hardcore fans...

Value: 8/10

Abilities:

Fable 2's leveling scheme is innovative and unique, offering a wide array of abilities to choose from -- all within three separate classes:

Strength (Sub - Categories: Brutal - Styles, Physique, and Toughness)...

Skill [or ranged] (Sub - Categories: Dexterous - Styles, Accuracy, and Speed)...

Will [or magic] (Sub - Categories: Shock, Inferno, Time - Control, Blades, Vortex, Chaos, Force Push [star wars reference], and Raise Dead)...



The player can get up from 4 to 5 times in each of these skills, making each one more effective each time the skill is leveled up; this is done through collecting the experience orbs dropped by fallen opponents, by using the right trigger, at the end of each battle...

Interestingly enough, though -- you will most likely find yourself being a generalist, rather than a specialist, seeing as skills start becoming ridiculously expensive, the more you level up in each individual skill...

Value: 9.1/10...

Notes on Earning Money:

Earning money is not hard in Albion, as there are many jobs to be found around the countryside, such as the following (they open up to you, depending on your choices earlier on in the game):

Lumberjack

Blacksmith

Bartender

Assassin

Bounty - Hunter

[Also note that all of these jobs, with the exception of assassin and bounty - hunter, take place in a real - time, in - game, mini - game]...

While none of the shown jobs are anything deep, they do provide a distraction from your typical questing for money, stereotype games, these days...

[Finally, note that money can also be made by treasure - hunting, in which you will find gold ad gems, to sell to traders...

Clothing:

Unlike the first Fable, there is no such thing as armor, in the sequel -- Lionhead studios did this, because they knew that by putting different levels of armor in their game, everyone would wear the same outfit, and the lack of player - to - player personality, would ensue...

In Fable 2, there are barbers, tailors, dyes, stylists, makeup sellers and the like(s)...



So there's a large variety, that simply can't be missed, within the walls, as well as outside the walls, of the many locations within the world of Albion...

9.5/10

The Dog:

I really never believed in the saying: Dogs = Man's best friends, until I played Fable 2, and I was converted almost immediately...

Now, since the Fable engine was built in - house -- once they had started the development of the second game, they already had the foundations of their construction tools, and now, of course, they didn't need to worry about which engine to use, so they had almost all the time in the world to implement brand new features, like, well -- "The Dog"...



This invaluable friend will stay with every step of the game; helping you find buried treasures, as well as old pirate chests -- and while he's pretty much immortal, he can still be hurt, so you'll want to keep your so called "dog elixir" on standby, for whenever he gets hurt to badly (but don't worry, it doesn't happen so often that it gets annoying)...

Value: 10/10...

Graphical Presentation:

Fable 2 is a stylized game, and it looks pretty good for the most part, setting aside most of the semi - awkward lip - sinking "sessions", that are present throughout the entirety of the game...



The characters are detailed, and the young/old, corrupt/pure, and the good/evil systems have gotten a gigantic makeover from the original game, so they work astonishingly well -- and all the while, the atmosphere to the individually unique environments stands out as one of the game's best aspects...



So overall, while not as ground breaking as the previous installment of the series, Fable 2 is still with the times when it comes to it's graphical appearance...

Value: 9.1/10

Multi - Player:

If somewhat limited (and in my opinion, quite disappointing), the multi - player cooperative mode, retains some of it's fun, and can be (only) played on a shared screen .

While it's fun to be able to see each - other on the big - screen, the camera can be fairly annoying, especially when inside caves and buildings -- mostly because it cannot be manipulated (while in coop mode) in any way what - so - ever...

Additionally, you CANNOT, join in someone else' game with one of your own characters -- instead, you have to choose from a list of pre - made default characters (e.g. Neutral Male, or Good Female), and while you can use your character's stats, you sure can't see them, which kind of takes the point out of the mode itself...

Who doesn't like couch co - op; especially the type that sets you in the same world that the single - player does -- and while Fable 2's coop mode isn't a complete failure, it could certainly have used some work before it was shipped...

Value: 7/10...

Should I buy it:

So, Fable 2 has taken much ground, since the first game in the series was actually released -- but is it substantially better than the first, in all ways?

I would have to say yes -- especially for those who have not experienced the first game [despite the fact that there are some references to the events of Fable 1]...

From the greatly expanded world, to the carnage that can be wreaked almost anywhere one can go...



While many of the features have remained shallow [such as getting married and having children, which is pretty much the same], much has been added to the expression menus, to the combat and leveling system, and of course, the dog...

The environments are lively with bandits, goblins [hobbes], and other unearthly creatures, just waiting to be rid from the face of Albion...

So despite the flaws and annoyances, I would recommend Fable 2 to pretty much any casual gamer, fans of the first game who are looking for more of the same plus even more features and a bigger world to explore, or any typical Action - RPG fan, who is looking for a new game with an edge to the countless hack n' slash games that are currently on the market...

It's a good game, with some noticeable blunt edges, and yet, that alone, isn't quite enough to dethrone this unique RPG from fan - favorite Peter Moleneux...

Story: 8.6/10

Gameplay: 9.1/10

Multiplayer: 7.0/10 [online coop not yet tested]

Graphical Presentation: 9.1/10

Overall: 8.9/10

-- Reviewed by, Sir Mordred