Xbox 360

Fable II

If it were simply a single-player RPG, Fable 2 would be an almost peerless entry in the genre -- after all, it's filled with more great ideas than the last 10 years of Final Fantasy combined.

Playing Fable II is an absolute pleasure. Between the combat, the humor, and the multitude of small details, I found it decidedly difficult to put it down to get some sleep or tape the show. Perhaps the one aspect of the game that will stand out above all else for me is that, for the first time ever, my wife — whose relationship to videogames is one of begrudging, ancillary necessity — actually sat down on the couch next to me and watched me play…for hours.

The main quest might be really short, but anyone with half a heart will have spend 20+ hours thanks to all the stuff to see and do before you complete the game, and then due to the colossal choices available, this is one of the most replayable games ever made. If you have a 360, you owe it to yourself to pick this game up. An instant classic.

Fable 2 is a game everyone must play. It finally treads the line between casual and hardcore perfectly and allows you to enjoy the game for what it is. It is a stunning representation of what gaming can be when developers get it so right and has the potential to change RPG gaming forever. It will tell you a lot about yourself, you will regret decisions (and the fact Molyneux only allows ONE save game, and saves as soon as decisions are made) and will struggle at times with the enormity of the decisions. Fable 2 is an experience that Xbox 360 gamers must play because ‘Peter the man who over promises’, just became the Peter who stunningly delivers.

Fable II's generous and forgiving template isn't one that many games choose to follow, but it proves convincingly that if you're clever enough, you can create a consistent challenge without resorting to mindless punishment, and you can craft a sharply told story that still has room for the player to express themselves within. Inclusive and often thought-provoking, this is a daring portrait of a game-world with all the failure cut out, and it's hard not to love a game that loves you so much in return. Fable II will charm you, thrill you, and leave you very, very happy.

Fable is a rare role playing game that offers incredibly deep customization, style and exploration. It can be both charming and disturbing. Its missions offer equal parts of satisfaction and tragedy, and when you're not on a mission you'll be making your own bed in which to lie (including a dog, he's literally always around). There's a lot to see (and destroy), a lot to do (and not do), and a whole wide world waiting to be conquered.

Fable 2 is pure ‘Junk Food’ Role Playing Game, at its best, and I enjoyed every minute of it. I’m giving it 9.5.

Fable 2 is a game of choices. How you play and live your life in Albion is up to you. Almost everything in the game comes down to the choices you make, and the effects and repercussions caused by them. You can play Fable 2 for 10 hours, finish the story and call it a day. Or you can finish the story, beat the side quests and fully enjoy every corner of this lovingly constructed world and call it a masterpiece. While the story might seem a little been there done that at times, and the difficulty might be to forgiving. You should make no mistake; Fable 2 is still one of the best titles on the Xbox 360. It’s a complete and nearly total success that greatly improves on its predecessor in every way. Finally delivering on the promises of Peter Molyneux and deserves...no REQUIRES a spot in your game collection if you’re a fan of the genre.

Fable II is a wonderful, wonderful game where the sum of it’s parts far exceeded my expectations. That being said, it’s a strange juxtaposition of silly and serious, where you can fart in people’s faces then take them back to your place and have sex, complete with pregnancy and STD concerns. It’s a strange combination of mature and immature that somehow manages to come together and work, and it helps solidify the world of Albion as a strange yet wonderful home away from reality that forever lives on in my Xbox 360.

Fable 2 is among the elite titles to release in 2008. If players skip out on their opportunity to play this ambitious and heartwarming title, then they are missing out on one of the best games of the year.

While individual elements might struggle to shine on close scrutiny, it’s their harmonious integration that makes Fable II such a captivating, unforgettable experience. Yes, it breaks little new ground by traditional RPG standards but no game has come close to offering the kind of surprising, compelling, emotional immersion that permeates Fable II. It’s a game that rewards experimentation and exploration, not dogged single- minded persistence, in subtly brilliant ways. And while it’s true that my fat, greedy whore- killing hero has probably had his time in Albion, the world’s constant flux means the game still has other stories to tell -- and I’m looking forward to hearing them all.

Fable 2 is the game we all wanted it to be. It’s the game we secretly prayed would be as good as its predecessor and then some. It boasts the perfect ingredients to an RPG; a engaging story (although the end seemed to flatline fast), a interactive paradise and a world where your actions truly do have consequences. We’re not saying Fable 2 is perfect by any means, it does have its problems, but they are incredibly minor and in no way detract away from the experience. What we’re saying is, that Fable 2 is a truly killer action-RPG title and should be experienced by everyone, even if this isn’t your genre; you may be pleasantly surprised.

Letzten Endes hält Fable II beinahe alle Versprechungen, wegen denen schon der erste Teil bis ins Unendliche gehyped wurde. Einzig die stetige Veränderung der Welt wurde nach wie vor in Kapitel verlegt, aber das tut dem Spielspaß keinen Abbruch. Ein perfekt intuitives Kampfsystem, fantastische Atmosphäre und eine wahrhaftig epische Storyline – als Fan von RPGs muss man dieses Spiel besitzen. Fable II setzt wahrhaftig neue Meilensteine in der Geschichte der RPGs!

At the end of the day, though, despite its relative lack of combat challenge, we still had an absolute ball playing through this game. The combat is a great deal of fun and there’s just so much other stuff packed in that you’ve always got countless things to keep you busy, and it’s never less than enthralling seeing how everything in the world interrelates. Best of all, while the story represents an engaging ride, it’s really only one piece of Fable II. After the story is done and dusted, you make another choice about your role in the world and back in you go – ready to complete unfinished quests, snag any remaining collectibles, continue leveling up and buying property, and above all, continuing to experiment. For all its flaws, Fable II is still a masterful piece of game design, and utterly compelling.

Fable 2 has become a wonderful, exciting fairy tale, one in which the promises of freedom of choice, real role-playing and an exciting world have finally been fulfilled. Regrettably, some technical shortcomings like the many loading times, the sometimes inadequate interface and the not always well devised fighting system make the whole a bit less pleasant. However, at no time those negative points will be able to stop you from fully enjoying this warm, pleasant game in which you can let yourself go and in which you can enjoy the humour, the fantasy, the surprising end and the many unforgettable moments.

If you’ve never played an RPG before, it’s the perfect game to start with. If you have, you’re still gonna like it. The art design and branching conversations got me, I’m giving it 9.

There is a whole lot more to say about Fable 2, but frankly, I'd rather play it, and advise you to do the same. Whatever small flaws it may have, it remains an absolutely great RPG with many unique features; a kind of game that doesn't come around very often. If you've spent time with Fable 1 you will find many things recognizable, but unless you are an insane innovation junkie, this won't spoil your experience in the slightest and will make you feel right at home. If you have even the tiniest interest in role-playing games, this one is an absolute must have, and even if you don't, you might just want to check it out anyway, because this kind of gaming excellence is worth admiring from up close.

"Fable II" é incrivelmente sofisticado e envolvente. Apesar do enredo principal simples e repleto de clichês, o jogo brilha em seus detalhes. As missões paralelas, seus personagens coadjuvantes e elementos periféricos parecem estranhamente vivos e charmosos, dominando nossa percepção. Ainda que o sistema de expressões pareça caricato demais e o tom um tanto infantil destoe de muitos elementos da trama, o game é bastante sensível e interessante, até mesmo para aqueles que imaginam já ter vivido de tudo em um RPG.

Ultimately, the main storyline of Fable II isn't as engaging as it could be, but the world of Albion is so rich and filled with possible activities, collectibles and quests that it's hard to depart after the main quest has ended, and I often found it difficult to motivate myself to continue the main quest with so much else to do. Still, whether you pursue the fable itself, it's easy to recommend Fable II as many hours of fun for anyone. I may not have fallen in love with the dog, but I certainly fell in love with the potential of Albion.

The video game industry is often criticised for churning out carbon copy shooters, delivering little more than a different way to mass murder hundreds of identikit enemies. Fable II is different. It's a game that makes you think about what you're doing. It hasn't perfected the RPG, and in truth isn't close to doing so, but it's a massive step in the right direction and a beautiful game to boot. If you think you have what it takes to be a righteous hero, give Fable II a try. You might not be the angel you think you are.

From start to finish Fable 2 is a great game that stands out as one of the better role-playing experiences on the current consoles. It presents a thriving and believable world with interesting characters, charm, and a whole lot of things to do. The world is literally your oyster and when you're not wandering around looking for hobbes to kill, you'll probably be blacksmithing, digging up treasure with your dog, or out saving people's necks. No matter how you look at it Fable 2 is a success that is everything the first game should have been and more. The game comes highly recommended.

Overall, Fable 2 is a fantastic game. Lionhead did a great job in bringing the world of Albion to life on the XBox360 and you could spend many, many hours simply exploring the world of Albion. The “bread crumb” trail concept is also a thing of brilliance. You can explore the world at any time and go anywhere without the risk of getting lost. Whenever you are ready to continue on with your quest, simply follow the trail to the next destination. Combat works really well and the world definitely feels alive. It feels like things are happening, even when you are not there. Fable 2 is one title among many this holiday season but be sure to give this one a try. For gamers who enjoy RPG titles, you will get a kick out of how deep this game can be. If you are brand new to the genre, you can also play this game as casually as you would like without getting overwhelmed.

That is essentially Fable II's trick; it successfully manages to humanise a bunch of polygons in ways that few games can. The inclusion of your dog, the accessible combat system and the trail are all things which make it enjoyable to play, but it's the humour and way in which your hero interacts with the rest of Albion which will really keep you coming back for more. Fable II is ambitious and inclusive, but this time Lionhead's audacity really has paid off.

From the amazingly vast landscape to the equally impressive NPC interaction to the first-rate story to the many, many choices and gameplay freedom it presents to gamers, to the co-op that will have gamers coming back for return visits to Albion long after the revenge on Lucien has been satisfyingly taken, Fable II is a stellar and engrossing RPG of the highest order.

So yes, Fable 2 is fantastic. It’s much better than most were expecting from it, and is even good enough to rival the upcoming (probably released by the time you read this) Fallout 3, perhaps even bettering it. You can look now, Peter Molyneux; your game is superb.

Dieses ganze Drumherum und eben die Tatsache, dass ich beim Spielen total die Zeit vergessen habe, waren dann letztendlich der Grund, eben die besagten 90% zu vergeben. Sicher, auch ein Fable 2 ist nicht das Überspiel, es ist aber definitiv der Titel, der den leicht angekratzten Ruf von Peter Molyneux wieder reingewaschen hat. Hoffen wir, dass der gute Peter in Zukunft weiter ein so glückliches Händchen hat.

Overall Fable II is a rock solid role-playing game with a wide breadth of features. Admittedly a fair number of the features don't have a lot of depth, but there's such a variety of things to do that you can invest a considerable number of hours into this game. That is provided, of course, that you don’t play simply the primary quest, which would be a waste. To be truly experienced, you need to go forth, marry, have children, be good or evil, corrupt or benevolent, and play the game accordingly. This is where the depth is, and this is where the true awe sets in while playing. Fable II grabs you and immerses you into a fantastic fantasy world, one that you won't want to leave.

Fable II évoque à n'en pas douter une version améliorée et plus accessible de son prédécesseur. Fort d'un univers envoûtant, soutenu par des mécanismes de jeu intelligents, il se montre effectivement digne de la vision de Lionhead, au sens où il possède la capacité de rassembler des joueurs aux profils très différents. Fable II renferme en outre bien des secrets qui nécessiteront sans doute de nombreuses relectures pour être révélés. Mais on appréciera avant tout la poésie de cette fable onirique et immensément attachante. N'en doutez pas, Fable II se pose véritablement comme l'une des valeurs sûres de la ludothèque 360.

What's more, I'll gladly play Fable II again, especially if it means going into action in online co-op, which is available now by the way (just log in via Xbox Live to find your fellow online combatant). As it stands, Fable II is one of the best releases in 2008, one that's indeed worth your time and money.

Fable II cleaves its own path through the action adventure jungle, picking up rules it likes and inventing new ones where standards have grown clichéd. It is deceptively simple but is bursting with life and will have you addicted for weeks.

Fable 2 achieves significant milestones for game design as a whole, forcing players to face their own internal conscience to receive the punishments and rewards for their behavior. Few games foster so much emotional weight and leverage so well, and fewer still complement such ambitious and abstract design with practical, fun gameplay mechanics. Peter Molyneux has got his groove back and Microsoft has found their Zelda.

Those problems aside, Fable II is a remarkable sequel and a wonderful role-playing romp that fans will appreciate, one with a splendid presentation and the freedom of choice. It's the kind of story you'll wish never ends.

Consequently Fable 2 is a game that should be played accordingly to be enjoyed to the maximum, which is to say everything should be sampled and nothing overdone. So smash some heads and flirt with the villagers, and when that gets dull try shooting some fools and kicking some chickens, or zapping a skeleton and playing your lute in the town square. Teach your dog to chase his tail. Buy a bar and double the prices. Buy a house and let people live there for free. Save a temple, or let it burn. Pick some flowers for your wife and child, or wives and children, or husbands and…well, you get the idea. Each individual experience may not be deepest, but sometimes an ocean of shallow is almost as good. Maybe even better.

Fable II presents you with difficult, meaningful decisions that shape the development of the world around you. You'll experience life from a young age and see your character grow up to become a powerful force in Albion. Whether or not you become a force for good or for evil is completely up to you. We thoroughly enjoyed Fable II, and heartily recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good role-playing game.

Fable II is a solid and ambitious title. While it didn’t deliver on some parts as much as it should, the fundamentals in the game are solid enough to make this one of the best action/RPG titles on the platform. It provides an experience that isn’t as stat-heavy and complex as Oblivion, and satisfies that Zelda-itch. My biggest gripes are length and the lack of true choice. The title is fun to play, and fans of the first game will be right at home. The length should be a concern, though you can play past the ending and a downloadable expansion has already been announced. I really can't say too much bad about Fable II. I had fun playing it, and it kept me playing from start to finish despite its flaws.

Maybe they should call the game “Retirement”, since that’s the most attractive aspect of it. When I actually had missions I needed to complete, I was frustrated by dumb things like bad collision detection and a less than helpful dog making the whole thing excruciating at times. The fact that Fable II is best when you’re done with it could be seen as one of the ultimate back-handed compliments. It’s not. I’ll probably keep playing it for ages, at least until I can afford to buy that castle.

I have been waiting a long time for a return to Albion. The past four years were well spent by Lionhead. Fable II has a great combat system, some excellent atmosphere, a smart experience system, and lots to do. It’s only when you start exploring the social aspects that things take a downturn. The expressions system is too goofy for the more serious tone of Fable II and almost every interaction feels artificial. The sandbox elements aren’t nearly as enjoyable as the adventure aspects.

Fable II is almost easier to classify as a sandbox game than as an RPG. The main plot and combat don't exactly stand out and are perhaps the title's weakest points. Fable II is short and easy, and the plot is mostly boring. Fable II isn't a game you buy to finish, but a game that you buy if you want to goof around. It's a game where the most fun is had while interacting with townsfolk, mastering your blacksmithing skill, buying houses, or doing bizarre side-quests, like helping a lonely gravekeeper create a female Frankenstein or helping Farmer Giles find a girlfriend for his son Rupert. Fable II is a game that encourages you to do anything but finish the main story, and considering how dull that story is, you'll probably be glad to agree.

It's hard not to get sucked into Fable II. The world is so charming and your choices so profound, that it's easy to look past the game's shortcomings. The punishment for death is pointless and the story carries little weight, but the experience is still immensely rewarding. It's easy to lose hours to trivial tasks, and discovering all the secrets tucked away creates a truly memorable adventure. The new ideas presented here may not change the future of gaming, but there are some noteworthy additions that make this feel completely unique. Your emotional attachment to your virtual dog will be real, making you reliant upon his companionship as you trek through these lands. In a game about choices, the wisest one you can make is to play the game. After spending a few hours in Albion, you won't want to do anything else.

Here's a litmus test: If playing fetch with your virtual dog doesn't move you, the rest of the game probably won't, either.

Fable II might be a shallow RPG that's a bit too easy (I have never died), and if you're looking for a challenge, it's not here. But that's because it's not really an RPG. Difficulty, stat-obsession, and death is as pointless in Fable II as it is in The Sims. It's not about getting to level 50 or defeating the evil overlord; it's about simply mucking about in a WTFOMH full of adventure, bright colors, sex, and wry humor.

Avec ses beaux petits villages très animés et ses cimetières où rodent des morts-vivants, Albion est une terre d’opportunités d’une richesse et d’une cohérence pas loin d’être stupéfiante, où l’on fait – presque – tout ce que l’on veut, comme on le souhaite. Appliqués lorsqu’il s’agit de créer tout un monde, les fidèles de Peter Molyneux sont un peu plus à la peine lorsqu’il s’agit d’y mettre en place des mécaniques de jeu imparables. Combats confus, ennemis peu variés, inventaire lamentable, mini-jeux ratés, pérégrinations usantes, mille et une petites choses privent, à nos yeux, ce Fable II du statut de chef d’œuvre. Mais si vous rêvez de champs verdoyants, de bateaux pirates, de magies et de flingues, et que vous êtes sensible aux belles aventures racontées avec un humour so british – mais en français dans le texte – cette histoire-là ne vous laissera certainement pas indifférent.

Fable II vous prendra environ une quinzaine d’heures à compléter la première fois. Il y a bon nombre de quêtes secondaires qui pourra vous aider à augmenter cette durée de vie, quoique bon nombre d’entre eux sont surtout de petits jeux d’adresse. Il est possible d’y jouer en mode coopératif également, ce qui peut être amusant avec un plus jeune. On peut facilement passer de bon à méchant, et parfois sans le savoir, ce qui vous permettra d’essayer les deux « modes » du jeu. On notera cependant qu’il est beaucoup plus facile d’être méchant dans le jeu que de tenter d’être pieux. Une fois le jeu complété, il y a peu d’arguments pour le refaire une seconde fois malheureusement.

Riche, complet, captivant... la liste des qualificatifs est longue lorsque l'on évoque Fable II. Pourtant, la partie n'était pas gagnée d'avance après un premier épisode certes réussi, mais bien loin des promesses initiales de son créateur. Et si le phénomène touche également cette suite (mais dans une bien moindre mesure), on se souviendra davantage de son univers vivant et cohérent ainsi que de son atmosphère unique, tour à tour poétique, dramatique et même parfois burlesque avec cet humour potache typiquement anglais. Des éléments déjà effleurés dans Fable premier du nom, mais ici sublimés, notamment par une partie visuelle de haut vol, et associés à quelques nouveautés bien senties et aussi surprenantes que l'ajout de ce chien, étonnament attachant. Bien qu'assez répétitifs et brouillons, les combats affichent, eux aussi, une certaine maturité dans ce Fable II, qui n'est pour autant pas exempt de tout reproche, loin de là, à commencer par une trame principale bien courte.

Overall, I enjoyed playing Fable 2, I may even go as far as to say I will continue to play it when I leave the bit-tech offices. For people who are starting out playing computer games I definitely recommend it. I don't recommend it as much for experienced gamers though. I think they would enjoy the different ways in which you can play the game, and change the fate of Sparrow, but really the fighting skills needed were extremely basic and people who play games a lot may find it too easy.

The relatively small amount of hype surrounding Lionhead's latest title seems a little odd and slightly disconcerting, considering the typical grandeur we've come to expect from creative director Peter Molyneux. Presumably slightly belittled by his claims billing the original Fable as the greatest RPG ever created, the return to Albion seems somewhat subdued to what we typically expect from a videogame sporting Lionhead's familiar logo. Perhaps some of the apprehension stems from the fact that, despite switching to new hardware, Fable 2 sticks largely to the same formula and adopts an evolutionary approach as opposed to rewriting the rulebook.

По большому счету, Fable 2 — не столько игра, сколько набор забавных игрушек. Тот, кто воспринимает RPG как интерактивные книги и презирает девиз «развлеки себя сам», едва ли оценит здешнюю «песочницу». Однако Lionhead и не рассчитывала на любителей морщить лоб. Она знакомит с жанром игроков, доселе обходивших его стороной. Авторы снесли уйму преград, сделав геймплей максимально удобным и доступным.

In closing, Fable 2 seems to be a light hearted, witty, casual role-playing game offering you more of an experience than an actual challenge. Despite a wide variety of activities available for participation in Albion, none feel fleshed out or developed enough to their true potential. Instead of an independent living world to be immersed in, it’s more akin to “by the numbers” questing with some lackluster mini games tagged alongside. Despite some great original ideas, witty humour and, of course, Peter Molyneux’s endearing enthusiasm, it’s hard to walk away from Fable 2 completely pleased with the end result. Rather you’ll feel more than disappointed for what this game could have been.

With a half-baked story, lack of challenge, and especially the embarrassing amount of bugs, Fable 2 fails to be the game it could have been without these flaws. Without the glitches and the bugs I would've awarded the game a 9, but because I had to restart the game twice due to two different bugs, I imagine other players have had to do so as well, and thus I knocked off 2 points from its score. While it is true that this game is prime for DLC material, anything extra that I pay for this game is only going to make me think that I paid extra to buy what I probably should have gotten in the first place.

This vignette in Peter Molyneux’s library lacks the timelessness of Aesop’s parables, reaches for the cautionary nature of the Brothers Grimm, but ultimately settles on a modern-day metaphor of the ills awaiting a technology-dependent society. Your dog can’t sniff it out, so you’ll have to dig for the surprisingly rich subtexts in Knothole Island yourself.

Interacting with Albion’s residents must be roughly how Hannibal Lecter feels making small-talk at a dinner party. You make the gestures; you smile, because everyone else is smiling. But now someone’s told a joke and everyone is making that happy noise, the coughing barking sound (what do they call it?) so you follow suit. Nod, form a smile, pick up a canapé. There’s an emotional gulf between the player and the NPCs, like interacting with your mother through a sheet of Perspex every Tuesday morning during visiting hours.

When all is said and done, there is a lot of good to be had in Fable II. There's some innovation in the cooperative play and some interesting moments of aesthetics, storytelling, and decision-making; but for a game that plays like an RPG, there is surprisingly little sophistication in the implementation of character development, inventory, and NPC interactions. In addition, the show-stopping bugs present in the game are, quite frankly, unacceptable in a retail title; the prevalence of online access is not an excuse to release broken content and fix it later. Despite some ingenuity and artistry, the carelessness of Fable II's execution is an insult to what it could have been.