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MY RATING: 8.5

Fable 2 (2008)

DEVELOPED BY: Lion Head Studio

PUBLISHED BY: Microsoft Games

BRIEF SYNOPSIS: After the murder of your sister, you grow under the tutelage of gypsies to become something Albion hasn't seen in a long time, a hero.

PROS: Some major improvements on the first game; Fantasy world is rich and immersive; Engaging gameplay; Beautiful artistic design.

CONS: Armour could be better; A number of world-building elements could be improved. The story is a bit weak

BOTTOM LINE: Fable 2 does have its problems, however this game has certainly evolved for the better since its predecessor.

When I played the first game in the Fable series I enjoyed it, but I thought it needed a lot of improvement. Many things just didn't work. So when I began playing the sequel I had lower expectations. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the sequel made several improvements to most of the annoying issues in the first game, not to mention a number of fine additions of its own

First of all, this game is beautifully designed. The environments in the world of Albion are designed to look somewhat fantasy-like yet they remain believable. You will find yourself stopping on occasion just to admire the wonderful caves, or the lush forests.

There were several great improvements to the first game. First of all, the world is not just limited to four or five character models and voice actors. The AI still retain their quirky nature typical of Fable but they no longer feel like unnecessary last minute additions to the story. The world is definitely richer and more diverse. Another great addition is the pet dog who accompanies you throughout the game. Over time you'll find that you've become attached to the dog and even miss it during the brief moments when you are separated. The gameplay is similarly improved encouraging use of all the difference disciplines instead of just focusing on one. A

For some reason, however, there were a few things that were better in the first game. First of these would be items, armor, and weapons. The first game made better use of improving each of these things making it funner and more challenging to look for better weapons and armor. In Fable 2, however, it makes very little difference what you wear and some of the excitement in searching for upgrades is lost.

In addition, several of the world-building elements, though improved, could be taken a step farther. I'm talking about interaction with communities. You can spend a lot of time doing nothing but earning money, interacting with the locals, etc. but this can get boring after a while and it becomes tempting to simply continue with the story. And speaking of the story, I'd say it is another of the game elements that has declined. I'd call it a bit under-motivated and predictable.

Overall, I was hooked to Fable 2 from the moment I began to play it. It's satisfying gameplay and stunning visuals are enough to keep anyone glued to the screen for a while.