Fable II

I like many was excitedly counting down to the release of fable 2, I was a huge fable fan and play through the game several times to complete every quest and get every weapons. So when fable 2 was released I was excited to give it a try,

Unfortunately I found this game far less entertaining and challenging compared to the original. The same basic style of game is there, but it is the things that they changed that I didn't like, the major one is that you cant die in the game. It takes away all the challenge of the game, because no matter what enemy you face if you keep at it you'll beat them, if you run out of health you just get knocked out and bounce right back to keep fighting which eventually got pretty boring. The next thing that they changed that got to me was the way you control spells. They have this power up system to it so to get higher level spells you have to sit and charge them up instead of them being unleashed from the beginning like the original, also they did away with the magic meter which again makes the game easier when you can keep constantly dishing out spells and never run out of power. That last major bother for me in the game is the story, well not the story, but again the ease of it, I wont put any spoilers in here but there are no big boss battles anymore, or at least the are battles the seemed like boss battle but since you can't die they felt incredibly easy, especially the final fight with Lucien, way too easy.

Those are the major disappointments in the game for me, the rest are minor content stuff like the elimination of armor in the game, now all the clothing are just clothes like tunics and stuff, no cool looking armor which sucks in a game that is still primarily based on sword fighting, but those are just preference things that don't really affect overall game play.

Overall this game is disappointingly different from the first game so don't go into it expecting a lot if you enjoyed the first game like I did and you like a bit of a challenge in the games you play.

IMO: When a sequel is launched, there are a few important criteria that must be met for it to be successful.

1. Does the gameplay improve?
2. Does the story continue into new and interesting territory?
3. Do the graphics improve?
4. Are the throwbacks from the first game improved by a large amount?
5. Do I feel continuity from the old game and a desire to replay it?

My answers to these questions:
1. Slightly... fable 1 had a very odd interface about casting "Will" spells and it required a high degree of human dexterity to successfully quickly cast spells intermingled with other attacks. Fable2 solves some of these problems by allowing users to bind a spell to the "B" button so that you dont need to hit the right trigger at the same time to cast, however, they introduced casting time for higher level spells so holding B becomes an annoyance.

2. Fable2's story is actually pretty funny. They start by pointing out that the "old heroes" (from fable1) became arrogant and ran amuck. Much like I did after beating fable1 and getting bored with no quests to completed... so this is funny... but outside that one joke, pretty much all previous story lines are erased (not that fable1 had much of a story).

3. Yes, xbox360 graphics for Fable2 are very pretty and I've actually caught myself enjoying a sunrise / sunset or two. Character / weapon graphics are good and the "finishing" moves are fun. However the fights (while graphically are fun) are pretty generic and bland, with only two types: you vs. boss, you vs. hoardes. I would have liked to be required to outsmart someone, or do something more interesting than just mush X until the people die.

4. Fable 2 could easily be Fable 1. The existing things are there, and the new additions? Well there aren't many... Your dog is kinda fun, but you can only do a few things with him. Jobs are a good easy way to get gold, but are completely monotonous (like real life i guess), dying your clothes colors... whee... for 5 minutes... The weapons / behavior quests are all pretty darn similar / same... There just wasn't anything drastically new / exciting. I enjoy playing, but there's no real wow factor bringing me back.

5. As I wrote earlier, one of the first things they tell you in Fable2 is that the Fable 1 world is not around anymore. So.. uh.. no. and I have pretty much no interest in playing fable 1 cuz it's pretty much the same :(

All in all, as a stand-alone new game... it's ok, nothing special and nothing that's terribly memorable since all the cool things you can do in fable 2 (like git-busy) were there in fable 1... meh... but as a sequel it's bad... it's not halo-2 pick up a second gun... it's halo-3... not much new, not enough exciting changes to live up to it's own reputation.

ok first of this game is great, with graphic and gameplay, but its sort of short and not much to do after the story and it gets repetitive after sometime, but can't wait for the new DLCs (Downloadable Content).

I was fortunate enough to run into two of the glitches. First was while talking to the monk in Oakfield, losing me about 10 hours of playtime and the second was after re-beating the contest in wraithmarch. Only buy this one if your blood pressure levels are normal and you have no pre-existing medical conditions. I suggest doing something less stressfull like taking a drive through rush-hour traffic on a long weekend afternoon with your mother in law.

We got Fable II for our son's birthday present & we all have characters now! The scenery is beautiful, lots of freedom to run around & find things, you can swim in this one.You can't jump unless it has a signal to allow you but you don't really need to. We like to go through good & then bad so we'll all play it again at least once more. Lots of options to change the characters. Lots of Fun!