I still have a shrink-wrapped, unopened copy of Fable for the original Xbox sitting on my shelf at home, and I am still forlorn over the fact that I have not yet been able to find the time to play it. You see, sometimes when you’re always reviewing games, it’s tough to find a way to make time for “pleasure” gaming. But after spending some time with Fable 2 today, the original has been bumped close to the top of my “to play” list. I now intend to complete the game before the sequel arrives so that I can experience Fable 2 the way it was meant to be.
Regardless, Fable 2 works very much like its predecessor, as the formula works so well Microsoft mostly saw fit to simply expand upon what was offered the first time around. Fable 2 is a beautiful experience featuring ever more depth in terms of everything—more choices, more repercussions, more towns, more land, more NPCs with whom to interact—which should already make it enticing enough. But don’t worry about getting lost; an optional breadcrumb feature will always show you the way if you’re ever finding yourself disoriented.
The E3 demo featured a couple of different areas to play through. The first was a combat sequence of sorts where you walk through a set of areas filled with bad guys. Gritty and rather dark, the atmosphere was suitable, though not quite as beautiful as that of the second half of the demo. Regardless, combat is easy to get used to and sufficiently complex, with all three styles of attack—sword, magic, and gun—able to be charged up for a super-powerful strike. The charged sword strike is simply a more powerful version of the normal strike, but the other two attacks are a little more unique when charged. The charged gun goes into aiming mode, where you can target an enemy fire from a distance with increased precision and power. Meanwhile, the charged magic attack is sweet, progressing through a number of levels of power and discharging either directionally or as an area attack (this is at the discretion of the caster).
As you damage and defeat enemies, they spill small orbs of different colors correspondent to which attack produced them. Each color increases the experience level for that particular attack, resulting in a targeted leveling system.
The second demo was a little more involved, though very little combat was involved. You’re dropped right into the start of the game, with the beautiful opening movie playing first (complete with amazingly well-composed soundtrack). Next, you find yourself in the same town as the first game… but now, it’s much larger and more developed. But that hardly benefits our young hero, who is instead relegated to a tiny outdoor shack on the outskirts of the snowy, amazingly artistic town.
However, his luck soon changes when the local merchant unknowingly introduces a magic box that will grant its owner a single wish. As usual, it’s assumed that its value is merely a function of salesman banter… until a strange woman eerily professes its unseen power to our hero and his sister. So, with newfound intentions of owning the box, he makes his way around town to scrounge up the requisite five gold pieces.
Along the way, he encounters a new staple of the game: his soon-to-be dog companion, an unconditional friend who will remain with him throughout the entire game. But at the moment, he’s being accosted by a young bully who seems to think picking on him is fun. Save him and you’ve managed your first heroic act.
Shortly afterward, you earn your five gold pieces by posing for a photograph, and you’re off to buy your box. You bring it back to your spot and your sister makes a wish to live in the castle… but the results are tragic. The next morning, when you’re taken to meet the head of the castle, he inexplicably shoots her in front of your very eyes, and then throws you through a stained glass window. As you come to on the rocks below, it’s clear at once that your objective is vengeance, which you can now begin working to achieve at your own pace and by your own method.
The game is beautiful—sort of like a watercolor version of Kameo. It looks like it’s going to be quite the catch upon its release this holiday season. Stay tuned and we’ll have more for you soon.
