threevue

Russ wrote some good stuff about Fable 2 a long time ago, but Tyler and I were too lazy to do the same. We don’t want him to suffer due to our extreme lethargy, so here is what he said.

Russ:
When it comes down to it, Fable II ultimately feels like Zelda trapped in Microsoft’s hulking, sweaty body. The adventure elements and overall gameplay are very similar, though a little more robust than Zelda. Not having to worry about things like ammo is nice, and I preferred Fable II‘s story (although it should have been several hours longer, considering how long this game was in development). But when it comes to level design and overall fun, Zelda (Twilight Princess in particular) easily wins. It may be unfair to compare Fable II with one of the most enduring video game franchises in history, but I can’t help but feel that it’s exactly the audience they were targeting.

In its own right, Fable II is a beautiful and engaging little title. It touts some serious gameplay mechanics – an open-ended moral system, the promise of living an entire lifetime, and consequences – and it’s hard not to appreciate the developer’s ambition. But when push comes to shove, these features feel like little adventures to distract you from the fact that this feels like half of a game. The side-quests are far too easy, and never let you really feel any sense of accomplishment when you complete them. Fable II has a whole lot of concept with too little content contained within, and it proved to be a week of fun that I may never revisit.

81/100