Fable II Reviews
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When you get right down to it, Fable II is a game that frustrates more than it fulfills. The social simulation at the core of things is just too shallow to provide any sort of emotionally fulfilling experience. The adventuring bits are definitely entertaining, the character customization brings some much-needed depth and the writing is nothing short of stellar, but the overwhelming hype leading to Fable II's release has once again fallen far short of the mark. Instead of harping about what could have been, enjoy the game for what it is: an atypical RPG with Sims-like elements. Just make sure you skip the co-op.
Followed by Giant Bomb with a score of 4/5:
Fable II comes packed to the gills with content to keep you busy. While there are definitely some issues with the user interface and the occasional NPC freakout, they are easy to stagger past whilst getting drunk on the world. After you've beaten the main quest you can go back and finish up side missions, find collectibles, or better yet, start a new character and make totally different choices. With its peculiar blend of charm and dark humor, Fable II is an adventure that will leave you with your own unique tales to tell.
Then NZGamer with a score of 8.9/10:
Fable II isn't perfect, and some of its features don't live up to the hype. But taken as a whole, as an experience rather than a series of discrete mechanics, this is a game that if you let it will draw you into its world.and then let you run loose in it. It feels refreshing enough to breathe new life into this crowded genre, and if you're an RPG fan even a casual one then this should definitely be on your '˜must play' list.
Moving on to G4 with a perfect score of 5/5:
Fable II's endgame would be a much larger issue were it not for the fact that, upon the main quest's conclusion, you can return to Albion to keep playing, with some quests unavailable until finishing. The game excels with a world that you inhabit and alter, combat that may be the best mechanic of the year, and visuals that invite aimless exploration, and for these reasons I intend to play the game all over again, for myself, and maybe a little for the sake of my wife.
And we conclude with Gaming Target, who give it a score of 8.9/10:
Fable 2 is a great example of developers listening to its audience, as it delivers on the original promises of the first game and brings back everything we loved about it in spades. Although the presence of an extremely short central storyline is disappointing, the game's attention to sidequests, jobs, and player freedom helps make the game stand alone from a recently crowded 360 RPG lineup. If you're looking for the best narrative on the 360, look towards other games like Mass Effect or Tales of Vesperia as Fable 2's certainly does not measure up. However, if you're looking for the most well-rounded RPG on the 360 look no further. Fable 2 will have you playing far into the year's end and beyond.
