Fable II is a good game, but nothing spectacular. For a game that is driven by story and narrative, the game lacks in both areas.  The story is cliche and forgettable, and doesn't really make you want to progress through the game. You begin the game as a child, where you are faced with a few good vs evil decisions that wouldn't seem that important to the world around you, but somehow end up changing the way the city looks when you return after you've grown up. Your sister is killed, and you are hurt but not killed (although you should be dead), making the rest of the story a quest for revenge. Who didn't see that coming?

While I have had nothing good to say about the game so far, that doesn't mean that this game isn't fun. The combat in the game is really what saves it from being a poor game. While it is very simple, having one button for melee, ranged, and magic attacks, the combat is fluid and lets you switch from one type of attack with ease. The experience and skill level system is also pretty brilliant, are you gain exp based on which type of attach you used to kill an enemy, but also general experience as well that can be used towards any of the 3 attack types. I don't think that aspect of the game could have been done any better. The problem with gaining experience is that you after you defeat an enemy (or enemies), you have to hold the right trigger to absorb the orbs of experience. While it may not seem like a huge deal before you have played it, the orbs don't sit around forever, meaning you have to frequently absorb your experience before they go away, even if there are more enemies around you. It would be much easier if your character automatically absorbed the experience, or just gained experience without having to collect little colored orbs after a fight. This is just my personal opinion, but I think it is an unneeded element of the game.

With games like Gears of War, Call of Duty, Mass Effect, and Bioshock out on the Xbox 360, graphics in games have been shown to be improving at an alarming rate. Just when you think a game is the best looking game ever, another game comes out and tops it significantly. Fable 2 does not look like one of those games. The artistic design is pretty well done, it does a good job of capturing a fantasy world. Technically, the game is a disappointment, especially with the length of development and the fact that the Xbox 360 is in its 4th year (was 3rd year when it was released) on the market. The graphics look underwhelming, not that they are supposed to be realistic, but they just look ordinary. The sound on the other hand is great. The music is perfect for the setting and context, and the voice acting is fantastic. Strangely enough, your character, while being the greatest hero in the history of Albion, does not know one word of English. Strange if you ask me.

Overall, I give this game a 3 out of 5. A 3 out of 5 means a rental by my standards, as the main quest of the game isn't that long and if you like the game enough you can buy it pretty cheap now and do all the side quests if you'd like. This game has much more in it then quests but I haven't gotten into it because they really shouldn't effect whether you purchase the game or not. The combat is fun and the sound is great, but other than that this game is nothing but ordinary.
Fable II is a good game, but nothing spectacular. For a game that is driven by story and narrative, the game lacks in both areas. The story is cliche and forgettable, and doesn't really make you want to progress through the game. You begin the game as a child, where you are faced with a few good vs evil decisions that wouldn't seem that important to the world around you, but somehow end up changing the way the city looks when you return after you've grown up. Your sister is killed, and you are hurt but not killed (although you should be dead), making the rest of the story a quest for revenge. Who didn't see that coming? While I have had nothing good to say about the game so far, that doesn't mean that this game isn't fun. The combat in the game is really what saves it from being a poor game. While it is very simple, having one button for melee, ranged, and magic attacks, the combat is fluid and lets you switch from one type of attack with ease. The experience and skill level system is also pretty brilliant, are you gain exp based on which type of attach you used to kill an enemy, but also general experience as well that can be used towards any of the 3 attack types. I don't think that aspect of the game could have been done any better. The problem with gaining experience is that you after you defeat an enemy (or enemies), you have to hold the right trigger to absorb the orbs of experience. While it may not seem like a huge deal before you have played it, the orbs don't sit around forever, meaning you have to frequently absorb your experience before they go away, even if there are more enemies around you. It would be much easier if your character automatically absorbed the experience, or just gained experience without having to collect little colored orbs after a fight. This is just my personal opinion, but I think it is an unneeded element of the game. With games like Gears of War, Call of Duty, Mass Effect, and Bioshock out on the Xbox 360, graphics in games have been shown to be improving at an alarming rate. Just when you think a game is the best looking game ever, another game comes out and tops it significantly. Fable 2 does not look like one of those games. The artistic design is pretty well done, it does a good job of capturing a fantasy world. Technically, the game is a disappointment, especially with the length of development and the fact that the Xbox 360 is in its 4th year (was 3rd year when it was released) on the market. The graphics look underwhelming, not that they are supposed to be realistic, but they just look ordinary. The sound on the other hand is great. The music is perfect for the setting and context, and the voice acting is fantastic. Strangely enough, your character, while being the greatest hero in the history of Albion, does not know one word of English. Strange if you ask me. Overall, I give this game a 3 out of 5. A 3 out of 5 means a rental by my standards, as the main quest of the game isn't that long and if you like the game enough you can buy it pretty cheap now and do all the side quests if you'd like. This game has much more in it then quests but I haven't gotten into it because they really shouldn't effect whether you purchase the game or not. The combat is fun and the sound is great, but other than that this game is nothing but ordinary.