So there I was--at the end of the main story. I had become a powerful warrior and a true saint, complete with a bright halo above my head and blue eyes. I had "climbed the dizzying heights of celebrity," as one villager told me. Now, it was time for my skills to be put to the test, a moment when I thought to myself, "The finale is going to be brilliant. It just has to be! Okay, so maybe the rest of the story was a little bland, and the characters were uninteresting...but that doesn't mean anything. The ending can change all of that. Wait. You mean all I have to do is press the "A" button? No final boss fight? No climactic showdown? And all I get from being a noble, sacrificing hero is a thank-you card?" It was at this realization that my moral level shifted drastically from good to evil. I could have sworn that, as soon as the end credits stopped rolling, my character's halo was suddenly replaced by two, long horns. I no longer cared what happened to little Paul the Villager or my wife, who had mysteriously disappeared from the face of the earth, or all of Albion, for that matter. All I wanted to do now was take my augmented master kitana and lay waste to the glitch-plagued villages. First, though, I wouldn't mind using some of those rude expressions on the citizens.

So, is Fable II as good as the first one? Well, it really depends on what you look for in an RPG. For me, story is a crucial ingredient. The first Fable, especially the Lost Chapters, contained a solid story and some very memorable characters, like Jack of Blades. Oh, and you could have multiple save files, instead of just one. Now, that doesn't mean there aren't things to like about Fable II. Its art direction is superb; the buildings and landscapes range from beautiful to captivating. Also, the increased emphasis on exploration makes the world seem a bit larger, though not nearly as large as was expected. A third good quality is the combat system, which seems slightly faster and more fluid. Finally, your loyal dog comes in handy, especially in finding dig spots and treasure chests, but this, like so many other features, does not come without glitches. So, if these aspects matter more to you than story, then you may thoroughly enjoy Fable II. Otherwise, you might want to skip this one.

In short, I was extremely disappointed by this highly anticipated sequel to one of my favorite games. The original wasn't perfect, by any means. It was almost as short as this game, and it didn't deliver all the features people were expecting. However, it contained a well-thought-out story that got better as it progressed. It's a shame that the experience gained from working on the first game did not contribute to an equal or even better sequel. On the bright side, though, this experience has given me the chance to see what it's like to be evil in the game. Now, where's that annoying town crier?
So there I was--at the end of the main story. I had become a powerful warrior and a true saint, complete with a bright halo above my head and blue eyes. I had "climbed the dizzying heights of celebrity," as one villager told me. Now, it was time for my skills to be put to the test, a moment when I thought to myself, "The finale is going to be brilliant. It just has to be! Okay, so maybe the rest of the story was a little bland, and the characters were uninteresting... but that doesn't mean anything. The ending can change all of that. Wait. You mean all I have to do is press the "A" button? No final boss fight? No climactic showdown? And all I get from being a noble, sacrificing hero is a thank-you card? " It was at this realization that my moral level shifted drastically from good to evil. I could have sworn that, as soon as the end credits stopped rolling, my character's halo was suddenly replaced by two, long horns. I no longer cared what happened to little Paul the Villager or my wife, who had mysteriously disappeared from the face of the earth, or all of Albion, for that matter. All I wanted to do now was take my augmented master kitana and lay waste to the glitch-plagued villages. First, though, I wouldn't mind using some of those rude expressions on the citizens. So, is Fable II as good as the first one? Well, it really depends on what you look for in an RPG. For me, story is a crucial ingredient. The first Fable, especially the Lost Chapters, contained a solid story and some very memorable characters, like Jack of Blades. Oh, and you could have multiple save files, instead of just one. Now, that doesn't mean there aren't things to like about Fable II. Its art direction is superb; the buildings and landscapes range from beautiful to captivating. Also, the increased emphasis on exploration makes the world seem a bit larger, though not nearly as large as was expected. A third good quality is the combat system, which seems slightly faster and more fluid. Finally, your loyal dog comes in handy, especially in finding dig spots and treasure chests, but this, like so many other features, does not come without glitches. So, if these aspects matter more to you than story, then you may thoroughly enjoy Fable II. Otherwise, you might want to skip this one. In short, I was extremely disappointed by this highly anticipated sequel to one of my favorite games. The original wasn't perfect, by any means. It was almost as short as this game, and it didn't deliver all the features people were expecting. However, it contained a well-thought-out story that got better as it progressed. It's a shame that the experience gained from working on the first game did not contribute to an equal or even better sequel. On the bright side, though, this experience has given me the chance to see what it's like to be evil in the game. Now, where's that annoying town crier?