Previews

Let me tell you a story...

Four long years ago, Xbox gamers were whipped into a frenzy by the fast-turning PR machine of Peter Molyneux's Lionhead Studios. The man behind Populous and Black & White promised an RPG to kick the genre up the backside, with features that sounded so good, you couldn't help but want to 'em to be true.

Sadly, Fable fell short. We expected the world to react organically to our actions, letting us start a family, buy a house, raise kids, go on quests, womanise, flaunt and fight across Albion as a husband, father, hero, villain, warrior and part-time lothario.

Exploring Albion anew

Instead, we got a decent enough medieval romp with handy hack-and-slash combat, basic good or evil decisions, and a few novel sidequests. It was less of a kick, and more of a joypad rumble.

But, backed by the power of Xbox 360, Molyneux may yet make good on his word. Fable II sincerely looks like being the title we were promised, with its creator this time largely keeping shtum to let the HD scenery, expansive gameworld and Fable II's full list of features speak for themselves.

Starting as a small boy (or this time, girl), Fable II is still about one hero's journey from childhood, through adolescence, to adulthood fame or infamy. Its set 500 years on from the first game, however, meaning Fable II's rendition of Albion will feel fresh and dazzlingly in-depth enough for even to long-term fans to enjoy exploring anew.

At the heart of Fable II will still be Molyneux's moral compass, this time far more fun than before. Decisions will again affect the look of your character – turning you into a halo-wearing bastion of light or spiky-headed half-demon, depending on your choices – but this time will also affect the look of your pet dog, who will be with you throughout Fable II.

Dragon's Del

Decisions in Fable II should have more far-reaching consequences, too. As a whippersnapper you're asked to track down five warrants. Go the goody two-shoes route and give them to the authorities, and your village will become a cornerstone of trade. Hand them to bandits and by adulthood, Bowerstone will be a thrivingly putrid outpost for crims, cowards and dodgy dealings.

Moral choices, then, will intrinsically affect your earning power in Fable II – and that's bound to have a huge influence on the way you play. In Fable II you're able to buy just about everything (apart from love – GTA this is not!). The minute you hit adulthood you can do a Del Boy and eek out profit by renting out your caravan for five gold pieces per day, and that's just the first rung of the Fable II property ladder, with huts, caves and castles all available in your bid to become the Highwayman-era Theo Paphitis.

As if that wasn't enough, there's also Molyneux's promises made good; marriage, kids and all manner of sidequests await you on your adventures, with a golden dust trail putting you back on track should you ever feel lost.

There's a distinct showoff streak in Fable II then, which might perfectly compliment the new online play (which should be available to download around a week after launch). In a world where everything you do has an effect, every character you interact with forms an opinion of you and your avatar themself can be customised, decorated and adorned with all manner of clothes, weapons and titles, inviting a friend to drop in and play at any time could make this a real winner.

Happily ever after?

Our one big worry for Fable II was the fighting. Talk of 'one-button combat' sounded as deep as your average Big Brother contestant, so we were relieved to discover there will actually be a button each for Fable II's melee, ranged and magic attacks, and context-sensitive actions letting you vault around the environment like a medieval Chuck Norris. With horns.

Four years on, then, and hopes are high for Lionhead's latest. This may finally be the Fable to finish happily ever after.

Preview by: Mark 'Storyteller' Scott
Preview Published: 26.09.08