C
capt_moroni
Guest
My Review of Fable 2 *Spoilers*
I know there are a bunch of these, but I felt my opinions would be lost in a sea of other opinions, so that's why I started this thread.
So here's my completely biased opinion of Fable 2.
*This thread will contain lots of spoilers, so if you want to be surprised, I suggest you wait to read this.*
Story
I had very mixed feelings about the story. It seems that it was a less epic (I don't even completely agree with THAT statement, that's how mixed it is) story (than the first one anyway), presented in a more epic way. The whole depth and breadth of the story was so large and epic. I loved how the game played out like a beautiful story, or a movie; as opposed to feeling like a video game.
My biggest complaint really is about the bad guy.
Now, it's awesome to see Lucien's character development. He goes from an unassuming man trying to revive his family to a cold blooded killer striving for world domination. He even says that it broke his heart to shoot you.
Actually, he's not really that terrible of an antagonist, it's just that he's not nearly as evil as Jack of Blades, who basically is concentrated evil. It's really hard to beat that kind of bad, but still; a bad guy striving for world domination?
I guess I'm spoiled on guys like Jack of Blades and the Joker (from Dark Knight) who want nothing more than enjoyment from chaos. You can't beat that kind of bad. Maybe if Lucien had been a tad more sinister, with a God Complex even (some may argue that he had one, but I think his aspiration to be Godlike shows his acknoledgement that he's not there yet.)
Or maybe even if you'd just have had a few more run in's with him personally.
Because I'll tell you this; I personally hated Reaver more than I could ever hate Lucien (except for the moment when he shoots your dog). He's pretencious, obnoxious, impatient, self-centered, and manipulating. He gives you the Dark Seal, tries to betray you, shoots Barnum, constantly talks down to you, is only willing to help you because his life is at stake, and promises to come back and kill you. (If you choose to buy his house)
Oh and did I mention that he traded the lives of hundreds of people for eternal youth? (Not to mention the people he has to sacrifice, like ever year.)
But, Lucien was a good bad guy. I just think he could have been better.
A few other problems with the story:
The beginning of the game felt really rushed. Although I did come to appreciate this during replays.
The game made you feel relaxed and in control, until end; which also feels rushed.
The ending was awesome because it was movie-like, but; horrible because it was extremely anti-climactic. (And even worse if you accidentally let Reaver kill Lucien, another reason I hate that dude.)
Other than that, the story and game were very epic and enveloping. I got really caught up in the game ( I think I ignored real life for 3 days ). The game as a whole really encouraged you to explore and forget about the main story sometimes. The sidequests were almost all entirely interesting and really got you involved. And kudos to whoever slapped Gargoyles into the game. I hate them so much I'm actually willing to search them all out.
Oh and choices, the game REALLY makes use of choosing your destiny and all that. The moments in the tower, the Shadow Court, and a few other neat scenes I felt were really good tests of your Hero's character. Man, I wish I could talk back to some of the characters in the game.
General Gameplay
Smooth, natural, and easy to figure out. I mean really, anyone can pick this game up and play it. Social interaction is actually fun. Although I really hate how people will follow me into my own house. Is nothing sacred? I actually had a gaggle of people follow me into my house and watch me have sex with my wife. I mean really!
The expression wheel is really cool. I just wish for more expressions. Playing the lute was a neat thing I thought. (I'm a musician)
The breadcrumb trail is brilliant.
It's not annoying, can be changed and turned off and destroys any need for a HUD. It really lets you explore, get lost, and look at the stunning scenery that the Lionhead crew developed.
The dog is just awesome. It's really not annoying at all. I don't know what I'd do without it. It's fun to play with and loves you no matter what. Probably the best innovation in the game.
In the next game though, they REALLY need to let you jump when you want to jump, rather than only at certain points. Sometimes a jump was completely safe, or a fence was easily hoppable, but it wouldn't give me that option. (Climbing trees would be a good addition too)
Oh and the one thing that I found absoutely unforgiveable was not being able to fight people hand-to-hand. I love a good brawl.
Carriages were a wonderful addition. I wish for trains or riding by horseback though. And pirating, gotta love pirates.
Combat
Other than the fact that it wasn't as epic as I'd imagined, combat is really, really fun. Flourishes are beautiful sometimes especially with the slow-mo. Ranged combat is easy to manage, and alot better than the first. The way you gain experience is masterful, not to mention the "death system." Brilliant.
My only real complaint is magic. Magic is fun, and I like what they were trying to do, but for me it was just bothersome. I like using a myriad of spells, and it gets hard...well not hard, just irksome to do with the way that magic is set up. Sometimes I like a shock spell and sometimes I like Inferno and I don't like having to choose which gets to be more powerful, or having to scroll over in the middle of a battle to select one that's equally powerful. It's not really bad, I just think it could work smoother.
Other than that I just wish that combos and environmental attacks were a little cooler. I never could swing from a chanelier, or stab someone into a wall. (Maybe I just suck at it though) And I never felt that my character was a dashing swordsman, no matter how many combos I completed.
I love how your dog will tear out a baddie's throat though. If the dog were a little more involved (albeit he is JUST a dog) that would be nice too.
And I kind of wish there were a few more enemies to choose from. Or at least felt like a little variety. Basically it's:
Beetles, Bandits and Assasins, Hollow Men, Hobbes, Balverines, Shadows, Banshees, and Trolls.
I don't know what else to add, I just wish I had more to fight than that.
But I do love fighting Hollow Men and Balverines. There a really fun fight.
Real Estate and Trading
Awesome. I loved playing the market. I loved sales. I loved entrepreneaurship.
Music
Music gets a backseat sometimes. But there was maybe one time in the whole game where the music didn't add to the whole experience. I love the way they did the music in this game. It helped get me emotionally involved.
Jobs
Until I got to the top level none of the mundane jobs (blacksmith, woodcutter, bartender) were that tedious. I actually had fun trying to get to that top level! Jobs were a good idea. Although there are a few instances where I felt that you SHOULD have been paid for quests. Like a few side quests where people asked you to risk your neck for nothing.
A good idea would have been to make being paid a choice. Like you're corrupt if you ask for money, but benevelent if you do it for free. (And maybe you get paid anyway sometimes)
Overall Fable 2 was near the best game I've ever played. I loved it, and thought it a great successor to Fable. I can't wait for the sequels and I really hope the stories of these games all tie together, because I can see connections and where they might go.
I loved this game.
I know there are a bunch of these, but I felt my opinions would be lost in a sea of other opinions, so that's why I started this thread.
So here's my completely biased opinion of Fable 2.
*This thread will contain lots of spoilers, so if you want to be surprised, I suggest you wait to read this.*
Story
I had very mixed feelings about the story. It seems that it was a less epic (I don't even completely agree with THAT statement, that's how mixed it is) story (than the first one anyway), presented in a more epic way. The whole depth and breadth of the story was so large and epic. I loved how the game played out like a beautiful story, or a movie; as opposed to feeling like a video game.
My biggest complaint really is about the bad guy.
Now, it's awesome to see Lucien's character development. He goes from an unassuming man trying to revive his family to a cold blooded killer striving for world domination. He even says that it broke his heart to shoot you.
Actually, he's not really that terrible of an antagonist, it's just that he's not nearly as evil as Jack of Blades, who basically is concentrated evil. It's really hard to beat that kind of bad, but still; a bad guy striving for world domination?
I guess I'm spoiled on guys like Jack of Blades and the Joker (from Dark Knight) who want nothing more than enjoyment from chaos. You can't beat that kind of bad. Maybe if Lucien had been a tad more sinister, with a God Complex even (some may argue that he had one, but I think his aspiration to be Godlike shows his acknoledgement that he's not there yet.)
Or maybe even if you'd just have had a few more run in's with him personally.
Because I'll tell you this; I personally hated Reaver more than I could ever hate Lucien (except for the moment when he shoots your dog). He's pretencious, obnoxious, impatient, self-centered, and manipulating. He gives you the Dark Seal, tries to betray you, shoots Barnum, constantly talks down to you, is only willing to help you because his life is at stake, and promises to come back and kill you. (If you choose to buy his house)
Oh and did I mention that he traded the lives of hundreds of people for eternal youth? (Not to mention the people he has to sacrifice, like ever year.)
But, Lucien was a good bad guy. I just think he could have been better.
A few other problems with the story:
The beginning of the game felt really rushed. Although I did come to appreciate this during replays.
The game made you feel relaxed and in control, until end; which also feels rushed.
The ending was awesome because it was movie-like, but; horrible because it was extremely anti-climactic. (And even worse if you accidentally let Reaver kill Lucien, another reason I hate that dude.)
Other than that, the story and game were very epic and enveloping. I got really caught up in the game ( I think I ignored real life for 3 days ). The game as a whole really encouraged you to explore and forget about the main story sometimes. The sidequests were almost all entirely interesting and really got you involved. And kudos to whoever slapped Gargoyles into the game. I hate them so much I'm actually willing to search them all out.
Oh and choices, the game REALLY makes use of choosing your destiny and all that. The moments in the tower, the Shadow Court, and a few other neat scenes I felt were really good tests of your Hero's character. Man, I wish I could talk back to some of the characters in the game.
General Gameplay
Smooth, natural, and easy to figure out. I mean really, anyone can pick this game up and play it. Social interaction is actually fun. Although I really hate how people will follow me into my own house. Is nothing sacred? I actually had a gaggle of people follow me into my house and watch me have sex with my wife. I mean really!
The expression wheel is really cool. I just wish for more expressions. Playing the lute was a neat thing I thought. (I'm a musician)
The breadcrumb trail is brilliant.
It's not annoying, can be changed and turned off and destroys any need for a HUD. It really lets you explore, get lost, and look at the stunning scenery that the Lionhead crew developed.
The dog is just awesome. It's really not annoying at all. I don't know what I'd do without it. It's fun to play with and loves you no matter what. Probably the best innovation in the game.
In the next game though, they REALLY need to let you jump when you want to jump, rather than only at certain points. Sometimes a jump was completely safe, or a fence was easily hoppable, but it wouldn't give me that option. (Climbing trees would be a good addition too)
Oh and the one thing that I found absoutely unforgiveable was not being able to fight people hand-to-hand. I love a good brawl.
Carriages were a wonderful addition. I wish for trains or riding by horseback though. And pirating, gotta love pirates.
Combat
Other than the fact that it wasn't as epic as I'd imagined, combat is really, really fun. Flourishes are beautiful sometimes especially with the slow-mo. Ranged combat is easy to manage, and alot better than the first. The way you gain experience is masterful, not to mention the "death system." Brilliant.
My only real complaint is magic. Magic is fun, and I like what they were trying to do, but for me it was just bothersome. I like using a myriad of spells, and it gets hard...well not hard, just irksome to do with the way that magic is set up. Sometimes I like a shock spell and sometimes I like Inferno and I don't like having to choose which gets to be more powerful, or having to scroll over in the middle of a battle to select one that's equally powerful. It's not really bad, I just think it could work smoother.
Other than that I just wish that combos and environmental attacks were a little cooler. I never could swing from a chanelier, or stab someone into a wall. (Maybe I just suck at it though) And I never felt that my character was a dashing swordsman, no matter how many combos I completed.
I love how your dog will tear out a baddie's throat though. If the dog were a little more involved (albeit he is JUST a dog) that would be nice too.
And I kind of wish there were a few more enemies to choose from. Or at least felt like a little variety. Basically it's:
Beetles, Bandits and Assasins, Hollow Men, Hobbes, Balverines, Shadows, Banshees, and Trolls.
I don't know what else to add, I just wish I had more to fight than that.
But I do love fighting Hollow Men and Balverines. There a really fun fight.
Real Estate and Trading
Awesome. I loved playing the market. I loved sales. I loved entrepreneaurship.
Music
Music gets a backseat sometimes. But there was maybe one time in the whole game where the music didn't add to the whole experience. I love the way they did the music in this game. It helped get me emotionally involved.
Jobs
Until I got to the top level none of the mundane jobs (blacksmith, woodcutter, bartender) were that tedious. I actually had fun trying to get to that top level! Jobs were a good idea. Although there are a few instances where I felt that you SHOULD have been paid for quests. Like a few side quests where people asked you to risk your neck for nothing.
A good idea would have been to make being paid a choice. Like you're corrupt if you ask for money, but benevelent if you do it for free. (And maybe you get paid anyway sometimes)
Overall Fable 2 was near the best game I've ever played. I loved it, and thought it a great successor to Fable. I can't wait for the sequels and I really hope the stories of these games all tie together, because I can see connections and where they might go.
I loved this game.
