E3 2008 Preview
– Hands On
Jumping right into Fable 2 at E3, one can see right away the
visual improvement Lionhead Studios has accomplished with the sequel. Not only
are the characters more realistic looking, but the environments are drop dead
gorgeous.
But that isn’t to say that Fable 2 has only received graphical
upgrades; the game has benefited from many unique ideas being added in such as:
instant cooperative gameplay, a dog for a pet, pub games on the Xbox Live
Arcade, and the ability to purchase any building within the game.
Starting off with the instant cooperative gameplay, players
can have their friends jump into their game at the press of a button. The
incoming players will join as a henchman that’ll take on different attributes if
they have a profile and character created already. Tagging along for the
journey, your friends can either be helpful with your hard quests or be a pain
in the butt making characters annoyed with you through rude gestures and much
more.
Meanwhile, the addition of the dog has been the most talked
about feature of Fable 2, so it shouldn’t be too big of news for those following
the game. Experiencing the dog’s assets in first person, the dog will assist
players in sniffing out treasures and other hidden items from the player that
normally wouldn’t be seen. The dog will also morph along with the player
depending on their alignment in the game.
Before the game ever releases, players can enjoy themselves in
pub games that’ll be releasing on the Xbox Live Arcade this August. Developed by
Carbonated Games, Keystone, Spinnerbox and Fortune’s Tower will be free for
those who pre-order Fable II. The biggest selling point on these pub games is
that the gold earned in these XBLA titles will transfer over to Fable 2 when it
releases.
The game is close to being 10 times bigger than Fable 1 and
will be taking place 500 years after Fable 1. Lionhead Studios is also giving
players a lot of choices within the game such as choosing the sex of their
character, the option to buy any house or building in the game, and determine if
they want to align on the purity or corruption side.
Combat has also received a makeover. Holding down the B Button
will allow gamers to charge up their spells and perform stronger attacks. All
the melee attacks are executed through X button while the long range attacks are
carried out via the Y Button. The long range attacks are usually done by means
of a primitive gun of some sorts. The better you become at fighting, the more
advanced moves you’ll unlock. They’ll be hundreds of weapons in the game
including maces, swords, axes, hammers and staves.
Lastly, there’s a bread crumb trail to guide players to places
of special interest due to the exclusion of a mini-map of any kind. This bread
crumb trail will help players avoid becoming lost within the game and keep them
on track to finishing the story.
Overall, Fable 2 is shaping up to be an excellent game for
Microsoft’s holiday line-up. Fans of fantasy games should fall in love with
Peter Molyneux’s vision of his imaginative world of Albion when Fable 2 releases
in October.
