It seems that Fable II is being very well received, which can mean nothing but good things considering the steep competition.

9.5/10

[Fable II forum]

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It's something the first game excelled at and it's an even greater achievement here. Regions are now vast, open and uniformly staggering in their beauty and attention to detail. From the bustle of Bowerstone to the haunting tragedy of Wraithmarsh, every place has its own distinct character and its own story to tell. Characters and themes run throughout the game; books tell of legends, heroes and history, all of which is skilfully introduced and interweaved. The more you explore, the greater the personal rewards as you stumble on long-forgotten relics, piecing together their origins and eventual fate in Albion's tumultuous timeline. It's one of the most cohesive, tangible game worlds we've ever played.

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It's interesting that two of the biggest games this Christmas – this and LittleBigPlanet – both use very traditional genre elements as a springboard to launch their immeasurably lofty ambitions. As with Sony's remarkable title, which fashions social interaction and creativity around a relatively straightforward platform game, Fable II uses the familiar tropes of the action RPG to create an enormously immersive, profoundly absorbing world to experience and explore. Ignore the innovations in either game and you're left with a core that can't help but compare unfavourably to their purer cousins.

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Closing Comments
Invest in Albion, its inhabitants and its history; embrace the power you’re afforded to shape yourself and the world around you and Fable II is an astonishing achievement. It’s not an easily definable, singular vision but an impressive, unparalleled attempt at empowering the player in ways no other game has before. While individual elements might struggle to shine on close scrutiny, it’s their harmonious integration that makes Fable II such a captivating, unforgettable experience. Yes, it breaks little new ground by traditional RPG standards but no game has come close to offering the kind of surprising, compelling, emotional immersion that permeates Fable II. It’s a game that rewards experimentation and exploration, not dogged single-minded persistence, in subtly brilliant ways. And while it’s true that my fat, greedy whore-killing hero has probably had his time in Albion, the world’s constant flux means the game still has other stories to tell – and I’m looking forward to hearing them all.

Cruxis Mana via uk.xbox360.ign.com »