Fable II Dated, Master Chief Drops By For Tea

Microsoft and Lionhead Studios have announced that Fable II, the long-awaited sequel to the critically acclaimed 2004 RPG Fable, will be released on October 21.

Promising players an "infinite amount of choice in an open world environment," Fable 2 will introduce a groundbreaking new combat system designed to make the game accessible to both casual and hardcore gamers. The game will offer both solo and cooperative gameplay over Xbox Live in the immersive and expansive realm of Albion.

A Limited Collector's Edition will be available through participating retailers, which will include a bonus DVD with a "Making Of" video and concept art, a "nasty, brutish and short" collectible Hobbe figure, five printed Fate cards, and for gamers with an Xbox Live account, a 48-hour Xbox Live trial card and bonus in-game content, including "The Hall of the Dead" dungeon, a Legendary Cutlass known as "The Wreckager," and an "Otherworldly Bonus" - which, if pre-release images are to be believed, may in fact be a Fable version of Master Chief.

For fans of the game who can't wait for their Fable fix, Microsoft will be launching an exclusive Fable II Xbox Live Arcade title on August 13, which will include three casino-style pub games: Fortune's Tower, Keystone and Spinnerbox. Giving players a chance to start earning gold and treasures in advance of Fable II's release, the Fable II Pub Games will be free to gamers who pre-order the game and also available on Xbox Live for 800 Microsoft Points for those who don't.

Telling the tale of a child who grows into a hero in the wake of a devastating raid on his village, the original Fable was well-received by critics for its story and depth, and for making the player's freedom of choice a major factor in determining the outcome of the game. It took some criticism, however, resulting largely from the absence of features which Molyneux had long promised would be included with the game. Following the game's release, Molyneux apologized for overselling the game in a post on the official Lionhead forums.

Fable II is rated M (Mature) by the ESRB, and will carry an estimated retail price of $59.99 for the standard version and $79.99 for the Collector's Edition. To learn more about the game, check out the official Fable II site at Xbox.com.

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What is "pub games"? Like a...Fable 2 mario party or something?

ElArabDeMagnifico:
What is "pub games"? Like a...Fable 2 mario party or something?

nah, from what I gather its little minigames, which resemble slots and other casino games. Im not getting into them, partly because I didnt enjoy the original Fable's pub games, and partly because they will defeat the purpose of starting a new character. See, the gold you earn transfers over into Fable 2 when you start a new game. So if youve been playing them enough, you could effectively buy Albion before your first quest...

Great news, Fable II might actually repair Molyneux image after Fable's overhyping, now I can just hope that they make a PC port with an easy to use online system.

Fable II I am interested in, I really liked the first Fable.

The revolutionary new combat mechanic that is accessible to... blah blah blah sounds like the marketing department had a bit of time with the press release and makes me a bit suspicious. But it has a really strong heritage and if the moral choice system has been expanded to "not so obvious" that would be an excellent turn.

Ugh, I hate it when developers say "this and that will be accesible to both casual and hardcore players!!!!#@!@" because it never is. How exactly can it be easy for casual players but still give challange to the hardcore players? I'm dieing to know exactly what sort of techinque you're going to use on the control scheme HEMEMEME?!?!!? Stop trying to have your cake and eat it (though I will never understand that phrase).

With that said, I personally hope that Fable II won't be over promised like Molyneux always does. But that dog is damn smart.

more work for yahtzee.... go get'em tiger...

btw i heard that there is only one button that is used for combat... that would be sorta weird, after wearing my fingers out on DMC 4

So for an extra $20 you get a new sword and some master chief armour. I would just stick with the basic version. I guess I will wait and see if what the molin man promised is true.

Madz:
Great news, Fable II might actually repair Molyneux image after Fable's overhyping, now I can just hope that they make a PC port with an easy to use online system.

I would also like to see that.. But I hope the morality will not be as obvious as the first, as someone else said. Also, stronger magic.

Jumplion:
Ugh, I hate it when developers say "this and that will be accesible to both casual and hardcore players!!!!#@!@" because it never is. How exactly can it be easy for casual players but still give challange to the hardcore players? I'm dieing to know exactly what sort of techinque you're going to use on the control scheme HEMEMEME?!?!!? Stop trying to have your cake and eat it (though I will never understand that phrase).

The phrase refers to the conundrum of having a cake and choosing whether to keep it or eat it. If you eat it, you now have no more cake. If you keep it, you can't eat any cake.

In reference to old Mollyclogs, as I like to call him, I think the phrase is apt. I've just watched a video demo of the melee fighting in Fable II, and my god, it looks so stilted. Want to attack your enemies? Press X. Want to attack your enemies harder? Hold X for longer. Want to block an attack? Hold X and wait for someone to attack you. Want to perform a combo? Mash the X button for all it's worth. I can't believe that Mollyclogs has decided to nerf one of the only things that the original Fable did rather well. Sure it wasn't Ninja-Gaiden, but fighting thugs and guards was satisfying enough.

This new fighting system will not appeal to both hardcore and casual gamers. It will leave one group feeling nonplussed and the other group feeling bored. I know I'm coming across as a cynical old bat, but one button combat in real time does not work.

Unfortunately the combat does seem lame, but the game seems well worth a collectors edition (I like pretty boxes). I am also suprised it will have an M rating, is that the strongly implied sex or something else?

sammyfreak:
Unfortunately the combat does seem lame, but the game seems well worth a collectors edition (I like pretty boxes). I am also suprised it will have an M rating, is that the strongly implied sex or something else?

I am guessing it is getting an M rating because if I remember correctly the limbs on some enemies fly off after you have done a combo on them, their is alcohol, and what you also said sex. More than likely as well it is because the ESRB is thinking ahead to what ppl will mod into the game when this hits the PC market. *Shudders at the thought of what they could possibly do*

Fable was pretty good, im looking forward to Fable 2.

yea, I ran into the same problem about half way thru playing the mini games after I already learned the bet/payoff changing glitch, Im at roughly 70k gold, put I couldnt stop myself from trying to coolect the pre game weapons u get for amassing all that wealth, what to do waht to do

I had already pre ordered the special edition now I'm a wii bit happier I did.(but why does the bonus content need an XBL account?)

EDIT:Now having Halo music on will actually fit.

That is no possible way it is NOT master cheif.