Anyone who’s a fan of Xbox exclusives, RPG games or just wants to support the British economy would have picked up Lionhead’s Fable back in 2005. People gleefully threw cash over the desks of game stores nationwide after hearing the amazing promises of Peter Molyneux, self celebrated game studio entrepreneur. They were left with sore wallets and anger as half the stuff Mr Big promised fell short.

Of all people, Lionhead didn’t want this to happen again. So the ultimate question is that after a second wave of promises and promotion, have we been fed a second helping of lies?
Breath easy. This time Lionhead have almost nailed it. Admittedly, they could’ve done better, but with all the intricacies they’ve packed into this amazing title, let them off. Welcome back to Albion and Fable 2.

As with the first title, the hero (your character) has humble beginnings, yet things aren’t as cosy as last time. The back-story explains that over the five-hundred year gap between this and the previous title, the land of Albion saw anarchy swarm over the Hero’s Guild. The academy had turned into a hive for egocentric, pillaging and gluttonous heroes, so it was mercilessly toppled and the occupants were massacred. How lovely.

You find your character, one of the few remaining bloodlines of ‘the chosen’, hunched over a pathetic fire down a grubby alley in the sprawling city of Bowerstone. After getting to grips with the familiar and sometimes annoying controls, you’re ready to move on. A few mentally scarring cut scenes later and you’re along the same lines of the typical Fable hero: ludicrously dressed, ready for revenge and able to run with the infinite stamina of a marathon runner. There’s a lot of running to do.

A free roaming RPG was one promise they didn’t break this time around. The response to the gamer anger obviously cut deep, as Albion has been unsparingly fleshed out beyond anything you’ve ever seen. Feel free to jostle down winding country paths, blasting off the heads of highwaymen (or innocent travellers) with your blunderbuss. Alternatively, plough through the super detailed hedges and flowerbeds and venture into a maze of some of the best vegetation this side of Far Cry – you’ll be digging up treasure you missed by miles a long while after the thirtieth hour of game play ticks by.

The free roaming element is made more inviting as the game slowly drops away the head’s up display, leaving you with a cinematic shot of your hero trekking the simply idyillic landscape. Any run of the mill RPG is driven by a fairly rigid storyline, but Fable II encourages you to veer off road and just see how much effort has gone into this game.

Effort doesn’t do justice to the colossal amount of AI that’s been pump into this. As with Fable, towns brim with life as everyone chats away to one another discussing their individual opinions of you. Yet what really catches your attention early on is your best pal: the dog. Bringing in their mighty AI coding experience from the pet driven game play of Black & White titles, Lionhead breathe life into your dog with stunning realism. Stand still and he’ll occupy himself by chasing his tail, taking a nap or sniffing around. Eventually he’ll find treasure and lead you to the middle of nowhere to dig it up. Even in combat he’ll lend a paw – floor an enemy and he’ll move in for the kill and chew a bandit’s throat off. Jog along and, like a real dog, he’ll make sure he’s leading the hunt and will stay just in front of you. He loves you to bits, and you’ll love him too. Bless him.

Combat has only a few changes with more focus of making the fights more cinematic and simplistic. If you’re a fan of will (that’s magic to you and me), then grin inanely as it is now in unlimited supply. The introduction of guns is warmly welcomed, giving combat a much more satisfying splat when you’ve knocked off two bandits heads simultaneously. If they do get too close beforehand, don’t be afraid to start swinging you’re your faithful swords, hammers and axes.

When the action really takes off and you’re facing tougher and imposing foes, your combat will be joined by some motivating tunes while each of your chained attacks are elaborated in glorious slow-motion. Although combat is pretty much as basic as Fable, enjoy watching your epic battles drenched in theatrical eye candy.

Fable II is ticking all the right boxes that this Xbox exclusive should do: Superb graphics, awesome soundtrack, variety of weapons, cinematic gaming and of course the huge chunk of British humour…Unfortunately, this game is let down by a catalogue of glitches.
One of the worst occurs randomly that stops you from activating conversations with key characters in the game. That’s right, the story BREAKS, which could mean restarting the game when a patch is released. Secondly there is an issue with invisible walls and getting your character wedged between one and a rock. The only solution is warping out and restarting. Occasionally, buildings fail to load, music cuts out and your dog is only represented by a shadow. It’s a real shame that this isn’t an isolated case either.

The first title in the series was also littered with holes, and regardless of all the promises they fulfilled this time round, it would have been nice to see a flawless title from Lionhead. We’re in no position to criticise though, as what has been produced is a beautiful, innovative and immersive gaming experience. With this second attempt at revolutionising the RPG game mechanic being so close to perfection, just imagine what can be done with Fable III…