10 Things Fable 2 Does Better Than the Original (Page 2 of 2)

By Chris Barylick
April 03, 2008 17:09 PM PST
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6. How to Start a Fight: Combat has improved in Fable 2 with Lionhead adding a sense of drama to each fight. To this end, the game incorporates effects such as fog, lighting, music, force feedback and quick cuts to epic blows that finish an opponent. Improved A.I. code allows the player to have a better idea of what's around them, and even block attacks from behind. Fable 2's improved combat system adds to the reality of the fight, and players can now use environmental elements such as nearby walls to slam an opponent against. Finally, an enhanced physics engine conveys a better idea of weight and motion in a battle, allowing bodies to be impacted and thrown more naturally when hit.

7. Pull up a Chair...: Fable 2 features couch cooperative play in which a player's friend can drop by, pick up a controller, log in and begin gaming for any amount of time. Once the other player (known as a "henchman") has logged in, players can negotiate as to how they'll split treasure, notoriety and experience points. Once a henchman enters, the game takes both character reputations into account. These reputations are then blended when interacting with non-player characters and the players are considered as a team instead of as individuals.

8. Man's Best Friend: Fable 2's dog feature has gotten a lot of attention lately. Not long into the game, players will begin to be followed by an incredibly realistic dog for the rest of their adventure. Even though the player has little to no real control over the dog, they can interact with it via expressions, playing with the dog, punishing the dog and verbal commands via character emotes (the game's dog can understand inflections and vocal tones, much like a real dog). Once part of the game, the dog will follow three main guidelines (do not irritate the player, unconditionally love the player and self-preservation) and work to follow and assist the player at all costs.

This becomes useful. In lieu of a mini-map offering the positions of nearby enemies, players can count on the dog to perform functions such as digging for treasure, scouting ahead and growling to warn the player if it senses something it doesn't like. The dog can assist in battle by targeting units that seem dangerous to the player. For example, if you're targeting a group with mixed weapons such as guns and swords, the dog will attack the enemies using melee weapons as it works to distract the enemy and protect the player.

Loyalty isn't a question with Fable 2's pooch, as the dog will eventually find the player if lost, even if the dog has been wounded in battle or the player tries to abandon the dog altogether. In situations where the player ran away from the dog 30 minutes ago and has settled into talking up an attractive person at a bar, odds are that the dog will eventually scratch on the bar door looking for its owner. The game's NPCs, however, will judge the player for having abandoned the dog and reevaluate what they think of you.

Like the player, the dog's appearance can change over time. As the player grows older, so does the dog. As the player's behavior and reputation change, the dog's appearance can vary from a cute terrier to a vicious Doberman depending on the dog's history and reputation.

9. Brave New World: One of the major complaints that surrounded the original Fable was that there were limits as to what could be explored. Lionhead is working hard to nip this comment in the butt by creating a totally free-roaming world in which anything that looks accessible can be explored.

10. Improved Basics: Other included elements designed to flesh out the real-world feel include fully decorated building interiors wherein time will continue to pass as well as full seasons. Like the original, the player's character will change depending on what they've been through. Eat too much and the character will become overweight, run a lot and the character will become thinner. Characters routinely using heavy weaponry will become stronger, magic users will appear as lankier than other characters, players who spend more time outdoors will tan and physical characteristics will age as time goes by.

Make a sequel and make it better. Lionhead Studios has taken on the epic task of taking one of the most ground breaking role-playing games ever created and completely reinventing it. And from what we've seen, even with the game having recently entered its first playable stages, there's something good being cooked up over in England.

This is going to be interesting.