The sequel to the much loved but short Fable is finally here and Lionhead studios has promised us an epic adventure! The game is solid, the mechanics are incredibly easy to use and the look of the game is simply great. From the graphics to the art itself, it's easy to get hooked on this game. The overall plot of the game here is rather bargain bin really. Don't expect any surprises or epic moments. Taking place 500 years after the first Fable you are on a quest to avenge the death of your sibling who meets with an untimely death by the hands of Lucien. With no real surprise, you come to find that you are one of the last few remaining heroes left in the world thanks to your bloodline.

The first thing you are tasked with on your new adventure is picking your character. This time around you are given the choice to be either male or female. The characterization in the game is good and allows for many different combinations or rather abominations if that's your thing. You can change your appearance from head to toe if you want. You can even be the biggest and baddest cross dresser the world has ever seen if you want to! You will find numerous different types of clothing to mix and match. In addition, clothes, hair color, and tattoos can also be added to your character. Bear in mind your appearance plays a large role in how the villagers perceive you!

Not far into the game you will come across your new best friend! The game pairs you with a dog to assist you in your journey. Your dog is a great addition to the game and really adds a neat element to it. You can reward your dog with praise or treats if you want, or punish him if you feel the need to do so. He does often urinate on things at inappropriate times after all! Your dog is there to help you find treasures you normally wouldn't otherwise find on your own. Not surprisingly the first thing he helps you find is a rubber ball which, you guessed it, you can throw over and over again for him to fetch till your virtual arm gets tired. Your dog does more than just urinate and fetch though, he is also there to help you in times of need. He can attack enemies for you as well as level up along with you. Everything from different attacks to different tricks, he does it all. While he isn't busy tearing at the throats of your unfortunate enemies, he is busy sticking by your side at all times. Amazingly your dog never seems to get in the way or be annoying.

The fighting mechanics of the game are incredibly easy to use. One could say its nothing more than a fancy button masher when it comes to the combat system. This in no way is a bad thing. It's incredibly easy to pick up and grasp it right away. You have your three basic food groups when it comes to your attacks here. You have a choice of melee weapons, ranged weapons, and even magic. You can use all three during your battles and doing combos with them is very easy.

Each attack is assigned to one of the four face buttons. There are numerous different weapons to be found and bought in the game and each is customizable as well. Depending on what style you like best, you can spend your XP points on one or all three areas of combat if you want. Using magic is fairly simple in this game since there is no mana bar that needs to fill. Use as much magic as quickly as you want it doesn't matter.

There is no real map to speak of in the game. Instead your path is marked out by a glowing trail to follow. It takes a little while to get used to but once you do it's a great thing. While it's a little annoying not being able to see a large world map to see which areas connect to which, the game allows you to fast travel back to places you have already been to. The glowing trail is nice because allows nosey, curious people like myself, to wonder off and look for things and even do side missions easily while never getting lost. The world is huge in this game and filled with tons of things to find as well as do. From numerous hidden items, to numerous side jobs there will be lots of things to do to keep you entertained.

In addition to all of this the game looks great and sounds great on top of it. The game does a great job of sticking to the look and feel of the first game and opens it up to a much larger scale! The opening scene is simply amazing looking and sets the precedence for the rest of the game. When it comes to the sound kicking chickens has never sounded so good. The sounds and voice work in the game are great and the surround is done really well and helps add to the depth of the game.

Speaking of kicking chickens, if that's your thing, your actions just like in the first game shape you will become. Follow the path of righteous or evil the choice is yours and your appearance will reflect that. You are constantly finding yourself in situations where you can either do the right thing or the wrong thing even when it comes to simple day to day things. Remember that eating vegetable is pure because no animals were harmed to make them, at least that's what the game says anyway. My chracter and I enjoy beef, its whats for dinner! Walk into a store and you have the choice of paying for a book, or simply stealing it and keeping your money to use for prostitution instead and cheap wine that smells of regret. In addition to just stealing items you can just as easily steal the cash registers from every store as well but don't think the store owners won't put up a fight!

Fable 2 is addictive there is no doubt about that! The mechanics are great and incredibly easy to use. It has more than enough content to keep you playing for numerous hours as well as play throughs. There are numerous hidden items to look for and finding each of them take quite a bit of time! There are also quite a few achievements to be had and getting all of them will take dedication that is for sure!! Also the co-op is a nice touch, but could use a lot of improvement. Its really neat seeing the orbs of your friends pass you by, but the idea that you can only play a henchman to the host is kinda disappointing. Also the whole split screen thing is just uncalled for and serves as one of the best headache creating devices man has ever made. This is no way keeps its from being a fun and wonderful game. I have a feeling we will be seeing people play this game for quite awhile and the addition of DLC will just ensure that.