Fable 2 Preview

Hooked Gamers has put together a two-page preview of Fable 2, summing up what we know about Lionhead’s RPG sequel at this point in its development.

Combat in any RPG is a big deal, it’s going to be the bulk of the gameplay and it would better be good. The folks at Lionhead are very focused on this and they went with a one button approach. This makes the combat very accessible for first timers while also providing some depth for experienced players out there. The goal is to get the person to pick up the controller and start playing it immediately and becoming comfortable with the controls.

For the novice player, he or she can go into a combat situation and mash on the controller and get through most of the earlier encounters. For the more experienced player, the one button controls have a system that track the rhythm of how you press the button, the force you press it with and the time you hold it down to power up. There are many variables that come into play when you are battling foes in Fable 2. For example, if you are battling an enemy and he is near a wall, you can turn to face him and hit the melee attack button. You could thrust my sword through him and into the wall, nailing him there for a second or two before removing it from his body. Another possibility is if you are fighting by a cliff or balcony: you can hit the ranged attack button and hit an enemy in his leg, making him lose his footing and, hopefully, causing him to plummet to his death.