When the first Fable game was released on Xbox it was widely reported that a number of the games’ expected advanced features had been removed due to time and technical constraints. A number of these were remedied later in the ‘The Lost Chapters’ re-release but it was clear that game design legend Peter Molyneux still had a few tricks up his sleeve and he’s unleashed them in this fantastic RPG.

In Fable II the action takes place 500 years after the original when heroes have become a thing of the past and the world is in peril once again. The general feel of the game will be very familiar to players of the original, the game designer’s very British sense of humour making a welcome return. You start the game as a street kid in the care of your older sister who shows you the ropes and shares your character’s dream of a better life but just as things appear to be getting better you are thrown into peril and the meat of the storyline.

Again, as with the earlier Fable, your path and appearance is affected by your alignment of good or evil. Your actions, interactions and the way you conduct yourself through missions all help to determine whether you’re loved or feared, sending villagers running away screaming or running towards you to fawn over your heroic prowess. On top of this, the game adds a whole new level of depth. You can have lovers, wives, children and partake in the odd lady of the night whilst managing your burgeoning property rental empire.

All of these distractions only add to the fantastic RPG at the core of this title. The immersive, engaging storyline pulls you in from the first and the frantic combat and magic system allow you to feel like a real hero (or villain) of Albion. You’re also never alone in the game with another of the games innovations being the addition of a pet dog you helps you out when you’re in need, assuming he or she is well looked after. A friend can join you at any time in your quest, jumping in and out for fantastic co-op gameplay.

Great visuals, sound effects, fantastic voice acting and a great score all combine to make Fable II a rip-roaring, swashbuckling success. An absolute must own title for any aspiring Hero.