Fable II (Xbox 360)

In a very small nutshell, Fable 2 (Xbox 360) is just like its predecessor – only richer. Beautiful artwork and a gentle ambiance set the scene for your hero’s unfolding tale, coupled with rich voice acting and script-writing, it’s not unlike a childrens’ story for big kids that’s just as fun to watch as it is to play.

The first thing I noticed was how easy it was to get stuck in. RPGs in general turn me off because of how much you have to learn before even thinking about doing anything fun. But this is a game for dippy punters like me: three simple character stats determine whether your hero is adept at fighting, shooting or spellcasting. Golden breadcrumbs guide you through quest adventures, and one button takes care of interacting, jumping and fighting – well, three buttons depending on what sort of fight you’re after, but even then, it’s preschool-easy. All this makes for a game that’s easy to pick up, easy to play and easy to stay engaged in.

As in the original, the series’ famed cornerstone of ‘good vs evil’ doesn’t seem to make much difference here, but adds that entertaining nicety to buff the fantasy aspect of play.

All in all, it gets two thumbs up – but only when I’ve put down my controller.