Game Details
Price
  • $59.99
Genre
More details

Fable II

common sense media says

A great fantasy, but contains many mature themes.


parents & educators say
  • 30% say violence is an issue
  • 30% say sexual content is an issue

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this game is rated "Mature" for good reason. Along with the violence and blood (though nothing out of the ordinary or over-the-top for a role-playing game), players might see things like someone killing your spouse in front of your child, having sex with partners (though no nudity is in the game; the screen fades to black), gay and lesbian marriage, and sexual relations (where unprotected sex between people of the opposite sex causes pregnancy). Some foul language can be heard but nothing overly inappropriate.

Educational value: Not applicable.
Positive messages: Players can play as male or female; gamers are rewarded for good behavior or will become evil if make poor moral decisions.
Violence: While not gory, players must fight against human- and creature-based baddies and will see blood.
Sex: Players can have sex in the game, even gay or lesbian sex, but the player doesn't actually see the act.
Language: Not pushing the envelope, but includes sh-t, damn and hell.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Players can drink alcohol and become inebriated. You will also meet drunk characters.

More on Fable II

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about whether games that ask players to make moral choices -- such as Fable II, BioShock and Mass Effect -- are a good way for gamers to learn by "role playing" through the dilemma. Is it healthy? Should games be entertainment or tap into some inner desires? Should a game that makes us feel uncomfortable at times -- as many books, TV shows and movies do -- be acceptable, as well?

What's the story?

What's the story?
With all the economic instability and political uncertainty around us these days, the timing couldn't be better for an open-world fantasy game where you can lose yourself in it for a few weeks. Microsoft Game Studios' ambitious FABLE II is now available for the Xbox 360, and while not a perfect role-playing game (RPG) it delivers a deep and detailed world for mature players.

As with its four year-old predecessor (which sold 3 million copies on the original Xbox), much of Fable II is about choices and consequences. At many times throughout the game, players will be faced with moral decisions that will help shape their character and his or her future interactions in this huge world of Albion. For example, early on in the game you're asked to deliver a love letter to a heartbroken woman. When you walk into her home, however, you're offered a gold piece by her nasty mother, who doesn't want her daughter seeing this man. You can take the money or run or walk upstairs to deliver the letter to its rightful recipient (she also gives you a coin for your trouble, by the way). A traumatic event concludes the first act, where you're still a child, and sets the tone for the majority of the game that takes place when you're an adult. (Don't worry, we're not giving away any juicy story elements here).

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
While accepting missions and exploring the lands, players can do just about anything in this virtual world. Accompanied by your loyal dog (who can help sniff out treasure for you and ward off enemies) you can buy, sell, or rent out properties; take on jobs (providing an additional revenue stream); fight enemies and recruit others to aid in your cause; learn new skills and acquire better weapons and items; get married and have children, and so forth. While not available on the disc at launch, Xbox 360 owners can download a patch that offers the promised "co-op" multiplayer mode, so at any time you can jump into a friend's game and play along (and then bring the experience points and items back to your game).

While certainly a well-crafted quest, combat is too simplistic (whether you choose to specialize in melee, range, or magic abilities or fight with a combination of all three); the characters don't look nearly as good as the impressive environments and weather effects; and the map is horrible, so players will likely rely on the shimmery breadcrumb trail instead. Overall, though, Fable II is an enchanting fantasy with clever (and quite humorous) dialogue, expansive locations, and non-repetitive missions to suck you deep into this mature tale.

Game themes & details

Game Details
Available online
Genre: Role Playing
Developer: Microsoft
Released on: October 21, 2008
Price: 59.99
ESRB Rating: M for Blood, Language, Sexual Content, Use of Alcohol, Violence

This review was written by Marc Saltzman
 
 

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What parents & educators say

13
Based on 20 parent & educator reviews:
  • 30% say violence is an issue
  • 30% say sexual content is an issue
  • 30% say there are positive role models
  • 30% say there are positive messages

Most useful reviews by all members

sambeatyou
teen, 14 years old
 
good game
it is a good game as rpg games go i want the sequel

 
Not for younger kids
First, I have to say that I love the Fable franchise, and have played every Fable game out there. Moving on though, the game does have quite a lot of violence, including the killing of zombies and children turned into violent beasts. You can earn achievements by decapitating and/or scoring groin shots. You can also receive STD's from unprotected sex, and in Bloodstone prostitutes are at every corner. That being said, the game holds some very positive messages. Most people in the game won't have sex with your character until the two are married (although you can have multiple spouses). While you can be good or evil, your actions will determine your alignment. At the end of the main plotline, your character has to choose between family, money, and sacrifice. Overall, for the more mature teen, Fable II is an excellent game.

Rock God
teen, 13 years old
 
Fable 2 is one of the best game's I have ever played!The violence isn't too bad and although there is blood it's not over excesive.The main problem is the issue on sex as althogh you can';t see it and it is opptional, they make some sexual remarks throughout it although there not to bad.There is hardly any language in it and you only hear one quite bad word once which is ba*****d and I don't know where they heard sh*t because I didn't.Your player is always encouraged to do the right thing as he is a hero and if you ever do a bad thing you are punished for doing so.Over all it is a great game and if you think your child is mature enough I would tell him or her to definately buy it!

Brandi44
parent of 9 and 12 year old
 
Great game. Has some iffy parts parents might not like but nothing over the top. The worst part in this game is the sex parts, but those aren't even bad if your mature.

hitokiri3
teen, 18 years old
 
Great game, great messages, but can be dark if the player wants
Great game. The sex is probably the biggest concern and the twisted violence that can take place (killing your spouse) and all other decisions like it are left up to the player though. The story is only as dark as you want to make it. That aside there are alot of good themes here and evil IS punished, one of those few games that make you care about the characters and story.

keano312
teen, 15 years old
 
Great game but with a lot of sexual content and the ability to be good or bad. There are scantily dressed prostitutes in certain areas and you can hear your pertner during the sex, but not excessively, i.e. you hear things like "this isn't your first time, is it". Overall its a very good game with some bad stuff but I would say its ok for mature people over 12.

Source144
teen, 15 years old
 
This game is very good. I love everything about it. There are very little bad parts of this game. This game you have the choice of being good and evil. I would recemmond this game for children.

zabriel
parent of 18 year old
 
Great game for older players
I think this is a superb game that's all about choices, much like the first. It has a very black and white moral system for the most part, and you do see consequences for acting immorally. The violence is a bit much, but sex is dealt with in a tasteful and mature manner. I think it's a little iffy for younger teens, but for your older teens it's a great game that offers a lot to talk about.

IsntThatGreat
teen, 15 years old
 
Perfect for more mature kids!
This game is amazing, with barely any bad messages or themes (you can't even see the sex, and it's optional). The gameplay is great, and it really gives kids the opportunity to make good choices in the game. After all, it's better to make a evil game choice than an evil real-life choice.

 
Not a kiddy game, but not M worthy.
Thiugh you can be good or evil and be a major sinner, the game demotes that, people run in fear and ignore you. When you act with the good moral decisions, then people love you, welcome you with open arms and you basically become their idol, which always make you feel better. This is no worse than what is talked about in a schoolyard. Yes there are drunken characters, and you can I toxicate yourself, but no one does that. The game demotes such acts as public violence and alchoholism. There is sex implied, yet they never show it, the screen fades to black and only the noise makes it through. I can garuntee you that if your child can get to a computer while home alone, they've looked at something their not supposed to. Yes gay and lesbian sex is an option, yet what is wrong with that? If that's your choice then you have to live with it, theyres nothing wrong with it it's who you are. Let me make one thing clear HOMOSEXUALITY IS NOT A CHOICE IN REAL LIFE! With the rise in technology, Amish people are the only people left in America that hasn't viewed or talked about sex and pornography. There is almost no blood when an enemy is killed, no more than in a needle. All the forms of violance are way undertoned compared to some teen games like GRAW(2) where you're a counter-terrorist against REAL people along the Mexico-USA border. The language is, once again, no worse than 6th grade playground whatnot. Trust me I played the first game when I was 10 and played this when it came out, it's not a baby game, but it's definitely NOT M worthy. If your teenage kid is begging you for it, look at some gameplay videos, try it for yourself, and trust me you'll see it air that bad.

 
Good for all
Regardless of what the review says, this game is good. Although there are sexual acts, the most sexual things that happen is trying to get your wife into the sack (which is mostly done by using flirty emoticons like thrusting your hips saying "come onn" or saying "heyyy" and when it comes to the actual act, all you'll hear is the wife or husband commenting on your flabbyness or muscles or beard or whatever. There are prostitutes but only in the realllly bad lawless towns and if you aren't careful, you can get STDS from them, which can then be passed on to the wife or husband (teaching teenagers that if they must have sex, that they risk STDS). There are, as is popular today, choices of good and evil, as will as pure and corrupt. Things like raising the rent on your properties will make you more corrupt and eating too much meat makesy ou fat. it is very tempting to be evil just to enjoy the cool horns but then you have to put up with everyone running away from you. The violence is minimal, though there is swords and ases and guns, only one of two things will happen. either they fall over, or they lose their head in a comical fashion. Also There are chances for having more than one spouse but it's hard enough to keep one husband or wife happy. Infact in all my plays through, it seems the only way to keep a wife from leaving you is to give up the rest of the game for good. (proving that marrigae isn't easy when your travelling the world, even if you are a hero)

 
ok for 12 and up only
i think this is an awesome game but there is a few bits of sex in it for example there is a mission where you have to seduce a mans wife and prostitutes do roam the streets in one area but not often there is a local gambiling pub and a bar but there is no beer it is mostly juice

 
Great for 10+
This should be ok for kids ages 10 and up, you never see the sex, the violence and blood is not that bad, and you can choose to be good or bad. My child wanted the game very badly and I kept saying no, but after a while I just got it for him and he loved it!!! I even watched him play it, and it really wasnt that bad.

FezesAreCool
kid, 12 years old
 
To me it was a waste of time and money but each to their own, 11+
I bought this game but I didn't like it at all. There's some violence with some language and you can have sex but you don't actually see it. I wouldn't bother with it but I'm sure lots of people love it.

win1218
kid, 12 years old
 
i love it its fun but you can kill inosent people and have sex

fable2rocks
parent of 11 year old
 
Adults should get fable 2. Kids don`t
Well for starters this game is NOT appropiate for kids but i still let my kid plaay it. I always watch him when he plays so that he dosen`t do any thing innapropiate.

dudester122
teen, 14 years old
 
this site is a joke...
oh my gosh in the sims you can have sex too. violence isnt that bad

Callofdutymw2
kid, 13 years old
 
For tweens
Its a very good game if their mature enough 12-13 +

Cyonnara
teen, 17 years old
 
this game is amazing it has such a deep story to it with very gripping yet terrifying moments a must play for all Xbox 360 owners

LASTxULTIMATUM
kid, 11 years old
 
Can your child make the right choices?
Many mature themes and difficult moral choices that gets you to do wrong things, but if you make sure your child chooses all the good paths to being a noble and honest person, it is a really fun game that is not bad.

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