Why 'Fable II' is the game of the year

I may be going out on a limb here considering Little Big Planet, Far Cry 2, and countless other titles will be hitting store shelves over the the next few months, but I don't care. After playing through the world of Fable II and considering the impression it made on me, I can say, without a doubt, that Fable II is 2008's game of the year.

[Zerodin]

in 3...2...1...

Actually I can see that from the reviews, despite it not being a perfect 10, the dev team learned from their mistakes, and didn't repeat the "promise the moon, deliver a moon pie" debacle.

[Deviant]

and tards like are still bashing KZ2

[Lord Shuhei Yoshida]

Thats a good analogy.Molyneux unlike other retards at Microsoft Game Studios made a simple promise instead of outlandish ones like "Bigger,Better,and more Badass"

lol Cliffy B

[Zerodin]

He's a loudmouth, who got lucky.
I haven't even had any interested in playing Gears until now, and that's because the first one is less then half the original price. Hell I'm just now getting into Bioshock. I don't clamp onto new titles often.

[Flop of the Year]

It's Zerg ya floppy retard!

[elshimiablo]

It has got 8/9 from most websites
IGN gave it 8.8/10

http://www.n4g.com/Xbox360/...

It is also not an AAA

[GiantEnemyCrab]

Don't tell Nasim! Oops too late he is already here doing damage control for the fishheads!

[xaviertooth]

xbot: * Actually I can see that from the reviews, despite it not being a perfect 10, the dev team learned from their mistakes, and didn't repeat the "promise the moon, deliver a moon pie" debacle. *

oh yeah? reviews after peter molesteux beg from game reviewers,no wonder this game gets 8 or 9.. hey maybe dyack should follow this sort of a trend in his next shiit60 game, coupled with microsoft money, they might have a 10.

[BLuKhaos]

Open Zone FTW!!

[Pain]

Go go Retard powers! u can can do it kid.

to bad for u LBP = GotY

[ThatCanadianGuy]

Cnet.com

Owned by microsoft..

[Lord Shuhei Yoshida]

I thought CBS owned CNet.

[chaosatom]

it's some really tough competition.

UNLESS Cnet does not own a ps3, then certainly Fable 2 could be.
Even then it's has to go aganist Far cry 2, Fallout 3.

What is Cnet going to say when Gears 2 hits. It's the end of gaming on Xbox? Y2K?

[sonarus]

Cnet FTW:\

[sunnygrg]

Fable 2 being GOTY is too far-fetched.

[sonarus]

Actually its not really that farfetchd you have to keep in mind its based off opinion.

In my eyes, MGS4 is still the best game i have played this yr and nothing really came close. The only game that actually has a shot of taking MGS4 spot in my eyes is gears of war 2...but realistically its a long shot.

[Monchichi025]

But I'll hold out my own judgemnet till I play it. But I think game of the year will probably fall between

1. MGS4
2. Fable II
3. LBP
4. Gears II
5. GTA

But regardless, it's a great time to be a gamer!!!

[eagle21]

I can say with 110% confidence that LittleBigPlanet wipes the floor with Fable 2.

Fun will overcome. :p

This man should be fired for abuse of power, well abuse of journalism because he has no power.

Let's see, this guy has said:

"Zune will kill the Ipod"
"The RROD is not a problem"
"There is nothing wrong with Vista"
"Halo 3........"...lol
"Fable 2 Game of the Year?"

Yawn. Fail. :)

[bouncybullet]

Wow the legions of idiots agree with your FALSE comment.

CNet is owned by CBS.

Just goes to show how much Fanboys are mindless followers.

[Lanoire]

And where even GTA4 has scored 9.5 average. And with Farcry 2, mirrors edge, and Resistance 2 still to be released, a game with an average of 8.8 is nowhere near "GOTY".

Funny thing how most of these reviewers deduct points from PS3 exclusives for having install times, being 12 hours "short" or simply bashing the game developer for telling them to review the game for what it is.

But when it comes to 360 exclusives, the same games with the same problems get praised like heaven.

And another thing thats ultra clear is how American reviewers all rate 360 exclusives higher than MOST european reviewers. Such is the case with fable 2.

Bias confirmed and proven. 360 is a popular console in the states. And thats why these reviews stink.

[marinelife9]

I can't say because I haven't played Fable 2. But the man is certainly entitled to his opinion. I'd have to go with.

1. MGS4
2. LBP
3. GTA IV

Ahead of Fable 2 for game of the year.

[CrazyMystical]

Fable 2 HA! considering how disappointing the 1st one was I'm surprise anyone is looking forward to this one. what people forgot about was the two big guns that went off earlier this year (MGS4 & GTA4) & the big guns to come such as R2, LBP, Gears2, GHWT, Fallout2 ETC. so please don't think your fooling anyone when you release these crack pot stories from writers who know nothing about the industry.

really no BS but Fable 2 would be lucky if it could even win the game of it's week considering all the good games to come.

[Tarasque]

Ok first off Cnet is owned by CBS, And secondly i think Fable 2 will be a great game no doubt, but not GOTY. I think there is no way MGS4 or LBP should get it, of course this is my opinion and what do i know. As it stands right now i would say RES2 is my GOTY and that is going by a beta =O. But you also have alot of good games coming out.

[Electricear]

As others have pointed out Cnet is now owned by CBS; however, in the past they had been strongly allied with Ziff Davis Media (ZDnet), and some people still feel there is a strong alliance between Cnet and ZDnet. ZDnet are known henchmen of Microsoft as can be seen in this public announcement: http://www.ziffdavis.com/pr... As to how much influential bleed over there is it's hard to say, but I do tend to take Cnet views with a grain of salt.

That being said it's my opinion that Little Big planet, though it may not be every ones number one game, has enough appeal to it that it's on most peoples lists for GOTY. A genera specific game like Fable 2 may appeal more than LBP to the adventure playing individuals, but as LBP can also have adventure levels made in it it also captures at least a portion of that market as well. So long as LBP has a more mass appeal than any other game it will be hard pressed for any other game to truly compete with it for GOTY. This is why it is such an appealing game, and why I believe it will be game of the year.

Edit: update, I really hadn't explored this, before, but it turns out that Cnet BOUGHT ZDnet back in 2000. That being the case between the above article and this one: http://news.cnet.com/2100-1... I feel confident in saying that Cnet is under at least a bit of influence from Microsoft.

[Bnet343]

Microsoft doesn't own CNET yet more then half of the people here agree with him. Seriously lame, take it to the open zone.

[SuperM]

All i can say is its gonna be a tight race for GOTY 2008.

GTA4, MGS4 and LBP are already certain to be GOTY contenders. Gears 2 will most likely be another contender for GOTY and i have a strong feeling Resistance 2 is going to be up there aswell because it is looking mighty fine. Now thats 5 contenders right there. And the critics seem to love Fallout 3 aswell so thats probably GOTY contender even though its not my kind of game. And then you have all the outsiders including Far Cry 2, Prinse of Persia, CoD: WaW and Mirrors Edge. And Fable seems to be getting great scores aswell. I probably have forgotten a couple of games aswell.

Anyway, its going to be a interesting to see which game snatches the most rewards. I think MGS4 probably deserves it the most, its just simply a masterpiece of a game. LBP too ofcourse since it is so different from everything else. But its impossible to say that now before we see what the other games have to offer.

[Homicide]

LittleBigPlanet has been raping Fable II in reviews.

[pixelsword]

...whilst mocking PS3 owners for looking forward to Killzone 2.

[mikeslemonade]

There's more anticipated exclusives coming out PS3. Fable II techinically is the only innovative game coming out on 360 anytime soon.

[karlostomy]

owned by Sony

[shovelbum]

It has potential since it appeals to a wide variety of gamers but I am betting on Fallout 3 to take GOTY.

[Sayai jin]

You are wrong my friend. CNET is owned by CBS Corp.

[wallace1000]

Lord Shuhei Yoshida is right, CBS owns CNET. No more crying foul about MS influence now when a story comes from cnet that you don't like.

[Nineball2112]

It's ol' Don Reisinger from Cnet.com again. Why am I not surprised?

"I may be going out on a limb here considering Little Big Planet, Far Cry 2, and countless other titles will be hitting store shelves over the the next few months..." - Don Reisinger

Yeah, I'd say you're going out on a limb and more than likely that limb will be cut out from underneath you.

I'm sure Fable 2 will be a great game and will sell tons of copies, but I think the competition from LBP, Resistance 2, and Gears 2 will be too much for this game to get GOTY.

[Lord Shuhei Yoshida]

Not to mention GTA4 and MGS4 are still heavy contenders

[chaosatom]

more MGS4, than GTAiv.

[Nineball2112]

Yeah! You're right... I wasn't even considering those two games either.

Yeah, I can't see Fable 2 getting GOTY.

[GiantEnemyCrab]

Nineball how far are you into Fable 2?

Just wondering.

Because unless you played it I would say you have no idea what your talking about enough to say it's GOTY material or not.

[Figboy]

i'm about 15+ hours into Fable 2, an no, it's not Game of the Year material.

it's a good game. very enjoyable, but flawed.

the only two games that i've played (and beaten), that i consider to be true GOTY this year are MGS4 and Little Big Planet.

i'll probably be getting my hands on Fallout 3 this week, and eventually i'll get Far Cry 2, Prince of Persia, and Resistance 2, which are other games i think could be GOTY contenders (i'd add Gears of War 2 also, but it seems so much like the original, but with improved lighting, that i don't know if reviewers/gaming media, will be as foaming at the mouth about it as they were the first, the reason why Resistance 2 is on the list, is because it's going above and beyond what the original did, and what other FPS titles before it has done in terms of feature set and ambition; 60 player online, 8 player co-op, etc).

the competition for GOTY 2008 is stiff, but i just don't think Fable 2 is in the same caliber.

now, if you're going with Xbox 360 EXCLUSIVE game of the year, then sure, Fable 2 may have a shot, though i think Gears 2 will take it. Infinite Undiscovery was received pretty well, but i haven't played it myself to make an opinion.

my PS3 GOTY would be Little Big Planet, or MGS4. then again, those two may be my overall GOTY, but there are still two solid months of quality game releases coming before i make my final declarations.

[Nineball2112]

Yeah, you have a point.

I haven't played any of it, so take my opinion on this for what it's worth. I'm basing my opinion on the many reviews that have been written for both games and the general gamer consensus.

I guess we'll both see when that award is given, eh? I don't think I'll be wrong, but I've been wrong before.

[SuperM]

I just hope GTA4 snatch alot of awards. That is actually the game ive played the least of all my games. It was good, high production value and all that, but i really felt it missed something. It was way overrated and i hope the journalists realize that.

I have this strange feeling that Resistance2 is going to blow our heads off though. I think its going to be better then what people think and might become atleast best shooter of the year.

[thebudgetgamer]

technically it was one of the best games i have ever played but when you loose that fun factor it hurts more

but yea theres alot of games that will be contending for gtoy

[jmcorp]

of course fable 2 will be GOTY, seeing as you have played those other games your obviously in the best position to judge...

what a tosser.

[Emmo]

I am very excited about this game, I really hope it is as good as the hype.

[^_^]

||it sounds like the article writer didnt play the game because everyone else is saying it is a flop||

[Zerodin]

Bring me a review link, where the author says it's a flop. I need to see it with mine own eyes.
Oh and some droid tard going "This am sux!" is not a review.
Consider yourself lucky, unlike 90 percent of the people on N4g, you aren't on my ignore list. Yes 90 percent of N4g posters are droids.

[Lolliflop Lolliflop]

IGN gave it AA,so it's nowhere near being GOTY,what with MGS4 scoring a perfect 10

[elshimiablo]

Here is your review average 89%

and it will only get lower

http://www.n4g.com/Xbox360/...

On the other hand LBP averages at 96% at meta and 97% at n4g META

[Flop of the Year]

Yesss,I am the biggest FLOP OF THE YEAR,no question about it

[Zerodin]

And you're just bitter that LBP is being neutered.
Sorry Elshy, did you reply? Too bad, I can't read it. You're on my ignore list.
Oh well.

[elshimiablo]

LBP's average is 96% at meta and 97% at n4g meta

Fable 2 has already got 7/8 from many websites. Its average is below 90% at n4g meta
http://www.n4g.com/Xbox360/...

Fable 2 will average below 85% at metacritic when all reviews are added

[Lolliflop Lolliflop]

Looks like the Microsoft check cleared this morning

[Lolliflop Lolliflop]

I wonder if the check came with another letter from Molyneux,begging him to make such a false claim regarding Failble II

[Pennywise]

zzz

[Skyreno]

Fable II' is the game of the year lol lol !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! yeah sure it is ................. Not ^^

[Lolliflop Lolliflop]

Elshimiablo,thanks for the link that proves Failble II is a flop.

I'm going to talk to a few friends of mine later today,they'll make sure the Metacritic User rating for Failble II is around the 3/10 mark

[Flop of the Year]

TOO HUMAN AIN'T GOT SHEEEIIT ON ME!!!!!!!

[Internet Trolling Ex]

ROFL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[CliffordM Bleszinski]

yea game of the year belongs to gears of war 2. this game is good but not as good as gears 2.

[SL1M DADDY]

Why would anybody call that before the year is up? Sorry, but doing so seems a bit lame. I can admit that this game will be great but to say that it is game of the year given the number of really cool titles out and coming, now that seems a bit preemptive and a bit clouded.

[mt]

you kidding me right?

[NipGrip]

He's a good little boy and tows a company partner's line so well. (CBS + Microsoft joint media venture)

I think Fable 2 is a great game, btw, but I don't take anything Don Reisinger says into consideration.

[pumpkinpunker]

CBS has no partnership with MS. MS is partnered with NBC which is a direct competitor of CBS.

If the writer thinks Fable 2 is the GOTY who are you to judge considering a) you're a flaming sony fanboy who is love with an inanimate piece of hardware and b) you haven't played the game.

So kindly do some research before you make more false statements. Sony fanboy trolls are ruining this website. I'm so sick of seeing about 30 posts from you fanboys on every X360 thread. Nobody really cares what you guys think and no one will buy a $400 paperweight because you posted a bunch of negative fake garbage on the 360.

[mintaro]

I dont know about that.....but I cant wait to try it.

[Lord Shuhei Yoshida]

Look at all the people who agree with me XD

[sajj316]

I guess we're still going to get a 'Game Of The Year' edition of Fable 2 even though its not really GOTY. Too many very good candidates this year. Lets not forget MGS4, LBP, and yes ... even GTA IV.

[theEnemy]

Based on the reviews lately, Fable II ain't the GotY type of game.

More like a AAA-exclusive type of game.

And this guy has played only Fable II and not the other games he mentioned, nuff' said.

[Fishy Fingers]

GOTY maybe a little far fetched but it is certainly up there with the best of them based on review scores.

Then again, if review scores are the indicator for GOTY then it would be GTA4. Which it better not be.

[NipGrip]

Which is sad to say. I *really* wanted to like it but something just wasn't there, that feeling I got when I played the GTA3 series.

[NickIni]

"Why 'Fable II' is the game of the year"

No. That's his opinion. Let's let the professionals with unbiased views decide the game of the year.

[Imallvol7]

I just really don't see how anything could get GOTY over MGS4 or LBP, but may be. I will play Fable 2 and see.

[Spike47]

no posssible way on God's earth.

[vilmer]

Fable 2 better be DAMN GOOD if he's taking it over MGS4 OR LBP.

[Gamer61]

LBP is a revolution in gaming that only happens once in a generation. Its the mario of our generation. It redifines the platformer and is something never seen before in gaming. Its like the youtube of gaming and look at what youtube is now.

Fable might be an excellent RPG but doesn't come close to LBP and what that does for gaming in general. Also may i remind you that MGS4 is still the only next gen exclusive game to ever get a ten from IGN and Gamespot.

[GiantEnemyCrab]

Fable 2 GOTY contender confirmed!

[boodybandit]

GiantEnemyCrab how far are you into Fable 2?

Just wondering.

Because unless you played it I would say you have no idea what your talking about enough to say it's GOTY material or not.

See what I did the GEC?
I just copied and pasted your response (2.4) to nineball and replaced his name with yours.

Back on topic:
Fable 2 will be the first RPG I played since SNES days. Everything I have read about it so far has my interest peaked.

[SuperM]

Nice one. Thats the proper way to treat a fanboy ;)

[bigshynepo]

Holy cow, I was pretty burned up by the 5/10 Socom rating but this thread just put a smile on my face again...HAHAHA GotY, thats a good one.

[eagle21]

In your dreams Don Resinger.... LMAO

[happyface]

Sony kids wont like this one bit

[Fux4Bux]

Too many good games this year. Imo there's most certainly not a single one that deserves the title.
If it has to go to one LBP should probably get it since it's the only original standout game.

[arika]

i'm still in an article on how to hype a game.... i mean its good but not that good to be game of the year... LBP is still ahead of the pack for game of the year honors....

[NegativeCreep427]

CNET???

LOL!!! I'm sorry, but this is just too easy!

[ASSASSYN 36o]

Fallout 3 game of thye year.

[wallace1000]

I am with you here. If they do a good job then i can see Fallout 3 taking game of the year. If you have played Fallouts 1 and 2, then you can see where we are coming from. Plus this is coming from the guys that gave us Oblivion.

[PureGamer]

how many of you fanboys have played the game?

MGS4 wins goty for me though.

[Andras84]

You got:

LBP, MGS4, GTA4, Fallout 3, Far Cry 2 Resistance 2, Gears of War 2 going against Fable 2. Fable 2 has no chance.

[beans]

The name has changed this year from "game of the year" to "games of the year". There are just way to many great great titles out this year to give it to one game. I'm willing to bet who ever sells the most this year will get the title because score alone just won't do it.

[J@D]

Great contender indeed but its not worth of that title... sorry but truth.

[militant07]

im going to buy it tomorow its out here yestrday.

[leyego]

its almost impossible.
theres no way i could pick GOTY its to tough this time around.
last year was easy, but this year has so many great games u can't compair them over each other.

i think its gona be down to a popularity contest. Between fable, LBP, MGS, GTA, GeOW, POP, mirrors edge, fallout 3, i could really name another 3 or 4 but u get the idea.
im almost 100% sure these games will ATLEAST win something in there own category this year.
as for game of the year..... can u honestly pick ONE as the best of the best? theres just so many good ones that its hard to just pick one.

[OOG]

Seems funny how most people havnt even mentioned

FALLOUT 3 GAME OF THE YEAR! lol

ya know since it won a ton of awards at e3 and will probably clean up a lot of awards....

GOTY Contenders

Metal Gear Solid 4
Grand Theft Auto 4
Fallout 3
Gears of War 2
Little Big Planet
Resistance 2
Fable 2
Far Cry 2

so many gamessssssssssssssssssssssssss ss lol

[DailyAddict]

All things considered, GOTY is typically a game that does something fresh or is exciting in some new ways. Fable is an awesome franchise, but Fable 2 isn't reinventing anything; it's just expanding on an all ready great idea. Fallout 3 is pretty awesome, but dunno I don't see it being GOTY and MGS4 is sweet as well, but the fact that it's more experience than game I think will keep it from the title. In all honesty, I see GOTY going to LBP by most places. It's fresh, it's new, it works and anyone can enjoy it.

[malcolm x]

ppl should band c-net they r too much of fanboy

too bad it was one of my top website

[Jikla]

it certainly is a good competitor for the game of the year. But there still more games to come for this year. So let's wait till after christmas with these speculations. Fallout 3 isn't out yet, maybe that is the GOTY?

[Myze]

When I read this, my mind was reading something other than what was written. so...

"I may be going out on a limb here considering I haven't played Little Big Planet, Far Cry 2, Fallout 3, Dead Space, Metal Gear Solid 4, Resistance 2, Gears of War 2 and countless other titles, but I don't care. After playing through the world of Fable II and considering the impression it made on me, I can say, without a doubt, that Fable II is MY 2008 game of the year."

There we go, fixed for him.

[ta1snake]

Please. Don't make me laugh. Lucky to be on top 10 may be .IMO

[Lex Luthor]

Oh lord, open zone is hilarious.

[juuken]

....what?

[FantasyStar]

Rock it HARD!!

[gololo]

dude...every single exclusive is GOTY, or it may seem...MGS4 GOTY, no FABLE2 GOTY, no LBP GOTY, no GeoW GOTY....and just because they want an exclusive to win this award...pure fanboyism...I'll be laughing at all ur faces when maybe a multiplat game (gtaiv, fallout 3 or mirros edge) comes and takes the crown...(although I hope gtaiv does not get it since I think it was a big let down)

[aiphanes]

Its at 8.9 now according to N4G.

Fable 2 will not be the GOTY...it will be either Little Big Planet, Resistance 2 or Gears 2.

[yog-sothot]

the game looks awesome, but journalists should calm down and stop calling every title they like "game of the year"...

[Voulnet]

I can only certainly say that Fable II is definitely beating LBP left and right, whether or not it gets the GOTY honors is another matter which we can't tell so soon.
Yes, I got Fable II early, playing it and enjoying every bit of it.
It doesn't have a boring gameplay, hah!

[saucygit]

CANT WAIT FOR TONIGHT GONNA PLAY FABLE 2 AND HAVE FUN

[Spike47]

LBP has the highest meta score I think and it is pretty "unique" so I think of any game deserves GOTY it's LBP, if not MGS4, if not Gears of War 2.

[Firstkn1ghT]

Wrong. GTA4 is.

[Firstkn1ghT]

Fable 2 is definitely a AAA title but I don't know if it can reach the average of GTA4. GTA4 has it in the bag as of now. We'll see what Gears 2 can do.

These are the current contenders averages...

GTA4: 97%
MGS4: 93%
LBP: 94%
Fable2: 93%
Motorstorm 2: 75% (LOL)

The next big titles will be Left 4 Dead and Gears 2.

[monkey602]

Resistance 2 and Fallout 3 have a shot too.

[Tmac]

Fable 2 has 89% on Metacritic.

[MvmntInGrn]

Fable 2 is good but will not be GOTY. Fallout 3, Resistance 2, Little Big Planet, Gears of War 2 and Metal Gear Solid 4 ALL have more press. It just won't happen, even if it does deserve it (which I doubt it really does).

[cherrypie]

Very lofty praise. RPG of the Year, almost certainly, but GotY across all genres?

Very very high praise. The game does look this terrific, I'm not suprised.

[PoorDelayedFlop]

Pooooor Droids :(

[monkey602]

Believe it or not Dead Space is in with a chance of my personal GOTY... yeah Iam just that hyped about it.

[andron]

Fable looks to be a great game and better than the first one. But we'll see what the others can do first...

[TheDesperado]

If 'going out on' means sucking and 'a limb' means Microsoft d!ck, then yes. Totally possible.

LBP isn't just game of the year, it's game of the forever.

[silverchode]

Grendel’s external characteristics give the readers an idea that he is the evil figure who kills the Danes because of jealousy

:)

[DoctorXpro]

"Than you're mistaking Motorstorm 2"

hahahahahahahahhahahaha

Motorstorm 2 for game of the year, the manual of gears 2 its engouth

[Horny]

Theres a lot of other big games that came out or are coming out this year.

Grand Theft Auto 4
Metal Gear Solid 4
Little Big Planet
Fable 2
Fallout 3
Super Smash Bros Brawl
Mario Kart Wii
Call of Duty 5
Resistance 2
Gears of War 2

All these have a shot at GOTY

dont get me wrong theres other great games that came out they are just not as big commercially or havent had the success as the ones mentioned at the top.
Games such as...
Dead Space
Socom (horrible start might I add but great game)
Motorstorm 2
Ninja Gaiden 2
Devil May Cry 4

and maybe well have a surprise hit such as
White Knight
or Valkyria Chronicles

[GWAVE]

Fable 2's co-op is shameful, so I cannot realistically give this game a mention for GotY.

[Condemnedman]

Sony protection force out again :@ why do you get upset and start slagging off his opinion ? fable may not be goty for you but he may have loved it there is alot of people who say MGS4 is the goty but i thought it was so so i didnt hate it but it didnt make me go wow there is alot of games to go yet so lets stop willy waving just because you want goty on your system so you can go told you so... pathetic

[j0ltspidah88]

if fallout 3 does what oblivion does, i think it will get GOTY over anything else. LBP being a great game, lost its fun for me after a few days, however its very innovative and fresh new idea and that could sell it as GOTY alone. GeoW2 - loved the first one, not really hyped about the 2nd one, same with resistance 2, or even MGS4.

Anyways, its been a good year for games, on both systems, so i could really care less who wins, i just want more good games coming

[Tmac]

Lmao!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hilarious Article!

[Tmac]

It's SOOOO Game of the year that it can't even break 90 yet on metascore... lol *rolls eyes*

[BigDaddyDLo]

When was Gears and Fallout get canceled? lol