Fable II Review

By Christian Donlan Published 20 October, 2008

Heroic.

Version tested: Xbox 360

Fairy tales may be primarily about getting married and shoving elderly eccentrics into ovens, but more often than not, there's a thread of revolutionary spirit running through them as well. Along with the enchanted footwear and talking mirrors, there's a corrupt king who requires overthrowing, or a cruel and mysterious grip on the land that needs to be broken. It makes sense, then, that alongside the high adventure and tumbledown castles of Fable II, in amongst the midnight intrigue and haunted swamps, there's a similar spark of revolution at work. But this is regime-change at its most fundamental, and Lionhead's fascination with the world of choices and consequences has lead it to topple some of gaming's most accepted idols. Fable II explores what happens when a game does away with most forms of punishment, and does nothing but reward its players from start to finish. The results are astonishing.

It's worth stepping away from the tried and tested Pavlovian mechanics that games have inherited from the coin-crunching arcades to consider what Lionhead is proposing. Almost every game ever made has reinforced its rules with penalties: if you fight and lose, you're killed; if you go off and explore, you get lost; if you're spotted when you're meant to be hiding, you're deported back to the start. It's a strategy that undoubtedly works - many of gaming's finer moments are often interlinked with its harshest challenges - but there's also no escaping the fact that when it all goes wrong you're often treated like a lab monkey undergoing a rather cruel experiment: you may really want that banana, but the chances are you're going to get a lot of electric shocks first.

Fable II, to continue this somewhat tenuous analogy, would rather shower you with bananas as often as it possibly can. The biggest surprise is that the game's inherent generosity never feels gratuitous, even when it's overturning many games' most fundamental design principles. Fable II's glowing breadcrumb trail leads you ever onwards to your next objective, but even though you can't get lost it still allows for deep exploration. It also makes you consider why so many games force you to traipse around in circles or click on every NPC you meet to access the next mission. Similarly, the game's death-free combat makes you wonder why you've been settling for mere survival all these years when you can spend your time working towards mastery instead. These ideas were originally introduced to Fable II so that it would be more accessible to non-gamers, and while that's undoubtedly been achieved, it hasn't excluded the more experienced player either.

'Fable II' Screenshot 1

Zoë Wanamaker's voiceover brings a highbrow sexiness to lines like, "You are now famous enough to use the Scary Laugh expression!"

Written down, this sounds like sacrilege. That breadcrumb trail is hardly new, after all, calling to mind the neon arrows of Perfect Dark Zero or even the first level of Halo, but Albion is actually an admirably intuitive place to get around - at any moment, you can switch off the glowing path and discover that there are more than enough signposts, way-markers, and other subtle environmental details to tell you where you're going. In fact, the game's controversial pathfinding system really comes into its own when you realise you can ignore it as much as you want, and what was initially patronising becomes empowering. Why not follow your dog for half an hour - he's there to lead you off the beaten path, after all - and head into the wilderness to discover the game's wealth of secret chests and side-quests? Buy a house, get married, have children, kill them all and smash the place up: whatever you choose to explore, the path will be quietly waiting behind you when you go back to the narrative, pointing the way to your next objective as it whimsically zigzags across paving stones, mossy roads, swampland and farmers' meadows.

And when you do follow it, you'll find yourself in the middle of a game that manages to offer you all the good bits of adventuring and few of the bad. Following Fable II's path of least resistance leads you through an expertly paced trail of combat and quests, spectacle and challenge, with no roadblocks in between. You never find yourself having to tease out the next chunk of story.

Fable II's approach to combat is equally idiosyncratic. While the one-button fighting has garnered the most headlines, it's the game's reluctance to punish you for failure that really marks it out: if you're downed in battle, it's not back to the last checkpoint. Instead you lose a few experience points, before surging heroically back to life, health-bar refilled, with barely a pause in the action. You expect this kind of treatment in LEGO Star Wars, but aren't role-players supposed to grind?

'Fable II' Screenshot 2

With the game's story finished, you're left with an open world stuffed with new side-quests.

Besides allowing inexperienced players to muddle through any situation, this allows the designers to string together truly mammoth battles. Yet far from rendering the combat toothless by taking out the penalty of restarts, the game provides another, deeper challenge - get through the fights looking as good as you can. While you can one-button your way through if you wish, the real pleasures lie in mixing it up - maximising the experience orbs received by pulling off acrobatic flourish moves and timed attacks, switching between area strikes and targeted magic, softening an enemy up with your sword before finishing them off up close with your rifle.

The swashbuckling animation and on-the-fly environmental details, along with your gradually expanding arsenal of moves, elevate Fable II's combat so much that it's the game's strongest point. Impacts are meaty, and enemies are varied in both strategy and appearance: massive trolls burst from the earth and bandits drop down from the trees, while hollow, skeletal men lumber towards you en masse before shattering under gunfire in a dry explosion of bones. The arrangements of enemies call for different strategies, and getting the most out of a fight still requires more traditional videogame attributes like skill and dexterity (in other words, I struggled).

Combat's not the only strong point, however: Lionhead's story is pleasantly mysterious, and its characters, quests and settings are all infused with an unmistakably British humour - more Adam and Joe than Monty Python, pleasingly. The sheer scope of the game is an achievement in itself, gliding from a knockabout Dickensian childhood through a grim middle age, and on to a conclusion which all hangs on some particularly tricky choices. Along the way, the narrative manages to cram in pirates, ghosts, and a familiar Fable variation on werewolves, a sure sign that the developers have your best interests at heart.

And Lionhead has largely delivered on its promises along the way: your dog, although essentially a mechanic for tempting you to explore, is a masterpiece - lovable, convincing, and almost entirely self-sufficient. Equally, the previous game's morality system has undergone a subtle rebalancing: it's still a largely binary affair, but your choice of oppositions tend to be more surprising this time around. As often as the game makes you choose between standard good and bad deeds, it makes you think about subtler deviations - how much incidental brutishness you allow yourself in the name of a justifiable cause, for example, or how much embarrassment you'll opt to create for no real reason. And Fable II also understands what few other similarly inclined videogames have: morality has no kick unless the game can actually make you want something quite desperately. In the course of Fable II, you'll be offered some genuine delights, alongside the promise of a few brutal sacrifices, and they're all choices that carry a convincing price for your world.

'Fable II' Screenshot 3

Once again, every choice you make will have an impact on your version of Albion - co-op is likely to be as much about exchanging notes as smacking bandits around.

There are problems, of course, but they tend to be minor annoyances. Context-sensitive prompts can be a little too sensitive to context, requiring a spot of shuffling back and forth to activate, and dialogue often takes a millisecond too long to load, resulting in a few stilted and unnatural conversations. There's a fair amount of backtracking, too, although fast travel is easily available, and an empty stretch of road is often a chance to enjoy another brief dust-up anyway. And despite the ambition of the game, I encountered precisely two bugs along the way: at one point I found myself trapped in a room I'd just looted when a hat-stand fell across the doorway and I had to fast-travel out, and on another occasion, a prostitute I was talking to got herself wedged in the wall of a townhouse, only to emerge out of the front door a few moments later looking faintly confused by the whole experience.

But these are quibbles compared to the grand scope. It took me two solid days of playing to scramble to the end of the narrative, and during that time, and due to a handful of particularly nasty choices - I had murdered innocents, I had laughed at a few funerals, I had Kicked a Chicken a Good Distance - I had somehow transformed from a nubile cutie in gypsy rags into Oliver Hardy's zombified older sister, bloated and saggy, my rotting skin covered in scars from inept battling, and the remains of my hairdo splattered unappealingly over my sweaty forehead. I had become distinctly unlovable, and yet the game was still willing to show me a good time.

'Fable II' Screenshot 4

The scars are from being defeated in battle, the lightning's due to magic skills. As for the haircut, I did that to myself.

Fable II's generous and forgiving template isn't one that many games choose to follow, but it proves convincingly that if you're clever enough, you can create a consistent challenge without resorting to mindless punishment, and you can craft a sharply told story that still has room for the player to express themselves within. Inclusive and often thought-provoking, this is a daring portrait of a game-world with all the failure cut out, and it's hard not to love a game that loves you so much in return. Fable II will charm you, thrill you, and leave you very, very happy.

10 / 10

Read the Eurogamer.net scoring policy
Picture of Christian.

About Christian Donlan

Chris Donlan writes about games for Eurogamer and some magazines. His heroes include Eugene Jarvis, Errol Morris, and Linus Van Pelt.

Read more articles from Christian by visiting the Christian Donlan archive page.

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Comments (614) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Vice.Destroyer #1 3 years ago

    Wow. 10/10. Sold.

  • Lutz #2 3 years ago

    10/10. AWESOME.

    And a damned awesome review too. Well done.
    Edited by 1 at 20/10/08 @ 14:08

  • Zomoniac #3 3 years ago

    THIRD.

  • mcmonkeyplc #4 3 years ago

    MOTHER FUCKERS! I hate you! I wasn't going to get this.

    CUNTS! Sorry.

  • LeD #5 3 years ago

    Better than LBP

    /runs

  • peteb #6 3 years ago

    Hell yea!!!!

    :D

    Well done Peter and Lionhead.

    /Reads review
    Edited by 1 at 20/10/08 @ 14:05

  • Beano #7 3 years ago

    OMG.. this thread will explode!

    :)

  • Widge #8 3 years ago

    Sounds nice! I hope this one comes out on PC too.

  • bonker #9 3 years ago

    WWWWWWOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!

  • Triggerhappytel #10 3 years ago

    ...

    ...

    ...

    ...Fucking hell.

    Now to read it.

  • Psychotext #11 3 years ago

    Molyneux redeemed!

  • chris_ace #12 3 years ago

    Post deleted at 11:55:13 13-12-2011

  • Tomo #13 3 years ago

    Awesome.

  • LeD #14 3 years ago

    Well done Peter, you really put your money where your mouth is this time. Or something.

    Congrats to everyone at Lionhead!

  • butler` #15 3 years ago

    WHAT THE FUCK. Now that I DIDN'T expect! Nice!

  • MasterNameless #16 3 years ago

    Roll on Friday! \o/

    Even though my 360 is broke at the mo... I think I'll try prolong it's life for another week or two until I can get my filthy hands on an import copy of LBP. I think putting it outside the window(it's overheating frequently) with several fans blowing on it may do the trick!

  • Tzetrik #17 3 years ago

    crikey

  • Dizzy #18 3 years ago

    As expected.... awesome game! ;)

    I am very happy that the combat is good.... that was my only main concern.
    Edited by 1 at 20/10/08 @ 14:11

  • Rowlsten #19 3 years ago

    Well done Molyneux have a biscuit :)

  • rudedudejude #20 3 years ago

    fable 2 advertising on site omg scandal & bribery!

  • johnboy_johsnon #21 3 years ago

    I'm gobsmacked to say the least. Did NOT see this one coming. Hell I didn't even plan to get it. Think I'll ahve to revise that strategy now.

  • oxymoron #22 3 years ago

    Tempted to buy another 360 after my 1st rrod'd and i simply threw it in the skip. This game has me tempted, see microsoft? I am well and truly sitting on the fence on this one cause your hardware is so fucking wank.

  • groovychainsaw #23 3 years ago

    Brilliant - collector's edition, pub games, even the flash games I was playing to get the extra items, all vindicated now! This looks superb - any comments on the co-op mode, as my missus will be immensely interested, she loved the first fable.

    Sounds like they took all the best bits from the first game, and then focussed on all the other bits to bring them up to the same level.

    /Is excited

    Now I only hope they send it to me a day or 2 early. Please??

  • Beano #24 3 years ago

    overratedlol360lolfaillol !!!!

    Just kidding, guys :D

    I didn't like the first game but just ordered the game today after seeing Edge's score... sound awesome!
    Good high quality filler (with Dead Space) until LBP arrives in two weeks :)
    Edited by 1 at 20/10/08 @ 14:12

  • alimokrane #25 3 years ago

    HOLY COW!!!! Didnt see this coming! NICE REVIEW!!!

  • Nillsens #26 3 years ago

    Hell yes! Way better than I expected.

    Now please tell me someone in Eindhoven has already managed to snag a copy :p

  • morriss #27 3 years ago

    GET IN!!

  • lennon #28 3 years ago

    Well done Peter and the crew at Lionhead. Often criticised unfairly I salute you.

  • kendoji #29 3 years ago

    holy crapola

    /joins the ranks of the stunned, who weren't planning on getting this but just might have to now

  • bonker #30 3 years ago

    Live Co-op play review in a week or so yes??

    Please??

  • aldo_14 #31 3 years ago

    So when's the Pc version due? ;)

  • sweetcheeks #32 3 years ago

    yikes, looks like BT are gonna have to wait another week to get paid next. preorder time.

  • groovychainsaw #33 3 years ago

    I think they said live co-op should be a day 0 patch.... /fingers crossed
    Edited by 1 at 20/10/08 @ 14:17

  • Widge #34 3 years ago

    Now the interesting thought here, is Fable II going to poo on Fallout 3's bonfire in the free roaming RPG stakes? If I had both pre-ordered and was looking to ditch one, it would be F3.

  • menage #35 3 years ago

    9/10 edge and this, plus a few high others = instant sale

    can't wait

  • madgerald Verified Studio Head of PR & Marketing, Colossal Games LTD #36 3 years ago

    Was going to buy it regardless - but well done guys n gals over at Lionhead. I can't wait to find out how many pizzas were consumed, marriages consumated and bums constipated over the end credits.

  • groovychainsaw #37 3 years ago

    @Widge, I was already there with that conundrum, had fable 2 pre-ordered, wasn't quite so desperate for fallout 3 (even though i put in 140 hours in oblivion and completed fallout + fallout 2 twice!). I'm kinda torn -Don't think they should be released so close together, to be honest, one of them is going to suffer. I'm probably going to wait until the inevitable drought next year for fallout 3....
    Edit: This must also be the most positive thread I've seen on EG for a long time yet.... 40+ posts with no blatant flaming? What's wrong?
    Edited by 1 at 20/10/08 @ 14:21

  • kendoji #38 3 years ago

    remarkable that Eurogamer gives a higher score than Peter himself :-D

  • mcmonkeyplc #39 3 years ago

    God damn it! I'm going to have to get this now. I think I'll wait till pay to get though. Running low on queens heads.

  • ChthonicEcho #40 3 years ago

    /waits for it to come to the PC.

  • bioreit #41 3 years ago

    Was quietly hopeful this would review well - awesome!

    Will definitely get this and stick it on the shelf next to Mass Effect and Oblivion. Then Fallout 3 can join them all, too.

    Then, when I finally lose my job due to recession, or break my back doing something truly stupid, I have plenty of entertainment to see me through the bad times :-)

  • toy_brain #42 3 years ago

    My 360 hasnt been used in a while.
    After reading this review I just quickly turned it on to make sure it still works. Then turned it off again.
    Don't want to risk it RRODing on me before I buy this on Saturday.

    Untill then, I shall amuse myself by reading this thread. Come on fanboys. I want at least 500 posts of drivel to laugh at!

  • andywilkie35 #43 3 years ago

    There was no question that I was going to buy this, and this review has justified my belief in it

    Delighted

  • stampax #44 3 years ago

    Seems to be lots more games getting very high or maximum scores these days - that can only be a good thing Are games really that much better than they used to be?


  • Widge #45 3 years ago

    @groovychainsaw

    you never know, there will probably be a F3 GOTY edition out at some point with all the bugs fixed and DLC bundled in for free! Been the same for the last few games of theirs.

  • Lutz #46 3 years ago

    Major congratulations to everyone over at Lionhead too. The review is only awesome cos the game is awesome.

  • mainaman #47 3 years ago

    But GTA4 was 10/10 as well and it wasn't nowhere that good.

    I didn't plan to buy it,this autumn is gonna be wallet-busting.

  • crozon #48 3 years ago

    cool, all i gotta do now is wait for the PC version

  • Widge #49 3 years ago

    nah, there is still enough low denominator crud that is pumped out for the masses.

  • gooners2006 #50 3 years ago

    sweet....that me buying that then lol

  • alimokrane #51 3 years ago

    Can I just say, this is a DAMN well written review. Thanks for the great read ;)
    Edited by 1 at 20/10/08 @ 14:25

  • sweetcheeks #52 3 years ago

    GOTY,


    this or bayonetta...

  • Yossarian #53 3 years ago

    Goddamn it that's more money on videogames.

    THIS WAS ONE I WAS GOING TO SKIP.

  • miiiguel #54 3 years ago

    Roll on Friday! I do hope Amazon send it wedsday.

  • penhalion #55 3 years ago

    @sweetcheeks

    Pay BT. Fable 2 will still be around in a few weeks time, your internet may not be.

    @Everyone else

    Wasn't expecting a 10/10 and in truth I don't believe it is that good. I already had this pre-ordered so no change there. Always planned to get it but, I'm going to be expecting a 8/10 experience from it.

  • DugBriderider #56 3 years ago

    Congrats to PM and the team.
    Good writing thier by EG as well, my thirst for Fable 2 info has had me wade through a lot of dross elsewhere.
    Edited by 1 at 20/10/08 @ 14:40

  • madgerald Verified Studio Head of PR & Marketing, Colossal Games LTD #57 3 years ago

    @sweetcheeks

    Get both; Bayonetta isn't until next year.

  • Slim #58 3 years ago

    Woot!

  • El_MUERkO #59 3 years ago

    "had somehow transformed from a nubile cutie in gypsy rags into Oliver Hardy's zombified older sister, bloated and saggy, my rotting skin covered in scars from inept battling, and the remains of my hairdo splattered unappealingly over my sweaty forehead."

    thats what pissed me off about the first one, i killed a couple of innocents by mistake and wasnt a saint so that must make me the worlds ugliest human

    evil people can take care of their looks too!

  • FrankCannon #60 3 years ago

    Just pray there is no blasphemy in it.

  • Beano #61 3 years ago

    "Another 10/10... what a fucking joke. "

    After giving LBP a 9, this is actually quite funny... but I haven't played Fable 2 (yet) so I can't really say if the score is off or not for sure ;)
    No matter what... Fable 2 is a positive surprise to me!
    Edited by 1 at 20/10/08 @ 14:30

  • groovychainsaw #62 3 years ago

    @El-Muerko, you can be a suave, vampire-type bad guy in this as well, as long as you avoid getting too scarred and look after your appearance, as you say...

  • Skywise #63 3 years ago

    * renews Xbox-Live subscription *

  • creepylizard #64 3 years ago

    well...thats dead space and fable 2 done. now I just have to see what fallout 3 gets....probaby have to get them all anyway.
    its a good thing I don't have any friends cause if i did they'd probably complain about never seeing me....

  • Bertie Verified Senior Staff Writer, Eurogamer.net #65 3 years ago

    I've been playing this for a while and it charms my socks off. Incidentally - Live co-op patch has been confirmed for tomorrow.

  • bonker #66 3 years ago

    "Seems to be lots more games getting very high or maximum scores these days - that can only be a good thing Are games really that much better than they used to be? "

    3rd+ generation games (in a particular generation) are where the devs usually get to grips with the console fully hence more polishing time available to push towards that precious 10 score ...

  • MrChuckles #67 3 years ago

    Evil doesn't make you look horrible in F2, i believe it just makes you pale. It's corruption vs purity that affects your looks. So you can have a good looking evil character and an ugly good character.

  • Monkey_Puncher #68 3 years ago

    I can't wait for the game, but I was always expecting it to get a 9/10 on Eurogamer, can't wait!

  • Dezm0nd #69 3 years ago

    Hooray another highly advertised and rated game on the same website.

    Corruption FTW!!

  • hy4000uk #70 3 years ago

    the year of the PS3 continues!

    LMAO
    Edited by 1 at 20/10/08 @ 14:35

  • Breaker3000 #71 3 years ago

    Well done everybody at Lionhead, sounds like my rabid anticipation was justified

  • Luckyjim #72 3 years ago

    Surprised by the score but it does look really good.

    Shame I don't have a 360.

  • Lutz #73 3 years ago

    @Yossarian: You'd better get this mate! I wanna see my WHOLE friends list playing this one!

    Bertie: Nice one on the patch confirmation. (Maybe add it as an addenum to the review???)
    Are you playing it again when it's on general release, so you can co-op too?

  • stepneg #74 3 years ago

    Good review, like others I was going to let this one go on release and come back to it when the rush has passed but I don't think I can now, bugger.

  • Rottentomatoes #75 3 years ago

    EDGE gave this a 9. (and LBP a 10)

    Nice score. Looking forward to playing it.

  • Abscido #76 3 years ago

    Brilliant review. Doesn't get bogged down in details, but seems to capture the spirit of the game's worth perfectly all the same.

  • Razzajazz #77 3 years ago

    Did not have this on my radar at all, didn't even play the first one. EG, don't you know there's a goddamn recession on?!

  • Darren #78 3 years ago

    I was really enjoying that superbly written and informative review and then it suddently ended. Why no comments on the graphics, animation or audio? How decent is the voice-acting... it's like there's a chunk of the review missing.

    Apart from that... WOW! A really impressive score and one which has me finally excited about the game despite being one of those that found the original Fable merely good but failing to deliver on its promises rather than magnificent and ambitious. Plus I can't wait to get a dog... it looks awesome in the videos I've seen and, for an RPG anyway, an original concept. Are there different dog species or is there just the one. Do other people in the game also have dogs?

  • Charlie3487 #79 3 years ago

    So, Far Cry 2, Fable 2 (seemingly a "must buy", Endwar, Bond, GOW2, Guitar Hero World Tour (not the full whistles and bells version - Guitar Hero II and II guitars, cheap USB mic, just the game - screw the drums!) and Call Of Duty 5...all coming out in the next month...

    Better start pimping myself out then, eh? Or invest in some dice to choose which one makes the list..which ones should I leave and which should I buy? Hmmmm...

    //advice gratefully received....

  • SuperBas #80 3 years ago

    After that 10/10 for GTA4 and that ridiculously high rating for Spore, I don't trust EG 10's anymore. I'll get this in the discount bin, because it sounds like this game never punishes you, and can be completed in 1 or 2 days, meaning a waste of money.

  • ChrisS #81 3 years ago

    Brilliant review, and spot on. Had I been reviewing it for EG I'd have given it 10, too.

  • rubntug #82 3 years ago

    Great review, wasn't sure if I was going to pick this up on Day 1 but this is surely the impetus to do so. I also love that we're all moaning about how many good games are coming out in the next couple of months, just as we've stopped moaning about the drought.

  • Beano #83 3 years ago

    @cthulhu_steev: Well... I was paising the Fable 2 scores in the same post and even noted that I just ordered it today. Also my remark was clearly maked as a joke. Miiiiguel was clearly trollig - I was clearly not.

    Take it easy, boy

  • asphaltcowboy #84 3 years ago

    Sounds amazing! Sorted out my pre-order yesterday!

  • turnget2005 #85 3 years ago

    WTF 10/10.

    this site is just getting worse by the day.

  • MrDurandPierre #86 3 years ago

    Wow. I really had no interest in this game until now. I never had an original Xbox and I'm not that into free roaming RPGs ala Oblivion, so I kinda missed the boat on the first game. But this has me intrigued. Although I'll already be buying LBP around the same time, so I'm trying to decide between this and Far Cry 2. I don't think I'll have time for both.

  • Scrumhalf #87 3 years ago

    How long till the Far Cry 2 review - I need to know which to get so I can get an order in for delivery on Friday :)

  • peterfll #88 3 years ago

    Wow!

    Only a 2 page review though?

  • Darren #89 3 years ago

    Well I personally like the idea of a game that doesn't punish me but rewards me instead as I play games for the experience not particularly for the challenge. I play games for F.U.N. I'm loving Saints Row 2 at the moment because it has a Casual setting and constantly throws rewards at me (but not too many Achievement points, ahem). Too often I've played games and got stuck at a certain point only to never finish them despite wanting to (Ninja Gaiden I'm looking at you!!!). BioShock was awesome because it wasn't just a great game but also one that never felt like it punished me so if Fable II's approach is like that then it will be one of the best games this year for me. Roll on Thursday/Friday! :D
    Edited by 1 at 20/10/08 @ 14:48

  • Widge #90 3 years ago

    right, I'm over this now... more reviews please!

  • chris_ace #91 3 years ago

    Post deleted at 11:55:13 13-12-2011

  • Beano #92 3 years ago

    "Perhaps PM can finally stop being hounded by naysayers. "

    I agree. Nice to see PM finally be "given" a break.. maybe people will stop writing "Fablelol" in news threads about him :)

  • Moonprince #93 3 years ago

    "Far Cry 2, Fable 2 (seemingly a "must buy", Endwar, Bond, GOW2, Guitar Hero World Tour"

    Far Cry and Fable - get those.

    Leave Endwar forever.
    Bond can wait for £20 or below
    GOW2 more of the same and can wait for sub £15
    GHWT if it floats your boat

    Better to go for new experiences in my opinion. Dead Space? Mirrors edge?

  • sweetcheeks #94 3 years ago

    albion is a lovely place- just west of birmingham

  • dr_faulk #95 3 years ago

    HOLEEEEEEE SHIT!

  • Darren #96 3 years ago

    @peterfll - Exactly, the review reads like 2/3rds of a great review, one with a page missing about the other aspects of the game like the audio/visuals! Or is it just me...? LOL

  • pommak #97 3 years ago

    I guess I have to buy this once it comes to PC.

  • Widge #98 3 years ago

    There was one brief mention of the audio and that was it!

  • BiscuitBase #99 3 years ago

    Holy crap I wasn't expecting a score that high. SOLD!
    Edited by 1 at 20/10/08 @ 14:50

  • Charlie3487 #100 3 years ago

    Cheers, Moonprince...is EndWar that bad??

    Mirrors Edge looks kinda different..I'll wait for the demo...

    Between Fable 2 and multiplayer COD5, looks like the missus will be happy with the amount of time I'll spend with her!!

  • SBfistfun #101 3 years ago

    this is living

  • muscleblade #102 3 years ago

    "Shame I don't have a 360"

    Go buy one then. Easily worth it.

    And 10/10 was just as expected.


  • Darren #103 3 years ago

    Can we have an expanded three page review with comments on the audio and visuals please EG. There wasn't any mention of the mini-games or how large the world is. Is it bigger than Fable? What are the loading times like, are they intrusive like the original where it loaded each "room"? C'mon we need an extra page!

  • Gl3n #104 3 years ago

    What the fuck! ten?! TEN?

    I expected the usual 8 or perhaps 9. But 10?!

  • tincanrocket #105 3 years ago

    Looks interesting, and a great score. I'm still not totally convinced by the look of the combat, and the good/evil thing being still very black and white (scuse the pun) is a concern (and a criticism regularly levelled at Bethesda but not seized upon here). I'd like to know more about what there is to do in the game, what are the side missions like, that kind of thing. The review was well written, but I need more specifics and less prose ;)

    Graphically it looks similar to the first game (which didn't really grab me) and the likes of Zelda - it will definitely appeal to my better half, so will undoubtedly pick it up at some point (and probably thoroughly enjoy it), but for the time being I'm going to buck the forum and comments trend and retain a degree of scepticism (and save my money for Far Cry 2 or Fallout 3) :p

    edit: funny that the Spore review is mentioned above, as I'm still feeling mightily ripped off by Spore (and the glowing EG review it received), and I'm getting whiffs of Spore from this review (and the lack of specific information about what you actually *do* in the game). Or maybe I'm just kidding myself in an effort to save money ;)
    Edited by 1 at 20/10/08 @ 14:59

  • anamenos #106 3 years ago

    probably the game of the year!!!!!

  • Beano #107 3 years ago

    @Darren: According to this YouTube video review, the load times are quite bad (10-15 seconds). One of the only drawback of the game. Hopefully a NXE HDD install will help :)

    http://ww w.youtube.com/watch?v=xP8fH3Iq6...

  • Moonprince #108 3 years ago

    Well, certainly wait for a review when it comes to Endwar.

    Going back to Gears - it's good but I've personally grown a bit tired of it and this one just isn't doing enough new for me. So very personal view of it.

    I found the atmosphere in Dead Space to be awesome and Mirrors Edge seemed to nail the controls so I'd rather go with them.

  • kinky_mong #109 3 years ago

    It just occurred to me that I at the beginning of the year I was worried that there was going to be nothing that interested me coming out at the end of the year. Fast forward to now and we are (by "we" I mean "360 owners";) are faced with too many games coming out!

    Hilariously my housemate has been pestering me about going out and trying to make plans to do stuff over the next month. Good luck with that! The only time I'm leaving the house is for work and Quantum of Solace.

    I can't wait for Friday now after this glowing review. Going to have to put some serious Saints Row time in until then.

  • slivir #110 3 years ago

    I really enjoyed reading this review, fuck the minor details. I hated the sound of the first Fable so I never touched it but I'm sold on the sequel.

    Why did the economy have to go shit at such a time... the golden days of PlayAsia are over :'(
    Edited by 1 at 20/10/08 @ 14:58

  • bengray66 #111 3 years ago

    What the fuck! ten?! TEN?

    I expected the usual 8 or perhaps 9. But 10?!

    Im personally getting rather pissed off by people complaining about high scores!! Do you not want to play good games or something?
    How can anyone complain that there are too many 10/10 games? Surely thats a good thing?

  • Benno #112 3 years ago

    10/10? Expected better.

  • siro #113 3 years ago

    Oh my, just skimmed through the review and had a look at the final score. Just wow. Literally, my chin dropped. I didn't anticipate this... I think this is Christian's first review on Eurogamer. It would be nice to have a few scores he'd give other games to get a better understanding for his likings.

  • Vanmunt #114 3 years ago

    Seriously looking forward to this...

    Edge gave it a 9, especially noted dog clipping (ooer) said it spoils the emersion.

    Typical EG reversing Edge scores... 10Lbp....EG reviews are shit these days, 9 sr2 5 edge... 8 legobatman 4 edge.. I certainly know who I trust more.

    Still, this game sounds amazing.

  • Widge #115 3 years ago

    He likes long walks, lobster and ladies honkers.

  • locus2k1 #116 3 years ago

    Great review, looking forward to this even more now.

    Thing i really liked about this review is that Christian has taken in account what Molyneux asked and looked at it as a non-gamer, while also looking at it on how the "'core" audience will play it too. A game that will be enjoyed by all? well achieved Lionhead Studios. Roll on friday, I cannot wait to be playing this in single player and co-op with friends and family.

    But then Fallout 3 is the week after, gonna have to blitz it the first time through lol. And lets not forget LBP is somewhere too, going to be poor come the end of november!
    Edited by 1 at 20/10/08 @ 15:06

  • asphaltcowboy #117 3 years ago

    @siro: http: //www.eurogamer.net/archive.php?author=294

  • Bitkari #118 3 years ago

    Sounds great! Can't wait for the PC version!

  • darleysam #119 3 years ago

    They probably don't read the comments, but I'm another one that'd like to congratulate everyone at Lionhead for making such a critically well-received game. Just hope it converts into sales for you, too.

  • sifujames #120 3 years ago

    10/10? Could this be the game that finally makes me buy a 360?

  • siro #121 3 years ago

    asphaltcowboy: What are you trying to tell me? That I guessed right this being his first review? Or do you suppose that I read through all that instead of just playing some games?

    Edit: There's not a single RPG in there btw, so reading it wouldn't even help a tiny wee bit at all.
    Edited by 1 at 20/10/08 @ 15:09

  • JammyPez #122 3 years ago

    No co-op mention or review/notes? Will this come latterly?? This has been entirely missed in the review.

  • bengray66 #123 3 years ago

    I certainly know who I trust more.


    You can't judge a game fully on other peoples reviews you tool....

    GTA4 got 10's galore, and I personally can't get into it. It just does nothing for me.

  • kinky_mong #124 3 years ago

    Typical EG reversing Edge scores... 10Lbp....EG reviews are shit these days, 9 sr2 5 edge... 8 legobatman 4 edge.. I certainly know who I trust more.

    The people who actually enjoy playing games and realise they're an activity to have fun with? Or do you listen to the pretentious bores at Edge?

  • Beano #125 3 years ago

    "test"

    Troll!

    ;)

  • bitesize #126 3 years ago


    awesome, sounds amazing! anyone heard anything re: the collector's edition recently? since all the crap was removed (toy figure, cards, cardboard box etc), some places still aren't stocking/listing it - but i got the CE pre-ordered from play. is the CE still coming out, and on time?


    and as for the 'incomplete' review - do eurogamer reviews EVER mention the audio? apart from a line or 2 about voice acting quality or music, i don't remember ever seeing any attention paid to the audio side. most other review sites are exactly the same, unless the sound design is particularly awesome it doesn't even get a mention... (yes, i'm a disgruntled sound designer whose work never gets mentioned in reviews)

  • Slipstream #127 3 years ago

    Nice review, so what's Co-op like?

  • Kryon #128 3 years ago

    Has anyone said PS3 lol yet?

  • PearOfAnguish #129 3 years ago

    "Im personally getting rather pissed off by people complaining about high scores!! Do you not want to play good games or something?
    How can anyone complain that there are too many 10/10 games? Surely thats a good thing?"

    Yes. If you are about to make a comment about the score, please take a moment to think what a twat you'll look, then fuck off somewhere else.

  • Kryon #130 3 years ago

    Where's hedbog at? Is he crying?

  • Darren #131 3 years ago

    Only you, Kryon. ;)

  • paketep #132 3 years ago

    A 10?. Really?.

  • PatrickEwing #133 3 years ago

    anyone want to do a swap, I'll give you GTA IV for this, straight swap!

  • michaelius #134 3 years ago

    How the hell I see comments about simplified version of Fable 1 with few improvements on forums and then find it was scored as 10/10 ?

    Are we now CasualGamer portal ?

  • Darren #135 3 years ago

    @ N@ - The original game only took nine hours to complete (which you could feasibly do in a day if you wanted) but the longevity came from all the other stuff you could do. I'd imagine it's the same for Fable II. I've heard elsewhere that this game's narrative takes longer to complete though, around 12-15 hours and there's bound to be tons of other stuff to do as well, a bit like a sandbox game a la GTA and Saints Row really, only with a fantasy setting.
    Edited by 1 at 20/10/08 @ 15:19

  • lockload #136 3 years ago

    Molyneux delivers!

  • asphaltcowboy #137 3 years ago

    That I guessed right this being his first review?

    Erm, it's not his first review... clearly. You asked for a few other games he's scored so you can have an idea of his 'likings'... I provided. You didn't stipulate that they had to be RPG reviews and tbh, does it make that much difference? His reviews are there for you to look at.

  • Lebowski #138 3 years ago

    10/10 and cracked in two days? O-kay...






  • groovychainsaw #139 3 years ago

    I'm sure you could complete oblivion's story in 2 solid days of playing. You'd miss a lot though... ;-). These games cannot be measured purely on the length of the main narrative, but also the amount of fun you can have within the world.

  • Ryltar #140 3 years ago

    "its characters, quests and settings are all infused with an unmistakably British humour - more Adam and Joe than Monty Python, pleasingly"

    Sold. Sold. Sold.

    I have a quick question though, (apologies if this has been asked before), its about the narrative. I heard this is set some years after the first game, but having not played the original will this be an issue?
    Edited by 1 at 20/10/08 @ 15:25

  • siro #141 3 years ago

    asphaltcowboy: Mea Culpa. Saw now that there are several review among those articles. Scoring seems to be very much on the lenient side though...

    Else I do think it makes a difference if he's into RPGs or not. As this is one. But then again, Mr. Molyneux asked us to set someone not used to these on his game - so maybe EG just comforted this wish.

    Anyway, Fable 2 seems to be a very good. Unlike the first Fable, which was quite good, but not a must play title at any rate.

  • Trafford #142 3 years ago

    Well done Lionhead.
    My money is yours,well some of it.

  • ChrisS #143 3 years ago

    I've been playing the game for thirty-plus hours and haven't been bored at any stage. The quest can be got through in about ten hours, but anyone that whizzes through at that speed is really missing out. The simple fact that I'd been playing it longer, had completed more side-quests and generally experienced as much of the game world as I had time to made some of the story stuff more affecting than it would have been had I tried to get through it as quickly as I could.

    In short: you really do get out what you put in with this.

  • ligurmatic #144 3 years ago

    Damn you eurogamer! There I am, resisting buying a 360 and now you do this? Cruel, simply cruel.

  • Asundai #145 3 years ago

    Unexpected. Quite nice after recent disappointments (Infinite Undiscovery, Spore, Stalker Clear Sky).

    Not helping my wallet though >_>

    I wanna see what they give Fallout 3. Oblivion with guns or something more?

  • 200k #146 3 years ago

    Two days of solid gaming for the main quest, loads more gameplay for sidemissions or just fucking about in Albion.

    Super Mario World, Goldeneye, Portal, HL2 etc etc all could be finished in a similar amount of time, does this mean they aren't worthy of high scores?

    Anyway, can't wait to get my hands on this come Friday and am glad Mr Molyneuxs unwavering hype has been vindicated. Now I'm just hoping for a 9 or above for Far Cry 2.

  • michaelius #147 3 years ago

    "Another 10/10... what a fucking joke. "

    After giving LBP a 9, this is actually quite funny... but I haven't played Fable 2 (yet) so I can't really say if the score is off or not for sure ;)
    No matter what... Fable 2 is a positive surprise to me!

    You must remember usual +2/+3 to score for being Microsoft exlusive :)

  • bhutz #148 3 years ago

    "MOTHER FUCKERS! I hate you! I wasn't going to get this.

    CUNTS! Sorry. "

    My thoughts exactly...

    God damn it....Saints Row 2, Far Cry 2, James Bond, COD5, Fallout 3 and now Fable 2

  • magicpanda #149 3 years ago

    Now then, how many fucktards are going to by this simply based on review scores despite not even liking the genre and then proceed to moan and moan about how it's shite? :)

  • ParanoidZombie #150 3 years ago

    So, fallout3 or fable2, Fuck, I don't know, I guess I'll get Fable2 simply because it ships one week earlier...
    On the other hand, I loved Oblivion, and Fallout3 seems spectacular, and even OXM seems to think that F3 (10/10) is better than fable2 (9.5/10)...
    On the other hand, with Gears2 and L4D coming in november, I may not need another post-apocalyptic game at the moment....
    Shit, i think i'll just flip a coin and hope for the best.

  • Dezm0nd #151 3 years ago

    PearOfAnguish said : "Yes. If you are about to make a comment about the score, please take a moment to think what a twat you'll look, then fuck off somewhere else."

    HE'S BACK! THE ULTRA DEFENSIVE FOR NO REASON PERSON IS BACK!

    We're gonna make you famous, pearly. For being such a lemonhead. Congrats.
    Edited by 1 at 20/10/08 @ 15:31

  • Zappa #152 3 years ago

    eurorgamer suck face to M$.

    this game looks like crap horrible graphics.

  • PearOfAnguish #153 3 years ago

    I have a pretty good reason, actually. It's about not filling up the comments with cretins bitching about the scoring being too high/low. Tit.

  • Widge #154 3 years ago

    First Kryon & HairyCrack, now Zappa.. the shining stars starting to hit the comments thread.

  • stevethemeat #155 3 years ago

    but the 360 only does fps's

  • kazumA82 #156 3 years ago

    LOL

    MGS4 gets an 8
    Fable 2 gets a 10?

    Way to hide your bias EG.

  • bitesize #157 3 years ago


    OMG they preferred one game to another!! teh bias!!

  • Aloominum_man #158 3 years ago

    @zappa

    You shame that name.

  • turnget2005 #159 3 years ago

    EG= xboxfanboys!

  • PearOfAnguish #160 3 years ago

    So, the co-op then. Can you play through the whole game in co-op?

  • #161 3 years ago

    I was really hoping for this game to fail badly as I find everything PM says just pretentious and he comes across as a sanctimonious twat but i take it back, he has delivered and few devs do that.

    /Well done Lionhead.

  • 200k #162 3 years ago

    @Kazum, yeah because it's bias if any game not on the PS3 gets a decent score. Do you remember the fact that Gears of War got an 8, as did Mass Effect?

    OMG LittleBigPlanet got a 9 on Eurogamer, they are so anti 360! This comments thread is despairingly predicatble.

  • HiddenPooh #163 3 years ago

    I'm buying, but I'm sure it's an 8 instead of a 10.
    Microsoft Exclusives always seem to review around 2 points better than they should.
    Edited by 1 at 20/10/08 @ 15:41

  • HiddenPooh #164 3 years ago

    OMG, the Fanboyz are rolling out their ultimate weapon the "Future Fail" - fucking idiots.

  • Zappa #165 3 years ago

    LMAO!

    eurogamer says nothing about graphics because EVERY pic looks last gen!!!

  • Dizzy #166 3 years ago

    Wow the anti-Fable fanboys are squirming in their own tears. This is great!

  • Widge #167 3 years ago

    well iHuGi really told us there.

  • michaelius #168 3 years ago

    "You must remember usual +2/+3 to score for being Microsoft exlusive :) "

    or it might just be a bloody good game.

    Yeah Halo 3 good probably :D

  • RedSparrows #169 3 years ago

    bastards, I was tempted to buy this but now I'm going to be sobbing in pain as I hand over the cash. And joy.

  • ParanoidZombie #170 3 years ago

    IGN UK gave the game 9.5/10. I think we can start talking GOTY.

  • Atomsk #171 3 years ago

    Got the game, played it the whole weekend. A few comments:
    - Imo graphics look a bit lame, technically. Games like Viking or IU look better and more "next-gen" imo.
    - It's an RPG-lite...I'm about 20 hours in and only died once completely by accident
    - I like the minigames and buying property
    - *Way* too much 4th wall joke stuff on the loading screens, ugh. Not funny.
    - Your avatar (I have a halo and got the "extremist" achievement for purity) is super ugly. He looks like Jay Leno ffs. And don't start me on the retarded selection of clothing. I can't make a cool looking character.
    - It isn't fundamentally more open than Fable 1, it's not a free-roaming game like Oblivion. You are still locked into areas, but they're more open now and there's quite a bit more to explore.
    - Too little combat though. There should be more enemies and more types of enemies.
    - Spellcasting. It's idiotic. You can level up spells from level 1 to 5, you cast spells by pressing B and charging up, but you can only set a single spell to a single charge level. So you can't easily cast two different level 5 spells without using the d-pad, and it's basically not worth levelling up your spells. Not that it matters, two level 5 spells kill almost everyone anyway.
    - The map - I want a proper minimap for exploration ffs, sometimes there's no map at all. Not that it matters because areas are usually quite simple, even the ones that look complicated.
    - The "innovative" mechanics are mostly a bit stupid. You still buy titles (this is possibly the stupidest idea ever), it's extremely easy to make people love you, and the dog is mostly just a gimmick. But they're mostly fun (except buying titles).

    Overall I like it. It's a good game, but it'd be nicer if it had more...errr...fake depth. I mean, like a reason to check out the merchants (except for buying potions for easy XP), for example for a better selection of weapons, or that kind of stuff :-/ (This is my biggest problem with the game actually, the weapon variety). 10/10 might be a bit too much, especially for people expecting a "real" RPG.

    So overall, it is Fable 1 with a few improvements (mostly what people wanted anyway), and it is indeed pretty lite, "casual crud for the masses" if you want, but done pretty well. It doesn't have what I liked the most in Fable (the heavy weapons had a different set of animations if you were too weak to properly use them, that was super cool).

    Oh and I have LBP too :-P

  • KreyAtiv #172 3 years ago

    Just happened to be "talking to a prostitue" eh? More like negotiating. :p
    Great review and I'm sure everyone at Lionhead will be estatic.
    Quite looking forward to it now. Great that they don't punish you so much if you lose in combat, but only take a small bit of experience from you and let you get back up like revitalised.

  • Graham_Bark #173 3 years ago

    Personally I was expecting a 9 here, but that was merely because I was anticipating a slight short fall in the games goals. If its achieved much of what its set out to do then thats fantastic.
    As to these preconceptions about how long a game should be its an utter load of nonsense. I dont want a game that takes 40-50 hour, or in some people's opinion ideally 100+ hours, to finish. RPGs are only normally that long because they require ridiculous amounts of levelling up before you can acheive anything. Particularly as someone who likes to take their time with a game, if this was a long game I would probably end up never finishing it. The problem is that before the review is even out people have already decided what the game should be. They've already decided it needs to be long, or they've already decided it needs to be punishing and make you pay with your soul and cripple your mental resolve when you die. Basically, they want it to be the same as generic game #456.
    Then we come to the issue of EuroGamer handing out more 10s than usual. Surely this cant be a bad thing. The only voices of dissent as far as I can see come from fanboys of consoles receiving fewer 10s than another. As for those stupid comments "OMG LBP 9 FABLE 2 10! WTF!" could it be possible that the reviewers actually like the game slightly more. I dont honestly know how someone can criticise without having played both games. If you weren't wrapped up in fanboyish immaturity you'd probably find too that you enjoyed Fable 2, just as frequently as Xbox devotees come to play LBP and think that maybe it does deserve a 10 after all. Imagine a time there were lots of truly decent games available - all could be given a 9 or 10. It would be great wouldn't it. Why not indulge in that time, rather than bitching about it.

  • neil_likes_bums #174 3 years ago

    STOP THE WORLD!

    Somebody is WRONG on the internets!

  • Zappa #175 3 years ago

    eurogamer always mentions graphics, funny the xbox looking game gets no mention.

  • Widge #176 3 years ago

    Surely this will be the most hotly contested GOTY year so far?

    Of things that are already proven to be ace:

    MGS4
    Fable 2
    GTA4
    Braid
    LBP
    Wipeout HD

    plus a few unknown quantities with the likes of:

    Gears 2 (assuming it is going to be as good as people are hyping it to be)
    Mirrors Edge
    Fallout 3
    Far Cry 2 (perhaps from a PC perspective)

    I'm sure there is a fat bunch that I've missed to be considered.

  • Atomsk #177 3 years ago

    ""eurogamer says nothing about graphics because EVERY pic looks last gen!!! "

    some bitter bitter tears here."

    Nah. Lots of people will find the same. It's not a particularly good looking game technically (and imo the art style is itself a matter of taste).

  • UncleLou #178 3 years ago

    Sounds good, now announce a PC version.

  • Avarice36 #179 3 years ago

    well ms must have gave eurogamer one big cheque for them to give it that score

  • rizzle95 #180 3 years ago

    woo 10/10
    thank god i pre ordered this game (collectors edition)

  • 200k #181 3 years ago

    @Avarice; why is that then? After playing it, what score would you have given it? I'm assuming you have played it, right?

  • hiddenranbir #182 3 years ago

    Congratulations?

    We haven't played it yet.

    Remember how EuroG underscores some games as well? Surely we should wait if EuroG are right on this occasion!

  • Kryon #183 3 years ago

    I feast on the sweet tears of the SDF, they are the sauce of my power!

  • Widge #184 3 years ago

    bluecheesesauce

  • Blackthorned #185 3 years ago

    Oh no - Gears 2 or this

    Can't afford both. Damn.

  • sneetch #186 3 years ago

    Awesome, definitely getting it now. Also definitely getting out of here before even more fanboys (from either side) unleash their massive arsenals of "OMG U SUX" and "Better than X" at one another.

    This and/or FarCry 2 though... ooh. Tough release schedule coming up. :(

    @roovychainsaw
    "I'm sure you could complete oblivion's story in 2 solid days of playing"

    I'm pretty sure that the Oblivion developers ran through it in about 5 hours. Skipping the side quests and so on, of course. Someone had a link once in the comments for one of the previous Fable II articles.

    GTA IV is also completable in 2 days (the main story quests at least) if you don't want to spend your time playing pool or driving aimlessly about doing mischief.

  • Feanor #187 3 years ago

    Up is down, black is white, etc.

  • Darren #188 3 years ago

    The Official UK Xbox 360 Magazine gave Fable II "just" 8/10. Review here:

    http://www.o xm.co.uk/article.php?id=6641

    "Just like the original Fable, this is a game that's hugely likeable, but only if you put the effort in. Make no mistake, it's genuinely charming, but everything from unclear storytelling to rubbish mini-games to glitchy graphics to sluggish menus makes an appearance, and you've got to take it all with a smile.

    Fable II really does want your love. It wants you to stare at the sunsets, adore the characters and earn the 2.5 million gold needed to buy that castle. But you will need the patience to put up with its clumsiness as you go."
    Edited by 1 at 20/10/08 @ 16:05

  • sneetch #189 3 years ago

    @Darren
    "The Official UK Xbox 360 Magazine gave Fable II "just" 8/10."

    Different person has different opinion, gives different score shocker. :)

    Edit: Dunno what happened there. Disappearing comments syndrome.

    IGN UK gave it a 9.5.

    [link url=htt p://xbox360.ign.com/articles/921/921516p1.html
    ]http://xb ox360.ign.com/articles/921/9215...[/link]



    Edited by 2 at 20/10/08 @ 16:11

  • neil_likes_bums #190 3 years ago

    Was considering it
    Now sold
    Now I won't be buying my parents their annual festival hamper ;)

  • videogangs #191 3 years ago

    This whole side taking thing long ago went beyond healthy brand favouring into slack jawed retardation...

    So mummy won't buy you both boxes, boo hoo. That doesn't necessitate blindly slating everything that comes out on the other platform. The sensible few who rightly uphold this attitude clearly haven't forgotten that the medium that everyone here loves (I assume that's why everyone is here, not severe attention seeking) benefits from developers creating these great titles. I don't care if someone publishes the next AAA must buy title on my fucking microwave as long as it plays well and lives up to expectations. Who threw about the cash to get the exclusivity deals should be exempt from conversation when discussing the quality of a game.

    Noone could possibly pick up a controller on the platform they declare this unbridled, pathetic hate war against and fail to find at least title they enjoy. Amusingly, whatever they choose may well be a platform exclusive.

    Regarding the scoring- If you aggregate up every score EG gives a 360 or PS3 game, it's rather likely that one is going to be higher than the other- if every majorly hyped title got the same 10/10 score that'd be rather boring, and I'd have a lot more questions about journalistic integrity.

    Anyway got this preordered, really looking forward to shitstorm of games that's about to rain down on my house over the next couple of months!

  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #192 3 years ago

    Bloody hell, I was not expecting 10/10 for this.

    Congratulations to the team if you're reading (and they are, folks), especially the guys I know from Xengroup.

  • Darren #193 3 years ago

    @sneetch - Obviously... that's exactly *why* I posted the link so people can get a better gauge of what the game is like and what potential shortcomings there might be. No game is perfect after all. ;)

  • Moonprince #194 3 years ago

    "Different person gives different score, has different opinion shocker! ;) "

    Yeah but.

    It's THE Official Xbox mag :o

    ...

    But yeah whatever. I'll still buy it even if it is just an 8 / 10 game.

  • locus2k1 #195 3 years ago

    Well said Graham_bark, i look forward to both Fable II and LBP, no matter what scores they recieved from reviewers

  • Vin #196 3 years ago

    Where the fuck is that scared little manchild Smelly?

    At any rate, take THAT status quo! This is so SOLD.

  • hiddenranbir #197 3 years ago

    I'm a perfect game.

    I have 14 games to get in the next month or so. Brilliant!

    Fable is the next one, 4 days.
    Edited by 1 at 20/10/08 @ 16:11

  • sneetch #198 3 years ago

    @Darren
    "@sneetch - Obviously... that's exactly *why* I posted the link so people can get a better gauge of what the game is like and what potential shortcomings there might be. No game is perfect after all. ;)"

    Ah, sorry Darren, with just text it's so difficult to tell what people mean at times. Can't discern the tone etc.

  • BastoJ #199 3 years ago

    OMFG :D :D Must get... must... find... money


    Anyone need a rentboy?

  • miiiguel #200 3 years ago

    I hate myself for getting Infinite Undiscovery... god damn!
    And it's not a money thing, it's the time - I don't have.
    Edited by 1 at 20/10/08 @ 16:16

  • CannonAnBall #201 3 years ago

    10/10. thats impressive. Congrats on such a good game.

  • neil_likes_bums #202 3 years ago

    It's like a digital version of my playground memories..."SNES IS BETTER U R GAY". Megadrive pwned. It didn't matter if it did or didn't, my parents couldn't afford both. It's great that these simple things have found their way into our futuristic modern world with flying cars.

  • ThePissartist #203 3 years ago

    @Kryon

    'sauce of my power!'

    Is their anguish your meat? ;)

  • sifujames #204 3 years ago

    *Keeps fingers crossed for a PC conversion*

  • JediMasterMalik #205 3 years ago

    Impressive and somewhat unexpected. It's about damn time Peter. Now do the same for Black and White.

  • sirtacos #206 3 years ago

    HOLY FUCKING SHIT!

    AWESOME!

    This is exactly what I hoped for.

    Too bad I won't get to play it for a few months.

  • FenderMaster #207 3 years ago

    I hope Shigeru Miyamoto is paying attention, Zelda badly needs a shake up and Fable's brand of narrative driven gameplay, with plenty of freedom to to explore free from the beaten path could really benefit the series

    wish I had a 360 :(

  • sirtacos #208 3 years ago

    I've only read a handful of the comments, but it's nice to see everyone get along and be genuinely happy about a game's success for once - without the bitching or Bioshock-esque "it's overrated!" discussions.
    You guize make me feel warm and fuzzy.

    Congratulations Peter! About damn time.
    Edited by 1 at 20/10/08 @ 16:23

  • mazzl #209 3 years ago

    already had this pre-ordered, game sounds great.
    the score might be a bit high, but i'm happy

  • Les #210 3 years ago

    Reads like a nice game. Not really my type of game (Western action RPG) but still very nice.

  • Nodebug #211 3 years ago

    Well done Lionhead indeed as a few other commenters have said already.

    This should silence the detractors wearing their "Peter Molyneux promised me a feature and instead ate my mother and raped my dog" t-shirts.

  • Kryon #212 3 years ago

    ThePissartist

    "Is their anguish your meat? ;) "

    Yes, just as their loathing is my wine :)

  • Les #213 3 years ago

    "but it's nice to see everyone get along and be genuinely happy about a game's success for once - without the bitching or Bioshock-esque "it's overrated!" discussions."

    Don't get excited yet, it might still be shit when played like it was the case with Bioshock and Oblivion. You're confusing review information with actual gameplay experience.

  • Krelle #214 3 years ago

    ..but he did rape my dog ;c

  • Kryon #215 3 years ago

    Did anyone here know that Les is a paedophile? Just thought I'd put that out there.

  • VicViper #216 3 years ago

    I was hoping for a high score because that would validate my existance and now I feel validated, Someday the ability to clout people across the head for being idiots via the internet will exist... preferably some sort of unyielding titanium hand of unmitigated fury that activites when anything fanboyish or hyperbole is posted in a message broad or comments thread.

    On a side note I look forward to playing this game and seeing if it lives up to expectations as I have not played it and cannot jugde until I have (crazy thinking I know), heres to hope.
    Edited by 1 at 20/10/08 @ 16:29

  • ccfb #217 3 years ago

    co-op will make this 11/10

  • CroKiller #218 3 years ago

    10 of 10 from Eurogamer? This must be than such masterpiece. I will buy Fable 2 for sure.
    Edited by 1 at 20/10/08 @ 16:31

  • Rash' #219 3 years ago

    Vanmunt, Got agree with you there. After reading Edge review of Saints Row 2, I'm even more surprised by EG's reviews. Then again, I've never rated EG for their taste in quality. Swift news delivery and fanboy fun topics is where they're at and all the good for it.
    Edited by 1 at 20/10/08 @ 16:41

  • MrObycyek #220 3 years ago

    Dagnammitski! I loved the original Fable and Fable II and Fallout 3 are looking damned tempting for ole obycyek at the moment. I have stubbornly refused to go next gen so far but these two games really do look like offering something special and truly next gen and I think I will finally splash the cash on an Xbox 360.

    "Mr Obycyek Investigates:Chinese Meals. For a number of years MrO has found that Chinese meals although enjoyable always made the master detective hungry again a few hours later. Never as fulfilling as an Indian Vindaloo or a Phall (now that is HOT son!) but upon the opening of a new chinese round the corner MrO has found that the portions are humungous and the extra chips come in a large plastic box! Now that is value for money son."

    MrObycyek will return in "MrObycyek and the strange case of the Enflamed Nubbin"

  • sirtacos #221 3 years ago

    "Don't get excited yet, it might still be shit when played like it was the case with Bioshock and Oblivion. You're confusing review information with actual gameplay experience."


    I may have gone overboard with enthusiasm. What I meant is that it's nice to see that the review seems to have made everyone happy - for once. Regardless of whether anyone's played it yet, people seem to be sighing with relief and giving Lionhead pats on the back. Which is nice, in case I hadn't mentioned that.

    You're right though - we should brace ourselves for the torrents of inevitable bitching to come - and, most importantly, prepare for the possibility that we won't like the game nearly as much as Chris Donlan does.

    BTW: Bioshock is awesome.

  • Gearskin #222 3 years ago

    Better than Golden Axe? O'rly?

  • miiiguel #223 3 years ago

    Heavy Rain will score 10, and will be written by the same reviewer...

    It'll be fun to watch the dude's becoming "the best reviwer ever, and EG rulez!"...

    :D

  • Les #224 3 years ago

    "BTW: Bioshock is awesome."

    That's an opinion, not a fact... ;)

  • jonsaan #225 3 years ago

    So very, very predictable.

  • peteb #226 3 years ago

    @jonsaan

    So's your mom!

    Sorry :(

  • Vanmunt #227 3 years ago

    @Rash

    ah good, so I am not the only one who rather would beleive 'the bigoted' EDGE. I also subscribe to GamesTM, which when compared to EDGE scores you do get a very genuine factual opinion... not like you said fanboyhitbaitning scores... oh and when I noticed the Fable banner I did worry!!

    before I get called a tool again this has been on my must buy list all year, just glad I don't have to buy LBP at the same time so I can give this sole attention..

    fanboy tards.

  • Weezer #228 3 years ago

    Far Cry 2, Gears 2, Fable II, Fallout 3, Banjo: Nuts & Bolt, NFS Undercover… the perfect time for my Elite to go on the fritz :-(

  • sirtacos #229 3 years ago

    "That's an opinion, not a fact... ;)"

    As far as I know, you only exist as part of my imagination. There is no conclusive proof that any external reality actually exists. The burden of proof is on you, dawg. Do you exist? What is fact?
    I conclude that anything I say goes and that I cannot possibly ever be wrong.

    Actually, opinions are opinions. The world would be boring if everyone liked caviar, Beethoven's 5th or injecting speedballs into their feet.
    You say tomato I say peach.
    Edited by 3 at 20/10/08 @ 17:05

  • Kill_Crazy #230 3 years ago

    Must admit it's nice to see not too many retarded fanboy comments. Still the odd few who can't help themselves/ forgot their meds but not too bad :)

    Only had a quick go on Fable at my mates and thought it was pretty good myself. Hope he gets F2 as well 'cause i want a look but don't have an xbox. Hopefully Far Cry 2 and Fallout 3 will keep me happy though. Of all the MS exclusives this is the one i'm most disappointed about not playing. Oh, and the racers of course.

  • smelly #231 3 years ago

    Quote : "After that 10/10 for GTA4 and that ridiculously high rating for Spore, I don't trust EG 10's anymore. I'll get this in the discount bin, because it sounds like this game never punishes you, and can be completed in 1 or 2 days"


    +1. And lets not forget the 10/10 ratings for bioshock (short and easy), and halo 3...

    I'll wait and pick it up second hand cheap when everyone's completed it in a weeks time and the 2nd hand market is flooded with copies.




  • jc_8888 #232 3 years ago

    SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HAPPY

  • ronuds #233 3 years ago

    People think that because there are ads for Fable it got a 10? If that were the case, wouldn't LBP have gotten a 10 as well? If any game has ever been plastered all over any site, it's LBP on EG.

    Also, I would think Fable would've gotten 10's on just about every site seeing as it's being advertised everywhere.

    Ugh...fanboys.

  • des #234 3 years ago

    Woohoo!!
    Well done Lionhead!!

  • smelly #235 3 years ago

    "I would think Fable would've gotten 10's on just about every site seeing as it's being advertised everywhere. "


    Not every site will have a cash for review score policy (if that is the case).

    I know this sort of behaviour used to happen in the 90's with print mags (the game is worth an 8, but if we buy a couple of 2 page adverts - will you give it a 9?).

    It is a BIT suspect when they ignore the flaws of a game though.. But I havent played this to comment yet.. But the shortness of it screams to me "RENT ME DONT BUY!", and as such - to me - that's not worth a 10.

  • Les #236 3 years ago

    "There is no conclusive proof that any external reality actually exists."

    Heidegger debunked that train of thought... ;)

    "Seriously though, Les, this line of discussion can only degenerate into a fanboy argument."

    Don't see why this would degenerate into a fanboy argument especially not as we're talking about a multi-platform game (Bioshock). My point is that review scores are useless but the information contained within this review makes it sound like a nice game. Only playing the game can confirm this.

  • neil_likes_bums #237 3 years ago

    Gotten :(

  • sneetch #238 3 years ago

    @smelly
    "I'll wait and pick it up second hand cheap when everyone's completed it in a weeks time and the 2nd hand market is flooded with copies."

    Wow, good idea, that way you'll save fuck all at the very least whereas the authors of the game will get nothing!

    Nothing against you smelly, I'm personally just not a big fan of the whole pre-owned thing. Personally, for the sake of the fiver I'd save buying second hand I think I'll buy it at launch and save a fiver for having pre-ordered.

  • IronCladChicken #239 3 years ago

    @sirtacos
    So you wont mind if I come around to your house and nab all your consoles and games then? I might set fire to the place when I'm done - But, don't worry, 'There is no conclusive proof that any external reality actually exists.' after all. ;)

  • Vanmunt #240 3 years ago

    *cough*gamespot*cough*

  • miiiguel #241 3 years ago

    "Not every site will have a cash for review score policy"
    That's quite offensive, imho. And sounds bitter. Let it go..., it's just a great game you don't like it, for *some* other reason than the game itself - and you know it.

  • ronuds #242 3 years ago

    I really don't believe EG would want to sully its reputation by giving games better score for a few dollars.

    For "exclusive" reviews, there is possibly something going on behind the scenes, but this review was in no way exclusive.

  • Mesijs #243 3 years ago

    Am I the only one who actually thinks the 10 of Eurogamer is really badly motivated.

    The first page actually only talks about how easy the game is and this is actually great. It sounds as if the choice for easy combat is a revolutionary one that makes you try out all the different forms of combat. I think this is pure nonsense. Challenge is nice, it gives you thrills, it's exciting. The reviewer sounds as if easier, non-challenging combat is more exciting because it makes you calmly try out all the combat options.

    For the rest the review is quite non-structured and just talks about how nice the world is and how relaxing. Never, ever in the review text I read WHY this 10 is actually justified. The things that Fable II apparently does well in Eurogamer's opinion, A LOT of games do well but don't get a 10 for it.

    I don't want to sound like a dick but I see no argumentation at all for the 10 of Eurogamer, and that kind of strikes me as normally they got really well written reviews.

  • smelly #244 3 years ago

    "Nothing against you smelly, I'm personally just not a big fan of the whole pre-owned thing. Personally, for the sake of the fiver I'd save buying second hand I think I'll buy it at launch and save a fiver for having pre-ordered."

    Me neither.. Imho second hand market is almost as bad as piracy.

    HOWEVER.. *IF* this game is as short as they say it is.. It'll be FLOODING the 2nd hand bins really soon, thus forcing the full price down too.

    I'll get it then.. Or maybe i'll rent it.. I can wait.

  • smelly #245 3 years ago

    "That's quite offensive, imho. And sounds bitter. Let it go..., it's just a great game you don't like it, for *some* other reason than the game itself - and you know it."


    1. I didnt say that this site was guilty - how am i to know?
    2. I've not played the game yet - so i cant judge it


    And neither have you - probably?

    EDIT: But the review states - it's easy and a 10 hour game.. So for me, I dont think that's a "must buy" in any way shape or form. 10 hours easiness isnt worth 40 quid in my book.
    Edited by 1 at 20/10/08 @ 17:25

  • BillyBrush #246 3 years ago

    Soo...Rashy thinks EG's scores have gone tae the dogs, Foxhound points out that GTAIV was a rather dull 10/10, and Smelly, my favourite Smelly, is extolling the virtues of the second hand market...that's the second hand market that when Braben commented he moaned on and on about the retailers screwing people and how it was just a terrible thing..

    Hedbog's on holiday..

    Tell you what it is, you all like PS3 too much and don't like seeing any game on 360 acheiving good review scores....there's nothing per se wrong with that, but this is a british game, they're a nice dev studio, just like Media Molecule (some of em used to work together) so leave the moans for an american game like Gears2 or something

    Smelly, can you explain this incredibly long rant (there was a shedload more than this) because now you seem quite into the 2nd hand market even for a brit developed game (i can smell shit a mile off me)

    smelly
    11-Sep-08 22:58:52

    @BillyBrush:

    "you don't seem to be understanding something rather obvious though...WHY SHOULD A RETAILER GIVE GAME DEVELOPERS A CUT OF SOMETHING THEY'VE NOT PURCHASED FROM THEM "


    Okay.. Where as you (like most people) are moaning about the PRICE of the games.. a VAST majority of a games price when you buy it new goes to the retailer.. When you buy a used game from the retailer pretty much 90% of the price goes to them.

    But yet THEY arent lowering prices are they? Hell, they dont even sell you a 2nd hand game at a decent price (usually knocking off 5 quid tops). Despite the fact they take shit loads of money at BOTH levels, do they give discounts BACK to the consumer?

    Do they fuck.

    A retailer probably can make up to (or even more than) 200 quid off a sale (and resell) of a single physical decent game..

    Has it ever occured to you that THEY subsequently could be lowering prices? Or indeed lowering the prices of the resells (which I consider to be absolute fleecing).



    "Sometimes second-hand is the only way to get something that is "out of print" or which sells out rapid"

    GAWD! Has it occured to you the REASON the shelf life of a game is so short is BECAUSE of the 2nd hand market?


    On all levels GAMERS are getting SCREWED by the RETAILERS.. But yet you guys are actually sticking up for them and slagging off one of the people who MAKE the games for you.

    Games can exist without retailers.. They cant exist without the people who actually make the fucking things.

    As for it "not harming the industry" Bullshit. Its already happened! Why else do you think we have so many carbon-copy "gauranteed seller" fps games? Why else do you think everyone is jumping on the casual bandwaggon? It's become WAAY to risky to make games - subsequently next to no-one is taking risks..

    Im talking to a brick wall here arent i?

  • darleysam #247 3 years ago

    Bitter fanboy tears, they taste so delicious.

  • BillyBrush #248 3 years ago

    @Smells

    remember...

    don't let THEM (evil retailers) screw YOU (nice customer) even if the game is on AN INHERRENTLY EVIL PLATFORM

    you have morals, stick to em

  • Vanmunt #249 3 years ago

    @smelly

    how is renting the game anymore of a benifit to the gaming industry than the pre owned circuit... which, many of the small retailers say it is the only thing that keeps them going.

  • The-Bodybuilder #250 3 years ago

    Finally, smelly shows his true colours for everone to see he's a fanboy. I was so sick & tired of him trying to disguise himself as a respectable human being (let alone, a respectable member).

    But I am surprised by this review. Can't wait.

  • miiiguel #251 3 years ago

    1. I didnt say that this site was guilty - how am i to know?
    you did imply.

    2. I've not played the game yet - so i cant judge it
    Er... no I didn't, but I wouldn't bring "bribes" into the realms of possibilities. If I was a journalist I think I would consider offensive if someone brought up the possibility of me taking money to tell lies. Than again it's just a game, and therfor the reputation of the dude who written the review is far more important, imo. Better, and more polite ways of bashing a game/system, are available.
    Edited by 1 at 20/10/08 @ 17:30

  • sneetch #252 3 years ago

    @Vanmunt
    "@smelly

    how is renting the game anymore of a benifit to the gaming industry than the pre owned circuit... which, many of the small retailers say it is the only thing that keeps them going."

    I believe that they need a rental licence for games and DVDs and have to pay a per-rental fee to the publishers.

    However that would be 1) in Ireland and 2) what I "believe".

    So I may be full of shit when it comes to your region and reality. ;)

  • Rash' #253 3 years ago

    BillyBrush, No, I never thought EG were ever out of "the dogs" (as you put it). Fable 2 according to EDGE is a brillant game. Is it as revolutionary as a 10/10? Not according to EDGE and I rate them higher than a site that gave the revolutionary Halo an 8 (sorry, but you'll never live that one down EG).

    I'm not debating the quality of the product, that's not in question. I'm debating the quality of the review, which for me always has been. A 9 for SR2? ffs! That's going to the dogs!
    Edited by 3 at 20/10/08 @ 17:45

  • 200k #254 3 years ago

    @Smelly

    "But the review states - it's easy and a 10 hour game.."

    Could you find me the bit of review that state it's a 10 hour game please? I think you'll struggle. And how about Super Mario World, clockable in a couple of hours if you shortcutted through Star Island. Does that make it an inherantly bad game that we never should have bought new?

  • ronuds #255 3 years ago

    This is only a 10-hour game if you follow the bread crumb trail from major plot point to major plot point and do little else.

    If that's what you want Fable II for, then you would probably be better off renting it. If you want to play the game as PM intended, then you'll get much more out of it.

    Personally, I plan on doing and seeing as much as possible - which means for me the game will last much longer. I've seen video of people beating Oblivion is less than 10 hours, though, so I'm not too worried about the length of the game.

  • sirtacos #256 3 years ago

    "Heidegger debunked that train of thought... ;) "

    Whether he definitively did is a matter of contention. Still, I wasn't being serious. You silly figment of my imagination.

    "My point is that review scores are useless but the information contained within this review makes it sound like a nice game. Only playing the game can confirm this. "

    I agree with that. We put too much emphasis on review scores and reviews in general, often treating them as the ultimate judges of a game's worth.

    "Don't see why this would degenerate into a fanboy argument especially not as we're talking about a multi-platform game (Bioshock)."

    I was afraid that if we mentioned Bioshock again other people would start arguing about it, precipitating this comments section into a no man's land. My reason for mentioning fanboyism is that I use the term to include any rabid defending or attacking of a video game regardless of platform 'loyalty'. So - someone who loves to hate a multiplatform game, often with little rhyme or reason, is as much a 'fanboy' as someone who continually vocalizes his contempt for a particular games console. I'm probably not using the term right, but it seems fitting as everything that I've described can neatly be categorized under 'being a moron' - which is what the term 'fanboy' seems to stand for these days.
    Edited by 4 at 20/10/08 @ 17:39

  • Darren #257 3 years ago

    I just want Fable II for the dog... just kidding but the dog does look so damn cute. Is it the same dog throughout the game, i.e. it's 50 years old by the conclusion? And is there just one breed or can you choose (wants Golden Retriever or Alsation). :)

  • DanMW #258 3 years ago

    OMD I must buy this game

  • ronuds #259 3 years ago

    @ Darren

    Same dog, but the dog morphs depending on what kind of player you are. So you can end up with anything from a Rottweiler to a Golden Retriever.

    I don't know if those are the exact breeds, but you get my drift....hopefully.

  • Xerx3s #260 3 years ago

    Better than LB...halo. ;)

    /unoriginal fuck

  • mkreku #261 3 years ago

    Woohoo! I'm getting this!

  • sneetch #262 3 years ago

    @ronuds
    "This is only a 10-hour game if you follow the bread crumb trail from major plot point to major plot point and do little else.

    If that's what you want Fable II for, then you would probably be better off renting it. If you want to play the game as PM intended, then you'll get much more out of it.

    Personally, I plan on doing and seeing as much as possible - which means for me the game will last much longer. I've seen video of people beating Oblivion is less than 10 hours, though, so I'm not too worried about the length of the game."

    My plan too, I'm going to enjoy this one, I raced through the last one because I didn't know what to expect in terms of length (and I was a more... voracious game player back then) this one I'll take my time with. Slow down, smell the roses, kill the person who planted them if they don't meet with my diabolically exact requirements for rose placement, colour and fragrance, that kinda thing. ;)

  • SunoffaBeach #263 3 years ago

    Best Fantasy RPG artwork I have ever seen!

  • BillyBrush #264 3 years ago

    @Rash

    fair enough...what you're saying is not necesarrily wrong, i too like Edge mag and think they do have much more robust scores than EG (number is not the be all and end all anyway) but i do also beleive that if LBP got an Edge 6 and an EG 10 you'd then be more into Eurogamers scores...i guess i'm being a bit accusatory and saying for you the platform is more the issue here (whilst saying that i'm not trying to pretend i don't favour Xbox because i absolutely do, but i do get irked when uber uber S fans like Hedbog and Smelly try to suggest they are Mr down the middle ground Tony Mott type characters, whilst making huge rants about the evil american empire)

    @Bodybuilder - finally is not the correct term, this guy claims to have 7 breakages of his 360, he is the boy who cried wolf (yes i do beleive an Xb could get rrod that many times, but i don't beleive Smelly when he says his has)

  • professor_mamet #265 3 years ago

    Congratulations Peter and all at Lionhead.

    I've got lots of free time on my hands at the mo so this will help stop the boredom.

  • Darkbeat #266 3 years ago

    It's hard to grasp what you mean when you talk about how the player is rewarded for their every action and they cannot die in combat. I'm still getting it though and am excited to play it, but the way you present it makes it sound like the Special Olympics (but with fun)

  • ronuds #267 3 years ago

    @ Sneetch
    "My plan too, I'm going to enjoy this one, I raced through the last one because I didn't know what to expect in terms of length (and I was a more... voracious game player back then) this one I'll take my time with. Slow down, smell the roses, kill the person who planted them if they don't meet with my diabolically exact requirements for rose placement, colour and fragrance, that kinda thing. ;)"

    Ahhh, the immoral villain! I don't know which way I'm going to go. In one sense, I almost feel bad when I'm an evil jerk, but at the same time their appearance appeals to me much more! Maybe I can be like Batman: I hide in the shadows dressed in black, but am overall good to people. :p

  • Chufty #268 3 years ago

    Eurogamer give a highly anticipated Xbox 360 game a 10/10 and people are shocked? Have you read any EG reviews in the past year?

  • Gradius #269 3 years ago

    "10 hours easiness isnt worth 40 quid in my book"

    You must be pretty poor then. A blu-ray movie can cost up to £25 in retail and they only last an hour and a half. I go to a bar for a few hours and spend more than £40. How is £40 a lot for ten hours of entertainment? bloody peasant.

  • Xerx3s #270 3 years ago

    Hmmm, this thread is largely normal for once. Some entertaining tear posts though. ;)

    "LAIR , Great graphics and EPIC FAIL!! "

    Sorry but no, lair was anything but great graphics. It could have been a great game but the controls where fucked and the graphics where horribly outdated. Even the opening cutscene look void and empty, something they could have easily fixed with some avid editing.

  • Rash' #271 3 years ago

    BillyBrush, Well you're mistaken. If LBP was badly received by EDGE, I'd be disappointed (as I openly admit this gen I have a greater affinity to Sony then Microsoft) but I'd still regard EDGE's opinion greater than EG's because they've served me well over the years (I wouldn't have got the original Xbox if it wasn't on their recommendation to do so with a copy of that aforementioned Halo). ;o)

  • beastmaster #272 3 years ago

    Oh damn it - a 10!

    I really fancy getting Dead Space on Friday too. I'm kind of hoping Far Cry 2 will get an average review so I won't have to buy it on 360. Ah fuck it, there's going to be a few expensive Fridays to come over the next few weeks. If Far Cry 2 is an 8 or over, I'm having it.

    So, this Friday it's going to be Fable 2, Dead Space and Far Cry 2 (perhaps). I

    Well, that'll keep me busy for a week till Fallout 3. Then it's GOW etc...

  • GamesConnoisseur #273 3 years ago

    Didnt think or even dare to imagine that Fable 2 would get really good reviews, whether its 10 from EG or respectable 9 from Edge, 9.5 IGN. Also keeping in mind that the scores are given as an opinion by individual reviewers RATHER than EG as the entity!

    Very pleased for Lionhead and PM, knowing they had some sticks, which I myself also had belittled as thought was more style than substance.

    As a serious gamer I m only so glad and happy to be proven wrong, I think an important point is made, not re visual fidelity or length of game but where the game is rewarding all the time, and can be both enjoyed by casual and hardcore gamer. BOTH getting a lot out of it and indeed as others said something you can get outwhat you put in.

    If this is to be a model for more games in future, can be a good thing and for this, perhaps need to be considered as groundbreaking and an important landmark.

    We all enjoy challenges, I gave up the ghost with FFXII after 90 hours in and still just grinding and lost enjoyment of the game. I want to play and have so much F U N at the same time!

    Any serious gamer will be happy that such game is breaking waves and fair criticism needs to be made, so more polish can be given but fanboy hates for just the fact the game is appearing on rival console is so soul destroying!

    Did not have this particular game previously on my radar, but now zoomed to the top of my list of must have!!

    EDIT: Sorry corrected score from Edge!
    Edited by 2 at 20/10/08 @ 18:24

  • T4RG4 #274 3 years ago

    Congrats to all those at Lionhead, especially the Fable II team - I thought it'd score highly (its nailed an excellent style IMO) but 10/10? Absolutely superb!! Hopefully everyones been given a months free holiday now :D

    Oh, and as for some people saying its too short. I suspect a great deal more people will gain the valuable feeling of completing a quality game than would otherwise happen with an extremely long grind-fest. It's hard to get the balance right but people will finish it having had a great time, with great memoeries and come away wanting more and, should the team stay together, Fable III will deliver on that count.
    Edited by 1 at 20/10/08 @ 18:01

  • BillyBrush #275 3 years ago

    @Rash
    Ok...fair enough, an Edge magazine 9 suggests it's pretty much a must buy too though

    personally i like both Edge and EG, but i am a little skeptical personally of your views because it does happen that LBP got an Edge 10, Fable an Edge 9, and it's the other way round here...it suits you're predisposition doesn't it?

    if you add both sites socres up for each though...it's the same! and both are clearly rather good indeed (and british, which is Edge and Eurogamers one true weakness in this matter)

  • galerian86 #276 3 years ago

    Holy... Maybe this was what Fable supposed to be in the first place. Can't wait for the PC version if there is any.

  • Yeevle #277 3 years ago

    Surely no game is really 10/10. That means we will be playing it next century and then some seeing as it has a perfect score. I tend to ignore the numbers though. Glad they have apparently got it right this time though. Good luck to them and I bloody well hope we see a PC port at some point before 2010.

  • MrWonderstuff #278 3 years ago

    A good time to be a gamer.

  • DECOY-LDN #279 3 years ago

    nice cant wait

  • captainrentboy #280 3 years ago

    I thought this comments section was one of the best and calmest for a while, and then Smelly came in, ruining everything :) He's showing Peter Moore and the guys at Lionhead though, fuck 'em, he's saving himself a fiver and getting it Pre-owned, fascinating shit I'm sure we all agree.
    Back to the review, really wasn't expecting a 10 from EG, a solid 9 perhaps.. It's obviously all good though, I've been looking forward to this game for bloody yonks, just wish I wasn't working Fri&Sat :(

  • migasUK #281 3 years ago

    just because LBP didn't get 10/10 doesn't mean fable 2 was overrated, get over it, different games different styles but at the end better product quality goes to Fable 2, well deserved... stop mooing

  • Windsong #282 3 years ago

    Muscleblade said:
    "Shame I don't have a 360"

    Go buy one then. Easily worth it.


    Um...WHAT?? Who in their right mind would get a RROD bomb waiting to happen who already has a Wolfdale with a 1TB hard drive? Besides, Molyneux the Mad already hinted that the PC version is coming. No need to throw away 150 bucks for a system that scratches your game discs!

  • curtlikesmeat #283 3 years ago

    Well done to all at Lionhead.

  • ghearoid #284 3 years ago

    Ooh, I'm very tempted to get me a 360 just for this. I really enjoyed the first game and this sounds even better.

    \o/

  • BillyBrush #285 3 years ago

    @Windsong

    are you for real, or being ironic

    it's hard to tell these days

    A Wolfdale! shit a brick, you must have 10 kilo balls if you're rocking a ....Wolfdale, those Alienware kids probably idolise you (p.s. that's all striaght respect not irony i think a Wolfdale with 1TB is the last word in gaming technology)

  • LPXO #286 3 years ago

    Have to agree about the artwork, looks fantastic. Will be buying this. Full retail ;)

  • hannibaldave #287 3 years ago

    And with this all credibility gone. Didn't really read like a 10/10

    Any mention of fixing the massive flaws of the first? In fact any mention of anything interesting other than "OMFG this game kisses your feet!!"? Nope and nope.

    EDIT: Should mention that I've never really thought ill of the review scores here and largely come to this site cause they seem to be spot on but that was such a piss poor review its the first to make me think "hold the phone..."
    Edited by 1 at 20/10/08 @ 18:49

  • bonker #288 3 years ago

    Man, I snuck in my first "woohoo" comment on the first page then had to go back to work, I get home and there's 300+ comments I missed.

    I hate work.

    /reads comments

  • sifujames #289 3 years ago

    Where are you guys getting the scores from Edge from? The new mag isn't out on shelves till the 23rd, and I can't see any reviews on the website for Fable

  • bonker #290 3 years ago

    "I was really enjoying that superbly written and informative review and then it suddently ended. Why no comments on the graphics, animation or audio? How decent is the voice-acting... it's like there's a chunk of the review missing."

    Yeah, great score but only a two page review on a AAA title such as this? When was the last time that happened?

    I'm gagging for more detail on this game and don't particularly want to have to go to other sites to get it ...

  • makeamazing #291 3 years ago

    Really good for PM and Lionhead, a good british success story even if they are now owned by MS. Still always nice to see a british based game company have a well made game :)

    As always there are people who complain about scores, 10/10 or a high score doesnt guarentee that its fantastic with all the people that buy it (look at the lashback on GTA - which i still dont fully understand), and the high score Spore got, well it should have been lower. I suspect if you really liked Fable 1 you will really like Fable 2. If you didnt like Fable 1, then i suspect a 10/10 isnt going to be the right score for that person. Scores are meant as an indication on how a game might be, but as always only once you play it will you know if you like it or not. So use your own judgement. Still to get a 10/10 on more than one site will mean it will generally meet a certain level of quality... which is always good.

    Will have to wait until its available on the PC as dont have an xbox... but never got too far in 1, so will have to decide if its worth it.

    Ps...As for iHuGi, stop being a childish muppet, every post from you is.. PS3 users are idiots etc etc.. You dont need to be an muppet just because an Xbox game scored well, most PS3 users really don't have a problem with the Xbox doing well, its the small number of fanboys like yourself that seem to cause all the trouble.

  • belziah #292 3 years ago

    Oh my gosh, Peter ftw.

    A title that actually lives up to his promises.


  • bonker #293 3 years ago

    "The only thing that worries me about the review is that it doesn't give much of an indication of how much replay value it has. I mean it says he got to the end of the story after a couple of days. But realistically that's not a lot of entertainment for £40. "

    Well I assume that was 2 x 8-10 hour days by the reviewer so 15-20 hours maybe.

    Miles better value than watching you're local footy team for two hours in the wind and cold rain for yer £40 :)

  • Les #294 3 years ago

    I'd still want to remind you lot that getting carried away over a meaningless review score that you all agree on is just as meaningless as debating over a score...

  • Vic #295 3 years ago

    If there's anymore proof that EG is in the palm of MS's hand, this is it.

    Fable 2 looks like a top game, but it it'd been on the PS3, it would have got 9/10 like LBP.

  • bonker #296 3 years ago

    ""it's the game's reluctance to punish you for failure that really marks it out"

    This stood out for me. I don't like 'challenging' games at all and just want to have fun. I don't feel a sense of achievement on getting past a very hard part of any game, just head-shaking relief.

    Sounds like Lionhead are onto something... "

    +1

    I gather that PM has been making 'casual convergence' noises recently and this may be an indicator of where he's coming from.

    I love a challenge, to a point, but I love being able to explore and 'adventure' even more. Beating COD2 on Veteran scarred me for life!

  • skuzzbag #297 3 years ago

    If there is any more proof that EG is frequented mainly by idiots then it is the the comments regarding being in Microsofts pockets.

    Bloody idiots!

  • Tuffty #298 3 years ago

    Vic, lighten up mate, you'll live longer. Seriously, I really want game review sites (EG included) to just ditch review scores altogether.

    Great review. Seems like the guys at Lionhead made a great game which has left me more interested in it than ever.
    Edited by 2 at 20/10/08 @ 19:25

  • timberwolf #299 3 years ago

    Can people please stop saying that no death, no game over, no punishment are good ideas... christ someone might actual think the ARE!

  • migasUK #300 3 years ago

    "Gameplayer: 9.5/10
    Eurogamer 10
    OXM US: 9.5/10
    Edge: 9/10
    Gamezone German: 9.1
    Videogamer.com 9
    CVG 9.2
    Consol.at 90%
    Arstechnica: Verdict Buy
    Gamepro Germany: 88%
    RPG Site 9.6
    OXM UK: 8/10
    Kikizo: 9/10
    Planet Xbox: 9.5/10
    Daily Game: 7.8
    Gamesradar: 9/10
    IGN UK: 9.5/10
    IGN 8.8
    TXB 8.9
    Planet X360 9.5

    Current Average: 91% "

    awesome, couldn't be a better average...

    I'm sold on friday baby!!!
    Edited by 1 at 20/10/08 @ 19:38

  • captainrentboy #301 3 years ago

    ''Fable 2 looks like a top game, but it it'd been on the PS3, it would have got 9/10 like LBP.''
    But surely if EG were in MS's pockets they wouldn't have given LBP a 9/10 :/ Or Mario Galaxy a 10/10 :/, they'd give them scores that would actually put us guys off buying the games.In the grand scheme of things do you honestly believe EG scoring one game a 9/10 and another 10/10 will masively affect those poor bastards on the receiving end of the 9?
    Naaaaa.

  • migasUK #302 3 years ago

    I'm sold on friday baby!!!

  • bad09 #303 3 years ago

    Good review, I'll be honest I have no interest in Fable (even the first one) and most of PM's games are not my thing. But, after seeing Fable 2 on tele it looked interesting and now this review (suss or not, conspiracy fans!) has me slightly interested. Give me a demo and I might bite...

  • smelly #304 3 years ago

    sigh.. lots of idiots who cant read again i see.

    1. I didnt say i'd buy it second hand from a game store.. i hate the 2nd hand market. I said i'd pick it up in a few weeks when the price has dropped.

    2. Rental is better than buying 2nd hand, as rental stores pay more to be able to rent games/dvds/etc. So the developers get a cut

    3. yes i do own a 360 and yes i've had 7 crap out on me. PM me for my live name if you dont believe me.. yours gets mine.

  • Capn #305 3 years ago

    Score; I was hoping this would get a high review on Eurogamer, just to prove to my friends that i'm not clinically insane.
    Go Lionhead! Wooop.
    Pat on the back for you and a biscuit for good measure.
    Now if only Play sent it to me tomorrow...

  • Dizzy #306 3 years ago

    "Eurogamer give a highly anticipated Xbox 360 game a 10/10 and people are shocked? Have you read any EG reviews in the past year? "

    You apparently have not... they gave PS3 Bioshock a 10 just last week.

    "Fable 2 looks like a top game, but it it'd been on the PS3, it would have got 9/10 like LBP. "

    /Rolls into the bitter teenage emo tears of Vic
    Edited by 1 at 20/10/08 @ 19:46

  • Arwin #307 3 years ago

    Funny, LBP gets a 9/10 on Eurogamer and Fable 2 a 10/10, and in Edge LBP gets the 10/10 and Fable 2 the 9/10.

    Considering that the LBP guys are ex-lionhead, then that makes for a pretty decent lineage altogether. ;)

    Personally from what I've played on the beta of LBP I'm thinking that's a definitive 10/10. I'll probably try this and see if I like it also. Create is a killer to me though, but I've always had a weak spot for Molly and I welcome any return to form, however purile it may be. ;)

  • Vic #308 3 years ago

    @Tuffty

    I'm not made, its just I saw this coming. I can easily afford a 360, but I'm surprised OXM magazine gave this 8/10?? Still seems like the 10's are being handed quite regularly nowadays on EG.

  • Apologie #309 3 years ago

    LOLOL

    Eurogamer... what a joke. lol

  • bonker #310 3 years ago

    "Questioning Fable 2's durability is not fanboyism. Consider that Fallout 3 (which realistically should appeal to the same people) comes out exactly a week after. MS themselves seem to be treating Fable2 as a kind of warm-up for Fallout 3, which is a bit iffy imho.

    I know there's a packed release schedule this time of the year, but releasing these products so close together doesn't seem particularly smart. "

    I'm mad for Fable II and have no interest in Fallout 3 despite being an Oblivion nut - games chock-full-o-guns have zero interest for me ...

  • bonker #311 3 years ago

    Re longevity:

    Is it feasible to play this game through twice, once as good, once as evil and have the game be different enough the second time to warrant doing it?

  • subtlesnake #312 3 years ago

    "The first page actually only talks about how easy the game is and this is actually great. It sounds as if the choice for easy combat is a revolutionary one that makes you try out all the different forms of combat. I think this is pure nonsense. Challenge is nice, it gives you thrills, it's exciting. The reviewer sounds as if easier, non-challenging combat is more exciting because it makes you calmly try out all the combat options. "

    The 'innovation', as presented in the review, isn't that the game is 'easy', but that the challenge it provides derives from mastering your character, and that as such you can 'fail', and feel the consequences of your failure (in terms of the experience lost, the scars acquired) while still being able to progress though the game. In this way, the game's mechanics are not an impediment to the story it's trying to tell, so for example, the pacing isn't effected because you're dying repeatedly in a particular area. As it says in the review: "Following Fable II's path of least resistance leads you through an expertly paced trail of combat and quests, spectacle and challenge, with no roadblocks in between"

    Now that doesn't mean that encounters aren't challenging, because as explained the player is still trying to avoid death, and indeed the review claims that the designers have instead been given the freedom to "string together truly mammoth battles".

    So essentially (in the first page) the claims are that Fable 2 is perfectly paced, that the combat is deep and rewarding, without having to punish the player unduly, and that this takes place in a cohesive environment that gives the player plenty to do and discover, without the fear of getting lost or overwhelmed. How is that not a justification for the score given?


    "For the rest the review is quite non-structured and just talks about how nice the world is and how relaxing. Never, ever in the review text I read WHY this 10 is actually justified. The things that Fable II apparently does well in Eurogamer's opinion, A LOT of games do well but don't get a 10 for it. "

    The rest of the review praises the execution of the story and the subtlety of the moral choices it requires the player make (how many games make moral choices meaningful?), the intelligence and expressiveness of the dog (how often do we see realistic animal companions?) and the effect the player's choices have on his appearance (name an RPG that does this better).

  • bonker #313 3 years ago

    "Ooh, I'm very tempted to get me a 360 just for this. I really enjoyed the first game and this sounds even better.

    \o/"

    Treat yourself :)

    [link url=http://ww w.play.com/Games/Xbox360/4-/7785879/Xbox-360-Elite-Console-+ -Fallout-3-+-Fable-II/Product.html
    ]http://ww w.play.com/Games/Xbox360/4-/778...[/link]

  • bonker #314 3 years ago

    "If there's anymore proof that EG is in the palm of MS's hand, this is it.

    Fable 2 looks like a top game, but it it'd been on the PS3, it would have got 9/10 like LBP. "

    Yeah probably but it probably wouldn't have been as good on the PS3 would it?!

  • Scimarad #315 3 years ago

    -----
    "The 'innovation', as presented in the review, isn't that the game is 'easy', but that the challenge it provides derives from mastering your character, and that as such you can 'fail', and feel the consequences of your failure (in terms of the experience lost, the scars acquired) while still being able to progress though the game. In this way, the game's mechanics are not an impediment to the story it's trying to tell, so for example, the pacing isn't effected because you're dying repeatedly in a particular area. As it says in the review: "Following Fable II's path of least resistance leads you through an expertly paced trail of combat and quests, spectacle and challenge, with no roadblocks in between"
    -----

    Although I've already pre-ordered this I have to say that first page made me feel distinctly bemused - That just really doesn't sound appealing to me at all...
    Edited by 1 at 20/10/08 @ 20:11

  • WayMucho #316 3 years ago

    Wow, 300-odd comments and no serious flaming. This game wasn't even on my radar, but now my £40 is stretched 3 ways - F3, FC2 or this? And what if they are as good?? My COD and GOW2 budget could be gone. And then my LBP PS3 fund (currently non existent) won't get off the ground.
    Don't ever really understand the complaints on scoring - I think you need to allow at least +/- 2 for personal taste

  • ronuds #317 3 years ago

    lol

    People forget that Bioshock for the PS3 got a 10/10 just last week, but EG is MS biased? Good grief...

    "Can people please stop saying that no death, no game over, no punishment are good ideas... christ someone might actual think the ARE!"

    Depends on the game, but I don't know if I could disagree more. In the old days, you had "x" number of lives and that's it. Run out and start from the beginning. Say you're on level 99 of 100, it took you 17 hours to get there, and you run out of lives - are you going to play that game again? I wouldn't.

    Now take today's games like COD4, etc., which in certain sections is basically trial and error, where by dying you're affected in being thrown back to some arbitrary "point" that's been pre-selected for you. Is there REALLY a difference between that and Fable? There's no consequence for dying in an FPS...you can just replay it over and over and over and over and over again until you get it right, which doesn't cause a player to really think about his actions until he's so frustrated with being killed that he has no other choice.

    I think the way death is handled in Fable II seems appropriate for the type of game it is. I wouldn't want the same from an FPS, but that system could do with a changing. Think about a game like Oblivion, which only penalizes your death by causing you to load a saved game...which isn't much of a penalty at all, and perhaps even less of one than Fable's.

  • smelly #318 3 years ago

    I do find it interesting that when an XBLA game is reviewed.. there's always loads of posters saying stuff like:

    "oooh.. NO WAY am i spending 10 quid on a game which only lasts 4 or 5 hours!"

    - But yet no-one (apart from me it seems) moans about spending 40 quid on a game which lasts 10.

    (Getting the 10 hr information from a previous article on EG and IGN review.. which gave it 8.8 btw)

  • subtlesnake #319 3 years ago

    Nevermind
    Edited by 1 at 20/10/08 @ 20:18

  • Xerx3s #320 3 years ago

    "LOLOL

    Eurogamer... what a joke. lol "

    Oke, don't let the door slam you on the way out Mr. "I didn't play the game but I'm qualified to judge the game nonetheless" stupid.

  • Lummox #321 3 years ago

    Dear EG,

    Please give Fallout 3 a bad score so that I don't feel compelled to buy it and hurt my credit card any further

    kthxbye

  • Xerx3s #322 3 years ago

    "That's an opinion, not a fact... ;) "

    An opinion about a subjective thing that is carried by a large majority can be considered fact. I.e. Victory boogie woogie is by most people considered a masterpiece. Even though art critics have many systems for ascertaining what is good and what is not, it is all cultural and subjective. At this point in time, in this place the painting is however still a masterpiece and that can be considered as a fact.

    The vast majority of the people that actually played bioshock think that it is an awesome game.

  • waggy79 #323 3 years ago

    Pre-ordered a long time ago and really glad it turned out good. Hoping this will be delivered thursday...

  • Scimarad #324 3 years ago

    I didn't think I'd ever find myself saying this, but I found the IGN review to be a hell of a lot more useful when it come to actually telling you what the game is like.
    Edited by 1 at 20/10/08 @ 20:36

  • bonker #325 3 years ago

    Another question for someone who knows what they're on about, ideally Christian the original reviewer:

    Is there a sniff of "Zelda for adults" about this game?

  • Restart #326 3 years ago

    Damn you Mr. Molyneux! You just cost me £40, which I totally can't afford!

    I hope you're proud of yourself...

  • rommy667 #327 3 years ago

    All right ::):) who need LBA now eh??? GOW 2 is also dam near,Id love to bash ps3 a bit but i think these to games do juat that all by them selves.....

  • Yeevle #328 3 years ago

    @bonker, just the one problem with buying an an Elite is I don't have an HD telly yet because quite frankly, television is arse. I play games on the PC, maybe if I spawned a family I would play a Wii at best. I have no time for noisy 360's or huge PS3's.

  • JHuxley #329 3 years ago

    10/10 eh?

    Always an attention-grabbing score, but not something I'm personally going to get too worked up about after being stung by inflated expectations of Bioshock and GTA IV.

    I'm not saying this isn't worth 10/10 - I really hope it is - but recently I've found EG to be a bit slap-happy with the 9s and 10s and now I'm a teeny bit sceptical as a result.

  • muzzer77 #330 3 years ago

    Hold on, IGN only gave it 8.8, so did an xbox magazine. I don't understand.

  • bonker #331 3 years ago

    Americans??

  • makeamazing #332 3 years ago

    "Hold on, IGN only gave it 8.8, so did an xbox magazine. I don't understand."

    Is 8.8 not a good score? To me if its the type of game I would like to play then anything over 8 is fine (I am expecting Fallout 3 to be an 8 when its reviewed, but will still get it).

  • smelly #333 3 years ago

    quote: "Dear EG,

    Please give Fallout 3 a bad score so that I don't feel compelled to buy it and hurt my credit card any further

    kthxbye "


    And mirrors edge too.

  • Azazel #334 3 years ago

    hmmmm interesting

  • BathiBoi #335 3 years ago

    tooooo many good games in the mext time.

  • abczby #336 3 years ago

    Fable II > Little Big Planet.
    Nuff' Said

  • abczby #337 3 years ago

    Fable II > Little Big Planet.
    Nuff' Said

  • smelly #338 3 years ago

    "Fable II > Little Big Planet.
    Nuff' Said "


    I've not played either.. but LBP *looks* like the sort of game you'll be playing in a years time.. this doesnt.

    (and no - i dont own a ps3)

  • NickJC1 #339 3 years ago

    If the game was truly a 10/10 it wouldn't have got a few 8/10 scores on other sites. Once again Eurogamer has over rated a good but not great game.

  • Les #340 3 years ago

    People that purely base a 'buy' decision on a number make me sad... Comments like "I wish it had gotten an 8 than I didn't have to buy it" make me cry... Humanity has no future...

  • Azazel #341 3 years ago

    ^ yeah those always make me lol

  • hannibaldave #342 3 years ago

    Looking at the article listing am I right in saying this is this guys first review? Shockingly piss poor.

  • septimus #343 3 years ago

    Pre-ordered a while ago, so looking forward to it. But this is EG giving a Molyneux game 10/10. Sceptical, very very sceptical.

  • Xerx3s #344 3 years ago

    "I think you'll find though that the number of people who think it justified a 10/10 score are a minority though. "

    No, not really. I think that the people who didn't find it an awesome game are a vocal minority that spends too much time moaning on websites whether a score should be a 9 instead of a 10.

    "The reality is that none of the 10/10's this site has handed out over the last couple of years have been to games that without flaw"

    No game, book, film, painting or anything ever created is without flaw. The grade is relative. For what it was at the time, it most certainly was among the best of the time in the shops and the 10/10 was perfectly warranted.

    ", the claims of bias have arisen because sometimes EG's reviewers seem to be able to overlook these issues - or at least not mark down because of them- and sometimes not."

    Bias? Bias to what? Because YOU disagree with a score there obviously is bias? Paranoid much?

    "The problem is that time and again it seems big PS3 games seem to get marked more stringently than their 360 equivalents. And if you care to look at the metacritic/gameranking averages, thats factually demonstrable."

    A) wtf cares (no I don't care to look). They are all high scores. B) So that couldn't be down to ps3 ports of games suffering from structural problems? C) Games should be rated what they are worth, is there no other conclusion that you can draw than bias when console A structurally gets better reviews than console B?

  • septimus #345 3 years ago

    Just worked out how much this next two months is going to cost. With PS3 and 360 releases combined I'm looking at over £400. Fuck.

    Ah well...

  • dcangel #346 3 years ago

    *edited to remove an uncalled-for and superfluous comment on how many bloody 10s EG is dishing out lately*

    In many ways this sounds like a role-player's wet dream. Not in the "just ten more Skeletal Rat Zombie Mage Demon Champions to kill before I ascend to Level 5, for +2 to my Fucking Giant Sword combat specialization and a new Thermonuclear Blast spell" sense, but more in terms of going out into the world with no idea, and no way to guess, what might happen as a result of your actions. Rather like life, in many ways.

    Now, that's role-playing. I defy you to disagree.
    Edited by 1 at 20/10/08 @ 22:58

  • Xerx3s #347 3 years ago

    "Have you played it yet? "

    Have you heard me made claims of judgement on this game yet? From what I've heard, it will be great. If it's just like Fable one, it will be great. I will play the game and then make up my own mind tyvm (I've stopped trusting reviews ages ago).

    Claiming however that there is obvious bias when you've not even so much as touched a game is beyond stupid however. Defending such stupidity with a post that reflects the comment while it makes no sense in the reflected context is even worse.

  • Gradius #348 3 years ago

    People that purely base a 'buy' decision on a number make me sad... Comments like "I wish it had gotten an 8 than I didn't have to buy it" make me cry... Humanity has no future...

    It depends though, if you have agreed with that journos reviews in the past and trust that their tastes are similar to your own then I can understand people buying on the strength of a review by said journo. For instance, I know that Krudster has a similar taste in games to myself (judging by his past reviews), if he gives a game a 10, it's *extremely* likely that I'll also love it, Shinji on the other hand seems to really enjoy (and rate highly) games that I despise.

  • Xerx3s #349 3 years ago

    Arbiter: What exactly are you trying to prove? That systems have good games? Just enjoy them man, who cares about what score some reviewer attached to it.

  • myke6699 #350 3 years ago

    IGN=8.8
    Edge=10
    Eurogamer= overated

  • JHuxley #351 3 years ago

    @Arbiter

    Actually quite an interesting list that, thanks.

    To be honest, apart from a few 10/10's or 5/10's that came from left-field (Rez HD? Seriously?), EG's scores match up with Gameranking's...give or take 10% or so. Puts paid to any theory of bias in my eyes.

    If anything, the only thing this proves is that the 360 has better games.

  • Rottentomatoes #352 3 years ago

    @myke

    "Edge=10"

    Actually, EDGE gave it a 9.

  • JHuxley #353 3 years ago

    "If you round up to the nearest integer, EG has never scored a PS3 exclusive higher than the gamerankings average. "

    Apart from Wipeout, Siren and Super Stardust, you mean?

    That's 3 out of the 20, which isn't too shabby really. Sorry, but I think this one backfired on you a bit. It's interesting to look at the figures, but it doesn't really prove what you wanted.

    The only distressing thing in my eyes is the number of 10/10's on there.

  • GamesConnoisseur #354 3 years ago

    JHuxley: BIG APPLAUSE!!

    Well done and many thanks to Arbiter for illustrating so powerfully clear, the false MYTH that EG scores are so outside of average and THUS being so biased! Cough Cough, say no more.

    The list does seem to look like X360 have more higher scoring games, but that is from everyone and not just EG. I think fans see what they want to see but please look and ask yourself does the lists indicate that EG is guilty as charged for being iin MS pocket?

    This particular jury who owns all consoles and play all games with equal enjoyment irrespective of the platform, cast my vote as na not guilty!

    Apololol: Never gonna change your tune are you? Hope you feel happy getting your pented up view off your chest and show the world how evil MS and EG are, and go in peace mate!

  • subtlesnake #355 3 years ago

    "If you round up to the nearest integer, EG has never scored a PS3 exclusive higher than the gamerankings average.
    5 out of the 20 X360 examples (25% of my little sample) scored higher on EG than their rounded-up gamerankings average."

    Four of those were 10/10s though, so I think as you expand the sample the disparity will get smaller. I mean, 9 360 titles were given below average scores and 11 were given average or above average scores, while the numbers for the PS3 are 10 and 10 respectively.

    Averaging everything out, the mean Gamerankings score for a PS3 title is 81%, while the mean Eurogamer score is 75%. On the other hand the mean Gamerankings score for a 360 title is 85%, while the mean Eurogamer score is 80%. So Eurogamer score PS3 titles on average 6% lower, and 360 titles on average 5% lower. Is that a big difference?

  • Vic #356 3 years ago

    Reading the IGN review, the game sounds less impressive:

    At some point, you'll want a job. There are some painstakingly pedantic offerings. Be a bartender, a blacksmith or a woodcutter if you want to play some very bland mini-games. A blacksmith, for example, must hit the A button when a dial crosses the green section of a meter. Get several successful hits and you've made a sword and earned a few gold coins. Keep doing this again and again and again. Eventually you'll make some serious cash. But it's not very exciting. The other jobs are more or less the same idea.

    For a game world that is often dark and depressed, this clownish behavior doesn't fit. Aside from looking out of place, social interactions in Fable II are completely artificial. You're not playing a role when socializing. You are merely choosing expressions to manipulate various meters so you get the reaction you want from an NPC. If you had to discern a person's likes or dislikes and their feelings towards you from visual clues, that would have worked. Instead, you can access the likes and dislikes of anyone you meet via a menu, making it the entire process feel disingenuous.

    Combat is a lot of fun, despite two deficiencies: It's far too easy and there is very little variety in the enemies you battle. Lionhead made the decision that the hero can never die. I actually agree with that. In many ways, death is an antiquated idea in videogames. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't be challenged. And with the exception of a single battle in Fable II, I never felt challenged. I was only "knocked out" once -- and that was on purpose, so I could see what happens. Lose all your health and you get knocked down, costing you all uncollected experience and earning you a few scars. Within seconds you are back on your feet fighting again. Defeat just isn't punishing enough.

    Couch co-op has a number of flaws. The game is set in the world of the host, with the other character joining as a henchman. Here's the catch: A henchman brings with them all their experience and skills but none of their weapons or their character model. The henchman must play with a preset character design. Another issue is the camera. It is limited in how it can be manipulated and because of having two heroes on screen, is pulled back too far. You also won't get the benefit of being able to zoom into with your gun. And no, you cannot fight your friend.

  • BartonFink #357 3 years ago

    Fuck me I wasn't expecting a 10.
    Guess we should have listened to UncyLou.

  • Stoatboy #358 3 years ago

    re:
    "LBP 95% (9)
    GT5p 80% (8)
    Notorstorm 83% (8)
    Motorstorm 2 75% (7)
    MGS4 93 % (8)
    Haze 57% (4)
    Lair 56% (4)
    PXJ Eden 80% (7)
    Folklore 76% (5)
    Wipeout HD 88% (9)
    Uncharted 90% (9)
    R&C tools of destruction 89% (8)
    R&C Quest for Booty 78% (7)
    Buzz: Quiz TV 81% (8)
    Singstar 83% (8)
    Echochrome 82% (7)
    PXJ Monsters 84% (8)
    Siren: Blood Curse 78% (8)
    Warhawk 84% (8)
    Super Stardust HD 86% (9)


    Castle Crashers 82% (8)
    Braid 92% (10)
    Halo 3 93% (10)
    Ninja Gaiden 2 82% (7)
    viva pinyata 83% (8)
    Mass Effect 91% (8)
    REz HD 89% (10)
    Fable 2 93% (10)
    Lost Odyssey 79% (8)
    Blue Dragon 78% (5)
    Infinite Undiscovery 70% (5)
    Geometry Wars 2 90% (9)
    Condemned 82% (7)
    Gotham 3 89% (8)
    Gotham 4 86% (9)
    Kameo 81% (5)
    Gears of War 94% (8)
    Ace Combat 6 82% (8)
    Saints Row 82% (7)
    Crackdown 83% (9) "


    My maths could well be wrong on this, but combining the total discrepancy between Eurogamer and Gamerankings scores, the difference seems to be that PS3 games score 12.8 less in total, and 360 games score 11.1 less in total. For 20 games a piece that works out as an average discrepancy of -0.64 of a mark for PS3 games and -0.55 of a mark for 360 games. On average then, given Arbiter's (allegedly random) selection of games the 360 scores 0.1 points (rounded up) more than than the PS3 compared to other sites, across 20 games. OMG - teh bias.
    Edited by 1 at 21/10/08 @ 00:22

  • RazorObsession #359 3 years ago

    ah i was gonna get it anyway. this just retro actively makes me satisfied or something.

  • JHuxley #360 3 years ago

    "88% shrunk into a 1-10 range is 8.8"

    Oh. If you're rounding it up to the nearest 10 that might be true (88 is still an integer), but nevertheless Eurogamer still marked those games higher than the Gamerankings average so it's a bit unfair to claim bias over a few percent.

    Yes, I'd agree they've been a bit overzealous with the hype surrounding a few select 360 titles, but I think that's more coincidence than it is bias.

  • Rash' #361 3 years ago

    Billy, Halo 3 got ten. Uncharted got eight. Both in EDGE. Still rate it the best gaming publication (and now website) mainly because I tend to agree or can appreciate their articulate views better than the mediocre efforts by other sites and publications. My issue with people lavishing so much love on this game on the back of the review is this site gave Saints Row 2 a 9. Read EDGE's review and you see why it's anything but a 9. I've never rated EG gamers reviews (if you want check my post history a year two back to confirm that) but the SR2 thing just took their standards to a new low. I wouldn't come here and say great review because generally they're not and I certainly wouldn't buy a game on the back of their recommendation.

  • lolife.se #362 3 years ago

    People whining about one single overall 10/10 score. Come on, TEN out of TEN. It's not that big of a scale, it's not inconceivable. Any score of 9.5/ 95% ~ 10/10. Jeez...

    Now, compare that to IGN's straight 100's for MGS4. Yes indeed, their scale has in fact a resolution of ONE HUNDERED. And they have SIX fucking subscores. And they award 100/100 on every one. THAT, my ladies and gentlement, is something that warrants suspicion. No, I have no doubt at all that MGS4 is a great game. But unlike a single 10/10 score, straight 100's over 6 subscores is very much fucking inconceivable, and reeks of sheisse critical journalism. Yes-sireey.

    I've stopped reading sites like IGN and Gamespot all together, they've showed they're not serious and that their opinion isn't worth a damn. But it really bugs me they probably is making shitload's of money off it...

    And yes, if you ask me, SR2 is very much worth a 9. It's pure fun, sort of like GTA used to be.

  • Rash' #363 3 years ago

    Yeah, SR2 is fun, if you like irresponsible trash.

  • niteninja #364 3 years ago

    First fable was good but painfully short,can see this being the same.
    Still think eurogamers reviews are paid for but glad to see that its improved on the first game.
    If you dont think money exchanges hands between publishers and journalists then you need to speak to a mate of mine who works for the times.
    Any site that has an advert up for a game is paid for.
    Edited by 2 at 21/10/08 @ 02:04

  • AusFreelancer #365 3 years ago

    @ bonker - That's debatable really....Case in point: Bioshock 10/10 on both platforms

    Then again after GTA4 - A 10 from EG is a blur between truly great, or a free Merc.

  • Nikanoru #366 3 years ago

    As with the first game, and as with Oblivion and any similar fantasy type create-your-own-character randomness, I just can't bring myself to give a shit.

    Any reason I should?

  • Slipstream #367 3 years ago

    Fable Wins!

    PERFECT!

    Fable: "Go go home and be a family man!"

  • Vandrius #368 3 years ago

    Despite the fact that this game might very well be awesome, it doesn't change my opinion that Molyneux is a complete and utter twat.

  • sebcfc #369 3 years ago

    lol EUROGAMER FAVOURS 360 LOLZ

  • The-Bodybuilder #370 3 years ago

    Wow at arbiter.
    You've got time on your hands. Maybe you should spend it playing the games you argue so much about.

  • Eraysor #371 3 years ago

    Hurrah, Molyneux delivers :)

    I purchased this game while reading the review XD

  • symmetry #372 3 years ago

    Cool! Wasn't going to buy this but will now.

    I'll play it on hard though judging from the review.

  • Xerx3s #373 3 years ago

    "Despite the fact that this game might very well be awesome, it doesn't change my opinion that Molyneux is a complete and utter twat."

    I'm sure that he will care. Such posts make YOU sound like an utter and jealous twat.

  • FTM #374 3 years ago

    I'd hate to piss on anybodys chips

    but in the face of accusations of bias and favouritism...it could just be (this may be controversial), but it might just be that its actually a good game and so deserves a high score...its getting good scores across the reviewr sites..or is everybody else wrong as well?

  • w00t #375 3 years ago

    Shh.

    You're ruining it for the kids.

  • DrDamn #376 3 years ago

    @FTM
    They are about MGS4 apparently ;)

    I had the impression that EG were sometimes harsher on PS3 exclusives - but Arbiters list has confirmed it - they aren't. There we go - thanks Arbiter!

  • Xerx3s #377 3 years ago

    /facepalm

  • CapnCloudchaser #378 3 years ago

    I screamed with joy at this review :)

    I'm a huge Fable fan, have been awaiting this game for years!

    The only downside now is that I pre-ordered online with GAME and may not receive my copy in time. I need to go out and see if there are any spare CE's left in store, otherwise I'll end up with two copies of the game at this rate! Although, my student loan finally paid in this morning, so it's not like I can't afford it for the time being!

    I am SO excited though.

  • Darren #379 3 years ago

    That Daily Game 7.8 review is ridiculous, not so much the score as that's just one person's opinion, more so for the disclaimer at the bottom stating that 70% is an "average" score!!! LOL

    So in their eyes, Fable II is a just above average game, one that other sites like EG et al would give 6/10 to... :?

  • SpaceMidget75 Verified Senior Software Developer, Minerva Computer Services #380 3 years ago

    LOL

    That couple of percent difference really proved your point there Arbiter. Well done.

    Now if you don't mind could you change the record? Or will you now continue to release 'updates' to your list every time EG score a 360 game?

  • Kryon #381 3 years ago

    Arbiter, at least try and face your self-PWNAGE with a bit of dignity.

  • Darren #382 3 years ago

    @Arbiter - This Xbox 360 bias you claim EG have is just all in your head. There are as many examples of EG scoring Xbox and 360 games lower than the competition as there are for PS3 games.

    For the sake of people like you I think sites like EG should do away with scores completely (go on, EG, I dare you!) so people take more notice of the actual review itself, which sums up the game's good and bad points leaving you to judge whether the game is worth buying or not. Review scores are really pointless... it's just a rough guide to how good or bad the reviewer thinks the game is, it is not meant to be scientifically accurate! A game getting 10 does not mean that YOU will like it, just as a game getting 6 or 7 doesn't mean you won't!!! Read the reviews, dammit! ;)

  • Collymilad #383 3 years ago

    Who care what IGN have to say? They are idiots and have no idea how to rate games.

    Eurogamer are far more reliable. After this 10/10 im getting it ASAP. It looked amazing as it was and this just drives it home for me.

    The PS3 fanboy trolls need to just f off, you're looking pathetic now. So what, the Xbox 360 got YET ANOTHER AAA title, get over it.
    Edited by 1 at 21/10/08 @ 10:30

  • Ace_McCloud #384 3 years ago

    @ Niteninja:

    Eurogamer had Ninja Gaiden 2 advertising on the site for ages and only scored that game 7/10. Not exactly a score that's gonna shift bucket loads of games... just saying is all.

  • Les #385 3 years ago

    "Who care what IGN have to say? They are idiots and have no idea how to rate games.

    Eurogamer are far more reliable. After this 10/10 im getting it ASAP. It looked amazing as it was and this just drives it home for me."

    So IGN don't match your opinion while EG do. Says nothing about one being better than the other in the metaphysical sense. Like others (and myself) have pointed out many times, both in this thread and in others, review scores have nothing to do with science and their only use is flamewar bait for the fanboys.

    If the reviewer in this case hadn't liked the elements of the game as much as you like them and thus had given a lower rating, would that have meant that the game would be worse for you?! If you feel the need to base your opinions on those of others, I think that's sad*.

    * Which of course shouldn't bother you as it's just my opinion...
    Edited by 1 at 21/10/08 @ 10:46

  • miiiguel #386 3 years ago

    I really don't understand some of these guys. I mean, it's fair enough if one has a chip on shoulder regarding MS (maybe a blue screen in the 90's ?; too much money; being americans... whatever), but you have to admit, that game-wise 360 (up until now) is the one which is delivering, both in quality and quantity.

  • captainrentboy #387 3 years ago

    Smelly ''I'll wait and pick it up second hand cheap when everyone's completed it in a weeks time and the 2nd hand market is flooded with copies.''

    Smelly on the very next page- ''sigh.. lots of idiots who cant read again i see. I didnt say i'd buy it second hand from a game store.. i hate the 2nd hand market. I said i'd pick it up in a few weeks when the price has dropped.''

    Sooo mental he can't remember what he wrote just a few hours before. Good God.

  • septimus #388 3 years ago

    It probably does deserve the score, very much so, though until Thursday I won't know personally.

    What is throwing everyone is that EG has given some real crap (SR2 perfect example) high scores. Seemingly randomly. Halo 3 was pretty horrid, I much preferred 1. Hell even 2 seemed to play better, not including the arbiter bits.

    At least with something like EDGE, they canvas their review staff to try and get an average.

  • RedSparrows #389 3 years ago

    GAMES IN MOSTLY DETERMINED BY SUBJECTIVITY BASED UPON A MINIMUM LEVEL OF OBJECTIVE QUALITY SHOCK

  • Les #390 3 years ago

    "Thank you Arbiter for proving no bias at Eurogamer (i'm not even sure you intended to).

    They just rate good games when they deserve it. Great stuff."

    That conclusion is not supported by the data TBH. All that Arbiter's data shows is that, in this small sample (which might not even be statistically relevant but let's assume it is) that EG's opinion of games for 360 and PS3 is generally in line with that of other professional reviewers. This doesn't mean that professional reviewers don't have platform bias for example.

  • jonsaan #391 3 years ago

    Back in the day. iIf something got a Crash Smash. You knew it was going to be awesome. :)

  • Xerx3s #392 3 years ago

    You know what the worst part is, this will start all over when the next platform exclusive hits (gow2?). Ffs people, it's just a score. A digital digit on some server on the internet. Who fucking cares.

  • SpaceMidget75 Verified Senior Software Developer, Minerva Computer Services #393 3 years ago

    I'm not a fucking fanboy mate, I'm simply pointing out that I don't think EG is particularity biased.

    As for:

    "So I "owned" myself by not rigging the test? Oh shit! Next time I'll lie in order to prove my point because it means soooo much to me!"

    What's rigging the test got to do with ANYTHING? Did I or anyone else say or accuse you of that?

    "But seriously, what did you expect - a smoking gun? There's plenty of food for thought based on that little list, but what you can't do is expect something as moronically obvious as "proof of teh bias".

    God-damn you're so thick...     "

    You mentioned on a number of posts that you thought the scores showed that EG are biased towards 360 games. They don't, by and serious degree, and THAT's what I was LOLing about. If you now want to change your stance and say that you posted those figures just for the hell of it, be my guest. I don't think there's anything 'thick' about the conclusions I've made from reading your posts.



  • WinterSnowblind #394 3 years ago

    @Smelly

    I don't recall any review of the game stating it's only 10 hours. Most people who've played it already said that it lasted them around 20 hours, but that was avoiding almost all of the side quests, demon doors, family things, jobs, etc. He said he was very poor at the end, and didn't even own any land/buildings and that it would be well worth playing through multiple times to see how things change.

  • SpaceMidget75 Verified Senior Software Developer, Minerva Computer Services #395 3 years ago

    Also... +10 to everything Xerx3s has said so far in here.

  • Dizzy #396 3 years ago

    "What is throwing everyone is that EG has given some real crap (SR2 perfect example) high scores. Seemingly randomly. Halo 3 was pretty horrid, I much preferred 1. Hell even 2 seemed to play better, not including the arbiter bits.

    At least with something like EDGE, they canvas their review staff to try and get an average. "

    Indeed.. oh wait.. EDGE gave Halo 3 a 10?

    You emo whiners have so many holes in your "arguments" it is a sad sight to behold. Go and cry on your own somewhere. We DO NOT care.
    Edited by 1 at 21/10/08 @ 11:25

  • Kryon #397 3 years ago

    @Arbiter

    But seriously, what did you expect - a smoking gun? There's plenty of food for thought based on that little list,

    Eh? So you call a discrepancy of 0.1 point (between EG and other sites based on 20 game reviews) 'plenty of food for thought'? LOL. There's nothing in it, Arbiter. Let it go.

    what you can't do is expect something as moronically obvious as "proof of teh bias"

    If you can't "prove teh bias" then why are wasting your life compiling meaningless lists in an attempt to do just that? ...Bit of a silly sausage, aren't you sonny. Listen here, you ever heard the saying 'if you can't beat 'em, join 'em'? I think it's about time you went down to your local game store and traded in that PS3 for a 360, then look yourself in the mirror and shout "slap my arse and call me an XBOT" five times over. You'll feel better, that malevolent jealousy will subside and you'll realise that life can be so much more than the SDF fanboy existence you've had to suffer all these years.

    @captainrentboy

    Smelly always does that, he's admitted on many occasions that he suffers with alcoholism so I guess that's why he's such a prick most of the time.
    Edited by 1 at 21/10/08 @ 11:30

  • StooMonster #398 3 years ago

    So are all the people above who've "been playing this for a while" filthy pirates of the high seas? Or reviewers from other websites and publications ... hrm?

    (Still grumpy at the 'no PC versions due to piracy' standpoint of some publishers.)

  • Kryon #399 3 years ago

    <a href=http://i36.tinypic.c om/1dybl.jpg>Arbiterlol</a>

  • cheekyjay #400 3 years ago

    Thank God Motorstorm was disappointing! I've never come into a Christmas games period before hoping a few games disappoint, but this year there's simply too many potential a-listers for any human being to be able to buy let alone have the time to play through. What an amazing conundrum to be in: Fable 2, Saints Row 2, LBP, Dead Space, Fifa 09, Spore (ok so it has it's flaws) - and that's just the games that have been reviewed, there still: Mirror's Edge, Resistance 2, Gears of War, Guitar Hero World tour, Rock Band 2, Banjo Kazooie, Fallout 3, Far Cry 2, FEAR 2, Bond, COD5, Prince of Persia. Normally I'm bitter that my Wii get's so little use other than the Strongbad downloads, but now I'm pleased, there's simply too much other stuff to think about playing, and I know I've forgotten some big games from that list... fun times ahead (unless you work in video games marketting in which case you have quite a job on your hands pushing any one individual game)...

  • GamerG #401 3 years ago

    Jesus Christ, I cant believe how pathetic people are, clearly EG are one of the most reputable websites out there, people need to stop looking for conspiracies and grow up.

  • Kryon #402 3 years ago

    Arbitlol, you know that comparison is ridiculously floored. Because of the simplicity of EG's scoring system an EG 8 could be anywhere inbetween 7.6 or 8.4, hence your list is once again a hugely meaningless waste of time.

  • SpaceMidget75 Verified Senior Software Developer, Minerva Computer Services #403 3 years ago

    "Arbiter
    23-Sep-08 09:24:46

    Another headline spun so heavily in Microsoft's favour its basically an advertisement. How Eurogamer... "


    "Arbiter
    03 Oct '08 09:56:57

    ....
    Is it so hard to understand that if you tolerate partisan, skewed reporting just because the bias shown suits you at the time, sooner or later the shoe is going to be on the other foot? Same with putting up with RRoD because you like "sticking it" to the man, err Sony."


    "Arbiter
    04-Jul-08 10:03:47

    Congratualations on a what is undoubtedly a new low for this site, that genuinely read like an Xbox fanboy post. "



    "Arbiter
    11-Aug-08 01:54:24

    @GrantM

    That's about the size of it.

    It's kind of like evil megacorporation x-factor. Some of the kids are rooting for Microsoft, some for Sony. (Nintendo fanboys seem to be sitting this one out, because they know they've won already! lol)

    The most depressing thing is the way this site encourages this sillyness with its red-top brand of reporting. "



    "Arbiter
    08-May-08 16:20:19

    Its extremely dishonest in my opinion the way that the comparison just fobs off the impact of vsync on the average fps. Seems to be a case of the observed result pandering to the prejudices* of the author, and so a very significant caveat to the result is discarded.

    *Sorry, there is a clear pro-360 bias to the piece, its exemplified by statements like "Technically speaking, Xbox 360 really should be winning this contest hands-down". Its very disappointing to be honest. "


    You can play semantics all day long but the fact is that you are consistently mentioning bias or implying bias of this site. BUT NOW, you're just doing us all a favour and showing that EG are NOT biased - Quote: "ergo no Bias" - but have a more "stringent attitude to PS3 reviews".

  • SpaceMidget75 Verified Senior Software Developer, Minerva Computer Services #404 3 years ago

    " hedbog
    21-Oct-08 12:16:37

    And it will be shit.

    Just like Halo 3 was.

    Eur360mer is now being deleted from my favourites. "

    Thank fuck for that you tedious little c*nt.

  • GamerG #405 3 years ago

    LBP wont sell as well as Fable 2 imo

    Also Arbiter, Metacritic would be a useful to compare against if it was made up of 20 or so of the top UK/US websites, unfortunately it seems open to all sorts of crap and fans sites and also the top foreign scores get cherry picked from obscure websites or official magazines. Its not a fair comparison, as Playstation has more fan sites and more foreign coverage.

  • Kryon #406 3 years ago

    "Eur360mer is now being deleted from my favourites. "

    OMFG, really? Quick, someone tell Rauper, I bet he'll be well upset about that, he may even shed a tear, he'll probably send you an apology written in blood 'n' stuff, innit.

    lol, fool.

  • Les #407 3 years ago

    "Jesus Christ, I cant believe how pathetic people are, clearly EG are one of the most reputable websites out there, people need to stop looking for conspiracies and grow up."

    Nothing to do with conspiracies just about not being naive. Even if EG were one of the most reputable websites (don't say they are, don't say they aren't) that still doesn't say much given the general lack of reputability from any commercial source.
    Edited by 1 at 21/10/08 @ 13:22

  • itsfuzzy #408 3 years ago

    Big brown envelope

  • InsoFox #409 3 years ago

    Arbiter, you're comparing Eurogamer's low-res scores to a higher-res collected score. That's statistically unfair, the only way to make it fair is to bring the resolution down to the lowest resolution of the things you're comparing , so the list looks more like:

    PS3 - Full Price Retail

    Uncharted 9 (9) --
    Buzz: Quiz TV 8 (8)--
    Everybody's Golf 8 (8)--
    Singstar 8 (8)--
    Motorstorm 8 (8)--
    ------------------------
    LBP 10 (9) -1 (to date)
    Eye Of Judgement 8 (7) -1
    Motorstorm 2 8 (7) -1 (to date)
    R&C T.O.D 9 (8) -1
    Heavenly Sword 8 (7) -1
    MGS4 9 (8) - 1
    Haze 6 (4) -2
    Lair 6 (4) -2
    Folklore 8 (5) -3

    X360 Full Price Retail

    Fable 2 9 (10) +1 (to date)
    Halo 3 9 (10) +1
    Crackdown 8 (9) +1
    Gotham 4 9 (9) --
    Lost Odyssey 8 (8) --
    Ace Combat 6 8 (8) --
    Viva Pinata 8 (8) --
    --------------------------------------------------------
    Gotham 3 9 (8) -1
    Mass Effect 9 (8) -1
    Ninja Gaiden 2 8 (7) -1
    Condemned 8 (7) -1
    Saints Row 8 (7) -1
    Gears of War 9 (8) -1
    Infinite Undiscovery 7 (5) -2
    Blue Dragon 8 (5) -2
    Kameo 8 (5) -3

    This to me isn't a particularly statistically interesting list. On this list there are a number of games on both platforms, most of which score equal to or less than average, with 3 xbox games coming out above average. Very little there to draw conclusions from. One thing I did notice is that the biggest discrepancies have a slight tendency to be with games that were low rated on average, since Eurogamer is more likely to use the whole 10 scale than most review sites. With the better games, there an extremely high level of agreement with general concensus to within a point on both systems.

  • neil_likes_bums #410 3 years ago

    holy crap shut up

  • DjFlex52 #411 3 years ago

    I remember when I used to be involved in disputing Arbiter's bias comments. I'm glad I can just sit and watch him get pounced on without getting involved.
    I wish someone would do the same to the "unflappable" Les who is the most condescending muppet head on Eurogamer.
    He has had me on ignore since forever cause he can't handle my remarks to his "know-it-all" ramblings :)

  • Kryon #412 3 years ago

    Don't worry DjFlex52, we all know Les is a paedophile* so it doesn't matter. ;)


    *May not be true...but probably is.

  • DjFlex52 #413 3 years ago

    Don't worry DjFlex52, we all know Les is a paedophile* so it doesn't matter. ;)

    @Kryon

    Ouch! lol

  • MasterNameless #414 3 years ago

    " Kryon
    21-Oct-08 11:52:46

    Arbiterlol"

    lol, +1. Spot on. Arbiter, seriously, stop whinging about this bloody mythical bias and play some games, it really is more fun. Unless you take EG's scores to heart so much you can't play MGS4 without seeing 8/10 flashing before your eyes! That may actually be true...

  • crazymonkey66 #415 3 years ago

    so tired of early eurogamer reviews. they cover barely anything and its so clear that they were paid off by the developer. why don't they at least pretend to have some integrity.

  • Kryon #416 3 years ago

    Monkey boy, how about you go and pick a few fleas out of Arbiters mullet, you two can can cry-wank while contemplating 'teh indescribable bias' displayed here on EG.

  • crazymonkey66 #417 3 years ago

    wait, what? does anyone get what Kryon was saying? cos i sure as hell don't. i wasn't saying anything about bias against halo or whatever the hell you meant. i just hate the fact that eurogamer feels the need to push out reviews as fast as possible, regardless of quality or actual journalistic integrity. There's nothing in there that couldn't be said without reading a bunch of previews and if you read carefully its all vague and filled with generalizations. The only explanation i can think of is a payoff somewhere.

  • Kryon #418 3 years ago

    @crazymonkey66

    you're saying this game got a 10/10 because the devs paid EG off. Why does their have to always be a conspiracy? I thought the review was as informative as need be and nicely written. Besides, I don't really see how this is an 'early' review, the game's out in a few days and I'm sure EG have had their copy for a while now.
    Edited by 1 at 21/10/08 @ 13:44

  • miiiguel #419 3 years ago

    crazymonkey: you wouldn't feel "tired" if it had score 8. Your problem is with the 10. Get over it...
    Edited by 1 at 21/10/08 @ 13:46

  • MasterNameless #420 3 years ago

    I think most people are just sick of all the 'OH! EG are biased'/'its so clear that they were paid off by the developer' drivel people keep going on about to justify some misplaced sense of loyalty. If a game is good, it will be marked that way, if not, it won't. Besides, people should pay more attention to the review text and not the score. I bet that 90% of the whingers here haven't even read the review.

    EG reviewed it now as people want to check review before they make a purchase - just in case it turns out to be terrible, as the fans were surely buying it anyway. Which, again, can't be taken as the gospel that many take it as, it is just one person's opinion. Then it is only meant as a guide. If EG waited until the online patch for the co-op, then the review would have arrived too late, so they made a good desicion in my book.

  • crazymonkey66 #421 3 years ago

    @Kryon
    umm, an early review is a review before the game is released. also considering that there are only 3-5 other reviews out there, it's pretty safe to call this an early one. and if you actually thought that was a nice, informative review then... well all i can say is that i never thought i'd meet a website fanboy.

    @ miiiguel
    my problem isn't with the 10. its with the bad review itself. i would love for Fable 2 to be an awesome game, in fact i'm still hoping it is. but a random 10 is just bad journalism. when eurogamer published their MGS4 review, i also thought it sucked. didn't really mind about the 8 since it was a little out there.

  • Kryon #422 3 years ago

    Ah, now I understand. Check crazymonkey's 'most wanted' list on his profile, it seems the only game he has ever wanted is MGS4. So he must have some kind of vendetta against EG for the 8 they scored that title. I feel your rage brother, I feel it.

    As for me being an EG fanboy, well, it is my favourite gaming site, so I guess you can call me that if it turns you on.

  • captainrentboy #423 3 years ago

    If GOW2 gets a 10/10 from EG I'm pretty sure the world as we know it will cease to exist.
    Then again, it had better not get an 8 or a 9, I'll go fucking mental y'hear. If there's one thing I need to get enjoyment from my games it's knowing that everyone who reviews it agrees with my views to the letter.

  • DjFlex52 #424 3 years ago

    umm, an early review is a review before the game is released. also considering that there are only 3-5 other reviews out there, it's pretty safe to call this an early one. and if you actually thought that was a nice, informative review then... well all i can say is that i never thought i'd meet a website fanboy.

    @crazymonkey66

    Huh?? There are 15 reviews posted on GameRankings of Fable 2 already.
    It would help if you whiners did some checking beforehand.
    Edited by 1 at 21/10/08 @ 14:04

  • crazymonkey66 #425 3 years ago

    oh yeah, i completely forgot to actually spend time on that list. i started (and MGS4 was definitely first at the time) then got bored and made myself a sandwich. i just come here for reviews and the occasional forum trip
    but i think we should examine a more serious issue here. kryon actually went and checked my profile to find out "dirt" he could use. that just makes me so sad. who the hell wastes their life actually caring about arguments like these. kryon, you're actually starting to depress me.
    i just want to say that again if fable 2 is a 10/10 game, no will be happier than me. i just expect eurogame, whose reviews i've generally found very good (apart from a few completely dropped balls. don't get me started on Planescape: Torment) to keep their standards up. their reviews used to be some of the best written out there. now they're still well written, but the early reviews say nothing.
    Edited by 1 at 21/10/08 @ 14:14

  • crazymonkey66 #426 3 years ago

    @DjFlex52
    my bad. i usually use metacritic and there were only 3 reviews there. i figured there were probably a couple of magazines so i went with 5. i haven't checked other gaming sites in a while, so i didn't realize that ign and gamespot had a review up. still pretty sure this one was up before those though.

  • DjFlex52 #427 3 years ago

    but i think we should examine a more serious issue here. kryon actually went and checked my profile to find out "dirt" he could use. that just makes me so sad. who the hell wastes their life actually caring about arguments like these.

    @crazymonkey66

    Again...huh??
    You were talking shit and Kryon went to your profile to see why you were talking shit. He didn't waste his life away.
    It only took one click to find out you're a dick...oops sorry :)
    Most of the reviews were posted on 10/20, crazymonkey66, a day before EG's
    Edited by 1 at 21/10/08 @ 14:17

  • crazymonkey66 #428 3 years ago

    wow, this is actually becoming entertaining.
    how exactly was i talking "shit". unless all of you really believe that this was an good, informative review. i just checked out the ign one and while it seems like a middle schooler wrote it, at least it says something.
    about the wasting away life thing. maybe it didn't take him too long to do it but the thought of someone actually thinking it through and being willing to do it scares me just a little.
    hmm, maybe i am a dick. :)

  • Kryon #429 3 years ago

    "kryon actually went and checked my profile to find out "dirt" he could use. that just makes me so sad."

    Seriously, don't upset yourself, I only had to click my left mouse button on your name, it really wasn't that hard or time consuming, so there's no need for your concern. I'll tell you what is a bit sad though, people who get upset by a review score and claim it's obviously due to a pay off or bias.

    Eidt - "the thought of someone actually thinking it through and being willing to do it"

    Glol, dude, it's a click of the mouse, you make it sound like I set up some elaborate plot to steal your identity and besmirch your name while violating your pet hamster.
    Edited by 1 at 21/10/08 @ 14:26

  • MilkYMoO #430 3 years ago

    So fable 2's good then, I'll have some of that.

  • Kryon #431 3 years ago

    I dunno why, but Arbiter kinda reminds me of Mr Bean.

  • crazymonkey66 #432 3 years ago

    i think i'm turning as bad as kryon but here goes.
    i am not bad at the score. What i am mad at is the bad review and the fact that it doesn't say anything. I guess this does make me annoyed with the score since the bad review makes it look like it was slapped on randomly. I'm not going to bother to present my gamer credential but like i said before, i am really looking forward to Fable 2. my copy's hopefully arriving within the week. But that doesn't mean i can't object to bad journalism.

    Edit-
    Glol, dude, it's a click of the mouse, you make it sound like I set up some elaborate plot to steal your identity and besmirch your name while violating your pet hamster.

    Maybe i didn't phrase this properly. I was talking about the fact that you even bothered thinking about actually checking my profile. Pretty basic psychology - willingness to do something implies that there already existed a mental framework for it.
    Edited by 1 at 21/10/08 @ 14:31

  • Kryon #433 3 years ago

    @crazymonkey66

    OK, fairplay mate. If you had just said "I personally thought that was a poorly written review" then I wouldn't have even commented on it.

  • crazymonkey66 #434 3 years ago

    @Kryon
    no worries (greatest phrase ever invented). maybe i came of too strong. still hoping fable 2 is pure awesomeness.
    Just wait until Fallout 3. :p
    Edited by 1 at 21/10/08 @ 14:34

  • JonFE #435 3 years ago

    Where's Retroid when you need him?

    /shamelessly stolen from kotaku

  • SpaceMidget75 Verified Senior Software Developer, Minerva Computer Services #436 3 years ago

    Haha.

    You think EG rates 360 games higher than PS3 games. Bias, more stringent, whatever you want to call it. That's a FACT.

    That makes you either completely fucking wrong (using your own stats and many people ripping the shit out of your data), or at the very least completely fucking PETTY given how small the discrepancy is.

    As for your brilliant backing up of your arguments regarding my little 'History of Arbiter', that was done purely to show that you DON'T FUCKING STOP WHINING ABOUT TEH BIAS. I couldn't give a rats arse about which one's you're 'right' about, the fact remains you talk about EG being biased an awful lot. You've now brought the bias argument into the fable 2 review so I felt it was entirely relevant, although you have since decided to water it down slightly after your self owning.

  • Stoatboy #437 3 years ago

    re: "While the X360 list shows plenty of variance +/- the met-average proving there isn't a systematic score hiking being undertaken (ergo no Bias), it is somewhat strange that not once does an EG mark for a PS3 full price title exceed the meta-score. One title (Uncharted) equals it, while 5 X360 titles scored higher."

    You chose the list. A fairly obvious PS3 game to include would have been Wipeout HD, IMO...
    Edited by 1 at 21/10/08 @ 14:40

  • MasterNameless #438 3 years ago

    How many people even still read Arbiter's drivel? He's been a broken record for so long now...

  • DjFlex52 #439 3 years ago

    You chose the list. A fairly obvious PS3 game to include would have been Wipeout HD, IMO...

    @Stoatboy

    So true...but if he had added Wipeout HD, it would partially negate his bias argument since EG's score is 3 points higher than the met-average of Wipeout HD :)

  • Kryon #440 3 years ago

    One mans mission to expose the unbridled bias. One mans destiny that will decide the fate of our world. Our hero Arbiter (played by Whoopi Goldberg) wakes to find an injustice of mammoth proportions, he knows that only he can right this wrong, so, mouse in hand he sets forth into the murky abyss of the Internet, he knows the danger of PWNAGE is rife but his courage carries him on to fight the overbearing oppression forced upon him and his PS3 by the seedy underworld journos of EG.

    Join the all star cast in this homosexual hot bed of a rick rolling adventure -

    The Man Who PWNED Himself

    In theatres this fall - Certificate 12A

  • SpaceMidget75 Verified Senior Software Developer, Minerva Computer Services #441 3 years ago

    The only nerve that was hit was the one that twinges when I'm talking to an idiot/brick wall.

    It's positively flapping at the moment.

    I don't think your job is done here at all...

    ... you need to moan about EG being biased for at least another 2 years like fucking stuck record.



    EDIT: You're your you're aarrrgggh can't believe i did that.
    Edited by 1 at 21/10/08 @ 15:07

  • groovychainsaw #442 3 years ago

    Interestingly, arbiter's list merely shows that everybody rates ps3 exclusives lower than xbox 360 exclusives, not just eurogamer ;-)
    /puts on asbestos coat
    Conspiracy theory! Whole industry must be biased!
    Edited by 1 at 21/10/08 @ 15:22

  • SpaceMidget75 Verified Senior Software Developer, Minerva Computer Services #443 3 years ago

    LOL @ the increase of people Arbiter has to reply to to defend his flaccid arguments.

    He's still right though!
    Edited by 1 at 21/10/08 @ 15:32

  • Kryon #444 3 years ago

    Did he just call me a homosexual and then say "Toodles" ? lol!

    I must admit, EG has been kinda dull since our last clown (Apologie) died. I'ts good to know that there will always be a replacement, kinda like Bond or DrWho, except Arbiter uses words like "toodles" , is less entertaining and is a lot more feminine.

  • SpaceMidget75 Verified Senior Software Developer, Minerva Computer Services #445 3 years ago

    I thought you'd left?

  • BillyBrush #446 3 years ago

    @Arbiter

    Evidently plenty of people still read my stuff, yourself included champ. Much like Dizzy although you decry my opinions YOU JUST CANT HELP but respond to them.

    - If people CAN'T HELP but call you a cunt - That doesn't make you special...that makes you the biggest cunt


  • kangarootoo #447 3 years ago

    Can someone sum this shitstorm up for me in 3 sentences? I've paged back, but I can't actually find out what people are arguing about. Does anyone even remember?

    If you are all arguing over the review score I'm going to set fire to something.

  • Kryon #448 3 years ago

    "They can all go "Jump In' their collective MSanus and get the **** out of here. "

    Translates to -

    Please, give me some attention, please, oh please, just a little bit of recognition, I know you'll never like me but at least if you hate me I know you have some feeling for me, I just want to be noticed Waaah! ;_;
    Edited by 1 at 21/10/08 @ 15:54

  • Kryon #449 3 years ago

    "Can someone sum this shitstorm up for me in 3 sentences?"

    I'll try.

    Arbiter is claiming that EG is biased against Sony and scores MS exclusives more generously because of said bias. We are making fun of him and calling him a nancy boy. That's about it.

  • Azazel #450 3 years ago

    Well basically it all seems to revolve around people staring at the 10 like a bunch of uncomprehending, drooling dogs at a magic show.

  • Les #451 3 years ago

    "Conspiracy theory! Whole industry must be biased!"

    Of course the whole industry is biased as everyone is biased.

    Furthermore, it would be more surprising if the average video game journalist didn't show a bias towards 360 as the video game journalist is part of the target demographic of the system. This should be pretty obvious from Wii critical vs. market success.

  • Les #452 3 years ago

    "If you are all arguing over the review score I'm going to set fire to something."

    TBH I find the current discussion more comforting that the mindless agreement with a review score none of the contributors could say anything about from personal experience...

    Mindless disagreement at least has the theoretical possibility of advancing discussion, mindless agreement does not.

  • kangarootoo #453 3 years ago

    @Kryon

    Hehe, thanks. I like accusations of bias. They are funny. I'm confused though, I thought EG were biased against MS... or was that last week?

    Didn't EG give LBP 9/10 recently? Which is only 1 point less. So really, this IS a pointless argument about minute differences between subject review scores.

    /gets matches

  • Les #454 3 years ago

    "You mentioned on a number of posts that you thought the scores showed that EG are biased towards 360 games. They don't, by and serious degree, and THAT's what I was LOLing about. If you now want to change your stance and say that you posted those figures just for the hell of it, be my guest. I don't think there's anything 'thick' about the conclusions I've made from reading your posts."

    Like I said before (so you should have known better) you can't logically conclude from the data (or any metacritic sample for that matter) that EG are not biased towards 360. There's always the possibility that video game journalists in general tend to overrate 360 games and under-appreciate PS3 and Wii games (or overrate 360 and PS3 games and underrate Wii games or any other configuration). Not saying they do, not saying they don't, just saying your conclusion is unfounded.

  • Kryon #455 3 years ago

    Les, I know you SDF girls stick together and stuff but stop trying to switch this around. Arbiter made the list to prove EG was biased, we all told him that it proved nothing of the sort. The end.

  • SpaceMidget75 Verified Senior Software Developer, Minerva Computer Services #456 3 years ago

    Les, was I talking to you?

  • groovychainsaw #457 3 years ago

    @Les -You're quite right - I was mainly trying to calm people down of accusing EG of bias, when its apparently all main critical outlets.... Whether that is right or wrong is a different matter (as you say, games reviewers are going to be inclined towards new, deep experiences), but EG are no more or less biased.

  • smelly #458 3 years ago

    >So fable 2's good then, I'll have some of that.


    I've decided to rent it this weekend to formulate my own view on it.

    .. I dont trust EG reviews when there's a full page ad on the site...

  • MasterNameless #459 3 years ago

    Wow, that's an original comment smelly.

  • Kryon #460 3 years ago

    Smelly doesn't even have a 360, he said he sold it ages ago..

  • kangarootoo #461 3 years ago

    "I've decided to rent it this weekend to formulate my own view on it."

    Good.

    ".. I dont trust EG reviews when there's a full page ad on the site... "

    Bad.

  • MasterNameless #462 3 years ago

    @Arbiter

    I'm only responding as I saw something aimed at me. The others may read your comments, just to de-bunk it and make you look like an idiot - quite rightly too. I did not however, I can't really be bothered to entertain you normally, nor do I have the time - or feel your argument is even worth the time! - you always write the same old tired arguments, it only takes about 2 seconds to identify the word 'bias' littlered throughout your post, and I simply move on. Neither am I entertaining your 'theories' now btw, just making sure you know that I don't, or even need to, read your posts, thankyouverymuch.

    I try my best to ignore all raving, foaming fanboys as much as possible. Sometimes though I admit, it does become more difficult to bite one's tongue, therefore my earlier comment.

  • creepylizard #463 3 years ago

    maybe the x-box library is just slightly better in general? isn't that even possible....?

  • ronuds #464 3 years ago

    @ creepylizard

    No...no that is not possible. There's no way in hell any library can be better than the PS3's. :p




  • ronuds #465 3 years ago

    ".. I dont trust EG reviews when there's a full page ad on the site..."

    You must not trust a single one of their reviews then?

  • creepylizard #466 3 years ago

    @smelly
    wanna pay for eurogamer then?

  • dryden555 #467 3 years ago

    So the combat is ultra-easy with no difficulty choice and yet combat is a major aspect of the game? That's a shame. Pass for me until it goes budget price. I predict there's gonna be gamer backlash a few months down the road, just as there was with Fable 1.

  • davisorle #468 3 years ago

    I just have to say LOL for all the bitching of PS3 lovers. Other than that I also thought that Fable 2 wouldn't live to the expectations of the first one. Sounds and looks as good as always. Too bad i have no time to play for now so I'll go buy it in a couple of weeks maybe. Never know.

    Great job and please you ignorant gaming freaks, keep spamming this thread. It's always fun.

  • Les #469 3 years ago

    "Les, was I talking to you?"

    We're on an internet comments section so you're not talking to anyone. If you wanna be a dick I'm happy to return the favour.

  • Kryon #470 3 years ago

    Hey, Les, how's Maddie?

  • DjFlex52 #471 3 years ago

    Furthermore, it would be more surprising if the average video game journalist didn't show a bias towards 360 as the video game journalist is part of the target demographic of the system. This should be pretty obvious from Wii critical vs. market success.

    @Les

    Here's the omnipresent, omnipotent Les giving us all his condescending lecture again.....yawn!

    Maybe people are critical of the Wii because they have no fucking decent games to showcase this holiday season, Les, regardless of its market success.

  • Law07 #472 3 years ago

    TEH CONSOLE WAR IS OVARRRR

    360 EXCLUSIVE GETS 10/10!!!!

  • beastmaster #473 3 years ago

    Just wait. If Gears of War 2 will get a 10. Even Lips and You're in The Movies will be better than Resistance 2 and Killzone 2 combined ;-0


    Edited by 1 at 21/10/08 @ 18:46

  • darc #474 3 years ago

    Picked this up at midnight last night, had a brief look (an hour or so... just long enough for the exposition) then had to get in a few hours of sleep before plodding into work. Can't wait to get home and see whether I agree w/ the score!

    Impressions so far: pretty.

  • SpaceMidget75 Verified Senior Software Developer, Minerva Computer Services #475 3 years ago

    Why are you still here?

  • TLKCydonia #476 3 years ago

    Does noone realise that reviews are all subjective!? If EG gave Fable 8/10 because everyone else was doing so, that wouldn't really be fair now, would it?

    And I really don't think that a professional journalist is going to score a game lower/higher because of being a fanboy, most people grow out of that a long time before adulthood.

  • Kryon #477 3 years ago

    I heard from a reliable source that hedbog likes to arse fist his cat, but only on a Wednesday.

  • deathdealer619 #478 3 years ago

    A Microsoft studios game getting ten from eurogamer?, Surley not, So this will be as good as Halo 3 and gta then i guess.
    If so I would say you have given people the idea of "ill miss thanks", I love the eurogamer site but they need to sort out the reviews on this site they are fast becoming a place people go if they can not find a good review elsewhere.

    I have fable and farcry btw both on 360 and farcy is an experience worth 9/10 From the 10 hours I have plaed of fable its an 8/10 from the 6 or so hours i have put in.

    Also in the farcry review did they mention that the farcry game is between 50-86 hours long?

    Just find it strange that they score some games so poorly, and everything with a Microsoft stamp on gets pushedso highly.
    Then again all sites have certain developers or affiliates that they are "partial" to giving a good score etc, politics ruins this industry.

    Myself and most of my mates that already have these games all agree Far cry is the better title if you need to have one, bare in mind that this is subjective so make your own choices and enjoy either game they are both very good.
    Edited by 1 at 21/10/08 @ 20:55

  • Kryon #479 3 years ago

    What do you get if you cross a cock with a steaming turd?











    Hedbog.

  • migasUK #480 3 years ago

    headhog

    u r a punk, a fake a p**sy a hater, just because ur shitty game didn't get a 10 doesn't mean M$ exclusives can't get it. So far M$ is showing great work with exlcusives and even with 3th party games...so f**ck off Loser!

  • BillyBrush #481 3 years ago

    "I'm a smartarse

    YES

    who thinks that If I SAY I'm not biased, that I actually am not

    YES

    'crying' about spilled milk/game reviews

    OHH YES

    I'm also so clever that I think I am above it all and make snide comments about other people i tis thread yet cant take it when others do the same to me!

    YES

    ...There was actually some sense in that...the only thing you forgot was that you're a sad cunt who spends lots of time in a review thread for an exclusive on a console he hates....and that you have a shrunken penis and it makes you angry

    I don't mean to stoop to your level of hurling playground insults around, but you really are a fucking cretin

  • kingofbergamo #482 3 years ago

    Wow I never saw that coming... EG is now given away 10's easier than Gamespot!! Not only that, Gamespot became more critical and picky with their reviews. I think EG was the only place where this game achieved 10. Gamespot gave this a 8.5, same as IGN. Not a surprise I guess after all they are advertising Fable II on this website.

    Its hard to bite the hand that feeds u...

  • Amoebalove #483 3 years ago

    @hedbog

    For gods sake will you just go away!

  • Kryon #484 3 years ago

    Hedbog, you can't afford to put anyone on ignore. It's only the most generous of us that actually waste our time replying to you. ignore us and what will you have left?...Nothing, it will be silent for you. What would you do then? Make you're 500th new sock account and start all over again as normal?

  • Amoebalove #485 3 years ago

    @hedbog

    Why do assume that just because someone finds your constant stream of soul destroying bullshit annoying they must be an xbot? I happen to just enjoy video games and I enjoy them regardless of the system they appear on as do a fair few others who frequent this site. Also you label anyone who doesn’t agree with you an xbot which is rich when you are without a doubt one of the biggest fanboys on this site. Why do you feel the need to spout your pro Sony propaganda in nearly every comment thread on a website you clearly dislike? I realise you are on some sort of misguided crusade to expose EG and its readership as an xbox worshiping cult but for love of god take a day off every once in a while and enjoy some video games!

  • migasUK #486 3 years ago

    @kryon

    well said Kryon.

  • migasUK #487 3 years ago

    Headhog


    And his little big thoughts : "i hate 360 but i hate more ps3 for not getting games with score 10/10"

    shame on you!

    nway this article is about fable 2 which is a fantastic game, i'll recommend everyone to get a copy, is simply endless, well till now!




  • BartonFink #488 3 years ago

    I take it Les and Hedbog are busily towing the SDF line then?

  • BartonFink #489 3 years ago

    Any sign of smelly? Would have thought he would be like flies on shit with this one ;)

  • BartonFink #490 3 years ago

    Oh there it is again ... spouting bile or ignoring xbots or something.

  • dk_rare #491 3 years ago

    trebell, you don't care enough about them that you are willing to ignore all their posts, yet at the same time you do care enough about them to TALK about them. It's kind of like blocking lemonparty.org but then visiting it every now and then and telling people how gross it is.

  • Les #492 3 years ago

    "God bless the ignore button."

    Yeah, I was a bit hesitant at first, who knows, even idiots might say something useful once in a while. But now I have a very, very long list, adding to it every day and it actually makes the comments section better for all of us I guess, preventing fanboy flame wars from spinning out of control. At least I don't have to see the angry boys, I spare internet bandwith by reacting to the angry boys and I won't bother other guests with useless discussions with people beyond reason, though I probably do miss the occasional laugh when hedbog, Apologie, Kryon and TRUTH, c.s. spout some new crap.

    Though if Kryon c.s. even take offense at my posts in this thread they're even more thick than I imagined. What is offensive about:
    1) Commenting that Fable 2 reads like a very good game based on the review text
    2) Pointing out that collectively celebrating a 10 without playing the game is about as stupid as arguing over review scores and intellectually even more fruitless
    3) Addressing people's wrong conclusions based on a data set
    4) Pointing out that it's very unlikely that a site like EG wouldn't be biased (consciously or not) towards a console aimed at hardcore gamers. EG staff are hardcore gamers, their readership consists of hardcore gamers. Do the math. Is there anything wrong with that (and with "that" I mean the bias, not the argument)? No, of course not.

  • bad09 #493 3 years ago

    Wow it's kicking off in here!

    / backs out slowly thinking "So what exactly is all the fuss with these Fable games?" and contemplates purchasing F1 and 2 for a look

  • Demento41 #494 3 years ago

    I wish you manboys would give it a rest.

  • Xerx3s #495 3 years ago

    "Also... +10 to everything Xerx3s has said so far in here."

    Yeah but you're my bitch so obviously you would say that. ;)

    "Eur360mer is now being deleted from my favourites. "

    Kthxby! Hope to never see you again. (but you are expected to be back in here moaning within the hour)

    "He has had me on ignore since forever cause he can't handle my remarks to his "know-it-all" ramblings :) "

    /highfives

    "Don't worry DjFlex52, we all know Les is a paedophile* so it doesn't matter. ;) "

    Please, just read that out loud and ponder the stupidity of posting that for a while.

    "The number of weak namby pamby XBOTS in this forum is just staggeringly funny They can all go "Jump In' their collective MSanus and get the **** out of here. "

    I was right. Oh well, it was a nice dream.

    "Furthermore, it would be more surprising if the average video game journalist didn't show a bias towards 360 as the video game journalist is part of the target demographic of the system. This should be pretty obvious from Wii critical vs. market success."

    The first part is very much true. The last line made me chuckle though. Obviously it's not that most wii games are shit is it? If anything, the wii has shown that good hardware sales are not in any way linked to good games. I mean, look at the Christmas line-up ffs! Obviously the wii has it's share of good games but your argument about the relation between the critical and market success is just bull.

    "Like I said before (so you should have known better) you can't logically conclude from the data (or any metacritic sample for that matter) that EG are not biased towards 360. There's always the possibility that video game journalists in general tend to overrate 360 games and under-appreciate PS3 and Wii games (or overrate 360 and PS3 games and underrate Wii games or any other configuration). Not saying they do, not saying they don't, just saying your conclusion is unfounded."

    Up to 2005, EG was about the biggest SDF outpost in europe (read some of the cringe worthy articles). They have balanced their views over in recent years but essentially they are still the same people.If personal preference would play parts, I most definitely doubt that it would sway in the 360's favour.

    "Hey, Les, how's Maddie? "

    WTF is that supposed to mean?! Seriously people! Get some fucking perspective, it's a game!

    "Quite simply put, you are idiots. "

    I think that quite simply put, the rest of the world thinks this of you.

    "Wow, with all the XBOTS comming out the woodwork, this thread is disappearing rapidly as I hit IGNORE!!! "

    /faceplam

    "This thread is almost down to one page now! "

    Me, myself and I!

    ===========

    Seriously though people, it's not worth to hate things! Go play the games you love!

  • Kryon #496 3 years ago

    @Les

    Are you really that much of a cretin? Seriously? So you're pretending to have me on ignore, then commenting about me and wondering if I've taken offence to your insipidly boring amateur analysis and and your broken record-like fanboy rantings, and then you go on to ask me no less than four separate questions? What an absolute numpty you are (not to mention a paedophile).

    Les, I know you're a bit 'slow' but the ignore button should be used to 'ignore' people. Not as some kind of childish 'nah ni nah ni nah nah, I can't hear you lulz" instrument of fuckwittery. What's the point of pretending to ignore some one when you're so desperate for their attention? You're so thick it's hilarious, "yeah, let me go and troll the 360 threads and then pretend to ignore anyone who calls me a cock". Great plan, MasterBrain.

    Anyway, I live happily in the knowledge that everyone here thinks you're an absolute imbecile. Good day.

  • muscleblade #497 3 years ago

    I started this last night. I love the atmosphere. I got married a few times already by posing for the ladies. Almost like in real life except for the multiple weddings of course.

  • SpaceMidget75 Verified Senior Software Developer, Minerva Computer Services #498 3 years ago

    How about EG shows peoples Ignore lists AND who has them on ignore, on their profiles!

    I'd love that!


    SHHHHHITTTTSTORM!!

  • Xerx3s #499 3 years ago

    "Xer3x goes on ignore too for being a cunt. "

    lolz Ow, you hurt me there! I'm obviously a cunt for putting a finger on your cuntish behaviour. Ow what will I do now?! Hedbog has me on ignore! My life is over! Oh cruel, cruel world! Why hast thy forsaken me!

    Newsflash: between the two of us, you're the only one who was banned - several times - for being a cunt. Obviously this is all bias from EG, right? Tell me that I'm wrong.

  • Gradius #500 3 years ago

    Don't worry Xerx3s, hedbog put his own mother on ignore last week because she had a go at him again for wetting the bed. Anyway, if we're playing the 'ignore the tard' game, I reckon there's a few I could add. I'll start with, Les and hedbog for now ;)

  • migasUK #501 3 years ago

    @headhog

    u r pathetic, go back to kindergarden!

  • kangarootoo #502 3 years ago

    "Don't worry Xerx3s, hedbog put his own mother on ignore last week because she had a go at him again for wetting the bed"

    Much as I despise this kind of thread, I have to say that is the funniest retort of that type I have read in a fair old while :)

    But I'm going now, before the rot sets in.

  • Penguinzoot #503 3 years ago

    @headbog

    Jesus wept man, why don't you give it a rest? You are an embarrasment.

    Yeah, sure there are some 360 fans in this thread. What do you expect ? This thread relates to an exceptionally good (by all accounts) 360 game. How would you expect that your trolling would go down in this thread or any other Xbox thread for that matter?

    And before you put me on ignore (as you did with Xerxes for what must be one of the most reasonable and fairminded posts in this thread), presumably for being an Xbot (your terminology), I'd just like to say that I am a PS3 owner.

    FFS. Grow the fuck up.

  • FTM #504 3 years ago

    why do people promise so much with things like 'I'm never posting again' 'or this sites so shit as its so obviously biased' then continue to post?

    surely stand by your original arguement and have the dignity and self respect to actually do what you commit yourself to do!

  • BillyBrush #505 3 years ago

    Not that it matters...but...he hasn't put you, or anyone on ignore, he lives for being a dick, I would think in Hedbog's warped little brain there's some whirring going round, hoping that others will actually put him on ignore (mission accomplished with many i would think) so he can spout shit without being called a twat 100 x a day

    thing is, what better advert is there for Xbox than Arbiter and Hedbog....embedded paid bloggers couldn't work that kind of majic and these do it for free!

  • Teddii #506 3 years ago

    I hate commenting on here, but here goes;

    @ Arbiter

    At any point during these rants of yours, have you ever thought that perhaps the reason the PS3 games score less is because the 360 has the better exclusive games? I dunno, it's just a thought. All I know is I have one very dusty PS3, a totally over-used / almost abused 360 and a semi-dusty Wii having just completed Mario Galaxy.

    Anyway, back to the topic in hand... Fable 2 10 / 10 - woohoo! :)

  • bitesize #507 3 years ago


    trying my best to ignore the thread full of wankers...

    my order for the collector's edition was posted by play today!! play always use pretty slow postage methods but i reckon it might just get here in time for the weekend. sweet!

  • dryden555 #508 3 years ago

    console wars = boring.

  • mazzl #509 3 years ago

    @hedbog you're on ignore form now on :)
    @SpaceMidget75 you're on ignore....to :)
    @Arbiter also on ignore :)

    this thread is a good one for the fanboy filter :)

    on toipic:
    i ordered fable2 from gamehubs, it got send out today :) so it will only take 10 more days to arrive :(

  • Les #510 3 years ago

    "I argue because I like things to be fair and equitable. Not out of an abiding love of all things Sony or an insatiable hatred of the 360."

    Man, you must have a tough life then... ;) Good post by the way.

    I argue because I love the intellectual stimulus of debate. A games site might not be the best suitable platform for that but what I like about this place is that at least the guests are varied. E.g. going to the forums of richarddawkins.net is no fun, pretty much everyone agrees.

    If you weed out the weed with the ignore button you can have a remarkably good time around here. :)
    Edited by 1 at 22/10/08 @ 14:57

  • IkariW #511 3 years ago

    Two reasons I'm not buying this....

    1. Not being able to bring in your character into a Co-Op game when playing on a friends sever, picking 'Henchmen' is not good enough.

    2. 'Single' screen camera in Co-Op, even when your playing on Live....both players much stay on same screen.


    Who the heck made these decisions.....shocking. Personally I'd have prefered being able to import my character into a Co-Op game and individual cameras per player on Live, alot more than a blooming Dog anyway!

    Ik

  • BillyBrush #512 3 years ago

    "I argue because I like things to be fair and equitable. Not out of an abiding love of all things Sony or an insatiable hatred of the 360."

    Man, you must have a tough life then... ;) Good post by the way.



    ohhh, stewardess, bring me a sickbag

    can you couple of homos please fuck off out of the Fable 2 review thread, it really isn't the place for you....see Ikari below you, raised a couple of actual genuine concerns about the game, that's how you do it, not directionless whinging and Arbiters poor attempts at maths (sample size of 20 - mmmm robust evidence)

  • kangarootoo #513 3 years ago

    @Arbiter

    All I have to say is that data in itself proves nothing. Interpretation of data is where the magic happens.

    I have to say, you highlight an interesting trend. But as has been referred to by ot6her posters, it could also be put down to coincidence, or indeed the 360 could just have better exclusive games overall.

    The reference to gamerankings is interesting, but its not concrete as it presumes that no bias exists outside of EG. What if EG are on the level and a lot of other sites are bias? That would throw your gamerankings reference out of the window.

    You do make some convincing points, but you cannot state any of it as fact as other perfectly plausible explanations (mentioned above) can also explain the same state of affairs equally well.



    On another note, please can people stop saying who they have ignored.

    It really is pompous in the extreme, as if anyone really gives a f*ck a) that they have been ignored or b) who else is ignoring who. To actually level "I have ignored you" at someone as an insult is actually pretty weird and says far more about the ignorer than the ignoree.

    I have absolutely no interest whatsoever in which of you are ignoring other and which of you are being ignored by others, and frankly I'm amazed any of you care either.

  • Les #514 3 years ago

    "But as has been referred to by ot6her posters, it could also be put down to coincidence, or indeed the 360 could just have better exclusive games overall."

    Sample is probably too small to exclude coincidence I agree. But the 360 having 'better' exclusive games overall can never explain EG occasionally rating 360 games higher than their peers while they don't do the same for PS3 games. Unless you postulate EG as the truth with regards to rankings, ergo the others always being wrong.

    "The reference to gamerankings is interesting, but its not concrete as it presumes that no bias exists outside of EG."

    No it doesn't. It just compares EG's biased ratings with the ratings of other biased sources and therefore EG's bias variance as opposed to the average bias of the other sources can be measured.

    "What if EG are on the level and a lot of other sites are bias? That would throw your gamerankings reference out of the window."

    That would also be very unlikely.

    Anyway, Arbiter's quick & dirty handywork probably won't survive scrutinous statistical analysis though it does point towards a rather obvious hypothesis: hardcore gamers that write reviews for other hardcore gamers tend to favour harcore games.

    Maybe someone with SPSS or something and some free time might do a more thorough analysis. Could be fun.

  • seedaripper #515 3 years ago

    fucking biased wankers...

  • DjFlex52 #516 3 years ago

    Sample is probably too small to exclude coincidence I agree. But the 360 having 'better' exclusive games overall can never explain EG occasionally rating 360 games higher than their peers while they don't do the same for PS3 games. Unless you postulate EG as the truth with regards to rankings, ergo the others always being wrong.

    @Les & commenters who don't have me on ignore

    Though I'm being ignored by Les, I would like to tell him that his argument still infers that EG is one reviewing entity and not different reviewers for different 360 games.
    So I guess there is collusion between all EG reviewers to hike up 360 review scores compared to PS3 scores to defend his argument...o_0

    edit: ++ @ kangarootoo's last paragraph :)
    Edited by 1 at 22/10/08 @ 16:48

  • DjFlex52 #517 3 years ago

    All that being said, the evidence certainly doesn't absolve this site from the claim that PS3 titles are scored more stringently than 360 ones. It's a legitimate point of discussion.

    @Arbiter

    I agree with your first sentence. But it also doesn't prove it either.

    So the point of discussion is relegated to PS3 & 360 fanboys taking the sides of their preferred console which then makes the discussion not so "legitimate".

  • BillyBrush #518 3 years ago

    Arbiter

    can you not just do nothing? no it seems you cannot,you go into reviews for exclusive games on a platform you clearly have massive hang ups about...and scream bias all day long, you clearly can't leave Xbox articles alone though because you're utterly fixated....spot me in the LBP thread...one comment, positive...you are just a sad whinger who wants to get his own way all the time, and thinks everyone should agree with your ill thought out comments

    A small sample-size is better than making baseless statements

    What i was saying (you calling people a moron is really odd considering you have the word assimilation skills of a lump of coal) is that by using such a useless sample you ARE making a baseless statement...are you unable to process plain english? it sure seems so..

    Edited by 1 at 22/10/08 @ 17:29

  • Les #519 3 years ago

    "can you couple of homos please fuck off out of the Fable 2 review thread"

    Wow, how mature. A homophobic remark. You must be popular on Live...

    "not directionless whinging and Arbiters poor attempts at maths (sample size of 20 - mmmm robust evidence)"

    Absolute sample size tells you nothing. It's about sample to group ratio. Please don't mingle in arguments you're too stupid to comprehend.

  • Xerx3s #520 3 years ago

    Oh dear.

  • seedaripper #521 3 years ago

    p.s you're ALL wankers....

  • subtlesnake #522 3 years ago

    "It just seems like there's a glass ceiling of "9" for PS3 titles (unless as with Bioshock and GTA4 its a fait accompli from the 360's score) in place here.

    Now you may disagree with that, and EG may deny it, but historically speaking it cannot be disproved. I supplied the data in good faith. "

    All that cannot be disproved is that Eurogamer has never scored a (retail) PS3 exclusive at least 10% above the (Gamerankings) average. Everything else is your own supposition. Ultimately, the score is a measure of the reviewers own subjective level of enjoyment with a game, and grading a game more or less 'harshly' only entails changing the review scale itself, not the value of the experience as measured that scale.

    So if, for example, a 10 for a PS3 title is worth more than a 10 for a 360 title, and so fewer PS3 titles get 10s then you can criticise the transparency/consistency of the scoring system, but not the actual verdict of the reviewer as reflected in the text of the review. Which turns your argument into a technical criticism of Eurogamer's review scale, rather than a criticism of reviewers' own assessments of a game.

    The only way to disagree with reviewers own assessments is to claim that they weren't even using their own scoring system correctly and were essentially lying about how much they enjoyed the game. But is that not simply a claim that they're somehow 'biased'?

    And how does this relate to the requirement that multi-platform games be excluded? I mean if only the PS3 version of a title is reviewed, and yet the game is given an above average score (as was the case in Eurogamer's import reviews of Dynasty Warriors 6, Dynasty Warriors: Gundam and Armored Core 4) why does this not count as an assessment of a PS3 title? Do you think that when a reviewer gets a PS3 game, he checks too see if it's an exclusive (or alternatively if it's being sold on PSN) before deciding to treat it 'harshly' (whatever that means)? And that he does this without displaying any 'bias' at all?

    You seem content to present a list of scores, with the claim that there's some hidden meaning behind those scores, but refuse to elaborate on what that meaning is. It's hard to criticise a position when you don't know what the position is, and when it keeps changing:

    "All that being said, the evidence certainly doesn't absolve this site from the claim that PS3 titles are scored more stringently than 360 ones. It's a legitimate point of discussion. "

    If your claim is just that the evidence doesn't disprove your theory, then you're in the same position as someone affirming the possibility that we were all created by the flying spaghetti monster.

    You've watered down your claim to the point where it's just: "there is some possibility I'm right". It's pretty hard to disagree with those sorts of statements (arguably, outside of logic nothing can be disproved), but I don't think they make particularly interesting discussion points.

  • BillyBrush #523 3 years ago

    @Arbiter, Les

    why bother, at this point seriously why, you're the kind of guys who would fuck a dead donkey...even if you have to dig it out of it's grave

    An xbox 360 game got a 10, and you whinge for days..pathetic


    Well spotted on my poor use of a word Arbiter, i'm sure you understood what i was saying fairly plainly though...you're a joke
    Edited by 1 at 22/10/08 @ 20:50

  • Les #524 3 years ago

    "Ultimately, the score is a measure of the reviewers own subjective level of enjoyment with a game, and grading a game more or less 'harshly' only entails changing the review scale itself, not the value of the experience as measured that scale."

    Sorry, that doesn't make any sense.

    "You've watered down your claim to the point where it's just: "there is some possibility I'm right". It's pretty hard to disagree with those sorts of statements (arguably, outside of logic nothing can be disproved)"

    This does make sense, though it's inside logic nothing can be disproved. Outside of logic there's no proof... ;)

    I seriously don't get the people that are offended/scared or whatever as soon as the word 'bias' is mentioned with regard to review scores. Probably something to do with insecurity, wanting to be affirmed in one's opinion by other sources or something. Nobody is without bias, let alone professional reviewers. If you like hardcore games you go to EG, their scores are more likely to reflect your own. If they didn't, they would lose you as their audience pretty soon and with that advertising revenue. If you like Wii games, EG is not very likely to be your best source, so go consult Official Nintendo Magazine. It's similar to the more respected newspapers likely to give top marks to art house movies while tabloids will get more excited about the next Rambo, Pirates of the Caribbian or whatever. And there's absolutely nothing wrong with this.

    If this thread does show anything, it's once again that review scores are rather pointless.

  • dryden555 #525 3 years ago

    EG has more serious problems than whether or not they favor the 360. Sadly, EG's reviews have gone downhill across the board for the last year or so. They seem rushed to print and sometimes they (knowingly?) give into market hype. A few years ago, the reviews were better written and I almost always enjoyed reading them. Not so now.
    Edited by 1 at 22/10/08 @ 21:58

  • Xerx3s #526 3 years ago

    You've got a point there.

  • subtlesnake #527 3 years ago

    "Sorry, that doesn't make any sense"

    Take it one step at a time. 1.) The review score is just a measure of the level of enjoyment a reviewer derives from a game. 2.) In this sense to give too low a score is either: A.) to miscommunicate how much you enjoyed the game or B.) to give the game a 'low score' relative to a different rating system (for example, a 7 from Eurogamer is worth more than a 70% rating at other sites, so some of Eurogamers 7s may seem inappropriate, even though they're not really).

    "This does make sense, though it's inside logic nothing can be disproved. Outside of logic there's no proof... ;) "

    I mean logic in the narrowest sense: Given premise X, and argument Y, Z is necessarily true, i.e true by definition. Within that context, statements can be proven categorically true or false. In the real world however, all we can do is supply evidence for a particular claim, with the knowledge that fresh evidence may disprove our theory (see: the 'white swan' example: http://en .wikipedia.org/wiki/Falsifiabil...

    "If you like hardcore games you go to EG, their scores are more likely to reflect your own. If they didn't, they would lose you as their audience pretty soon and with that advertising revenue. If you like Wii games, EG is not very likely to be your best source, so go consult Official Nintendo Magazine. It's similar to the more respected newspapers likely to give top marks to art house movies while tabloids will get more excited about the next Rambo, Pirates of the Caribbian or whatever. And there's absolutely nothing wrong with this. "

    I would simply call that having a different perspective, though. There's nothing wrong with that as long as the perspective taken is coherent. Platform loyalty is fine as long as its just a reflection of the perceived quality differences between platforms: for example if you prefer 360 games because of the Live integration, then that's fine, even in a review as long as that's communicated. On the other hand if you give a 360 game a higher score simply because you like Microsoft or like the developer, that's different.

    "If this thread does show anything, it's once again that review scores are rather pointless."

    As a tool to show how much the reviewer enjoys or appreciates a title, they're fine: it's when they're taken as 'objective' measure of quality, that things go wrong.



    "To be brutally honest my opinion is that this site has been less than even-handed with its coverage. That's an opinion, not a statement of fact."

    But my point is that opinions require qualification in the same way any logical argument does. People can't agree or disagree with you, and you can't determine the validity of your own views unless you can articulate them. To say a game 'deserves' a certain score for example can mean a lot of different things: that the reviewer himself was mistaken in the grade he gave (according to his own scale), that the score was correct 'for him', but not for most of the fanbase, that the score was correct for him, but not for you, the reader.

    Unless you specifically state which one of these things you mean, it's hard to see where you're coming from. From my perspective though, review scores are simply the personal judgements of individual reviewers: they're not meant to be aggregated and stuck into some 'meta score', and every score only exists within the context of the piece of text justifying it.

    So if the Eurogamer reviewers that played LBP or Uncharted, or Resistance, didn't like the game enough to give a higher score, then no great injustice has been committed, and there's no need to look for alternative explanations. And if there is a need for an alternative explanation it should arise because you see some actual inconsistency not because, for example you wish certain PS3 games had scored higher.

    And in that regard you have to start with the data, consider that several exclusive PSN games have been given 'above average' scores, along with PS3 only reviews of multiplatform titles, and ask where's the pattern? I don't see a pattern, or a casual explanation that would explain away the four 360 10/10s, and supply four PS3 titles that would/should have been given 10 (most of the disparity is due to those 10/10 scores).

    But it seems what you're saying is you don't have a theory, only a perception, or 'feeling', which means there isn't really much to discuss in the first place.

  • Les #528 3 years ago

    "Take it one step at a time. 1.) The review score is just a measure of the level of enjoyment a reviewer derives from a game. 2.) In this sense to give too low a score is either: A.) to miscommunicate how much you enjoyed the game or B.) to give the game a 'low score' relative to a different rating system (for example, a 7 from Eurogamer is worth more than a 70% rating at other sites, so some of Eurogamers 7s may seem inappropriate, even though they're not really)."

    IMO there's a C.) also in that bias (conciously or not) actually determines how much one enjoys the game. As I understand your A.) the reviewer enjoys the game as a 7 but communicates a 6 or an 8. That's why I protested against "and grading a game more or less 'harshly' only entails changing the review scale itself, not the value of the experience as measured that scale."

    "As a tool to show how much the reviewer enjoys or appreciates a title, they're fine: it's when they're taken as 'objective' measure of quality, that things go wrong."

    The review text should be that tool. The score is a quick and very dirty shortcut with in general a short shelf life (e.g. look at scores within a generation: Scores for the initial batch of 'next-gen' games tend to be inflated).

  • muscleblade #529 3 years ago

    Anyway:

    [link url=http://news.teamxbox.co m/xbox/17931/PlayStation-3-Mag-Fallout-3-Looks-Better-on-Xbo x-360/
    ]http://ne ws.teamxbox.com/xbox/17931/Play...[/link]

  • Xerx3s #530 3 years ago

    Les: Every reviewer has bias, ergo that more or less nullifies the argument.

  • muscleblade #531 3 years ago

    @farticusmaximus

    I know i should have saved it for the Fallout 3 review. Oh well done is done.
    Edited by 1 at 23/10/08 @ 09:50

  • BillyBrush #532 3 years ago

    Arbiter

    You never bring down any flames, no one ever gets really upset...they mainly just call you a cunt ad finitum, because you clearly are one

  • BillyBrush #533 3 years ago

    Oh - you're games 'career' either does not exist or you are junior Mc junior who isn't worth employing because he's always posting never working, and you seem to have a really bad addiction to everything xbox, your fixation with the system is almost scary

    take a look at yourself in the mirror sometime, the dull eyed fatboy looking back is a big man and he's in bad shape, both mental and physical

  • BillyBrush #534 3 years ago

    @Farticus

    Henchman is apparently based on the look of your character, so if yours has ginge hair and is evil it will be 'broadly similar'....not your exact character but the game's best guess

    Not sure re magic & co


    ...Hoever i suspect it possibly is too early for actual game discussion as someone who'se brain is far too far gone is bound to come in and spout his brain sweage everywhere...cannot help himself

  • muscleblade #535 3 years ago

    Do you join as your own charcters level but with a henchman skin?

    Do you get to use spells and items your own character has accumulated?

    Do you get to keep items as well as monies and XP?

    Nope

    Nope

    Nope

    Still fun though.

  • canIdoyabombsforya #536 3 years ago

    "Me neither.. Imho second hand market is almost as bad as piracy. "

    There are some good arguments in favour of that, but movies on DVD sell a lot cheaper and cost more to produce yet still make a profit.
    Bring the prices of games down to DVD level and I'll support methods to stop them being reused on other machines.

  • Eurytus #537 3 years ago

    Arbiter you truly are a twunt of the first order. Though obviously it is amusing to see how much effort you have clearly put into proving absolutely nothing.

    I do so love it when people try to prove that reviews, which are opinion pieces, are biased. That level of conception that is lacking there is mind boggling.

  • Eurytus #538 3 years ago

    "There are some good arguments in favour of that, but movies on DVD sell a lot cheaper and cost more to produce yet still make a profit. "

    How do you work that out? A movie may cost more than a game to produce (though given the costs now invested in some games that is far from true across the board) but the movie should have already made its money back on its theatrical run. Any money then made through DVD sales is therefore extra. Actually producing the DVD cost little extra from producing the movie. If movies were produced for sale direct to DVD then that might be true but generally that's only true of Steven Seagal features. And they don't necessarily cost more than a game to produce. Even once you factor his food bill into it.

  • Load_2.0 #539 3 years ago

    Ha-ha, the comments section. What a cluster fuck.

    I like the chaps that post essays on Fable getting a 10.

    What is the motivation there? You disagree with the score? That is pretty sad. Can't you make one succinct post highlighting your opinion rather than a wall of egotistical and poorly constructed prose?

    With the amount you seem to be posting Arbiter I would suggest taking a valium and having a wank, you seem to be getting a bit carried away boy.

  • SpaceMidget75 Verified Senior Software Developer, Minerva Computer Services #540 3 years ago

    Thanks for the ignore whoever that was. =]

    As for being a 'usual suspect' I'd just like to point out that I've never slagged off a PS3 game (I have complemented though), and it's the games that I'm interested in. The ONLY time you'll see me in a argument on here is to counter Arbiters constant accusations of bias (which I obviously don't agree with) and Blig just generally being a horrible little boy. That doesn't make me a fanboy as I personally couldn't give a shit what console I own as long as it plays the games I love at a price I can afford. This gen it happens to be the 360, DS & PSP - last gen it was the PS2, DC & GC.

    Back on topic, as soon as I can afford this I'll be getting it. It seems to me that I get to play something that gives me a great world to play in like WoW without it being a bloody MMO (which I don't like anymore).

  • spookyzombie #541 3 years ago

    Just been on to the section where you can give Fable 2 your own score and I noticed that a couple of idiots have given it a 1/10. Sad times.

  • spekkeh #542 3 years ago

    So another Microsoft published game, another Eurogamer big budget exclusive review, another ten.

    Delicious money is delicious.

    Like somebody else said, I liked EG a lot better when they went out killing hypes.

  • muscleblade #543 3 years ago

    "Like somebody else said, I liked EG a lot better when they went out killing hypes"

    MGS4 was overhyped and they killed it with good reason. Fable 2 isnt hyped nearly as much and it delivers on all the promises too.

    So they still kill hypes.

  • canIdoyabombsforya #544 3 years ago

    @Eurytus
    "How do you work that out? A movie may cost more than a game to produce (though given the costs now invested in some games that is far from true across the board) but the movie should have already made its money back on its theatrical run. Any money then made through DVD sales is therefore extra. Actually producing the DVD cost little extra from producing the movie. If movies were produced for sale direct to DVD then that might be true but generally that's only true of Steven Seagal features"

    WTF ? What have theatrical performances got to do with the profitable home enterainment business?
    DVD is still a profitable business, 7 billion in sales this year +8 million blu-ray, not quite the 50% DVD market Sony wanted ;)

    How do I work that out? WTF I looked at the stats.

    Transfromers production budget $150 million, home sales $280 million
    300 production budget $60 million , home sales $280 million

    As for other arguments, I personally would buy a lot more games if they were cheaper, and shorter games would be more benificial to me, so long as they are still a rewarding experience. Slating a game because its only 10 hours gameplay is complete bollocks unless price is being brought into it, in which case it should be reviewd again in 6 months time.

    Edited by 1 at 23/10/08 @ 13:33

  • Eurytus #545 3 years ago

    "WTF ? What have theatrical performances got to do with the profitable home enterainment business?
    DVD is still a profitable business, 7 billion in sales this year +8 million blu-ray, not quite the 50% DVD market Sony wanted ;)

    How do I work that out? WTF I looked at the stats.

    Transfromers production budget $150 million, home sales $280 million
    300 production budget $60 million , home sales $280 million "

    What on earth does that have to do with your previous statement which was as follows;

    "There are some good arguments in favour of that, but movies on DVD sell a lot cheaper and cost more to produce yet still make a profit."


    Once again, the cost to produce a DVD is NOT more than a game. The costs have already been born for its theatrical run. The cost incurred after that are minimal, merely producing and advertising the DVD.

    So if you are trying to imply that games should cost less because DVDs do and yet cost more to make, it is based on a false premise.

    And adding multiple WTFs to your statements don't make them more true.

  • BillyBrush #546 3 years ago

    Fable 2 has little to do with that discussion, 300, Transformers? - nope

    It's Lionhead's new game, it's great, and it's worthy of a bit of discussion

  • muscleblade #547 3 years ago

    @Crofto

    What! No tearing whatsoever for me.

    edit: If you find any reviews that mention this tearing you have been experiencing please let me know.
    Edited by 1 at 23/10/08 @ 14:23

  • foamy #548 3 years ago

    Crofto, I use both VGA and component cables, and depending on the game and on the cable, some games have tearing, others dont. For example, I have screen tearing when playing Dead Rising with VGA cable, and no tearing at all when using component. It can also have something to do with the screen you're using, as I notice a lot more tearing on PC TFT's than on an LCD TV.

  • canIdoyabombsforya #549 3 years ago

    Eurytus

    You've totally fucking lost me mate.
    The figures clearly show DVD would be profitable without theatres. Youve missed read me if you think I meant pressing and packaging DVDs cost a significant amount.
    Edited by 1 at 23/10/08 @ 15:07

  • spekkeh #550 3 years ago

    MGS4 was overhyped and they killed it with good reason. Fable 2 isnt hyped nearly as much and it delivers on all the promises too.

    So they still kill hypes.

    Well that's true, but I still think it's fishy EG dishes out tens when getting the first exclusive, that's not the first time it happened. At first I didn't think much of it, in fact, the first thing I thought was zOMG didn't see that coming, must have this Christmas! But if genuine hype machine IGN gives it an 88, and known to be corrupt Gamespot an 85.. Well... Opinions differ of course.

  • spekkeh #551 3 years ago

    Still want it though. I didn't really like Fable 1 that much, thought it was unconventional in everything but the gameplay, which was the same old same old and made the game pretty boring. But I want to have Fable 2 just to see how the dog cueing mechanic works, that intrigues me enormously as a game researcher.

  • krenzler #552 3 years ago

    Any plans for a PC release?

  • brinlarden #553 3 years ago

    stop being such faggots. bawwing about little things, pathetic morons the lot of you.
    ect.

    getting this tomorrow, going home and im going to jizz on the disc.



    blah blah :@

  • BillyBrush #554 3 years ago

    There definately were plans for a PC release...

    The current market for PC seems to be getting hit a bit by torrent sites though...i suspect it will come to PC but they probably won't be too bothered how quickly they do it..

  • darc #555 3 years ago

    So 1st impression (after < 1hr play): pretty, theatrical, charming.

    2nd impression (3-4 hrs of play) all of the above, but also: slow, potentially shallow, linear bite-sized chunks interspersed w/ long loading times, fast travel that excludes a perception of the geography as a whole, Sims-light content that really doesn't interest me much...

    Don't get me wrong, I'm still enjoying this game, and may grow to love it. But it's definitely a game that takes its time unfolding, for better or for worse. Those of you convinced this is truly a 10/10 - how many hours did you play before the game really began to gel for you?

    Glad I bought it, think it's beautiful, but haven't made up my mind yet. Will it be my favorite game ever (entirely possible) or will it be the next Bioshock - making an incredible first impression but ultimately a chore (also entirely possible.)

    (And can we please discuss the game and leave the 360 bias nonsense for a while?)
    Edited by 1 at 23/10/08 @ 17:16

  • mukki #556 3 years ago

    I just dont like the art direction... so no for me

  • Les #557 3 years ago

    I'm wondering how people like it. It read as a very good game to me, removing unnecessarily complex gameplay mechanics. Kind of like the Wii-ification of the action RPG genre. Given all the fears for dumbing down gaming in the process expressed in countless threads around here, I'm curious to learn how it turned out in practice.

  • VMerken #558 3 years ago

    I guess "Action RPG for Dummies" is a genre which needed to mature

    Moving right along
    Edited by 1 at 23/10/08 @ 20:43

  • mossychops001 #559 3 years ago

    Official Xbox Magazine UK 8/10
    Just like the original Fable, this is a game that's hugely likeable, but only if you put the effort in. Make no mistake, it's genuinely charming, but everything from unclear storytelling to rubbish mini-games to glitchy graphics to sluggish menus makes an appearance, and you've got to take it all with a smile.


    EG 10/10 ?

    So, EG does kiss Microsofts arse.
    Edited by 1 at 23/10/08 @ 22:37

  • BillyBrush #560 3 years ago

    Sooo...official magazines now more reliable than multiplat sites mossychops?

    how do you know which is the more accurate score?

    I'm sure there are some issues with it as with all games, but there's also a lot of people wanting this to be bad, therefore gravitating to the lowest scores they can find


    1 Up - 100

    Fable 2 is filled with more great ideas than the last 10 years of "Final Fantasy" combined.

    It really depends what you cherry pick...the overall avg seems to be coming in at 89% which is pretty darn good



  • FromTheLandUnknown #561 3 years ago

    Because I have just PS3, i really can not say anything of the game, naturally.And i don't want that this post will be regarded as biased because of that, or even trying to ignite a new fanboi war, because that is not its intended subject.
    Namely I have just PS3 because of very bad 360 logistics in my land, and because a reliability of it, or better lack of it, is a fact.But despite that, it's on my wishlist, because of some exclusives, like Fable and some other games. I am very intrigued by the game, because I like such games, hell, I even like to play Oblivion very much.
    Although this game is on my "would like to play it, but can't for now" list, regardless of rating, I must say, that I am totally surprised about high EG rating it received. Judging by the trailers and above all, other gaming sites reviews, I think this is no 10.
    I was also surprised about Far Cry 2 review and rating on this site. Don't believe in conspiracy theories either, seeing Far Cry 2 banners all over this site. But I find also here great gap between multiple other reviews and review here.I personally think, that reviewer should posess enough knowledge and professionalism, that thiese two would not allow him, to judge a game solely by his personal preferences,but how the game reflects relatively against others. If a game is FPS, and I don't like the genre, should I dismiss it as bad?If I like to play Oblivion (with all the flaws, of which I am aware), and, oh my god, Assasin's creed, is it than a 10?
    I liked the last one mentioned very much, and I still play it some time, but there is no way I would give a higher note as 7, the gaps of lost potentials being to big.
    It was already noticed on this site, that EG is trying too hard to be different, sometime, the last example being LittleBigPlanet.
    Even that I personally would and have already judged the game much more severe(my opinion being, that this is a wast and complicated level editor with playability for cretins, morons or retards, however you wanna call them), are professional media giving this game the higest notes, only EG isn't. And again we have the formula: (over)hyped game is coming out, lets wait on first few reviews and than be DIFFERENT. MGS4, anyone? I know, I know, it's a hard game, films and all, and not much fun for everyone, but it is a GREAT GAME, like some great films, over which you prefer some cheap action film sometimes (Couldn't play it myself for long either, but I got over Snake eater more than 5 times).
    The frustrations which EG produces this way, than result in stupid fanwars, conspiracy theories, and aggression between gamers. EG gets its share of clicks, and all is well.
    Wery cheap and morally questionable strategy, I think.
    To you all, be aware of cheap manipulations and more open to other opinions, yes, to other consoles, even.

    But I will still not touch a LittlebigPlanet with a pole or be seen in company of those who play it. :)

  • Eurytus #562 3 years ago

    "You've totally fucking lost me mate.
    The figures clearly show DVD would be profitable without theatres. Youve missed read me if you think I meant pressing and packaging DVDs cost a significant amount."

    Perhaps it was because of this.


    "There are some good arguments in favour of that, but movies on DVD sell a lot cheaper and COST MORE TO PRODUCE yet still make a profit."

  • chris_ace #563 3 years ago

    Post deleted at 11:55:13 13-12-2011

  • tnt_2008smum #564 3 years ago

    8 out of 10 from offical xbox magazine.

    lower metacritic score than metal gear solid 4, and LBP

    eurogamer biased? eurogamer lol!

    If this is what you think of EG then why are you posting here? Wouldn't you be better off posting a PS3 site where everyone shares your views?

    I really don't know why poeple still visit a site they hold in such low regard!

  • Xerx3s #565 3 years ago

    Just played several hours, it's fucking awesome. Period. All the haters can stay in here sobbing while the rest of us will have tons of fun. G'day.

  • ScrewYouHippy #566 3 years ago

    Played it yesterday for a while..

    I can't be arsed to read back the entire thread to see if anyone mentioned it, but can you actually kill a town guard? It seems a bit silly that you can't (at least, I spent a good twenty minutes whacking a guard and he didn't die) - which makes "being evil" a bit pointless because you'll always get pwned by a town guard. The bosses need to get some training off the invincible town guards,

    other than that, gripes..

    General floatiness of the big booted character - personal opinion but western character design is lame.
    Graphics are nice.
    I found some really odd collision problems, (like, right at the very start I couldn't walk into the "hero chamber" thing)
    the menu's are Sssslllooowwww - And "digging" for treasure is a joke.
    I could go on, but won't.

    Thankfully, I didn't buy it (only because of the quantity of games coming out lately)

    I'd give it an 8... (would probably grow to like it)

  • darc #567 3 years ago

    Well... third night of play. Maybe a total of 6 hours in now. I'm starting to suspect the game has been over-rated, personally. Still a really nice game, but it's got some glaring problems, and I'm not convinced that there's anything so revolutionary here as to make up for it.

    If I were to round up all my complaints it would come down to a lack of cohesiveness. That's a very serious problem in an open-world RPG on this scale, and it applies to just about everything: The way the bits of geography are split up - with long, frequent load times - and are not complemented by effective maps, such that you always feel vaguely displaced. The way side quests will appear in your quest menu with obscure titles that don't seem to correspond with any conversations you've had, and indicate that you haven't yet discovered them when you try to fast-travel to them. (ie. "I have a quest I haven't encounted yet, whaaa?";) The way everyone is always speaking over one another, with nothing in the way of mix or stereo cues to aid you, often saying contradictory things, until finally you're not sure who you're talking too. (Last night I accidentally tried to seduce some random woman who happened to be standing near my wife... and our baby... and worse, nobody seemed to mind, whaaa?)

    Even subtle things, like the way all sounds and music stop dead when you (frequently) have to go into the clunky old school menus to fish for a potion or whatever - this utterly breaks immersion. The fact that you can't compare your own equipment to equipment you're shopping for, and worse - you can't sell equipment you have equipped AND there is no way to un-equip a weapon. None of these are big problems on their own, but they begin to accumulate and grate on you and constantly remind you that you're playing an Xbox game. (It doesn't help that so much relies on the d-pad, which we all know sucks - but that's not Fable's fault...)

    I still appreciate it. But I think history will reveal that it was over-rated immediately after release, as has been true of many of PM's games. Unless it gets much better, I'd call it a 7, maybe an 8 by virtue of scope and production, but I doubt I'll ever love this game. The fact is, the more I play it, the less impressed I am (the next-gen sheen wears off and it feels more and more like the original XBox version) and that's the wrong direction.

  • Calgon #568 3 years ago

    OMG did Les just bandy about the word insecure here? Does anyone see that statement of his hypocritical?

    Serious question for the rest of the people here... does anyone buy his excuse for coming here?

    So his real reason is he comes here to pretend to be smart, getting into pointless debate after pointless debate(I wouldnt call them debates)...

    "Ah! but is it though?... blah blah blah"(DAVID BRENT anyone? Just as cringe worthy to watch...)

    Who are these people that he has interesting and insightfull debates with that dont degenerate into f***witery?(the other trolls? Oh right Smelly isnt a troll, ok.... NOT he might not be as dense as Hedbog or Apolol but his motives and predjudices are quite clear...) I havent seem them, has anyone else? I was under the impression most people find him an obnoxious, petty individual who is just to stubborn to admitt when he has been beaten(on and on and on) or had no point other than general hate of MS and the 360 to begin with.
    Edited by 2 at 24/10/08 @ 19:26

  • Penguinzoot #569 3 years ago

    ^^^ I wonder. ;)

    Anyway, I should be picking up my copy of Fable II tomorrow. Wasn't going to bother after Fable I (although I enjoyed it), but the review has gotten me interested.
    Edited by 1 at 24/10/08 @ 21:57

  • Kryon #570 3 years ago

    Have they been put on GI? Hopefully Les will be next.

    Anyway, been playing this all day, it's great but the single console co-op is a little dodgy, characters getting stuck and suchlike but nothing major or game breaking. I can understand why this game was given a 10/10 simply because of its charm, beauty and humour, it's genuinely a joyful experience to play.

  • BillyBrush #571 3 years ago

    Been playing this eve...time flies...very enjoyable, like Jim Henson but very very british...loving it

    only thing is the camera in co op but tbh it's really the perfect game for solo play and the occasional chat with a friend when you see their orb about

    great stuff

  • butler` #572 3 years ago

    Played it through now. Well worthy of a 10 (though I'd probably say 9).

    Another kick in the nuts of ps3 imho - especially when you look at its RPG line up (lol).

  • Gradius #573 3 years ago

    Finished it now, a very good game, but not great imo. It's perfect in many ways and extremely charming but there are just a few too many glitches and annoyances mixed with rather uninspired and overly easy fight/action sections, also, that woman from 'My Family' who does the voice over gets on my tits, so a solid 7/10 from me. There are many games of a similar genre that I have enjoyed more than this title, any Zelda title for example. Anyway, it's still a worthwhile game, enjoyed it very much....but 10/10? Nah, not even close, not in my opinion.

  • captainrentboy #574 3 years ago

    I've been on it for about 5 hours, and I think I might be wandering around, sight seeing, a little too much because frankly I've done eff all of the game's main narrative yet. (I've just got out of a Hobbe cave for the first time)
    Bloody loving it so far though, one of the few RPGs I could actually get into, I guess like a poster above said it's almost like an 'RPG-lite, for dummies', but what the hell.
    The big downer is that the Dog isn't more of a solid entity in the game world, he clips through things a lot, (At one point it was just literally his head poking out of a solid wall, the entire body was buried in it), and when you bare in mind the dog was a big talking point of the game before release it's all kind of dissapointing.
    The sub menus could be slightly more intuitive too, but that doesn't bother me too much.
    Ohh and tearing is most definitely there, not in the same league as something like Saints Row or Moto GP, but is noticeable if you pan the camera around your character in a detail filled area. Again, it's not troublesome enough to ruin the experience though.
    Infact I'm going to get my ass back on it now whilst the missus is still in bed and not moaning :)

  • Nillsens #575 3 years ago

    I would say this game was awesome if it wasn't for the ridiculous glitches I have encountered so far.

    First I bought a new house and proceeded to move my wife and child over there. Glitch kicked in and this counted as me having married a second time, in the menu it displayed me having two wives: Sally the Gypsy and Sally the Gypsy... yeah, great. Child then stopped responding to all outside influences and just stood in the corner of the garden as an immovable object. Then it locked up during a load and corrupted my save. Have had to start over after playing a good 10 hours.

    I would suggest that people do not buy it until they fix it first, there are many claims of people getting various game ending glitches and/or very annoying bugs. I am probably shelving it until they sort out the issues first, I can't be arsed to play through it without the guarantee that it won't comletely fuck up again.

  • Xerx3s #576 3 years ago

    I disagree with fable being an rpg light. I used to think that it was in the past but obviously it's bs when you think about it. What is the very essence of an rpg? Roleplaying. That's what this has more than most rpg's (more than oblvion anyway). Just because they step away from the done to death combat centric gameplay, doesn't mean that it's not a full blown rpg.

    In games like fable you play a role and everything shapes into that. In games like oblvion, you play a hack and slash with isolated story elements that really affect fuck all in the world or about you.

  • Gradius #577 3 years ago

    I think people are calling it an 'RPG Lite' more because of the fact that it's very n00b friendly rather than because of a lack of actual role playing elements. It's definately a fully fledged RPG but it holds your hand a lot more than most, i.e. you can't die or get lost, etc.

  • Gradius #578 3 years ago

    OK, I'm halfway through my second play through and the amount of glitches in the game are really mounting up. I just went on a mission to accumulate a certain amount of renown points (in order to continue with the main quest), finished mission, great I thought, only to hear the annoying voice of Zoe Wanamaker (of My Family fame) tell me that I still needed the same amount of renown points as I did before, even though I'd just done the frigging mission and completed it...This game is unfinished and imo shouldn't have been released in this state.

    The more I play, the more I also realise how clunky and sluggish the general control of the main character is and the battles are so bland/easy/uninteresting... I love the charm ,humour and lovely graphics of the game, it's definitely enchanting, and that's lovely (hence me wanting to play it through a second time) but it doesn't make up for the game being so broken (especially in co-op). In my previous post I said I thought this game was a solid 7/10. Now I'm not so sure. I would give it a 7 if it wasn't so glitchy, I actually don't think it's fair to score it in the state it's in though, it needs a serious patching imo and I hate the idea of patching console games, so I'm a little disappointed really. I guess I'll trade it in for Gears in a week or two...

  • Harmonica #579 3 years ago

    Why are people posting congratulations without having played the game? They look ridiculous. Play it, have your own opinion, and then post about how it's the greatest thing since sliced bread.

    The hanging on scores dished out by EG is completely inane, not to mention the fact that someone's 10 is another man's 5.
    Edited by 1 at 27/10/08 @ 01:33

  • myke6699 #580 3 years ago

    While a forward thinking, innovative game that unlike any other received a respectable 9/10 (Little Big Planet) and as good as Fable II is, it isn't as well though out or well implemented as LBP. Although improved upon the first, it is stlll a flawed product. Like GTA IV, EG gave this game a perfect score simply because as it seems to EG is the bastion of all thing microsoft. If ever there was a day when each of us had to answer for all the bad deeds that we've commited in this world and all the answers are then published for all to see, somehwere in that list is written that EG has at many instances in its publication, lied not only to its readers but to itself. Or to simply put it, EG is fanboy site that should not hide under the guise of being a game review site- EG is fanboyism at it worst.

  • Krun #581 3 years ago

    So far I enjoying the single player game a lot.

    Only real problem I have is with online multi player.The multi player seems set up for local play, which is great, but when on line if the hero goes to the menu system the other player is left looking at a paused screen of the world. It would have been better if they could just see the heros menu screen, so that, when buying equipping or doing what ever the side kick character could have at least seen and commented on what was going on.

    9/10
    Edited by 1 at 27/10/08 @ 02:59

  • Gradius #582 3 years ago

    myke6699, you're speaking nonsense.

    The End.
    Edited by 1 at 27/10/08 @ 07:12

  • beckyh #583 3 years ago

    How did this game manage to score a 10 from Eurogamer? I agree its quite a good game but it is highly flawed and full of bugs.

  • CordableTuna #584 3 years ago

    Please, game developers. Can I just have an "automatic reload on death" box in the options menu, please? You can even put the scars on my character if you must.

    I bought the game without reading the reviews and played it happily without reading the manual. Yesterday I finished the Crucible bit, basically a multistage arena fight, and I was rather proud of myself having managed that without dying and with less than optimal equipment. During the match I was worried. What if I run out of potions? What if the latter stages bring out monsters that I can't shoot? It was exciting and really felt like running a gauntlet made to kill you. A desperate fight to the end.

    Until today when I read the review and discovered I was actually faced with a challenge comparable to Second Life. Seriously, at least give us the option of dying. Real adventures need real challenges.

  • Merefield #585 3 years ago

    I agree - the consequences for dying are too insignificant - it should at least force you back to loading the point at the start of the quest or something similar. The tension is therefore not built up enough. In the case of the crucible, perhaps make you start again with depleted Renown and Experience - risking losing so much Renown you are forced to make up for it by doing more side quests. I think the main impact of this is the game will be completed in a much shorter time scale that it would otherwise be.

    I think the digging for treasure is ok but too frequent.

    You have to forgive the loading times (its a system being pushed to its limits here) and i like the option of skipping the ardour of having to manually travel.

    The dialogue "system" (read "Expressions";) or lack of it is a bit odd but adds character and is fairly original. Of course it is hardly realistic. However, i'm sure a more sophisticated system would have taken up resources and who knows, space on disk for other things.

    All in all, i think the game is fantastic and it definitely FEELS like a 10/10.

    I don't expect 10/10 games to be perfect and some game imperfections actually add character.

    Fable 2 is a fantastic achievement

  • captain_artyfartfog #586 3 years ago

    What a surprise. People reporting that Fable 2 isnt all that good afterall, and full of Bugs.

    How dod Eur360mer get it so wrong?

    The usual suspects are praising it though.No surprise there.

  • optimusprym8 #587 3 years ago

    Completed it at the weekend, just got some gargoyles, silver keys and 2.5 million estate to gather now. Tis beautiful game though

  • captain_artyfartfog #588 3 years ago

    @farticusmaximus

    You seem obsessed with this Hedbog person, do you have a personal hatred for him?

    Funny the XBOTS dont get banned though....

  • BillyBrush #589 3 years ago

    Funny the XBOTS dont get banned though....


    @Hedbog

    to be honest...it's possibly because they're not spending their time in PS3 threads constantly pissing people off....realise why you were banned and change your behaviour a little

  • Gradius #590 3 years ago

    I'm going to kick myself for getting involved here but hedbog please just leave it now, you've been banned so many times it's beyond ridiculous, please just piss off mate, no one wants you here, you add nothing to this site except utter idiocy, even the other Sony fans won't associate themselves with you. You can't afford multiple consoles, hence must hate the one mummy didn't buy you, we get it, just fuck the fuck off for fucks sake you fucking fuckwit.

  • miiiguel #591 3 years ago

    hedbog: can't you realise that you are shoing the whole world how pissed you are... You just completed lost your cool. Fable is a beautifull game and ppl are buying and enjoying playing it, a lot. Snap out of it.

    Go praise LBP, or Home or something....

  • darc #592 3 years ago

    Can you believe this, I bought Fable II (and Rock Band 2) and about 3 days later my 360 red rings! (Actually, 1 LED and an E64 error.) I couldn't believe the *(&@$# timing - beginning of the Christmas season and all. We got a warranty repair rolling and picked up an XBox 360 Arcade as a backup. Came *very* close to picking up a PS3 instead, but there aren't enough games that interest my wife on that platform.

  • migasUK #593 3 years ago

    i don't get what people do with theirs x360, to get the RRD? I have mine for more than a year and almost play everyday, sometimes for several hours and never had a problem at all... i wonder what you guys do with your consoles? naughty boys !!! LOL

  • Calgon #594 3 years ago

    Have to say this comments thread has been one of the best in a while... usual appearances by trolls like Smelly, Les and of course hedbog... but aslong as everyone knows everything they have to say has to be taken with a pinch of salt then there will be no confusion. Really let them beleive everyone is just to stupid to see where they are coming from theyd rather be in denial anyway, ignorrance is bliss afterall.

    "You're all wrong! 360 is shit and MGS paid for all the critical acclaim they've recieved"

    Well anyone who has bought a few from Microsoft Game Studios in recent years can tell you they have a deserved good reputation, for delivering quality titles at the very least... AAA classics at best. Im struggling to think of bad game theyve released even dating back to last gen... overhyped in some cases sure(like the infamous Brute Force but Sony have been more guilty of that this gen in particular and what publisher doesnt hype their games? Its their job... atleast MGS dont outright bullshit you and treat you like an idiot, you decide which games you buy... well unless you are someone like Apolol or Hedbog, in which case your platform holder decides everything for you) but there have been worse examples by the competition.

    Im not sure if it will be a 10 for me but I'd be happy to be proved wrong, seems like most of the agreements with the score will come from people who where fans of the first game, no doubt there will be plenty to like about the game whether its your GOTY or not, so there shouldnt be much problem seeing why some might rate it so highly.
    Edited by 1 at 27/10/08 @ 15:53

  • darc #595 3 years ago

    "i don't get what people do with theirs x360, to get the RRD? I have mine for more than a year and almost play everyday, sometimes for several hours and never had a problem at all... i wonder what you guys do with your consoles? naughty boys !!! LOL"

    I felt EXACTLY the same way, until about 6PM last night, when I was so bold as to press the power button. Lucky for me, I am JUST within warranty, and we were already considering a second XBox anyway.

  • Vanmunt #596 3 years ago

    worse ending to a game EVER.

  • RedPanda #597 3 years ago

    Post deleted at 14:31:59 28-01-2012

  • The_Game_Guy #598 3 years ago

    How much did this score cost?

  • darc #599 3 years ago

    And still, the more I play it the less I like it. I'd say it's down to about a 6.5 for me right now. The final nail in the coffin of mediocrity is the way they screwed up the magic interface. To the extent that I just don't enjoy using magic, which leaves the utter button mash of combat.

    Also the art direction falls apart completely at the spire. And I thought the "comandant" might try to kill me by way of sheer boredom.
    Edited by 1 at 28/10/08 @ 17:10

  • Velios #600 3 years ago

    I bought this game, and I must say that I really love it. Having never played Fable 1, it's very fresh and I love the very european humour that Lionhead always brings to it's games.

    10/10 well deserved for this masterpiece.

  • darc #601 3 years ago

    "10/10 well deserved for this masterpiece."

    That is comment number 666, it turns out. I'm just saying.

  • darc #602 3 years ago

    Admittedly, I'm hard to please (translation: I hate almost everything) so by all means give it a shot. But I strongly advise you rent first.

    Also, if you look around a bit (for instance here and there in the Fallout comments, or in the metacritic user reviews) you'll find that a few people do agree with me.

    You might love it though!

  • riz23 #603 3 years ago

    too many serious bugs in this game to merit a ten. Plus it's very similar to the first game

  • darc #604 3 years ago

    "too many serious bugs in this game to merit a ten. Plus it's very similar to the first game"

    The funny thing is, I really liked the first game. To a point, you have to judge a game relative to the technology available at time of release. I thought Fable 1 was a real achievement for its time, but Fable 2 isn't really impressing me as standing out from its contemporaries. And in too many other ways, it's just annoying.

  • Xerx3s #605 3 years ago

    Don't hate headbog. Pity him. He can't help it that he was born like a miserable, sad, petty, small-minded, dumb idiot. It's most likely a genetic defect of some sort. Hopefully, science can cure him in the future.

  • SparkyDD #606 3 years ago

    Completed Fable 2 last night, great game. Really is. Its just not a 10/10, it just really isnt.

    Ending was very poor

  • Speedwolf #607 3 years ago

    My favourite bug so far was when battling through the crucible in my chicken suit, as you do. I had been knocked unconcious in a particularly vicious fight with some brigands and when I came to I was floating around, arms outstretched like some Jesus of poultry. This lasted until well after the crucible was beaten. In the end I reloaded and it went away.

  • zuul_ #608 3 years ago

    Well I got this game late, thanks to RRoD. But why doesn't the review mention the horrible frequent and long loading times at all? The loading screens make the game unbearable, on several quests I spend more time waiting for the game to load than actually playing. It really ruins Fable2. It's fun when you're actually playing, it's not when gameplay is constantly disrupted and you're waiting.
    Edited by 2 at 11/11/08 @ 10:50

  • dryden555 #609 3 years ago

    it looks like EG may have given into the Fable 2 media hype.

  • Microshaft #610 3 years ago

    Wow, this review really is the biggest load of bullshit I've ever read.

    Not only is this the shortest RPG I have ever played, with a terrible central story and a finale which gives new meaning to the term 'anti-climax'(Where is the final boss fight? Lame beyond words.), but it has numerous technical hitches throughout, a deeply flawed gesture system and the melee combat plays identically to the awful Assassin's Creed.

    How on Earth does something with such blatant flaws achieve a 'perfect score' when it very clearly fails to overcome it's many shortcomings to rise to greatness of any sort?

    Too busy counting that fat Microsoft cash to worry about what the game was actually like, eh Eurogamer? Underhanded, deceitful twats.

  • tnt_2008smum #611 3 years ago

    @Zero_Cool

    Quick you haven't posted a negative comment in an xbox 360 thread in over a day!!!!

    I read somewhere that Bill Gates pays Eurogamer to touch PS3's in an inappropriate manner and this is why they underachieve in the multi-platform face offs!

    I think you should look into this and expose Eurogamer for the bias PS3 fiddlers they really are!

  • Asundai #612 3 years ago

    Hmm. I don't see how this got 10/10. The combat, to me, is unsatisfying and fairly weak, the story had some potential but never really got there - with a particularly weak ending - and the real estate / jobs thing was just a bad idea full stop. The jobs should've been left out of the game, they're the kind of boring pointless grind you'd find in an MMO, and the real estate aspect of the game just breaks everything and allows you access to the best weapons too easily, along with unlimited potions (and hence experience, since you can buy XP potions) which just compounds the problem with the game being way too easy.

    Overall i'd rate it at maybe 7/10.

    It's also fairly short, but i'd say that's actually a good thing since if it were any longer i probably wouldn't have bothered to finish it, i was bored of it by the end.
    Edited by 1 at 21/12/08 @ 02:13

  • dryden555 #613 3 years ago

    A fluffy review for a very solid 8/10 game. Saying that the "combat is great because it is all about about looking good while fighting" makes it clear the reviewer shouldn't be reviewing games, or alternately his editor told him to write a fluffy review.

  • ChadSexington #614 3 years ago

    I started playing this recently and it's no better than the first - i.e. shit. The combat - shit. The story - shit. The whole good/evil thing - shit. Getting married etc. - shit. I mean, come on, there's no game in there, it might as well have been a Wii game.

  • kinggibbon #615 3 years ago

    No way a 10/10. I loved fable 1 and was extremely excited to hear about Fable 2 but... Why did you change the combat style. Also the humour just isn't funny anymore. 8/10 i'd say.

  • Rens11 #616 2 years ago

    gotta say the most overrated game I've ever played!. I bought it the week it came out and sold it 2 weeks later, The dungeons are completly linear along with the cities aswell. I thought it was one seamless world but this is not the case each area is seperated by a loading screen which when finished you end up no where near were you was completly ruining any immersion you have in the world. The menu is very clunky selcting items takes ages!!! and its too easy to become ridicuolusy rich on the boring mini games and shop buying selling and the game is also full of glitches not just small ones game breaking ones too overall I'd give the game a 4/10 the most dissapointing game I've ever played by a mile when I was so looking forward to it!!!

  • sirtacos #617 2 years ago

    Not a 10. Not a 9 either. I've been playing Fable 2 for a couple of days and so far I haven't seen anything that pushes it above a generous 7. The story, dialogue & voice acting are far too underwhelming - or, let's just come out and say it, just shit - to let me forget about how utterly uninvolving the actual gameplay is.