Fable does linearity right
Graphics - 9/10
An idyllic, Elizabethan world. Leans more artistic than realistic. A few slowdowns, but nothing major.
Sound - 8.5/10
Music score is just background noise with nothing much memorable. Very well done voice acting. My only complaint is like a lot of WRPGs, Fable 2 overdoes low English with a British accent.
Gameplay - 9/10
Story - A very intriguing story from start to end. Your actions shape the world in a variety of ways from turning your childhood neighborhood into either a slum or a trendy old town, you can either choose to obliterate a hamlet or annihilate those who want to obliterate it, and on. Whether you work, rob, kill or steal will have a definite, immediate impact on the economy of the world.
Gameplay - This is Fable 2's major weakness. Melee combat requires the reflexes of a Japanese basement dweller who can eat sushi with one hand and perform intricate, dance rituals with the buttons on his game controller on the other. Ranged and spell combat are a breeze compared to melee, just stay away as you can, roll when enemies get close, and master blast them. Finally, the targeting system is weird, it does not have a manual switch from one enemy to the next leaving you as a mage to be clobbered while charging up a spell to hit an enemy halfway across the screen.
Collectibles - Gargoyles, silver keys, and legendary weapons. Not too onerous.
Final Verdict - 9/10
The Fable series including Fable 2 is Xbox's equivalent to Super Mario Bros., Uncharted, and Metal Gear Solid. Each game of the series builds on the last and gets better. This is a must own along with Gears of War, Bioshock, Assassin's Creed (the first one), and Fallout 3.