Fable 2 Non-Gamer Review

Nice idea to get a non gamer to do a review, sure its different than what Joe would have written, quoting npc's? can't remember when I've seen Joe doing that, on the other hand he would have given more details about the combat system. The review did turn out good though, Bit-tech picked the right non gamer for it.

Originally Posted by CardJoe
Maybe - but the problem is that there's only so long you can do a non-gamer review before your non-gamer actually becomes a gamer...

And I think here's the crux of the 'hardcore' to 'casual' shift. It's not necessarily the supposed untapped market of casual players - it's the conversion on non-gamers to gamers. Companies realize that there are people who have no interest in their specialized products, so they start preparing 'entry-level' products. And before you know it, their overall customer base grows. And later on many of those casual players become hardcore players, with increased sales on their hardcore products as well as new sales from their casual products.

Kudos for having a non-gamer review Bit-tech! I've always found it interesting to see the other side of gaming. I thought minutiae like skill selection and class style would be the hardest part of 'teaching' my wife how to play games - turns out that part was a breeze for her, but simply navigating in a virtual 3d environment for the first time in her life was the largest hurdle. There are a lot of things that we hardcore gamers take for granted that can really dissuade new gamers from actually becoming interested.

Is the combat actually that dumbed down, or is it just accessible to a new player. Like, in God of War, you could get through the game with the same SLASH SLASH SLASH combo that involved pressing the same button over and over, but there also was a huge amount of other moves that you could use, but they really weren't necessary, you will win either way.

You see, in most BT reviews you just dont get the kind of depth that covers the relative difficulties in catching (and booting) the avian fauna....

Grats Faith :)

I enjoyed reading that - I think the concept could work well on an occasional basis for appropriate games. Give your sister a job.

fun review, interesting writing style in that very few reviewers would ever go that far itno establishing plot and discussing the nuances of characters or quoting NPC's. Not to mention it was pretty humours

while it's an intersting concept, in terms of information an average gamer would like in a review I think missrd on common but crucial information. For instance is it multiplayer, how long is the play time? I believe it's a fanasy RPG is the combat real time? Are the controls responsive and is gameplay smooth? etc I think seasoned reviewers pick up in what they and their audiences look for in a gaming experience. With no frame of reference, non-gamers might judge on metrics that are not significant to the actual buying audience

I was watching a lot of footage lately and the motif is really growing on me.

Originally Posted by CardJoe

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tyrmot

Quote:

Originally Posted by CardJoe
Maybe - but the problem is that there's only so long you can do a non-gamer review before your non-gamer actually becomes a gamer...

You need more sisters then.

I already have three, and a brother - more than enough for me!

With your permission, I'd like to be your step-brother.

Good review faith, keep up the work experience and the gaming.
Maybe you will be turned to the darkside of hardcore gaming soon!
Can anybody shed any light on the multiplayer aspects please?

Originally Posted by CardJoe
Maybe - but the problem is that there's only so long you can do a non-gamer review before your non-gamer actually becomes a gamer...

Is that not their exact plan by creating games that cater to the casual market?

Originally Posted by docodine
Is the combat actually that dumbed down, or is it just accessible to a new player. Like, in God of War, you could get through the game with the same SLASH SLASH SLASH combo that involved pressing the same button over and over, but there also was a huge amount of other moves that you could use, but they really weren't necessary, you will win either way.

Not played god of war, but it sounds similar.

It's not particually dumbed down, just surprisingly scalable. You can get by mashing the gamepad, or you can do really well by stringing together multiple moves/spells
(my personal favourite is a mix of the time-control spell and high-end ranged talents. slow time, shoot weapons off an enemy, warp behind another then headshot him from behind... etc )

Fable 2 has become my all time favourite game now, i just can't put it down... and i have fallout 3 to play as well

Originally Posted by Amon
With your permission, I'd like to be your step-brother.

I was wondering how long it would take for a comment like that to appear, but don't you mean brother-in-law? Step-brother would involve your and Joe's parents... ;)

Generally thought good review Faith, nice one!

Given then breadth of the Internet, I don't think BT needs to do another "hardcore" review, there's metacritic for that. This served a perfect purpose given Mone.. Mono... Mon-eh-loo's comments about appealing to casual gamers.

Hello Chicken Chaser!
lol I loved that nickname. Especially the way they call you that, like it's some honorable name or something.

I wish I had a brother that let me go play games at his work place when I was 16... Good review. Didn't expect the part where she said she would keep playing the game. Did she finish the story? Because that's usually when someone starts to poke into the internet part.

The first page completely put me off reading what potentially was a good review, going by the comments. Such ego which I doubt is even justified. It's like someone has become a character from pure-pwnage. Have to say last gaming review I am going to read on bit-tech!

Joe, we could have done with your perspective as an addendum to the original article. Perhaps Faith has partially vindicated some of Molyneux's points, but I don't think he was trying to ensnare casual gamers at the expense of more keen gamers.

Does this game hold any appeal for moderate/hardcore games?

Originally Posted by cyrilthefish

Quote:

Originally Posted by docodine
Is the combat actually that dumbed down, or is it just accessible to a new player. Like, in God of War, you could get through the game with the same SLASH SLASH SLASH combo that involved pressing the same button over and over, but there also was a huge amount of other moves that you could use, but they really weren't necessary, you will win either way.

Not played god of war, but it sounds similar.

It's not particually dumbed down, just surprisingly scalable. You can get by mashing the gamepad, or you can do really well by stringing together multiple moves/spells
(my personal favourite is a mix of the time-control spell and high-end ranged talents. slow time, shoot weapons off an enemy, warp behind another then headshot him from behind... etc )

Fable 2 has become my all time favourite game now, i just can't put it down... and i have fallout 3 to play as well

Oh, thanks.

I don't think I'll buy it though, Left4Dead is more appealing at the moment.

Originally Posted by metarinka
... while it's an intersting concept, in terms of information an average gamer would like in a review I think missed on common but crucial information... For instance is it multiplayer, how long is the play time?
I believe it's a fanasy RPG is the combat real time?
Are the controls responsive and is gameplay smooth?
With no frame of reference, non-gamers might judge on metrics that are not significant to the actual buying audience

As said in the intro. For a non gamer thaose points you just asked about are non vital for the casual gamer. So while I can see your points, this was made to appeal to non gamers as well right?
So this could potentially be the buying audience.

I liked reading this 'casual gamer perspective' review. I hope bit-tech will include more of these in future reviews. You can have the hardcore reading the critical reviews and the masses reading the casual review, catering to both sides of the market. However, the casual reviewer must be a different person, if possible, for each game. Otherwise, it would be another casual turned hardcore gamer reviewer.

Originally Posted by cjmUK
Joe, we could have done with your perspective as an addendum to the original article. Perhaps Faith has partially vindicated some of Molyneux's points, but I don't think he was trying to ensnare casual gamers at the expense of more keen gamers.

Does this game hold any appeal for moderate/hardcore games?

In brief, my opinion is that it's very much similar to Fable 1, but bigger. The jobs you do to earn money are dull and trite, the combat isn't really all that challenging since you can't die (you just get knocked out, lose 100 XP and get up again) and can be done with button bashing (which, whatever way you look at it, removes the motivation to play tactically) and an awful lot of the game seems to be made of pointless distractions.

However, other aspects of the game - especially the sound, quest and art design are a tour de force. Some distractions may be utterly stupid and meaningless, but treasure hunting works very well as in the first one and the plot is quite interesting. The dog too is a great companion and plenty of fun.

I don't think we'll be doing a hardcore review, mainly as there isn't any need, but if I was reviewing it then it would probably be between 8 or 9, with a note about Fable 2 being a gateway game and very much "my first RPG". It's like Zelda, but British and better.

This was an interesting twist to a review. Well written, and entering on some interesting points.
Even though i DO tend to agree that the article could've used a shorter introduction and maybe a page of thoughts from a more seasoned reviewer.
What with your comment here, though (Joe), i think it's the kind of game i might pick up for the missus and completely not play myself...
besides - way too many other games that appeal to me... but it's worth a thought for the missus for xmas...

Originally Posted by BentAnat
This was an interesting twist to a review. Well written, and entering on some interesting points.
Even though i DO tend to agree that the article could've used a shorter introduction and maybe a page of thoughts from a more seasoned reviewer.
What with your comment here, though (Joe), i think it's the kind of game i might pick up for the missus and completely not play myself...
besides - way too many other games that appeal to me... but it's worth a thought for the missus for xmas...

Sure, everyone is hating on me now - I'll have to kill my sister ;)

I've added a link on the first page that'll skip straight to the review for those who don't want an introduction.

Great review, i'm sure i couldn't have convinced my sister to play Fable...

The part where she mentioned the female villagers being interested in her Hero got to me, ingame. Kinda disturbing to be standing in the shops and have an entourage of men saying that your quite muscular...

Hey young lady, there's enough people who enjoy a good story in a game and not just constant fighting requiring the highest of skills. Good review. :)

good review. i was totally expecting less insight from somebody that joe labeled as a noob, but wow... very cool.

Originally Posted by Redbeaver
good review. i was totally expecting less insight from somebody that joe labeled as a noob, but wow... very cool.

Monkey Island, when forced onto a seven year old, can be a powerful teaching tool. ;)

Now that video games have become mainsteam it kills all the underground followers who loved hardcore gaming. What was once considered a hobby for geeks is now a part of pop culture and because of this things have been dumbed down quite a bit. I beat 7 out of the last 9 games I bought in a weekend. The 2 games I didn't beat in a weekend are Warhammer Online and Viva Pinata 2. IMO the games of the pasted had more challenges and way way better gameplay. People IMO are more about graphics these days than gamplay. I've see stuff like this in forums ->"The story's great, the gameplay is great but since it doesn't look good I'm not going to buy it." Then you get the review groups that are basicly bribed for their reviews of **** games and then all the people that don't know better buy up the games. Oblivion blew goats and horses in the way of RPG greatness (ratings 9+). Halo is a clone of past FPSs and isn't a innovation (ratings 9+). Fallout 3 shouldn't of been turned into a FPS and is a slap to Fallout fans. (rating 9+)

COD4 was the last game I continued to play for months after beating.