Fable II Pub Games

"Just like real gambling, just less profit."

Fable II Pub Games is made by Lionhead Studios who is most recognizable for their game Fable and the upcoming Fable II. Fable II Pub Games is a bonus for pre-ordering Fable II, and is now on the XBOX Live Marketplace for an amount of Microsoft Points. This game is about gambling to make money for your character on Fable II when you buy it. Now, let's get into it a bit more, shall we?

Story: Non-existant

Well there really isn't much of a story, if any. You're a gambler gambling in a pub/tavern in the land of Albion, all the time. I picked the character “Lynch” because he has a pirate hat. So, I had to make up my own story.

After Lynch was kicked off of his ship by his crew, he tried his life as a highwayman. However, poor Lynch was always drunk when trying to mug people, and they simply walked off as Lynch would try to mug the tree next to them.

With no other option Lynch traveled to a nearby pub and started gambling, drunk. To his surprise, his drunken stupor actually helped him win many o' game. Well, there's your story.

Gameplay: 7

The game is simply gambling, and there's not much more to it. Okay, there obviously is, so I'll delve into a bit more.

Fortune's Tower: This game is infamous for it's glitch/exploit allowing you to gain such mass amount of money you'de be able to buy every keg of beer that pub you're playing in ever had EVER. However, even using the exploit you can still be seriously cheated by the computer. A good strategy I developed (And I do hope some of you picked up on this) is called “Pulling Out.” Yes, it's all about knowing when to pull out and take what you get that round. If you keep going until you get a jackpot every time you play, you're bound to lose all your money and become the laughing stock of the AI. This works so well with the glitch. Note: The exploit is very easy. Get into any Fortune's Tower game that has a maximum and minimum bet. Always choose the lowest bet. When you press A immediately start mashing LB until the bet changes to the maximum. If you lose, you lose the minimum bet. If you win, well, it can't be too hard to think of what happens. Fortune's Tower is quite fun at first *cough*When you're winning*cough* but gets boring after awhile and starts to feel like a chore.

Keystone: This game has no cheat. Sorry. However, there is some strategy to it, believe it or not. I've heard lots of people say, “Don't place inside bets, just on arches” and a few say “Bet all on triples. If you win one you'll get tons.” Peronsally I'm very bad at the game, probably because I don't gamble much in real life and half the time I don't know what to do. The same can apply here. Either you better learn where there are good places to place your chips, or you won't be getting much money. Instead, you'll be losing it all down the drain.

Spinnerbox: No cheat, no strategy, it's the computer's own will whether you win or not. The only thing you can do is much the A button for hours on end (or until you run out of chips). Whilst you're mashing A, try reading a book, or watching TV, or perhaps even Youtube poop. Perhaps... But honesty, I have no idea what was going through PM's (Peter Molyneux) head when he thought of this game. All I can say is he's close to crossing the line between genius and crazy A LOT and I have the happy house open for business.

There are also tournaments you can take part in. These tournaments give small money prizes and weapons and clothing as rewards. Such rewards will be available to your character when you buy Fable II and transfer everything over. The goal of course is to at least get into the finals of each competition and place. Gameplay isn't any different though from playing on your own.

Fortune's Tower is the only game you can really win at. Not only with it's exploit, but knowing when to take the money on a deal and deal some more, otherwise you'll end up shooting yourself in the foot. Keystone has a little strategy to it, but nothing much. Spinnerbox... no strategy to it at all, rendering it worthless.

Controls: 9

I know, you're probably saying, “How do controls not get a perfect score?” That's because when I'm cheating in Fortune's Tower it takes to long to get my bet down to the minimum. Otherwise I really can't complain about anything else. It's just a simple gambling game, not Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, this game has good controls. WHOOPSIE!

Graphics: 10

The graphics are excellent. I'm sure everybody likes the flashing and shiny colors when they score a jackpot. Or, in Fortune's Tower's sake, when it shows you that you could have gotten one if you hadn't pulled out so early... Anyway, the graphics seem flawless.

Sound: 10

The sound is pretty flawless, and VERY nice! Lot's of nice sounds, especially during jackpots, dealing cards, rolling dice, spinning non-strategy boxes, everything. When destroying the arch in Keystone it sounds really nice, like nicely shaped rocks moving across others like it. A little weird description, but it's okay.

The music in the game is very nice as well. Sometimes you won't even notice it when you're gambling, but there are some strange instances when you'll look up and hear such nice music and expect to look to your right and see a stage with a band in a pub. But then you realize it's coming from the game, and then you see your closet.

Extras: 8

Some nice extras in the Pub Games is the unlockable concept art and clothing, weapons and other things you can unlock through tournaments for your character.

Concept Art: The concept art is beautiful is every picture. They're unlocked simply by gaining points (not money) in any of the games. Overall points will add up, and about every 50k points you'll unlock a piece of beautiful arts. Some of them even seem to give away spoilers about the game, which is great fun.

Apparel: Placing a rank in a tournament will unlock a certain item for your character when you buy Fable II and get into the game world. Such things are the Champion's Pistol, Champion's Sword, and the Mysterious Ring. Some of the rewards are nice while others can seem a little meaningless, depending on how you look at it. Personally I'll enjoy the Champion's Pistol, Jacket, and my book of dog tricks.

Along with these rewards is money, but depending on what game you're playing, you could easily earn that money and much more within a few minutes playing on your own.

Immersion: 8

“Let me tell you about immersion. Immersion is when you go for a midnight walk after playing a weekend of Thief II and catch yourself looking for your visibility gem.” (Yhatzee, Zero Punctuation) Yhatzee is quite right. Taking that idea I have to say that Pub Games has quite a lot of it (When you're winning anyway). I mean, it is a gambling game afterall, and gambling gets very addictive. I remember going to work one day and wanting to draw up a picture of me winning a jackpot in Fortune's Tower with some high multiplier. At that point I would have had a wet dream about it, but I haven't yet!

But alas, it cannot last forever. After awhile is starts getting a little dull and feels like a chore. I still feel like drawing up a quick game though... dammit...

Recommendation

I'd say if you're not getting Fable II then don't get this, because it's pretty pointless. I know I won't ever play this again when I get Fable II, not unless I need more money, but that's about it. When Fable II comes, it's Pub Games shall be boring and it will feel unloved.

On the other hand if you're a gambling man and/or woman who loves to lose their money and loves Fable II, then go ahead and get it! It's just perfect for you.

Side Note The Pub Games will be featured in the actual game of Fable II as well, so don't get your knickers in a twist. I believe they're going to be in pubs called, “The Cow and Corset” or something similar. I saw a sign with a building like that in the development diaries, so I'm assuming they'll be there,

Overall: 8

The game can be enjoyable or boring, depending on what type of person you are. I personally found it to be fun and exciting, though it will be rejected when Fable II comes along.

This review is to be used on GameFAQs and no other site without my permission.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 10/16/08

Game Release: Fable II Pub Games (US, 08/13/08)