“Protected and unprotected sex are very important parts of this game. I won’t be giving a demo on sexually transmitted diseases.”

Lionhead’s Peter Molyneux remains one of the most quotable men in the business, and his demonstration of Fable 2 is full of his usual grand claims, humble demeanor and love the craft. For Molyneux, Fable 2 is the culmination of what he had promised for the original game. “If you just stick to the story, your character will be a penniless, lonely, unpopular hero.” As proud as he is of the story in the game, one that he promises is full of emotion and drama, he has crafted a world where running around and living a life is an important part of the experience.

This is seen in how the game handles families. You can get married, of course, but now this means responsibility. You must provide for your spouse and children, but heroism doesn’t pay in anything but reputation. So sometimes you’ll need to get a job. Every building in the game can be bought if you have enough coin – one castle costs one million gold – and some can serve as the foundation of a thriving family business. Ignore your family, and you might get divorced, losing half of your assets to your wronged better half.

There’s a game in there, though. The experience gained in combat is divided by skills; use one skill a lot and you gain experience points in it. This experience is then spent on more feats and power upgrades. This leads to a lot of customization in your character, and, importantly, his/her canine companion. Your dog will also gain experience and change appearance as it helps you fight quests and solve the world’s problems.