"Fable 2 is finished." That's the latest message from the good people over at Lionhead Studios. The message sent across the E3 '08 show floor. From what was shown, it's safe to say that they're wrapping things up neatly. Our fondness of the original Fable (especially Fable: The Lost Chapters) has increased our enthusiasm for the sequel and we were thrilled that the development team has finally reached the closing stages of the project. Okay, Peter Molyneux was once again too keen to restrain his eagerness about the project, except it wasn't all fancy speeches this time. He elegantly put things into perspective and kept talking about features that were already in the game, right there for all attendees to see. Now, this isn't the first time we've seen the game. We were able to check it out last year, but things were far from polished back then.

Hey, which way to the nearest pet store? I killed my dog you see.

Treebeard. Know him? Any relation? Maybe not.

The combat in Fable 2 is a lot smoother and easier to master than in the original. There's a great range of combos on offer, allowing you to deal with a variety of enemies (ranging from werewolves, bandits, zombies and so on) in any way you see fit. As before, this denotes the use of ranged attacks, magic and close-quarter fighting skills. Gaining experience will depend on your general performance in battle. So, it's not just about how many foes you've sliced to bits.

The game takes place 500 years after the first Fable game and as you may have heard already, it sports a single-player campaign that's approximately 12 hours in length. While that may not sound like much, Molyneux explained that Fable 2 is really about committing to all the possibilities the game will allow this time around. Establishing relationships with characters, falling in love, getting married, having children, taking care of one's virtual family is all a part of the entire experience. Having a family, means they will be strongly tied to the plot same as your character; so whatever happens to you throughout the course of the story will seriously affect them.

Also, if adultery tickles your fancy, it can be pulled off in the game, though you must be careful not to get caught (Ha, I never get caught - Ed.). Two-timing, mind you, involves risks, which means neglecting your spouse might cause her/him to cheat on you. Simple fornication is in the game as well. You can have "fun" with as many partners any time you like. Like in real life, taking precautions is advisable. For example, you should consider protecting your character from sexually transmitted diseases. Yep, having unprotected sex can get you into trouble. It's a cool moment, but Molyneux says it won't have much of an affect on the gameplay.

The pet dog was, as expected, in the demo as well. The loyalty of your dog really seems like something players will become used to very fast. It's not there to piss on potted plants and to be taken for walkies. It can sense danger, point towards hidden treasures and even protect your character when the going gets tough. What ever you do, where ever you go in the game, your dog is going to stand by your side. If it lags behind it may have suffered an injury and you'll could see it limping in agony, trying to keep up. Nonetheless, it always finds a way to its master; even if it takes forever. If you're not a ruthless, sadistic bastard that relishes animal torture, you can always tend to its wounds.

So, when all's said and done, the game appears to be more about exploring freely and interacting with the huge world Lionhead created, as opposed to just rushing through the campaign to finish the story. There are numerous activities for your character, in addition to a number of fun mini-games. Perfecting your skills can be fun. Being a blacksmith, for instance, means that you can take the time to improve your technique of weapon making - also done via a mini-game. As before, you can choose to be good or evil and people will react according to your deeds. During the game, a bard may follow you, singing songs about your endeavors. If you were good, his songs will be full of praise, but if you've been bad the lyrics will be different.

Everything else in the game appears top-notch, from the excellent visuals and lovely music, to the high-quality voiceovers. Considering all the stuff that's lined-up -- sandbox style gameplay, plenty of NPCs to interact with, co-op play, cool ranged and melee weapons, magic skills and more -- Fable 2 is showing much promise and already seems to be a great improvement over its predecessor. Be on the lookout for the game on stores shelves in October 2008. From what we've heard, Lionhead is committed to that date and has vowed to deliver the game on time.