molyneux peter - Peter Molyneux's Fable 2 certainly doesn't lack ambition

In our first of three features, we took a look at Fable 2's introduction of a pet dog, but today we're looking at the theme of love and, more importantly, family.

"The emotion I want you to experience, is love. I want you to experience being loved," said Molyneux. "If I can convince you that you were really loved, that would be an innovation; that would be drama; you would walk away from that game feeling different."

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To do that, Molyneux suggests starting a family. At the beginning of the game, your quest begins in the sewers, no one knows who you are and, frankly, no one cares. At this point, you're given the option to choose your hero's gender, be that male or female, and work your way up to adulthood where you'll have the option to start a family.

In the original Fable, it was entirely possible to marry and sleep around a bit, but in Fable 2, Molyneux has taken it one step further: you can have kids. By wooing a particular woman with gifts, an option presents itself, much like the original, where you can ask her for her hand in marriage or just have a bit of fun in the bedroom. Either way, once you get into the bedroom, you've got one hell of a decision to make: Protected or unprotected sex?

If you choose the latter, the chances of having a child increase ten fold. So you may go out hunting Balverines one day and return to your home to find a little bundle of joy, or sorrow, depending on your alignment.

fable 2 01 - Where will your family live? Perhaps a castle will do.

Molyneux explained that there are times when your child will burst through the door and into your arms congratulating you on your latest achievements, or will play with you and your dog when you're not out saving the world.

If you're a woman you'll naturally get pregnant and your character's appearance will change accordingly. Whether or not you can also suffer from PMS, mid-life crisis, depression and heat flashes, sadly wasn't confirmed.

One particular feature Molyneux wanted to include in the game was bringing your children along with you into battle, but noted that the ratings board would have nothing of it. It is worth mentioning, though, that when a reporter asked if you could bring your adult child into battle, Molyneux hesitated.

"You're driving me down a path here that is dangerous because I start talking about features I shouldn't be talking about," he said. "I can't talk about that right now."

That seems like a solid confirmation to me.

Well, there you have it, family life in a nutshell. Check back next week for even more on Fable 2, including the story and buying properties.