Fable Heroes

3 cert, Lionhead Studios/ Microsoft, Xbox Live***

Is there any end to Fable games? The latest is a change of pace for the respectable and prolific franchise. Abandoning role-playing, moral quandaries and complex world-building, Fable Heroes is a family-friendly 2D beat-’em-up. Multiplayer is encouraged here, as you form a band of noble warriors travelling hostile lands. Depending on your chosen hero, you can wield weapons as varied as a scythe, hammer, sword or musket. And there are a variety of power-ups, including shape- changing, becoming a giant and slowing down time. Some power-ups can be shared, so you choose to work as a team or play selfishly. Despite the hack-and-slash nature of the gameplay, this is altogether twee (maybe a little too much so). The characters bounce along like marionettes and there’s no bloodshed. Some bonus levels (such as a competitive chicken-dodging) are a hoot, while other trimmings (such as the board game) are tedious. Like many combat games, Fable Heroes occasionally descends into repetitive button-mashing, but overall this is a cute, playful and playable diversion.