Fable 2's use of a McGuffin

In Fable 2 the McGuffin is used within the story in the form of a magical music box. At the start of the game the player plays as the ‘fourth’ hero as a child living on the streets with their sister Rose. They find a man who is selling the music box for 5 gold pieces, claiming that it is a relic from the ancient kingdom and that it has the power to grant wishes. The plot that is then presented to the player during the opening act is to do odd jobs in order to make enough money to buy the music box. The Game uses this early narrative as a way to introduce the player to the mechanics of the game in a non threatening environment, such as the concept of choosing good or evil choices which is a staple of the franchise. When the player eventually gets the music box their sister makes a wish that they could live in a castle for the rest of their lives. The following day after the music box disappears the main plot is introduced, with the king Lucian inviting the player and their sister to come and live in the castle. It is then revealed that the reason that Lucien brought them to the castle was because he suspected that one of the children was the ‘fourth’ hero which he found out when they used the music box. Fearing that the fourth hero would ruin his plans he kills the players sister and try's to kill the player but they survive. At the finally of the game the music box is re-introduced as the only weapon that can defeat Lucien during the ritual of the four hearos. After defeating Lucien you are then given the chance to use the music box to make a wish using all of the evil energy that he had collected through his Spire. The player is then able to either revive all of the innocents who died in the Spire’s making, revive the players sister and dog, or gain great wealth. By using this narrative device of a wish the game devs were able to create three options that represent the three types of paths the player can take in the game; good, morally grey, and evil.

Overall Fable 2 uses the McGuffin concept to great effectiveness, with them starting the game out as it being the players sole objective, for it to become obsolete later in place of a revenge story. Then, towards the end it is re-introduced into the story to be of great significance to completing the game whilst also being used to embody the games themes through the games final major choice.