Hunted: The Demon's Forge
Developer(s)inXile Entertainment
Publisher(s)Bethesda Softworks
Director(s)Michael Kaufman
Producer(s)Stewart Spilkin
Designer(s)Chris Keenan
Programmer(s)Keith Miron
Matthew Fawcett
Artist(s)Robert Nesler
Craig Drageset
Composer(s)Kevin Riepl[1]
EngineUnreal Engine 3
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows
PlayStation 3
Xbox 360
Release
  • NA: 31 May 2011
  • AU: 2 June 2011
  • EU: 3 June 2011
Genre(s)Action role-playing
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Hunted: The Demon's Forge is an action role playing game set in a dark fantasy world. The game was developed by inXile Entertainment and published by Bethesda Softworks for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows.[2]

Gameplay

The game features co-operative multiplayer with online, splitscreen, and LAN options. E'lara is able to use a bow and small weapons, while Caddoc wields larger melee weapons, as well as a crossbow. Players have the option to explore large areas; however, the gameplay is mostly linear with many points of no return. Players are able to use spells to help in combat.[2]

The game supports cross-regional co-operative play on all platforms, but the random match-making feature is regional on PC and PlayStation 3, and cross-regional on Xbox 360.[3][4]

Plot

Two mercenaries in battle, E'lara and Caddoc, go searching for a mysterious artifact about which Caddoc had a vision, but events grow out of hand and the companions become wrapped up in a chain of events involving demons, the orc-like Wargar, and a sorceress named Seraphine.[2]

Development

Hunted: The Demon's Forge shares a similar title and fantasy setting with Brian Fargo's first widely distributed game, his self-published 1981 graphical text adventure The Demon's Forge.[5]

inXile Entertainment's President Matt Findley said that Hunted: The Demon's Forge's game mechanics are mainly based on his team's own experience playing co-op games and the resulting stream of ideas on how to improve the genre step-by-step.[6] Findley's personal criticism towards similar co-op titles is that the general definition of co-op has sunk "to allowing two players to play together". "We're co-op in that all of our special skills and abilities are designed to make you work together," Findley added later in the interview.

Before the game's release, Findley stated that a sequel and continuing series would happen if the first game saw enough commercial success. Many ideas were not used, and they would improve the co-op mode in sequels. The next installment would not necessarily be a sequel, but possibly a prequel or new story set in the same world with different characters.

Reception

Hunted: The Demon's Forge received "mixed" reviews on all platforms according to video game review aggregator Metacritic.[7][8][9] In Japan, where the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were ported for release on 25 August 2011, Famitsu gave both console versions each a score of two sevens, one eight, and one seven for a total of 29 out of 40.[12]

The Escapist gave the Xbox 360 version three stars out of five and said, "Good for a quick and fun diversion, Hunted is far from the perfect coop game or fantasy dungeon crawl, but the storytelling almost makes up for it. Almost."[26] Digital Spy gave the same version three stars out of five, stating that "the muddy graphics and frequently questionable design choices make the campaign sometimes feel like a chore."[27] The Daily Telegraph gave said version a similar score of six out of ten and said it was "a decent enough game to play through, but certainly one you'll forget in a hurry. It's the kind of game perfect for a lull in gaming when there's nothing else left, and you fancy something disposable but enjoyable."[25] Edge gave the console version six out of ten and said, "Like a horse swishing its tail with futile persistence, Hunted never manages to rid itself of bugs."[28] However, The A.V. Club gave the same version a C and stated that the problem with the game is that "It thinks ham-fisted cooperation is indistinguishable from effortless cooperation. Any two people playing together know better."[29] GameZone gave the game a score of five out of ten and said that it "offers a modicum of playing pleasure on a slow weekend, but a rental would be safer than a purchase."[30] Metro gave the same console version four out of ten and said, "Gears of War meets Diablo turns out not to be a classic pairing after all, or at least not when it comes to this low rent hotchpotch of other people's ideas."[31]

References

  1. ↑ IGN Staff (23 May 2011). "Hunted: The Demon's Forge Soundtrack Composed By Kevin Riepl". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 17 October 2013. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 Sophia Tong (4 May 2010). "Hunted: The Demon's Forge First Look". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 31 January 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
  3. ↑ Gstaff (26 May 2011). "Hunted online multiplayer co op 1". Bethesda Softworks Forums. Archived from the original on 31 January 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
  4. ↑ Gstaff (31 May 2011). "Hunted online multiplayer co op 2". Bethesda Softworks Forums. Archived from the original on 31 January 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
  5. ↑ David Craddock (30 October 2013). ""Stay Awhile and Listen - Book I" Bonus Chapter: An Interview with Brian Fargo". Gamasutra. UBM plc. Archived from the original on 1 March 2017. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  6. ↑ Vlad Micu (8 September 2010). "Inxile Entertainment's Matt Findley on Hunted: The Demon's Forge and taking the next step in co-op games". Gamesauce. Archived from the original on 14 January 2020. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  7. 1 2 "Hunted: The Demon's Forge for PC Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 12 May 2015. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  8. 1 2 "Hunted: The Demon's Forge for PlayStation 3 Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 21 February 2015. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  9. 1 2 "Hunted: The Demon's Forge for Xbox 360 Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 15 February 2015. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  10. ↑ Jim Sterling (4 June 2011). "Review: Hunted: The Demon's Forge (X360)". Destructoid. Enthusiast Gaming. Archived from the original on 22 May 2014. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  11. ↑ Tom Bramwell (2 June 2011). "Hunter: The Demon's Forge (Xbox 360)". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on 16 September 2014. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  12. 1 2 3 "August 31, 2011 News". The Magic Box. 31 August 2011. Archived from the original on 28 December 2011. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  13. 1 2 Jeff Cork (2 June 2011). "Hunted: The Demon's Forge (PS3, X360): A Broadsword Swing, And A Miss". Game Informer. GameStop. Archived from the original on 29 April 2019. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  14. 1 2 Eric Neigher (7 June 2011). "Review: Hunted: The Demon's Forge (360/PS3)". GamePro. GamePro Media. Archived from the original on 12 June 2011. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
  15. 1 2 3 Daniel R. Bischoff (21 June 2011). "Hunted: The Demon's Forge Review". Game Revolution. CraveOnline. Archived from the original on 1 October 2014. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  16. ↑ Kevin VanOrd (3 June 2011). "Hunted: The Demon's Forge Review (PC)". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 20 December 2015. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
  17. 1 2 Kevin VanOrd (3 June 2011). "Hunted: The Demon's Forge Review (PS3, X360)". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 27 June 2014. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  18. 1 2 Andrew Hayward (3 June 2011). "GameSpy: Hunted: The Demon's Forge Review (PS3, X360)". GameSpy. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 26 November 2013. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  19. ↑ "Hunted: The Demon's Forge Review (X360)". GameTrailers. Viacom. 16 June 2011. Archived from the original on 27 March 2014. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  20. 1 2 3 Ryan Clements (3 June 2011). "Hunted: The Demon's Forge Review". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 26 March 2014. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  21. ↑ Griffin McElroy (1 June 2011). "Hunted: The Demon's Forge review: A streamlined slaughter (X360)". Engadget (Joystiq). Oath Inc. Archived from the original on 31 January 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
  22. ↑ "Hunted: The Demon's Forge". Official Xbox Magazine. Future US. September 2011. p. 85.
  23. ↑ Richard Cobbett (17 June 2011). "Hunted: The Demon's Forge review". PC Gamer. Future US. Archived from the original on 4 December 2015. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
  24. ↑ "Review: Hunted: The Demon's Forge". PlayStation: The Official Magazine. Future plc. August 2011. p. 85.
  25. 1 2 Ashton Raze (14 June 2011). "Hunted: The Demon's Forge review (X360)". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 31 January 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
  26. 1 2 Greg Tito (9 June 2011). "Hunted: The Demon's Forge Review (X360)". The Escapist. Defy Media. Archived from the original on 31 January 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
  27. ↑ Andrew Laughlin (10 June 2011). "'Hunted: The Demon's Forge' (Xbox 360)". Digital Spy. Hearst Communications. Archived from the original on 31 January 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
  28. ↑ Edge staff (10 June 2011). "Hunted: The Demon's Forge review [Incomplete] (X360)". Edge. Future plc. Archived from the original on 11 June 2011. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
  29. ↑ David Wolinsky (6 June 2011). "Hunted: The Demon's Forge (X360)". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on 10 June 2011. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
  30. ↑ Dan Liebman (28 June 2011). "Hunted: The Demon's Forge Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on 4 July 2011. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
  31. ↑ Roger Hargreaves (19 June 2011). "Hunted: The Demon's Forge review - quest for co-op". Metro. DMG Media. Archived from the original on 14 January 2020. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
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