Hunted: The Demon's Forge

Hunted: The Demon's Forge is an action 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]

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
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

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. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  2. Sophia Tong (4 May 2010). "Hunted: The Demon's Forge First Look". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
  3. Gstaff (26 May 2011). "Hunted online multiplayer co op 1". Bethesda Softworks Forums. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
  4. Gstaff (31 May 2011). "Hunted online multiplayer co op 2". Bethesda Softworks Forums. 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. 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. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  7. "Hunted: The Demon's Forge for PC Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  8. "Hunted: The Demon's Forge for PlayStation 3 Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  9. "Hunted: The Demon's Forge for Xbox 360 Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  10. Jim Sterling (4 June 2011). "Review: Hunted: The Demon's Forge (X360)". Destructoid. Enthusiast Gaming. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  11. Tom Bramwell (2 June 2011). "Hunter: The Demon's Forge (Xbox 360)". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  12. "August 31, 2011 News". The Magic Box. 31 August 2011. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  13. Jeff Cork (2 June 2011). "Hunted: The Demon's Forge (PS3, X360): A Broadsword Swing, And A Miss". Game Informer. GameStop. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  14. 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. 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. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
  17. Kevin VanOrd (3 June 2011). "Hunted: The Demon's Forge Review (PS3, X360)". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  18. Andrew Hayward (3 June 2011). "GameSpy: Hunted: The Demon's Forge Review (PS3, X360)". GameSpy. Ziff Davis. 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. Ryan Clements (3 June 2011). "Hunted: The Demon's Forge Review". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  21. Griffin McElroy (1 June 2011). "Hunted: The Demon's Forge review: A streamlined slaughter (X360)". Engadget (Joystiq). Oath Inc. 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. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
  24. "Review: Hunted: The Demon's Forge". PlayStation: The Official Magazine. Future plc. August 2011. p. 85.
  25. Ashton Raze (14 June 2011). "Hunted: The Demon's Forge review (X360)". The Daily Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
  26. Greg Tito (9 June 2011). "Hunted: The Demon's Forge Review (X360)". The Escapist. Defy Media. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
  27. Andrew Laughlin (10 June 2011). "'Hunted: The Demon's Forge' (Xbox 360)". Digital Spy. Hearst Communications. 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. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
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