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Hunted: The Demon's Forge

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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: May 31, 2011
  • AU: June 2, 2011
  • EU: June 3, 2011
Genre(s)Action, hack and slash, third-person shooter
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Hunted: The Demon's Forge is a 2011 action game set in a dark fantasy world. It 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 some larger optional areas; however, the gameplay is mostly linear with many points of no return. Players are able to use spells and special attacks to help in combat, which can be upgraded.[3] The gameplay, especially the archery combat, has been compared to the gunplay of Gears of War,[4] with Eurogamer calling the game a "third-person looter".[3] Engadget called the game a "Gears of War clone",[4] and Metro described it as "Gears of War meets Diablo".[5]

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.[6][7]

Plot

Two mercenaries in battle, female elf E'lara and male human 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.[8]

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.[9] 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.[citation needed]

Reception

Hunted: The Demon's Forge received "mixed" reviews on all platforms according to video game review aggregator Metacritic.[27][28][29] In Japan, where the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were ported for release on August 25, 2011,[citation needed] 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."[30] 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."[31] 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."[32] 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."[33] 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."[5]

References

  1. ^ IGN Staff (May 23, 2011). "Hunted: The Demon's Forge Soundtrack Composed By Kevin Riepl". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on October 17, 2013. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
  2. ^ a b Sophia Tong (May 4, 2010). "Hunted: The Demon's Forge First Look". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on January 31, 2016. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
  3. ^ a b "Hunted: The Demon's Forge". Eurogamer. June 2, 2011. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Hunted: The Demon's Forge preview: Through thick and thin". Engadget. February 28, 2011. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
  5. ^ a b Roger Hargreaves (June 19, 2011). "Hunted: The Demon's Forge review – quest for co-op". Metro. DMG Media. Archived from the original on January 14, 2020. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
  6. ^ Gstaff (May 26, 2011). "Hunted online multiplayer co op 1". Bethesda Softworks Forums. Archived from the original on January 31, 2016. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
  7. ^ Gstaff (May 31, 2011). "Hunted online multiplayer co op 2". Bethesda Softworks Forums. Archived from the original on January 31, 2016. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
  8. ^ David Craddock (October 30, 2013). ""Stay Awhile and Listen – Book I" Bonus Chapter: An Interview with Brian Fargo". Gamasutra. UBM plc. Archived from the original on March 1, 2017. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
  9. ^ Vlad Micu (September 8, 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 January 14, 2020. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
  10. ^ Jim Sterling (June 4, 2011). "Review: Hunted: The Demon's Forge (X360)". Destructoid. Enthusiast Gaming. Archived from the original on May 22, 2014. Retrieved May 11, 2014.
  11. ^ Tom Bramwell (June 2, 2011). "Hunter: The Demon's Forge (Xbox 360)". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on September 16, 2014. Retrieved May 11, 2014.
  12. ^ a b c "August 31, 2011 News". The Magic Box. August 31, 2011. Archived from the original on December 28, 2011. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
  13. ^ a b Jeff Cork (June 2, 2011). "Hunted: The Demon's Forge (PS3, X360): A Broadsword Swing, And A Miss". Game Informer. GameStop. Archived from the original on April 29, 2019. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
  14. ^ a b Eric Neigher (June 7, 2011). "Review: Hunted: The Demon's Forge (360/PS3)". GamePro. GamePro Media. Archived from the original on June 12, 2011. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
  15. ^ a b c Daniel R. Bischoff (June 21, 2011). "Hunted: The Demon's Forge Review". Game Revolution. CraveOnline. Archived from the original on October 1, 2014. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
  16. ^ Kevin VanOrd (June 3, 2011). "Hunted: The Demon's Forge Review (PC)". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on December 20, 2015. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
  17. ^ a b Kevin VanOrd (June 3, 2011). "Hunted: The Demon's Forge Review (PS3, X360)". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on June 27, 2014. Retrieved May 11, 2014.
  18. ^ a b Andrew Hayward (June 3, 2011). "GameSpy: Hunted: The Demon's Forge Review (PS3, X360)". GameSpy. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on November 26, 2013. Retrieved May 11, 2014.
  19. ^ "Hunted: The Demon's Forge Review (X360)". GameTrailers. Viacom. June 16, 2011. Archived from the original on March 27, 2014. Retrieved May 11, 2014.
  20. ^ a b c Ryan Clements (June 3, 2011). "Hunted: The Demon's Forge Review". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on March 26, 2014. Retrieved May 11, 2014.
  21. ^ Griffin McElroy (June 1, 2011). "Hunted: The Demon's Forge review: A streamlined slaughter (X360)". Engadget (Joystiq). Oath Inc. Archived from the original on January 31, 2016. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
  22. ^ "Hunted: The Demon's Forge". Official Xbox Magazine. Future US. September 2011. p. 85.
  23. ^ Richard Cobbett (June 17, 2011). "Hunted: The Demon's Forge review". PC Gamer. Future US. Archived from the original on December 4, 2015. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
  24. ^ "Review: Hunted: The Demon's Forge". PlayStation: The Official Magazine. Future plc. August 2011. p. 85.
  25. ^ a b Ashton Raze (June 14, 2011). "Hunted: The Demon's Forge review (X360)". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on January 31, 2016. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
  26. ^ a b Greg Tito (June 9, 2011). "Hunted: The Demon's Forge Review (X360)". The Escapist. Defy Media. Archived from the original on January 31, 2016. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
  27. ^ a b "Hunted: The Demon's Forge for PC Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 12, 2015. Retrieved May 11, 2014.
  28. ^ a b "Hunted: The Demon's Forge for PlayStation 3 Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on February 21, 2015. Retrieved May 11, 2014.
  29. ^ a b "Hunted: The Demon's Forge for Xbox 360 Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on February 15, 2015. Retrieved May 11, 2014.
  30. ^ Andrew Laughlin (June 10, 2011). "'Hunted: The Demon's Forge' (Xbox 360)". Digital Spy. Hearst Communications. Archived from the original on January 31, 2016. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
  31. ^ Edge staff (June 10, 2011). "Hunted: The Demon's Forge review [Incomplete] (X360)". Edge. Future plc. Archived from the original on June 11, 2011. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
  32. ^ David Wolinsky (June 6, 2011). "Hunted: The Demon's Forge (X360)". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on June 10, 2011. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
  33. ^ Dan Liebman (June 28, 2011). "Hunted: The Demon's Forge Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on July 4, 2011. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
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