Hunted: The Demon's Forge
Encyclopedia
Hunted: The Demon's Forge, is a third-person action video game
set in a dark fantasy
world. The game was developed by inXile Entertainment
and published by Bethesda Softworks
for the PlayStation 3
, Xbox 360
and Microsoft Windows
. Hunted: The Demon's Forge was released in North America on May 31, 2011. In Europe, the game was released June 3, 2011 for countries within PAL region
. The Japanese release of game has been scheduled for June 23, 2011 for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The game is powered by Unreal Engine 3
.
It has been confirmed that the game will support cross-regional co-operative play on all platforms, but that the random match-making feature will be regional on PC and Playstation 3, and cross-regional on Xbox 360.
Inxile Entertainment’s President Matt Findley stated that the game's 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. 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.
IGN
gave the title a 6/10 rating. Ryan Clements stated that "If you're desperate to play something with an equally desperate friend, Hunted: The Demon's Forge might surprise you. But there are better multiplayer games out there, and some of them have just as many elves and dragons as this one."
Joystiq
was more enthusiastic than the other reviewers, awarding the title with a rating of 3.5/5. They stated that "Despite the game's flaws, that handful of brilliantly executed ideas makes Hunted a difficult game to ignore."
Action game
Action game is a video game genre that emphasizes physical challenges, including hand–eye coordination and reaction-time. The genre includes diverse subgenres such as fighting games, shooter games, and platform games, which are widely considered the most important action games, though some...
set in a dark fantasy
Dark fantasy
Dark fantasy is a term used to describe a fantasy story with a pronounced horror element.-Overview:A strict definition for dark fantasy is difficult to pin down. Gertrude Barrows Bennett has been called "the woman who invented dark fantasy". Both Charles L...
world. The game was developed by inXile Entertainment
InXile Entertainment
inXile Entertainment is a video game developer formed in late 2002 by Brian Fargo, a founder of Interplay Productions...
and published by Bethesda Softworks
Bethesda Softworks
Bethesda Softworks, LLC, is an American video game company. A subsidiary of ZeniMax Media, the company was originally based in Bethesda, Maryland and eventually moved to their current location in Rockville, Maryland...
for the PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
, Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
and Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
. Hunted: The Demon's Forge was released in North America on May 31, 2011. In Europe, the game was released June 3, 2011 for countries within PAL region
PAL
PAL, short for Phase Alternating Line, is an analogue television colour encoding system used in broadcast television systems in many countries. Other common analogue television systems are NTSC and SECAM. This page primarily discusses the PAL colour encoding system...
. The Japanese release of game has been scheduled for June 23, 2011 for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The game is powered by Unreal Engine 3
Unreal Engine 3
Unreal Engine 3 is a computer game engine developed by Epic Games. It is the third generation of Unreal Engine, designed for DirectX 9/10/11 personal computers , the Xbox 360, the PlayStation 3, the PlayStation Vita, the Wii U, Android and OpenGL-based operating systems such as iOS and Mac OS X...
.
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 orclike Wargar, and a suspicious death spirit named Seraphine.Gameplay
The game features co-operative multiplayer with online, splitscreen, and LAN options. E'lara will be able to use a bow and small weapons, while Caddoc will wield larger melee weapons, as well as a crossbow. Players have the option to explore large areas. Players are able to use spells to help in combat.It has been confirmed that the game will support cross-regional co-operative play on all platforms, but that the random match-making feature will be regional on PC and Playstation 3, and cross-regional on Xbox 360.
Development
During an interview with GamesauceGamesauce
Gamesauce is a full-color trade magazine and on-line portal for the game industry founded in Fall 2009 by Jessica Tams, managing director of the Casual Games Association focusing on the international video game industry...
Inxile Entertainment’s President Matt Findley stated that the game's 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. 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.
Reception
Hunted: The Demon's Forge has received mixed reviews, with a current Metascore of 61 out of 100 indicating "mixed or average" reviews.IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
gave the title a 6/10 rating. Ryan Clements stated that "If you're desperate to play something with an equally desperate friend, Hunted: The Demon's Forge might surprise you. But there are better multiplayer games out there, and some of them have just as many elves and dragons as this one."
Joystiq
Joystiq
Joystiq is a video gaming blog founded in June 2004 that has since become one of the most successful sites within the Weblogs, Inc. family of weblogs. It is the centerpiece of WIN's own network of video gaming blogs, which also includes a blog dealing specifically with the popular MMORPG World of...
was more enthusiastic than the other reviewers, awarding the title with a rating of 3.5/5. They stated that "Despite the game's flaws, that handful of brilliantly executed ideas makes Hunted a difficult game to ignore."