Hunted: The Demon's Forge Review for PC

System: PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Dev: inXile Entertainment
Pub: Bethesda Software
Release: May 31, 2011
Players: 1-2
Screen Resolution: 480p-1080p	Blood and Gore, Violence

Strangest of all, however, is that the weird cover and control issues seem to resolve themselves on their own. By the middle of the second chapter, cover feels intuitive and even the weird control quirks that caused countless deaths in the first chapter will start to feel natural. I don't know if this is simply because you get used to them, or because the developers spent a lot more time fine-tuning the mechanics in the dungeon portions of the game.

Hunted: The Demon's Forge Screenshot

Even the characters become a lot less annoying. By the end of the second chapter, you'll probably have warmed up to these two. The writers did well to avoid the common trap of forcing romance into the plot: two characters don't always have to wrestle with any romantic tension just because they are of opposite genders. The relationship between these two is more comparable to Legolas and Gimli than it would be to, say, Aragorn and Arwen. It's playful—often sarcastic—without ever being flirtatious.

What Hunted does really well is provide a strong sense of environment. The dungeons are dark and murky and filled with an overwhelming sense of dread. Yet many of the scenes that take place outdoors are absolutely beautiful. Sure, there are a few texture-popping issues, but the only real flaw in the graphics is that wall textures don't always line up properly. White lines often show up between textures, and looking down a long dark tunnel will often seem a lot more like looking at Venetian blinds.

Once you finish the main campaign, you can spend your gold in Crucible mode, which lets you build your own dungeons. While it's not an extensive map editor by any means, it features a ton of various gameplay tweaks that will allow you to make your own dungeons unique. If you're not feeling creative, there are also maps that come preloaded with the game, and you can even download maps from other users.

Hunted: The Demon's Forge has a pretty rough beginning section, but players who endure will be treated to some great gameplay. Whether or not it's worth trudging through the awkward tutorial or the burdensome first chapter is up to you. Personally, I'm glad I did it.

By Josh Wirtanen
CCC Editor/Contributing Writer

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

4.2

Graphics
The world of Hunted is dark and twisted, yet there are scenes that are completely gorgeous. The only issue is the abundant amount of white lines that show up between textures, especially in dark caverns.

2.0

Control
The controls are counter-intuitive and frustrating. You can never be sure when you can depend on the cover system, which can be frustrating in the heat of battle. Strangely, most of the issues seem to work themselves out as you progress further into the game.

3.8

Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
Excellent sound effects, appropriate music, and some average voiceovers.

4.2

Play Value
A lengthy campaign filled with secret paths and areas will keep you busy for quite a while. Even after the campaign, Crucible mode will consume even more of your time. Of course, you'll have to suffer through the awkward beginning portion of the game first.

3.4

Overall Rating - Fair
Not an average. See Rating legend below for a final score breakdown.

Review Rating Legend
0.1 - 1.9 = Avoid	2.5 - 2.9 = Average	3.5 - 3.9 = Good	4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
2.0 - 2.4 = Poor	3.0 - 3.4 = Fair	4.0 - 4.4 = Great	5.0 = The Best

Game Features:

Dark Fantasy Shooter Powered by the Unreal 3 engine

Combine E'lara's ranged attacks with Caddoc's melee expertise to pull off gruesome co-op kill moves, perform special attacks, and heal each other regardless of where they in relation to one another on the battlefield.

Wade into the thick of the fight using melee skills, or tactically use cover-based combat to dispatch hordes of creatures with bows and spells.

Powerful magic spells can be used to boost your partner's combat effectiveness and even the odds against increasingly formidable enemies.