Hunted: The Demon's Forge

About

"Hunted: The Demon's Forge" is a co-op action RPG set in a dark fantasy world. Players assume the roles of E'lara, a ranged weapon expert, and Caddoc, a skilled melee fighter, as they battle demonic forces and uncover the secrets of a corrupt empire. The game features intense combat, a variety of weapons and spells, and a rich, immersive storyline.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

+13

73%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,037 reviews

story150 positive mentions

stability34 negative mentions

The banter between the two main characters is entertaining and adds depth to their relationship.
The game features a mix of hack-and-slash and cover shooter mechanics, providing varied gameplay.
The graphics and environments are visually appealing, especially for a game from 2011.

The game is linear and repetitive, often leading to a monotonous experience.
Co-op functionality is broken due to the shutdown of GameSpy, making it difficult to play with friends.
The AI companion can be unhelpful and often gets in the way during combat.

story
352 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
51%
7%
The story in the game is generally perceived as generic and linear, with many reviewers noting its lack of depth and originality, often comparing it to typical dark fantasy tropes. However, some players appreciated the engaging dialogue and character interactions, which added a layer of enjoyment despite the overall predictability. While the narrative has its moments and offers multiple endings, it ultimately fails to fully capitalize on its potential, leaving a mixed impression among players.
- “The story is engaging and the voice acting is very well done.”
- “The story is great and captivating, and the dark fantasy theme really draws you into the game's lore.”
- “The story itself was interesting and kept me playing to the conclusion (of which there are 3 endings) and there was a lot of potential in the world that has been created here, although that potential is never fully tapped into.”
- “Lackluster story”
- “The story is bland and very forgettable.”
- “The story is generic for the genre.”
gameplay
246 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
56%
8%
The gameplay of "Hunted: The Demon's Forge" is a mixed bag, featuring a blend of third-person shooting and hack-and-slash mechanics that some players find enjoyable and engaging, particularly in co-op mode. However, many reviews highlight issues such as repetitive combat, clunky controls, and a lack of depth in mechanics, leading to a somewhat shallow experience. While the game offers solid visuals and character interactions, it struggles with linearity and can feel disconnected at times, making it a hit or miss depending on player expectations.
- “The gameplay is fun albeit a little repetitive, the puzzles are simple and the interactions between the two playable characters are amazing.”
- “The game features a unique blend of third-person shooter and hack-and-slash gameplay, set in a dark and gritty fantasy world.”
- “Great gameplay and awesome storyline with sarcastic humor.”
- “The gameplay/weapon combat is really lacking... and it leaves much to be desired.”
- “I found the gameplay to be a bore fest along linear maps.”
- “The gameplay is samey and mind-numbing.”
graphics
200 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
51%
12%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while they were decent for their time, they now appear dated and occasionally rough. Some appreciate the atmospheric visuals and character design, while others criticize the low-resolution textures and glitches. Overall, the graphics are considered acceptable but not groundbreaking, with a few standout moments that still hold up well today.
- “The game's medieval atmosphere is superb and graphics are very nice (especially for its time and stand up in today's time as well).”
- “It has outstanding graphics... the type that just makes you want to stop in your tracks and stare in awe.”
- “The graphics look really good even for a 2011 game (the dungeon under the city for example feels very natural and has very atmospheric lighting) and the level proportions are right.”
- “Graphics is really rough & outdated.”
- “Dated visuals comprised of low resolution textures, and mediocre lighting, horribly low resolution videos which are almost too grainy to make out details in.”
- “The hit detection is bad, the combat is repetitive, the story is awful, the dialogue is often 'The Room'-tier and the graphics are ugly.”
humor
47 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
96%
4%
The humor in the game is primarily driven by the witty banter and interactions between the two main characters, Caddoc and E'lara, which many players found to be a highlight. While the dialogue is often described as clever and engaging, some critiques point to its amateurish quality and reliance on clichés. Overall, the game successfully blends humor with gameplay, though some players feel that the comedic elements can be overshadowed by design flaws and a lackluster story.
- “Caddoc and E'lara feel like actual people who interact with each other; they have thoughts, feelings, reservations, fears, and even have different senses of humor.”
- “The banter between the main two characters is hilarious at times - shoot chickens - seriously keep shooting chickens and doing pointless stuff and your partner comments on it.”
- “The dialogue in this game is simply amazing, very well crafted, character building is also great, the relationship between the two is very fun and funny to watch, and it doesn't get in the way of the gameplay.”
- “Horrible graphics, clunky animations, quirky one-liners, and an unfunny running joke.”
- “Horrible graphics, clunky animations, quirky one-liners, and an unfunny running joke.”
stability
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant bugs and glitches that can detract from the overall experience, especially towards the end. While some users noted that they encountered fewer issues with specific settings, others described the game as a "buggy mess" with game-breaking problems, particularly in co-op mode. Overall, while there are moments of enjoyment, the stability issues are a recurring concern that may hinder gameplay for many.
- “However, it is a buggy mess.”
- “What started off as a great game concept turns out as a bad console port, with more than its share of game-breaking glitches and terrible netcode, which renders co-op unplayable.”
- “Basically fun, but increasingly buggy, unplayable by the end of the game.”
music
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
41%
9%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising it as fitting and well-produced, enhancing the overall experience, while others find it unmemorable and lacking excitement. Many reviewers note that the soundtrack complements the game's atmosphere, particularly with medieval gothic influences, but several also mention that it fails to leave a lasting impression. Overall, while the music is generally considered good, it does not stand out as a highlight for many players.
- “The music is really on point with some of your standard medieval gothic tracks; think of the soundtrack from Conan the Barbarian and you get the idea.”
- “The music and sound effects are absolutely fitting, and the dialogue between the two characters is funny and fits the levels and game situations.”
- “Visuals, presentation, music, and voice acting are all pretty good and do their job.”
- “Lack of exciting music and is not memorable.”
- “Extremely shallow western-fantasy tripe with butt ugly, listless art direction and music.”
- “Soundtrack is somewhat forgettable; even now after just completing the game, no music seems to have stood and stuck in my head.”
atmosphere
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
79%
11%
11%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its rich medieval and gothic elements, enhanced by well-designed levels and impressive graphics that hold up even years after release. Players appreciate the dark, immersive environments and the storytelling conveyed through visuals and character interactions, creating a compelling backdrop for the gameplay. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal despite its competition in the ARPG genre.
- “The game's medieval atmosphere is superb and the graphics are very nice (especially for its time and stand up in today's time as well).”
- “The very atmospheric aesthetic of the game is very pleasing and will make up for the sharp polygons and not so great textures.”
- “It features two very likeable characters, a pretty good story for this kind of game, and runs like the first Gears of War - basically a few nights out moving through dark, atmospheric places.”
- “Narration is mostly made by the visuals and cadavers, survivors, and freed prisoners' tales, keeping the gloomy atmosphere.”
- “In short, it feels sort of like a third-person Diablo, dungeon crawler sort of game had an incestuous love child with Gears of War... more or less a bro shooter with a cinematic presentation, focus on combat, and a gothic/medieval atmosphere and environment.”
- “If this game were buggy and such, I'd give a thumbs down immediately, but Hunted is stable with little to no issues and the gameplay, main characters, and graphics/atmosphere I'll give it a thumbs up for its sale price.”
replayability
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
54%
13%
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed, with some players noting a decent amount of collectibles and side quests that encourage exploration and completionism, while others criticize the linearity and lack of substantial content. Some reviews highlight the potential for replaying levels with friends and the enjoyment of different endings, but others feel that the replay value is limited, especially with online co-op features being unavailable. Ratings for replayability vary significantly, with some giving it as high as 8/10, while others rate it as low as 5.5/10.
- “Unpolished, rough around the edges, crucible is the jewel in the crown by far, lots of replayability, good music, great art, and great voice acting.”
- “You can replay any level with your friend later on if you like, so replay value is also good.”
- “The content is so bare thin, no real replay value apart from getting a different ending, but you can look that up on YouTube.”
- “The game is also pretty linear but there are a good amount of collectibles along the way, of which some can be pretty tricky to get but ensures there is some replayability for those that like to 100% their games.”
- “(5.5/10, little replay value, but decent. Online co-op is shut down for whatever reason, but it was okay single player.)”
character development
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
20%
20%
Character development in the game is minimal, with characters often falling into generic stereotypes that make it difficult for players to engage with them emotionally. While there are moments of development as the story progresses, the overall design and depth of the characters are criticized for being uninspired and reminiscent of outdated gaming aesthetics.
- “They are entertaining and are permitted some character development as the story unfolds.”
- “Back when games had good female character designs.”
- “There is a small amount of character development, but because they are both so generic in their stereotypes, I found it very hard to care about either of them.”
- “Xbox 360-era level and character design logic reigns supreme; everything is either grey, brown, a stock Unreal Engine 3 asset, or just even more grey.”
grinding
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while some moments can feel tedious and repetitive, the overall progression and gear upgrades remain engaging. The inability to backtrack after advancing can be frustrating, prompting players to farm areas before moving forward. Despite the grind, the simplicity and satisfaction of puzzles and level secrets help balance the experience.
- “The bad thing is that once you move forwards there is no turning back, so I recommend farming an area before moving forth.”
- “There are levels and levels of pure grinding of enemies, and the repetitiveness grows as you go on.”
- “There are some tedious moments, some trash moments, but overall it is simply ok.”
monetization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Reviews indicate a strong negative sentiment towards the monetization practices in the game, highlighting issues such as forced diversity and the presence of microtransactions, which are perceived as detrimental to the gaming experience. Players express frustration with these modern gaming trends, suggesting they detract from the overall enjoyment of the game.
- “Forced diversity, ugly females, microtransactions, or any of that modern-day gaming nonsense.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's optimization is mixed; while it runs well on both older and modern hardware, providing clear graphics without significant issues, many users report bugs, flaws, and a general lack of polish that detracts from the overall experience.
- “The game is a little bit outdated, but still fresh enough to enjoy even in 2018. What's important for me is that it has clear graphics without any epileptic effects, and it shows good performance even if you're still playing on a laptop or PC from 2009. It also works perfectly with modern hardware and software.”
- “It's bugged, flawed, lacks polish, badly optimized, and just doesn't play very well.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the game emotionally engaging, with a strong emphasis on the thrill of heroism and unexpected moments. The experience varies significantly based on player choices, enhancing the emotional depth and replayability.