Info about Hunted: The Demon’s Forge™:

Official game description:
Powered by the Unreal 3 engine, **Hunted: The Demon’s Forge™** is a fresh take on the classic fantasy game that delivers the intensity and action of a modern-day shooter. Taking control of either E’lara, a ranged weapon expert, or Caddoc, a master swordsman, you and your partner will descend into a dark and foreboding world for an unforgettable cooperative experience. As you travel deep within the world of Kala Moor, you will use a variety of deadly weapons, powerful spells, and cover tactics to face down wave after wave of vicious enemies. It will take the combined efforts of two great warriors to explore menacing dungeons, overgrown ruins, and downtrodden towns … and discover the secrets of the Demon’s Forge.  
Key Features:
-------------
*   **An Unreal Dark Fantasy:** Powered by the Unreal 3 engine, the dark world of Hunted comes to life as a third-person fantasy game with the intensity and action of a modern-day shooter. Hunted boasts stunning visuals with breath-taking vistas and foreboding underground worlds.  
*   **Co-op at a Distance:** Combine E’lara’s ranged attacks with Caddoc’s melee expertise to pull off gruesome co-op kill moves, perform special attacks, and heal one another from anywhere on the battlefield. The characters’ differing combat expertise allows a player’s strategy to vary from one play through to the next.  
*   **Descend into Dungeon Depths:** Work with your co-op partner to discover hidden paths and solve the devious puzzles that block your way. Explore menacing dungeons, overgrown ruins, and terrorized towns to discover treasure and powerful upgrades.  
*   **Two Ways to Fight:** Wade into the thick of the fight using deadly melee skills, or tactically use cover to dispatch hordes of creatures with bows and spells. Use powerful magic to boost your partner’s combat effectiveness and even the odds against increasingly formidable enemies.  
*   **Forge Your Own Levels:** Create and share your own challenging dungeon designs with The Crucible, a powerful in-game editor that provides endless opportunities for exploration and battles for you and your friends.

Release date: 2 Jun, 2011

Categories: Cooperative Multiplayer, Third-Person Shooter, Action RPG, Dark Fantasy, Real-time Combat, Dungeon Crawler, Puzzle Solving, Map Editor


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price: No data
- Playtime Metrics: No data
- Time-to-fun: No data
- Player Archetypes: No data


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Strong Character Chemistry & Banter (weight 0.72): The dynamic between the two main protagonists, Caddoc and E'lara, is a significant highlight. Their witty, sarcastic, and often humorous banter, along with their well-developed personalities, creates a strong sense of camaraderie and makes them very likable and memorable.
- Engaging and Fun Gameplay (weight 0.71): Players consistently praise the game for its fun, entertaining, and often chaotic gameplay, especially when experienced with friends. The cooperative elements are highlighted as a major source of enjoyment and laughter, making it a memorable adventure.
- Aged Well Visually and Aesthetically (weight 0.41): Despite being an older game, many reviewers note that the graphics, art direction, and overall aesthetic have held up surprisingly well. The game's dark fantasy atmosphere, majestic landscapes, and detailed character models contribute to an immersive and visually pleasing experience.
- Compelling and Engaging Story (weight 0.35): The game offers a dark, interesting, and cohesive storyline with unexpected twists and multiple endings, encouraging replayability. The plot, combined with strong world-building and well-crafted dialogue, keeps players invested.
- Varied Combat and Puzzles (weight 0.27): The combat system is described as fast, fun, and dynamic, often requiring players to switch between melee and ranged attacks. The inclusion of well-integrated puzzles and optional side-dungeons adds variety, encourages exploration, and provides satisfying challenges.
- Satisfying Combat Feedback (weight 0.08): Players find the combat, particularly bow combat and headshots, to be very satisfying. The visceral feedback, such as the sound of arrows shattering and enemies exploding, enhances the enjoyment of defeating foes.
- Competent AI Companion (weight 0.08): For solo players, the AI companion is surprisingly effective and reliable. It competently assists in combat, tanks enemies, and reliably resurrects the player, making the single-player experience enjoyable and less frustrating.
- Solid Level Design (weight 0.08): The game features fun and interesting level design, including diverse locations and well-designed secret areas that add depth to the world. The fair checkpoint system also contributes to a positive gameplay flow.

Common complaints:
- Repetitive & Clunky Gameplay (weight 0.99): Players frequently reported that the gameplay, particularly combat, felt repetitive, monotonous, and janky. Issues included clunky movement, slow melee, poor hit detection, and a general lack of polish, making the experience tiresome and frustrating.
- Unbalanced & Frustrating Combat (weight 0.19): Combat mechanics were criticized for being unbalanced, with enemies often having superior movesets, faster attacks, and the ability to stunlock players. The lack of effective blocking/parrying and poor dodge mechanics contributed to a frustrating combat experience.
- Poor AI Companion (weight 0.14): The AI partner was consistently described as problematic, often getting stuck, acting unintelligently, or failing to provide effective support in combat. This made solo play particularly frustrating, as the companion's actions were unreliable.
- Broken Co-op Functionality (weight 0.14): A significant number of players expressed frustration over the non-functional online co-op mode, primarily due to the shutdown of GameSpy. This forced players to use third-party programs or limited LAN setups, severely impacting the intended multiplayer experience.
- Disappointing Endings & Bosses (weight 0.13): Players found the game's endings abrupt, underwhelming, and often incomprehensible, with crucial plot elements appearing out of nowhere. The final boss was also noted as being too easy or buggy, further contributing to a dissatisfying conclusion.
- Limited Character Progression (weight 0.11): The character development and RPG elements were widely criticized for lacking depth and meaningful choices. Players found the skill system basic, upgrades minimal, and customization options severely limited, leading to a lack of satisfaction in character building.
- Poor Voice Acting & Localization (weight 0.05): The voice acting, particularly in non-main characters and certain localizations (e.g., Russian, French), was criticized as abysmal and detrimental to the game experience. Issues included mixed-up lines and poor synchronization.
- Dated Graphics & Environments (weight 0.05): The game's visuals were frequently described as dated, with crooked, blurry, and dark graphics. Environments were often gloomy, bland, and repetitive, lacking variety and overall polish, which detracted from immersion.
- Problematic Controls & PC Port (weight 0.05): The game suffered from clunky controls, especially for PC, with awkward keyboard mappings and issues with mouse sensitivity. Controller play was also hampered by low aim sensitivity, making the game difficult to control effectively.
- Useless Enchanted Weapons (weight 0.05): Magical weapons were deemed impractical and ineffective due to their temporary nature and inability to be recharged. Once charges ran out, they often became inferior to base weapons, making them a wasted resource.
- Ineffective Cover System (weight 0.04): The cover system was seen as an unnecessary and poorly implemented mechanic that often hindered gameplay rather than helping. Players found it clunky and less effective than simply moving to avoid damage, unlike similar games.
- Game Faded into Obscurity (weight 0.04): Some players noted that the game, despite potential, was overshadowed and ultimately faded into obscurity. This suggests a missed opportunity for a potentially fun game that failed to capture a lasting audience.

Gameplay feedback:
- Dual Protagonist Gameplay (weight 0.44): Players choose between two distinct mercenaries: Caddoc, a human warrior specializing in melee combat, and E'lara, an elven archer focused on ranged attacks. Their differing combat styles are central to the gameplay.
- Linear Campaign & Replayability (weight 0.42): The game features a linear campaign, typically lasting 10-15 hours, with some optional side content and puzzles. It offers multiple endings based on player choices, encouraging replayability.
- Simple Combat & Progression (weight 0.32): Combat is described as simple and repetitive, often involving basic melee combos or cover-based shooting against a limited variety of enemies. Character progression includes a rudimentary skill tree with a small number of abilities.
- Co-op Action RPG Hybrid (weight 0.31): The game is primarily a co-op focused action RPG, blending hack-and-slash combat with third-person shooter mechanics. It's designed for two players, offering both online and local split-screen options.
- Limited Character Switching (weight 0.2): In solo play, players can switch between Caddoc and E'lara, but only at specific, predetermined points or checkpoints within levels, not freely at will.
- Co-op Connectivity Issues (weight 0.18): While designed for co-op, the game's official online servers are shut down. Players can still engage in co-op via LAN or by using third-party tools like Hamachi or NucleusCoop, which can be challenging to set up.
- Cover-Based Archery (weight 0.08): A significant aspect of combat, particularly for E'lara, involves cover-based shooting mechanics, reminiscent of games like Gears of War, allowing players to engage enemies from a distance.
- Mercenary-Driven Narrative (weight 0.07): The story follows two greedy mercenaries, Caddoc and E'lara, who are initially hired for a seemingly simple rescue mission but become entangled in a larger conflict, evolving into reluctant heroes.
- Basic Puzzles (weight 0.06): The game includes simple, often optional puzzles that are not overly challenging but add a minor element of variety to the action-heavy gameplay.

Performance notes:
- Performance and Stability Issues (weight 0.19): Many players report significant performance issues, including low FPS, stuttering, and frequent crashes, especially on newer systems or during intense gameplay. However, some users found the game stable after initial adjustments or on specific hardware configurations.
- Graphics Enhancements Possible (weight 0.13): While the game's base graphics are considered average for its time, players can significantly improve visual quality by forcing anti-aliasing and anisotropic filtering through their graphics card drivers. The Unreal Engine's capabilities were limited in-game, but external settings can unlock better visuals.
- Compatibility with Modern Systems (weight 0.08): The game generally runs on modern operating systems like Windows 10 and 11, and some players report stable performance. However, specific fixes, such as adjusting `DFEngine.ini` or updating `PhysXCore.dll`, are often required to prevent crashes on newer hardware.

Recommendations:
- Worth buying on sale (weight 0.53): Many players recommend purchasing the game, especially when it's on sale, citing its low price as a key factor for its value. It's considered a good deal for a few hours of entertainment at a reduced cost.
- Good for specific genres (weight 0.41): Players who enjoy classic ARPGs, dark fantasy, action-adventure, or linear hack-and-slash games are more likely to appreciate this title. It's recommended for those who don't expect a deep RPG experience.
- Mixed overall reception (weight 0.38): Player opinions on the game are highly divided, ranging from strong recommendations to outright warnings against purchasing. Many acknowledge its flaws but find enjoyment, often due to nostalgia or specific gameplay preferences.
- Enjoyable with co-op (weight 0.36): The game is significantly more enjoyable when played with a friend in co-op, with some players stating it's not worth playing otherwise. However, official servers are closed, requiring third-party solutions to enable co-op.
- Play on harder difficulty (weight 0.04): Some players suggest playing on the hardest difficulty to enhance the experience, indicating that the game might be too easy or less engaging on lower settings. It might take a couple of hours to get into the game.
- Avoid drinking the Sleg (weight 0.04): Players consistently advise against drinking the Sleg in-game to avoid a negative ending or experience. This is a specific gameplay tip shared by multiple reviewers.
- Best in short sessions (weight 0.01): One player recommends playing the game in short sessions with breaks, suggesting that prolonged play might lead to fatigue or frustration.
- Explore and enjoy atmosphere (weight 0.01): One player recommends focusing on exploring dark dungeons, listening to lore, and enjoying the atmosphere, suggesting these elements are highlights of the game.
- Seek community solutions (weight 0.01): If facing issues or considering a refund, players are advised to check community resources for solutions, indicating that common problems might have player-made fixes.

Other player notes:
- Underrated Dark Fantasy Action (weight 0.36): Many players feel the game is underrated, often due to initial expectations of an open-world RPG rather than the linear third-person action it is. It's praised for its dark fantasy setting and atmospheric aesthetic, despite some generic story elements.
- Early 2010s Charm & Comparisons (weight 0.2): Players often describe the game as a product of its time (early 2010s), possessing a certain charm. It's frequently compared to 'Gears of War' with fantasy or RPG elements, or a third-person 'Diablo' dungeon crawler.
- Character Progression & RPG Elements (weight 0.19): While primarily a third-person action game, it includes character progression and some RPG elements. Progression occurs through choices or milestones, rather than deep RPG mechanics.
- Simple, Satisfactory Story (weight 0.18): The story is generally considered satisfactory for its genre, offering a few twists and turns, but often remaining in the background. Dialogues between the main characters are noted for their humor and sarcasm.
- Developed by inXile Entertainment (weight 0.08): The game was developed by inXile Entertainment and published by Bethesda in mid-2011. Players familiar with other inXile titles like 'Bard's Tale' may find similarities.
- Elf Character Design (weight 0.07): The character E'lara, the last living elf, is noted for her unique portrayal as a strong female character. Some players also commented on her physical appearance, specifically her 'round forms' and 'tan lines'.
- Technical Adjustments Possible (weight 0.05): Players have found ways to adjust the game's field of view (FOV) by modifying game files. There are also community solutions for PhysX compatibility issues.
- Low Price Point (weight 0.05): The game is frequently available at a very low price, often heavily discounted during sales, making it an attractive purchase for budget-conscious players.

Emotions:
- Satisfaction (weight 0.22): Players felt satisfied by the game's engaging story, charismatic characters, and enjoyable combat mechanics, particularly the bow combat and upgraded spells. The game's overall value for money, especially when on sale, and its well-balanced gameplay, graphics, and replayability also contributed to a positive experience.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.16): Enjoyment stemmed from the game's fast-paced action, engaging story, and witty character banter. The co-op experience, satisfying archery, and well-designed puzzles were frequently cited as sources of fun, alongside the game's dark fantasy setting and impressive visuals for its time.
- Disappointment (weight 0.14): Disappointment arose from the game's failure to meet expectations, often due to perceived missed potential, repetitive combat, and outdated graphics. Players also expressed frustration with a lack of engaging gameplay, generic design, and critical bugs that prevented progression or recommendation.
- Frustration (weight 0.14): Frustration was primarily caused by repetitive gameplay, numerous bugs (including game-breaking ones), and clunky mechanics such as poor hit detection and controls. Issues with AI companions, a faulty save system, and non-functional co-op further contributed to player annoyance and difficulty in progressing.
- Amusement (weight 0.05): Amusement was largely derived from the funny and witty banter between the protagonists, their fighting and trolling interactions, and the game's chaotic nature. Some players also found humor in the character designs and specific visual elements like 'E'lara's body physics'.
- Appreciation (weight 0.05): Players appreciated the game's aesthetics, excellent voice acting, and well-written character interactions, often considering it an 'underappreciated gem'. The immersive world, interesting story, and dynamic gameplay, despite some jankiness, also contributed to a sense of gratitude for the experience.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.04): Nostalgia was a strong emotion, with players fondly recalling past enjoyment of the game, particularly from the Xbox 360/PS3 era. Many remembered it as a 'good old school title' or a 'classic ARPG' from a 'golden age of co-op' gaming.
- Boredom (weight 0.04): Boredom was caused by monotonous and repetitive gameplay, a lack of enemy variety, and tedious tasks. Players also found the story uninteresting, the progression poor, and the overall action system dull, leading to a feeling of disengagement.
- Excitement (weight 0.03): Excitement stemmed from the anticipation of a wonderful co-op experience, unexpected plot twists, and the discovery of a 'lost gem'. Players were thrilled by engaging combat, an interesting story, and the game's overall quality, especially when it exceeded initial expectations.
- Neutrality (weight 0.03): Neutral feedback consisted of factual descriptions of game mechanics, features, and its history, without strong positive or negative sentiment. The story was sometimes described as 'somewhat interesting but generic,' and gameplay as merely 'fulfilling its purpose'.
- Anger (weight 0.02): Anger was provoked by significant loss of progress due to crashes and autosave issues, a feeling that the game was overpriced even on sale, and overall poor quality. Developer neglect of co-op issues and the frustration of downloading a non-functional game also fueled this emotion.
- Engagement (weight 0.01): Engagement was driven by compelling protagonist interactions, intriguing puzzles, and secrets within the narrative. The desire to replay the game to achieve the 'good ending' also indicated a strong level of player involvement.
- Helpfulness (weight 0.01): Helpfulness was demonstrated by players providing technical solutions, detailed co-op setup guides, and fixes for game crashes. This indicates a community effort to overcome the game's technical challenges.
- Pleasant surprise (weight 0.01): Players experienced pleasant surprise when the game exceeded their initial expectations, demonstrating unexpected competence and solid quality. This often occurred despite initial appearances or low expectations.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.01): Enthusiasm was expressed through strong recommendations for the game, indicating a high level of positive sentiment and a desire for others to experience it.
- Joy (weight 0.01): Joy was felt from guaranteed laughter with friends during co-op play and the satisfaction of finally getting co-op to work. Even playing solo brought joy to some, highlighting the game's inherent fun.
- Annoyance (weight 0.01): Annoyance was caused by a poor PC port, problematic controller implementation, constant loading screens, and graphical pop-in. These technical issues detracted from the overall player experience.
- Gratitude (weight 0.01): Gratitude was expressed for the game's co-op feature and its challenging gameplay. Players appreciated these aspects for enhancing their experience and providing a rewarding challenge.
- Regret (weight 0.01): Regret was primarily associated with the absence of a sequel, leading to a sense of missed potential for the characters and world. Issues with co-op also contributed to this feeling of disappointment over what could have been.
- Admiration (weight 0): Admiration was specifically directed towards the game's graphics, which were considered advanced and impressive for its release time. This highlighted the visual quality as a standout feature.}