Common Sense Media Review
By Marc Saltzman
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Violent fantasy action with plenty of blood and gore.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 18+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
Videos and Photos
Hunted: The Demon's Forge
What's It About?
HUNTED: THE DEMON'S FORGE is a fantasy action game, set in a dangerous and dark Tolkein-esque world. You play as one of two central characters -- E'lara, an Elven warrior who specializes in ranged weapons, or Caddoc, a bald and tattooed swordsman -– and must battle your way through dank dungeons and war-torn towns. The story isn't exactly clear, and is riddled with cliched fantasy elements, but it involves an ancient relic, monstrosities known as the Wargar, and your call to –- yep, you guessed it -- save the world from imminent doom and destruction. When playing solo or in co-op mode, you'll navigate these environments from a third-person perspective and use a variety of weapons and magic to destroy enemies.
Is It Any Good?
Hunted: The Demon's Forge is certainly not one of the best games in this genre, but it proves to be an entertaining romp for those who enjoy these kinds of fantasy action games –- one that fuses melee-based action with cover-based shooting (think Gears of War) –- as well as co-op based puzzles and exploration. That said, the split-screen mode for two gamers in the same room isn't as fun as the online co-op option, where each player gets the full-screen experience. Despite some graphical glitches, the game looks OK and does have a good soundtrack and decent voice acting. Developed by inXile Entertainment, Hunted: The Demon's Forge is a good but not great fantasy action game that might be best as a weekend rental opposed to a $60 purchase.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about whether violence against evil fantasy creatures -- like goblins, dragons, skeletons, and demons -- is any better than against innocent human characters?
And does the setting matter: a fantasy world that could be ripped out of a Tolkein novel compared to a contemporary setting? Or is violence, blood, and gore the same -- regardless of the enemy and setting?
Game Details
- Platforms : PlayStation 3 , Windows , Xbox 360
- Pricing structure :
- Available online? : Not available online
- Publisher : Bethesda Softworks
- Release date : June 14, 2011
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : June 21, 2022
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