Now Caddoc wishes he learned how to use that sissy bow and arrow.
If you're thinking of playing Hunted as a single player game, don't. There are better options with less frustrations out there. It's totally feasible, but the game's shortcomings begin to glare when you're left alone with it. The game feels claustrophobic, even in open areas. Invisible walls constantly bar your way. You finally realize that the game is just a series of paths into simple arenas where waves of enemies await. Defeat them, move on to the next arena. Plenty of games do this, but Hunted doesn't hide the fact very well. This becomes all the more apparent in the game's Crucible map editor, where users literally connect arenas together so that two people can combat wave after wave of enemy. You can share your creations online. This is a neat little addition, and something you don't see too often on console games. I just don't think Hunted has the depth to keep gamers interested.
You can switch between Caddoc and E'lara at checkpoints. (You can do this in co-op mode as well, if you and your partner so choose.) The game uses several tricks which make you stick with your character choice once you've entered the next area. These little tricks include dozens of lift-able co-op doors, a la Army of Two, or co-op balance beams, or co-op narrow passages. What do I mean by co-op balance beams or co-op narrow passages? I mean the game literally gives you a co-op prompt before you can walk over the beam or through the passage. You need your partner there to progess. After you watch a canned cut scene where your two characters shakily navigate a beam, or squeeze through a crack in a wall, you can't go back to switch characters or power up your magic. You must trudge ahead to the next checkpoint or reload the current one, losing all unsaved progress. The friendly AI is competent, but you'll be enraged when you change characters only to realize that you're digital partner hasn't picked up any potions. The AI will also occasionally loot weapons racks, which keeps their own gear upgraded, but sometimes you may have wanted the goods for yourself.
Hunted: The Demon's Forge is a solid online co-op title. When everything is working right, it's a very entertaining game with solid length and replayability. Caddoc and E'lara can be funny, but they begin to hit a nerve after a while. It's a very accessible action game with only a shadow of role playing elements. The gameplay may get a little repetitive for some gamers, but if you like a hack and slash grind, there's plenty of it here. Split screen is hard to handle, unless you want get up close and personal with your display. Single player gamers can find better offerings elsewhere.
Verdict
Co-Op Score
Overall
The Co-Op Experience: Contro E'larra or Caddoc through this action fantasy game.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 regardless of where they in relation to one another on the battlefield. The characters’ differing combat methods allow player strategy to vary from one playthrough to the next.
Co-Optimus game reviews focus on the cooperative experience of a game, our final score graphic represents this experience along with an average score for the game overall. For an explanation of our scores please check our Review Score Explanation Guide.