Ranking All Games Published By Bethesda Softworks From Worst To Best
28. Hunted: The Demon’s Forge (2011)
Developed by inXile Entertainment (now also a part of the Xbox family), though set in a fairly unimaginative dark fantasy world, the gameplay approach is unique, working kind of like Army of Two by way of God of War.
One part of the playable duo is a brawny close-combat powerhouse, the other, a long-ranged Elf archer.
The concept lends itself to an intricate co-op system, as both characters have unique skill trees and different abilities, but can create a perfect balance with each other in action.
It’s just a shame the game itself is so janky, even downright broken at points, with an unreliable cover/ shooting system, primitive graphics, and (if playing solo) a braindead A.I. companion. Also plot-wise, despite some fantastic voice acting, it's all pretty familiar as well.
Still, there are moments when it all comes together, as your long-range partner freezes a charging Orc and you smash them into icy pieces. It gives a co-op thrill hard to find elsewhere.
It's a grand shame then that these awesome ideas are let down by a lack of polish and development time, making this a missed opportunity more than anything else.