Hunted: The Demon’s Forge Preview

inXile Entertainment’s co-op friendly dungeon crawler is the subject of yet another preview, and this time it comes to us via Xbox360Achievements.org. An excerpt:

It’s at this point that Caddoc pushes a huge stone switch activating a creaking mechanism that creates a walkway for E’lara to cross and pull a lever to stop the water pouring from a huge stone face in the central shaft. The rocky visage then speaks as the water slowly drains, dispensing another riddle to be jotted down in the journal and used later on. With the pool drained, a walkway down and out of the oppressive dungeon is revealed, leading to an exit where the axe awaits on a pedestal suspended in the middle of a pit. Using the riddle from the stone face, E’lara shoots arrows into statues in a specific order to activate a walkway over to the axe, which Caddoc then snatches victoriously. Job done!

This is but one example of Hunted’s off-piste exploration opportunities that are rewarded with special valuable items. They’re completely optional, but seriously, how can you resist the temptation to stray off the beaten path and find yourself a rare trinket or weapon? Kaufman and Findley promise special armour, weapons, crystals, mana and health upgrades as well as gold and other loot will await players that take the time to explore, meaning that Hunted’s own twist on the fantasy genre should appeal to attention-deficit action hounds and obsessive-compulsive collectors alike.