Game Reviews

Joe Dever's Lone Wolf Act 2: Forest Hunt

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Joe Dever's Lone Wolf Act 2: Forest Hunt

Non-linear gamebooks were all the rage during the '80s, and they've enjoyed a welcome resurgence thanks to the arrival of smartphones and tablets.

We've already seen Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone's amazing Fighting Fantasy range get the digital treatment, but Joe Dever's Lone Wolf series has been upgraded in a slightly different fashion.

Lone Wolf Act 1 - entitled Blood on the Snow - was an entirely new outing that included action and RPG elements to truly make the adventure come alive.


Pretty glum for a man with a splendid golden sword

Act 2 follows on immediately from the opening chapter and doesn't make any sweeping changes to the general mechanics. Much of the game is communicated via written word, with animated illustrations immersing you deeper in the world of Sommerlund.

At various points you'll be expected to make choices to determine the course of the story, so there's plenty of scope for playing through the game more than once to discover all the different pathways.

The original books may have relied on rolling dice to decide the outcome of battles, but this digital version of Lone Wolf does away with such archaic systems and instead borrows elements from games like Infinity Blade.

Turn-based combat takes place in 3D, with your actions having a significant impact on the outcome of each confrontation.


"See that marking above your head? That means you're in trouble"

If you're a newcomer to the series, then it's worth keeping in mind that you can't purchase and play Act 2 right away - nor should you really want to.

You'll have to complete Act 1 beforehand, which is to be expected when you consider that on its own, the narrative behind this chapter wouldn't make sense.

Act 1 provides a solid grounding in the game's mechanics and also allows you to determine your warrior's statistics and skills, while Act 2 is all about continuing the tale.

Summing up Act 2 of the Lone Wolf story is easy: if you played the original game and enjoyed it, then chances are you will be champing at the bit to continue the tale.

If you didn't find it to be your cup of tea then this second chapter won't change your mind - however, it's genuinely difficult to fathom how anyone with a pulse could possibly resist the charms of this fantastic interactive legend.

Joe Dever's Lone Wolf Act 2: Forest Hunt

Forest Hunt continues the gripping and well-presented tale which began in Act 1, and while it doesn't bring any groundbreakingly new features, fans will find that it's just as entertaining and action-packed
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Damien  McFerran
Damien McFerran
Damien's mum hoped he would grow out of playing silly video games and gain respectable employment. Perhaps become a teacher or a scientist, that kind of thing. Needless to say she now weeps openly whenever anyone asks how her son's getting on these days.