Sound: 8.5
Graphics: 9.5
Gameplay: 9
Replay: 7
Multiplayer: Yes (4)

Let's face it, good hack-and-slash games are few and far between these days. Really, the only good ones are ones that are only available for one console. Dynasty Warriors, for instance, which has taken hack-and-slash to a whole new level on the PS2 (yes, it was transferred over to the Xbox, but by the time it gets there everyone has played it already). Hunter: The Reckoning has reignited my passion for hack-and-slash games on the Xbox. Cutting down zombies never felt so good.

The game can be played by just about anybody. The control scheme is easy enough to learn, however it takes probably between 30 minutes to an hour to actually master them. The objective is easy enough, kill anything and everything that isn't human. The difficult modes are perfect. The easiest mode is the one most people will casual games will stay in, but true hardcore gamers will want to try out the Nightmare mode. All of a sudden hacking down that zombie with your big ass axe doesn't work as well anymore. The fact is, Nightmare mode is extremely difficult, especially when playing with friends. There is nothing more frustrating then to have one of your allies keep dying and wasting all of your lives. On the other hand, watching the zombie being carved down with every hit is awesome.

The graphics were by far the best of its time for third person action games. Even now the graphics are up to par with newer games. The characters themselves look very realistic, and the bodies are very smooth, not bumpy or jagged on the edges. The zombies and other monsters look very good as well (however, your not likely to notice this when your hacking off its head or arm). The game moves at such a fast pace your not likely to notice the graphics in the first place, but if you decide to just sit there and stare, you won't be disappointed.

The sound in the game is solid. From the grunts of the zombies, the howls of the werewolves, and the screams of the petty little humans, the sound in the game matches the setting very nicely. The rock music when your hacking down a zombie or blowing a huge hole in its stomach doesn't hurt anything either. The voice acting is done pretty well. Avenger, the big bad ass biker guy with the huge axe has a deep masculine voice, and naturally Judge sounds more like an Italian priest or something. But overall, the voice casting was very well done in this game. I hate to see games where some big macho guy sounds like he just sucked on a balloon full of helium.

As far as the replay in the game goes, there isn't too much that will be bringing you back. Really nothing to unlock, no secret characters, no special weapons. However, playing through it again with a couple friends who have never played before can still be fun. The fact is, cutting down a zombie or blowing his guts out with a shotgun never gets old, its just so...satisfying...ahem. If your like me, you will always love hacking those zombies down, but even I can only take so much of the same thing. If there was something to actually achieve in this game, like unlocking something, secret levels and what not, then it would definately be adding more to the replay side, but sadly, there just isn't anything like that. So the game will take you probably anywhere between 25 to 35 hours, depending on how fast you move. That is a lot of playing time for a hack-and-slash game.

This game deserves at least a rental, and if you have a lot of friends who like hack-and-slash games, then you should go buy it. It isn't very much fun by yourself, but with others, it is a blast. Every one of my friends has loved blowing holes in the zombies and so I have played through the game about three times, but everytime I play it gets a little bit hard to try and come back and do it again, because the game is the exact same every time through. So go rent the game, get a few friends to come over, and enjoy the bloody mayhem that ensues.