Dante's Inferno (video game)

Dante's Inferno (video game) is a 2010 hack and slash action-adventure game developed by Visceral Games and published by Electronic Arts. Loosely adapted from the first part of Dante Alighieri's 14th-century epic poem, The Divine Comedy, the game reimagines the poet's journey through Hell as a violent quest for redemption. Players control the crusader Dante as he battles through the nine circles of the Inferno to rescue his beloved Beatrice Portinari from the clutches of Lucifer. The game was released for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PlayStation Portable platforms, receiving a mixed critical reception for its graphic content and gameplay similarities to other titles in the genre.

Gameplay

The gameplay is a third-person perspective action experience heavily inspired by the ''God of War'' series, focusing on fast-paced combat and environmental traversal. Players wield Death's scythe as a primary weapon and a holy cross for projectile attacks, utilizing a combo system to chain together light and heavy attacks against the damned souls and monstrous guardians of Hell. A morality system, represented by "Punish" or "Absolve" prompts, allows players to permanently dispatch or redeem certain enemies, influencing the acquisition of holy or unholy abilities. The game features numerous quick time events during cinematic boss battles against figures like Francesca da Rimini and Filippo Argenti, as well as during execution sequences. Exploration involves navigating the layered landscapes of the nine circles, solving simple puzzles, and unlocking new abilities from a skill tree to progress.

Plot

The narrative diverges significantly from its source material, casting Dante as a templar knight returning from the Third Crusade to find his beloved Beatrice Portinari murdered. Her soul is stolen by Lucifer, who claims her as his bride, forcing Dante to descend into the Inferno to reclaim her. Guided by the spirit of the poet Virgil, Dante battles through each of the nine circles—Limbo, Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Wrath, Heresy, Violence, Fraud, and Treachery—confronting his own sins and the damned souls within. Key encounters include battles against King Minos, the guardian of the second circle, and Pope Celestine V, found in the circle of Heresy. The journey culminates in a final confrontation with Lucifer himself at the frozen center of Cocytus, with Dante's ultimate fate determined by the player's accumulated holy or unholy alignment.

Development

Development began at Visceral Games (then EA Redwood Shores) under the creative direction of Jonathan Knight, following the studio's work on ''Dead Space''. The team aimed to create a mature, visually distinct action game, conducting extensive research into Dante Alighieri's original text and historical depictions of Hell in art, such as the works of Gustave Doré and Sandro Botticelli. The game was built using a modified version of the ''Godfather'' engine, with artists and designers striving to create a unique aesthetic for each circle of hell. Notable voice actors include Graham McTavish as Dante and Victoria Tennant as Beatrice, with a score composed by Garry Schyman. A significant marketing campaign included animated shorts by Film Roman and a controversial E3 2009 booth designed as a mock chapel.

Reception

Upon release, the game received mixed reviews from critics. Aggregating websites like Metacritic and GameRankings showed average scores, with praise directed at its artistic vision, detailed depiction of Hell, and the score by Garry Schyman. However, it was frequently criticized for its derivative gameplay, drawing unfavorable comparisons to God of War III, and for its excessive, often gratuitous violence and sexual content. Reviewers from IGN, GameSpot, and Eurogamer noted its competent but unoriginal combat and narrative shortcomings. Commercially, it was a moderate success for Electronic Arts, selling over a million copies in its first month and spawning ancillary media, including an animated film adaptation.

Legacy

While not a landmark title, Dante's Inferno remains a notable example of a mature-themed licensed game and a product of its specific era in the action genre. Its development and marketing are often cited in discussions about the convergence of video games and transmedia storytelling, as well as the use of provocative advertising. The game's release was followed by downloadable content, including a trials expansion, but plans for a sequel exploring Purgatorio were ultimately canceled. It is remembered for its audacious reinterpretation of a classic literary work and its place within the portfolio of Visceral Games, a studio later known for the ''Dead Space'' series before its closure in 2017.

Category:2010 video games Category:Hack and slash games Category:PlayStation 3 games Category:Video games based on poems Category:Visceral Games games