10.2.2010

I've got to admit I felt a little out of place when looking forward to this game; having come out of the blue completely, I felt a 'Dead Space' experience arriving, where I would buy the game on a whim and love it. But to be honest the more I looked forward to this game, the more I hyped it up for myself, the more I replayed the demo, the more I felt it would disappoint me. I have to say straight away: actually it doesn't, and it lived up the high expectations I ended up holding for it, which is a relief, considering most of the games released in this modern market (Call of Duty coming to mind straight away).The first I have to mention is the story, which is nothing like the book,those of you looking for an accurate adaption of Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy, are looking in the wrong medium entertainment, try Theatre, Music even, but a game has to be exciting and visceral (no pun intended). So Visceral Games (or Redwood Studios as they were during Dead Space; or 'another EA studio pumping out the Simpson's game for every console every five years) set about adapting 'the fifth gospel' into an action-packed, 'serious-arcade' slash-smash-action-rpg-fighting game, so liberties are taken.Dante is no longer a troubled poet and politician, but rather a sinning Crusader in the Holy army led to Jerusalem in the 13th century and, without spoiling the story, Dante believes his sins are absolved for this 'noble' cause. Of course they aren't or else he wouldn't be in Hell, and those who have played the demo will realise that his love Beatrice (in the book he never actually spends his life with Beatrice but loves her indefinitely) is dragged into Hell for a bargain made, so the story is truly a very loose adaptation; I can guarantee you won't find yourself fainting and conversing with the local sinners, merely deciding the fate of the rest of their after-life.So, with the story laid down, I can kind of critique it for being so for from the original, but this critique falls flat when you look at what makes an entertaining game, and this game most certainly is that. Although it's not that long (I tried my hardest to stretch out the story and it took me just over 10 hours) the relatively small amount of hours are full of high-octane, visceral (sorry) action and puzzles.The game-play is smooth, silky smooth, in fact you can attack with the scythe, pulling off crazy combos and it will never lag, and it looks mind-bendingly good. Visceral Games boast that the game-play never drops below 60 frames a second, and it's hard to believe how they managed it with such lush level design and complex graphics. And then I thought, the whole game is very linear, in fact you don't control the camera at all because there is so little space for exploration. So very small levels, without huge spanning environments mean that bucket loads of shoe polish can be applied to what is actually there, and do you know what? I don't care.The experience detracts any need for mass exploration; there is nothing worse, in my mind, than traipsing field after boring field to find something that I really couldn't care about. Finding enemies, and bosses and puzzles in this game really grabs your attention and drags you in. I can safely say I never really felt the need to want to go and explore everywhere I could see, I just wanted the action. Many can criticise this game for being too simple-minded, like the drunken brute in the pub, but it really isn't. It's straight to the point and every hour of the game is full of something to do, you'll never be trudging back to NPCs or mindlessly shooting respawning enemies.No. This is arcade fighting, with updated graphics, updated morality choices, loads of RPG elements and a story line we care about. And you will want to play on, even if it's not to see the newer enemies, or for the greater challenge, or to follow the story, it could be simply for the level designEvery single level is so drastically different, and that is where the game is very accurate in its portrayal of the book. The design is taken straight from literature it is based on; most of the game looks how I imagined it. I can safely say that if you want an intense arcade fighter with all the graphical complexity and RPG element upgrades, with spectacular level design, monstrous bosses and Biblically smooth game-play, this is a game you will enjoy.

23.2.2010

Yeah, I've never been a huge fan of 13th century literature & after all this is a review on a "game".I'll start off by mentioning that there is a review on here that is mind boggling in it's description. To say this is repetitive is only true in so far as that EVERY game is repetitive in a small way. I could pretty much describe MW2 as repetitive, "shoot people, get to check point, shoot people, get to check point!" However, that in no way is a fair reflection of the game.This has elements of the "hack & slash", platform & puzzle solving genres & although you do repeat a lot of your actions throughout the game it is not a fair reflection of it.Basic recap, you are Dante & went on a holy crusade to recapture the holy land.You left your wife (Beatrice) at home & promised to be faithful to her, however during the crusade the bishop made a promise to absolve you of all your sins. However, he lied! With that promise Dante went to town only to return home to see that Beatrice made a deal for her soul with the devil that you would keep your promise. When the devil takes Beatrice to Hell with him, you start your quest to free her, taking on the challenges of redeeming your sins in the circles of Hell. OK, so that's the catch up.I'll be honest & say that when I first put this on I wasn't liking it. You begin by fighting enemy soldiers & within a few minutes you are faced with Death (Grim Reaper) for your first boss battle. This goes well enough but then it started with the "quickly press button A, then Y, then RB". Sorry but I dont like this type of thing at all. You have to react so quickly to finish off your enemy I thought this would suck. However it only really goes on for 3 moves (usually) on boss battles & gets pretty easy fast.Your 2 main weapons are melee scythe attacks (which you nick from Death!!) & projectile cross attacks.Throughout the game you can find "heretics", these are people sent to Hell for many sins (pontus pilot, etc). You have the choice of punishing them or absolving them. If you punish them you gain "unholy" experience. This allows you to to improve your technique with the scythe. By Absolving them you get taken to a screen where you can forgive sins. Think something like Guitar Hero with the hitting A when the counter passes the A mark. The more sins you catch the more souls you receive plus you improve your "holy" techniques, which you guessed allows better projectile cross powers. Each kill also provides souls (basically currency you use on the pause menu to boost powers & buy combo, etc).You also find relics hidden around the place (Virgil, your guide, will also hand you a relic from time to time if you keep talking to him). These can be used to boost your powers & attack strengths. So I think that's the gameplay sorted.The cut scenes are some of the best I think I've actually seen on a xbox. Forget about the nudity, it's just the graphics are fantastic. Many times I was sure I was watching a HD live action scene until it panned to the faces. Truly are amazing.

1.4.2010

Very easy this game. Hit the buttons on the control pad in a variety of combinations and pull of some spectacular moves, filled with gore, quite hard to get hit by the enemy, blaze through the game in under 5 hours. Done.Naturally you would assume a damning review. But there is a pull on you with Dante's Inferno. It has immense re-playability and is an incredibly enjoyable game. The visual element is exquisite. The vision of Hell is outstanding and truly ghoulish. This is a major factor in the replay value. Its looks so bloody good you can't take all the detail in 1 play through. It's quite raunchy too with a fair bit of nudity, too which I was actually quite surprised.

14.5.2011

I'd been looking forward to playing Dante's Inferno for a while, and I wasn't disappointed. Although it starts off with a slightly dodgy premise and gameplay, it doesn't take long to get good. Modifying the premise of the original poem - Dante is now a soldier who fought at Acre and committed moderately dodgy acts - and gets stabbed in the back, but ends up defeating death, taking his scythe and returning to his love, Beatrice. Sadly, Beatrice is DOA - and not only that, but taken by the devil to be his bride. Dante starts on a journey to regain his lost love and set things right.Visceral Games have done a great job with the game - it looks and runs gorgeously. It's a pleasure to control - the game does rest on combos,

5.2.2010

This is a game which i have been looking forward to since last year and thought the story sounded good and the ideas contained sounded quite unique. The game itself is a dispointment though, the gane itself only last around 10 hours and what in the beginning of the game is dark and quite shocking for a game, by the end verges on stupid and they just when designing it thought what is something that is very messed up and they just started joking about it , but then used the joke ideas, with some of the bosses eg. cleopatra climbing up a giant penis tower and then shooting robots out of her nipples.... i kid you not that is what happens. The bosses themselves though are excellently animated,

6.2.2010

Well being a fan of the book i thought i would jump at the change to play through it myself. Its quite similar in game play to things like Darksiders, lots of attacks combos and platform type movements and puzzles.The main thing that made me love this is the connection to the book, they paid good attention to recreate the circles of Hell as described in the book. Like the Circle of Lust is a storm covered tower just like the book. Most of the circles are completed with some kind of boss battle, the bosses are usually huge epic creatures who you can only see a fraction of as they swipe and lunge at you.

14.8.2010

I read (and greatly enjoyed) Dante's Inferno many years ago, and it was primarily on that basis that I bought this game. Obviously I wasn't naive enough expect a sombre homage to the great epic poem, so I therefore wasn't unduly surprised at the scythe-slashing blood-bath that Dante's meditations on sin, love and mortality has become in game form.Gameplay is great fun, though it can get a bit repetitive even with the ability to upgrade to new moves, and it was a bit of a jolt to get to the somewhat annoying trial levels later in the game. There's a good few puzzles, which aren't overly challenging but which aren't dumb either. One great puzzle has you trying to escape a small area of shifting gravity and portals.The enemies are fantastic,

1.6.2011

I've been playing video games for over 20 years, and I can honestly say this game makes it into my ALL TIME Top Ten games.The sound and graphics are truly awesome, and its depth really makes you think you're actually there. The images and ideas for the nine circles of hell are nothing short of frightening, and even the lower class enemies you have to defeat give you an overwhelming sense of dread.The gameplay itself is straight out of the "Devil May Cry" style, and the controls are very easy to master. Plenty of save points and power ups ensure you don't lose interest by dying all the time, and there are plenty of new combos and fighting techniques to master as you "Punish" or "Absolve" the damned souls of hell.

15.7.2011

I bought this game for a cheap thrill to tide me over until the likes of Space Marine later this year. But as I begun to play this title I slowly realised what a solid game this is. The combat is excellent, the voice acting is incredible and the game world is incredibly detailed. The game has a very ominous and creepy atmosphere and is very addictive in nature, It is a hack and slash, with a puzzle element, which would not normally attract me, but the story is so well executed, and the environments and creatures you fight are so well designed, that the game seems less repetitive because of the ever changing environments and enemies. The 9 circles of hell are all different and have unique enemies.

14.2.2010

man i loved this game. still do. it's a bit difficult and can get frustrating at some points but you gotta finish it to understand it. a great story adapted from Dnate's Inferno divine comedy - wow, what a parody looking at how spooky and creepy the game is.all nine circles are horrifying. naughty as i am, i loved lust - kicking Cleopatra's behind was cool, especially after busting up her lover Marc Anthony - hehe.truly an adult game for adults with loads of nudity and sexually outrageous enemies. some disgusting stuff but very cool with bosses as big as hills and mountains... it's well crazy!buy it! buy it, now or be damned forever- hehe. better still, download the demo and give it a go.

29.10.2010

If you like very linear games that have a clear direction and lots of action then this is the one for you.Story and plot wise, its a bit simple, but the as you progress through the game and build up Dante's powers and abilities, it becomes much more fun.This isn't a one play through game, you can keep the abilities earned on the first play and improve on them the second, which is fantastic for everyone who wants to get everything!And the cinematic videos are some of the best I've ever seen in a game.Its made by Visceral Studios who produced DeadSpace (One of my favourite games of all time!), so you can expect lots of gore, some puzzles and plenty of bad guys chop to pieces with a giant scythe!Its really good,

5.2.2010

This game is the xbox's answer to God of War 3, if you are a fan of the God of War or Devil May Cry series you will definately love this game. A good control system means you'll have endless fun keeping the combos flowing and with plenty of upgradable moves it promises to be even more brutal then before. The graphics make the environment come to life coupled with great sound track really adds to the atmosphere. If you enjoy the idea of wading through hell to get you're woman back (because she's you're woman god damn it!) and having enormous fun by absolving or punishing everything that stands in your way then this is the game for you.

10.7.2010

The game is pretty nice. Graphically impressive and the whole slash n bash is well made. If you're and achievement hunter on xBox its is super easy to go 1000/1000Only problem is that the game is too short. My first playthrough in which I went after all the collectibles (most of which were in plain sight) took only 12 hours. The second time, where I didn't go after anything except the final achievements, took me < 9 hours on Zealot difficulty (2nd level)The game has two downloadable DLCs from xBox Live and they are not worth the MS points they cost so if a 'Game Of The Year' edition of this comes out with all the DLCs bundled it would be the best option otherwise go for the simple version.

9.5.2010

I had seen some of the video's for this game on xbox live and was amazed by the detail of the cutscreens that they showed. The whole game is basically on continus level which you travel through all 9 circles of hell. As you fight more and more people you can upgrade Dante, and some of the moves he does are pretty sweet!!! It is a bit of a button bashing game however there is alot of skill needed for some of the sections! Some of the sections have so much depth in them that it really has impressed me. The detail in some of the leves is so immese. If you also have an intrest in Myths and Legends then this game incorparates then perfectly!! Seriosly buy this game!!

10.12.2010

I recently purchased this game after playing the demo on the xbox360, and I wasn't disappointed. The graphics are very, very good and the game, although quite linear, is enjoyable to play.The main plus point, are the boss fights, some gruesome finishing moves will leave you wanting skip to the next boss. These can also be quite challenging, which is also good.Overall, a very good game for the price paid, I would recommend to anyone.RegardsSatisfied Gamer.

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