Dante’s Inferno

[...]

I for one thank the God of War ripoff. I don't own a Playstation and I don't want one, I'm not really too fond of it. So I can't play God of War, which is one of the few great exclusive titles the PS3 has. So, Dante's Inferno fills that spot for me. Also, later down the line will come Castlevania Lords of Shadow, another similar game, we'll see how that one comes off.

 

 

Anyway, I just beat the Dante's Inferno demo and I liked it a lot. So it rips off God of War shamelessly, yeah, no one can deny that. But it's great anyway. It's not a poor rip off. The story will be engaging, hopefully, it's based on great source material and the levels have the chance to be great too, based on the 9 Circles of Hell. And I liked the upgrade and level up system.

 

But honestly, I wish this wasn't a hack & slash game... If it were a slower paced game based on exploration and discovery (like Bioshock or Metroid Prime, for example) based on The Divine Comedy, I think it would have the potential to be a lot better and more involving, as you'd be more up close and personal with the environments of Hell, as opposed to always being engaged in fast paced combat filmed from a bird's eye view.

[Daft]

So it rips off God of War shamelessly, yeah, no one can deny that. But it's great anyway. It's not a poor rip off.

 

Except, it is a poor rip off. I've only just got the GoW collection, completed the first one a couple days ago and I'm playing through the second one now and all I can say is Dante's Inferno is poor compared to them...

 

...and they're Playstation 2 games.

[...]

Poor in what respect? I never finished a God of War game, but I played both of them at a friend's house a couple years ago, and frankly I don't really see a difference. People are saying wielding Dante's scythe isn't as satisfying as wielding Krato's whip, but there really isn't a difference, as far as I can tell. It's just psychological, because of the fact that the game is a rip off.

 

I enjoyed the demo very much and I was just watching all the available videos, where the devs talk about each circle of Hell and the game looks awesome to me.

[Daft]

Poor in what respect? I never finished a God of War game, but I played both of them at a friend's house a couple years ago, and frankly I don't really see a difference. People are saying wielding Dante's scythe isn't as satisfying as wielding Krato's whip, but there really isn't a difference, as far as I can tell. It's just psychological, because of the fact that the game is a rip off.

 

I enjoyed the demo very much and I was just watching all the available videos, where the devs talk about each circle of Hell and the game looks awesome to me.

 

The only reason I decided to buy God of War was because I played and enjoyed the Dante's Inferno demo a couple weeks ago.

 

I can only compare with the demo but presentation wise it's amazingly week (They divided the cutscenes into three types using either ingame engine, FMV or Bayeux inspired animation - all amazingly jarring). The graphics are pretty shocking (the bit in the graveyard might as well have been a PS2 game). The character design for Dante is appalling - if I'm going to be playing as this guy for however many hours I should at least think he's cool or at the very least striking, Dante is neither. And if the demo is the beginning of the game, the pacing is almost non-existent (Also the story, seriously the guy doesn't want to die so he kills Death and takes his weapon?... I mean I'll hold out to play the full game but...that's a joke).

 

I don't really have a problem with the scythe. It's a pretty cool weapon.

 

I wouldn't mind if it was a rip-off that was done well but all signs look to it maybe, and probably not, being on par with God of War which is old news - came out almost three years ago on one of last gen's consoles. Dante's Inferno looks to add absolutely nothing. Most games that are labelled rip-off normally attempt something vaguely new.

 

I suspect there's a reason this is coming out a month before God of War III. Having played the demo of that, Dante's Inferno by comparison looks like a budget title.

 

Also God of War II is orgasmically epic. The opening with the Colossus! And then the Steeds of Time! I'm playing it through now for the first time and I can't believe what I'm seeing.

Edited December 24, 2009 by Daft

[dwarf]

It's funny because I was originally going to say that it's something that would interest non-ps3 owners, but it's just not close quality-wise. Daft makes a good point as well, the protagonist is hardly riveting.

 

And that graveyard section did look pretty poor, as did the whole fighting Death platform thing.

[...]

Yeah, I noticed the cut-scenes thing, using engine or FMV, but most games do that anyway, except maybe not as obviously. Fable 2 also uses FMV in the begining (don't know if it keeps using it, as I haven't played it past the prologue). Assassin's Creed also uses FMV in the begining. And all game trailers released are FMV.

 

(Also the story, seriously the guy doesn't want to die so he kills Death and takes his weapon?... I mean I'll hold out to play the full game but...that's a joke).

 

You gotta be kidding... I'm not sure if you're saying that what you said was a joke or if you're refering to the story of the game, which is the story of Dante's The Divine Comedy. That's like bashing Homer's The Odyssey or Virgil's Aeneid!

[Daft]

You gotta be kidding... I'm not sure if you're saying that what you said was a joke or if you're refering to the story of the game, which is the story of Dante's The Divine Comedy. That's like bashing Homer's The Odyssey or Virgil's Aeneid!

 

Are you joking? I've read enough of Dante's Inferno to know that this is a completely bastardised version of the poem.

[...]

Well, no I wasn't joking, just being a bit ignorant, I admit. I never read the Divine Comedy, I don't fancy poetry although I respect it. Anyway, I don't think the alterations they made are ridiculous. The concept of a character defeating Death and taking his scythe is great for a video game, in my opinion. And each level of Hell will be well portrayed in the game.

 

Well, ok, I see this is going nowhere, I'm not gonna try to convince anyone. I just like the game and will get it at budget price. I see people getting games a lot worse than this every day.

[Daft]

My problem isn't that it's bastardised the poem (God of War does that to Greek mythology but it's done well so I'm not bothered). It's a computer game. I didn't expect it to adhere to it. It's just the story that's in its place is crap (I am going on what happened in the demo and what is on wikipedia, though).

 

The whole thing with Death comes out of nowhere. Did no one else try and beat the crap out of Death? It's just another jarring aspect for me.

 

I'm not having a go or anything. Like I said, I actually really enjoyed the demo and that's why I thought I might as well pick up the God of War Collection because everyone was saying it was so similar. Having played that though, side by side, Dante's Inferno is disappointingly poor.

[...]

Another thing, the demo doesn't feel like it begins at the very begining of the game... At least, I don't think it does. It feels like they made some time jumps here and there (in fact, I hope they did, because I agree that the begining goes way too fast and begins out of nowhere).

 

The whole thing with Death comes out of nowhere. Did no one else try and beat the crap out of Death? It's just another jarring aspect for me.

 

Maybe someone did and just didn't succeed? Dante succeeds and that's why he's the hero and not some other guy. And why can't he be the first to try it, anyway? Even if someone had tried it before, there had to be a first time, so why not him?

[Pit-Jr]

Id like this game much more if i hadnt been play GoW lately. I literally laughed out loud at the identical moveset and the colored fountains.

 

Is there some unseen law that health, magic, and exp. has to be gained through colored orbs that EA just simply could not circumvent?

[Daft]

Another thing, the demo doesn't feel like it begins at the very begining of the game... At least, I don't think it does. It feels like they made some time jumps here and there (in fact, I hope they did, because I agree that the begining goes way too fast and begins out of nowhere).

 

Some more build up would be nice. Fingers crossed it was just for demo purposes.

 

Maybe someone did and just didn't succeed? Dante succeeds and that's why he's the hero and not some other guy. And why can't he be the first to try it, anyway? Even if someone had tried it before, there had to be a first time, so why not him?

 

Yeah, but why him? What makes him so remarkable? There's nothing wrong with him being the first to do it but why is he the first? It's basic story telling 101.

 

Granted this might be expanded in the final game but then this isn't my only issue with the game.

[Dante]

Giant Bombs Quick Look

[...]

Yeah, but why him? What makes him so remarkable? There's nothing wrong with him being the first to do it but why is he the first? It's basic story telling 101.

 

Why is Link the only one to save Zelda? Why is our character, a jailed criminal, the one who saves Cyrodiil in Oblivion? Because the Emperor saw him in a vision? That explanation suffices? Why is the Lone Wanderer the first to leave Vault 101 in Fallout 3 and go on to save the Wasteland? Why is Samus the only bounty hunter that doesn't become evil in MP3? What makes Gordon Freeman, a cientist, so remarkable that he's a military leader and hero in Half Life? Why is James Bond the only 00 agent we know of and what makes him so special that he's always the one to resolve world crisis? Are any of these questions answered? Do they really matter?

[dwarf]

I thought the whole Death thing was monstrously out of place - the cut-scene where he was killed was completely un-epic and random. It was a little hobbit with a knife. I was expecting the guy to turn around and slash him like the other 50,000 enemies he faced prior to that. Plus, if you've defeated Death, theoretically all other enemies shouldn't matter. At least make that boss a good/hard one.

 

Is there some unseen law that health, magic, and exp. has to be gained through colored orbs that EA just simply could not circumvent?

Yeah it is amusing how they've not even tried to differentiate itself in the smaller things, proper laziness there.

[Daft]

Why is Link the only one to save Zelda? Why is our character, a jailed criminal, the one who saves Cyrodiil in Oblivion? Because the Emperor saw him in a vision? That explanation suffices? Why is the Lone Wanderer the first to leave Vault 101 in Fallout 3 and go on to save the Wasteland? Why is Samus the only bounty hunter that doesn't become evil in MP3? What makes Gordon Freeman, a cientist, so remarkable that he's a military leader and hero in Half Life? Why is James Bond the only 00 agent we know of and what makes him so special that he's always the one to resolve world crisis? Are any of these questions answered? Do they really matter?

 

Well there are many Links. Link, as implied by his name and the fact he doesn't talk, is meant to be the player.

 

I'm not a fan of Oblivion so I didn't get past the first hour.

 

He isn't. His motivation for leaving is his father's vital research into revitalising the Wasteland through water purification.

 

Samus, similar to Link, is a link to the player. Samus embodies the player.

 

Again, Gordan Freeman is like Link and Samus. He is exposed to an extraordinary event that is realistically, within the context, survivable (as opposed to coming up against Death...collector of every soul that has ever passed through the world). However, after the first game his/your actions become part of his character's progression.

 

We know about other 00 agents. 008 Alec Travellian. Beyond that 007 is notorious at MI5 for being a womaniser and a general risk taker (hence why his reputation for poker playing gets him the Casino Royale gig). Obviously this gets a bit tenuous after so long and why the series needed, and recieved, a reboot.

 

Does it matter? Does the character's motivations and context matter?

 

Yes.

[...]

You know you haven't answered any of the questions, don't you? You were just hoping I was convinced you had.

 

 

He isn't. His motivation for leaving is his father's vital research into revitalising the Wasteland through water purification.

Actually, no. When he leaves, he doesn't know anything about his father's research, he just leaves to search for him. But no one ever left the Vault, apart from his father, who knows it's safe out there. No one else knows it's safe outside the Vault, and neither does the Lone Wanderer. He just leaves, when no one else would.

 

 

We know about other 00 agents. 008 Alec Travellian. Beyond that 007 is notorious at MI5 for being a womaniser and a general risk taker (hence why his reputation for poker playing gets him the Casino Royale gig). Obviously this gets a bit tenuous after so long and why the series needed, and recieved, a reboot.

Alec Trevellian is 006, not 008, and he doesn't really count as he was introduced specifically for one purpose in GoldenEye. My point still stands. So Bond is a womanizer and a risk taker? That's not an answer, those are character traits.

 

 

Also, saying Samus, Link and Freeman are supposed to "embody the player" isn't an answer. Samus being a link to the player makes her not become evil when all the others do? Why? What makes the player so special? My point is it's just a plot device, and has nothing to do with motivations, as you imply later.

 

 

Does it matter? Does the character's motivations and context matter?

 

Yes.

 

You're distorting a bit what I said. I wasn't refering to motivations or context. You asked what made Dante so special that he defeated Death and no one else did. That's not the same as asking what was his motivation. None of the questions I raised were about motivations either, so implying I said motivations don't matter isn't correct...

[Daft]

What makes these characters special is their context though. There's a direct link, bar James Bond but that's been going for so long for reasons that escape me.

 

Dante dies, however, just like everyone else. The Vault Wanderer wants to look for his farther (by virtue that his farther leaves the vault I'd be shocked if he were stupid enough to not suspect the outside was safe enough to try). The embodiment of the player in the case of Link/Samus/Freeman is an answer because the motivation that the player brings to the character is intrinsic (hence why HL's cutscenes are all interactive and why Samus can scan pretty much everything apart from her foot). Effectively it is these experiences that make these characters. It's what makes them who they are and why they are so special.

 

Dante dies. Just like everyone else. Nothing at all makes him stand out.

 

Doesn't look like we're going to agree. I just find it beyond strange that some random would decide not only to say no to death, but then proceed to beat the shit out of him and thieve his scythe. In whatever case, it really isn't a patch on God of War - but I wouldn't have cared had not played that.

Edited December 25, 2009 by Daft

[...]

 

Doesn't look like we're going to agree.

 

No, it doesn't. Because you're not answering your own question. Again, the basic thing we're talking about is your question "why Dante and not someone else". You can ask that about any other character in any other story. Why is Link the embodiment of the player and not someone else? You're just saying he is the embodiment of the player, not why, as if that explains anything. It doesn't. You can also say, but you haven't, that Link is the hero because he was chosen by the gods to be the keeper of the Triforce of courage. But then we can ask again why did the gods choose him and not someone else? What makes Link so special?

You are not willing to accept that there isn't an answer to this. He just is. Just like Dante.

 

Why wasn't Frodo corrupted by the Ring, like most everyone else seems to be in the story? What the hell made that little hobbit so special that he had stronger willpower than Saruman, the White, the wisest wizard in all of Middle Earth, the leader of Wizards? The answer is "because if he had been corrupted by the Ring, then there wouldn't have been a story, he wouldn't have destroyed the Ring and everything would just have continued the way it had been for centuries". Nothing really transcendental about it.

 

Oh, I hear you say, but Saruman and Galadriel were very powerful already and the Ring appealed to that power, giving them the possiblility of being even more powerful, and Frodo was just a simple humble hobbit. But then again, so were Sméagol and Déagol. Yet, they were corrupted/tempted, and Frodo wasn't.

Edited December 25, 2009 by ...

[dwarf]

Personally, I think it's just that he's ill defined. In most games the hero stands out from the crowd, either because they are made to look special or because you create what they look like as if the creation is you.

 

Danté doesn't exactly have standout features, and it just seems strange that a normal, non-special character manages to beat Death. If he had a heart of gold or incredible magic ability then it might've been passable, in fact this may be the case.

 

He could just be a pub landlord with an axe though.

[S.C.G]

Back on topic, I was allready pretty dissapointed as when I read the title I thought it was gonna be a DMC game lol anyway it's got potential I guess but either way I'm not really bothered.

 

Over a year on and I still stand by my original comment. :p

 

[/Apathy]

[...]

A pub landlord with an axe? He's a knight in the Crusades! He goes to Hell and back for his wife. Yes, the Death boss character appears before his wife's taken to Hell but it's a hack and slash video game, give it a break.

 

Ah, well, let's all just enjoy videogames, shall we? You guys are just nitpicking at this one because it's unoriginal. I'll get it, I'll play it, I think I'll enjoy it.

 

Conan is a lot worse than this is and it also used the coloured orbs system and worse yet, it featured Conan using lots of magic.

[Shorty]

I think the simple answer is: the hero is the hero because if seven different people tried to save the girl, and someone beat you to it at the last minute and you cut straight to the credits in second place, it wouldn't make for a very good game. The end.

 

I played the demo, I thought it was fun if a bit silly. The graphic in the graveyard looked particularly bad because of the contrast from the preceding custcene. One minute I'm counting the hairs on the dead woman's nose and noting the detail of his leather glove in the ECU, the next minute some PS2 explosion makes a gravestone disappear and it looks like I'm playing Marvel Ultimate Alliance again.

[Dan_Dare]

it looks like I'm playing Marvel Ultimate Alliance again.

 

 

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

[Cube]

Just tried the demo. The combat was fairly good until the QTE appeared and the graphics were really bad. Not a patch on Ninja Gaiden 2.