I think there was some bias (religious or otherwise) that went into the Gamespot review!
User Rating: 9 | Dante's Inferno: Shinkyoku Jigoku-Hen PS3
Yeah...that's right, I SAID IT! Don't be fooled or put off by the Gamespot review...Dante's Inferno is an excellent game. The only critisim that I have of the game is the unoriginal approach to some of the game mechanics. The control scheme and rejuvination methods are almost the same as the God of War series. However, I still cannot bring myself to call this game a GOW clone due how much originality so many other aspects of the game brings to the table. First off, lets start with the gameplay. Moves are learned by collecting souls (which can be gained by either killing enemies or found)...now which moves that are learned all depends on the actions that were taken in gaining them. With many enemies and NPCs (not all), Dante is given the option of punishing them (killing) or absolving them (cleansing them of their sins). When the player chooses punishment, then the souls they gather go towards learning unholy moves and when choosing to absolve, the souls go towards learning holy moves. There are just as many unholy moves to learn as there are holy...so, there can be a balance in what types of moves Dante knows if the player chooses. Souls also go towards leveling up equipped artifacts which augment Dante's stats in many different ways and can be found throughout his journey through Hell. The visuals do an excellent job of setting the mood and the horror of the game. It gives a very terrifying and realistic view (outside of Biblical context) of what Hell maybe like and to whom. I found Dante's Inferno's version of Lucifer to be a particular psychologically mencing foe. Usually, the devil is presented as the ultimate evil and simply wishes the destruction of all things divinely created but this incarnation's aims seemed to be a lot more personal tpward Dante.
The story was amazing. The source content is what made the game a very creative and original experience for me. Nearly a decade ago, it was pretty interesting to read through the epic poem, "Dante's Inferno" in english class while in high school...but this game sort of brings it more to life while adding its own original spin to it. Its also pretty amazing to run into and determine the fate of certain literary and historical characters while journeying through Hell. When entering each of the 9 circles of Hell, the game not only shows the fate of those sentenced to that circle but also reveals Dante's own actions associated with that particular sin while a crusader. Put it this way...by the end the game, the player will see that Dante's more human than he is a hero.
My Breakdown:
What's Good:
- Awesome gameplay
- Amazing story. A new spin to a literary classic.
- Beautiful yet horrifically rendered visuals (environmental and character models)
- Collecting artifacts
- A wide array of moves
What's Not-So-Good:
- Some of the game mechanics are too much like the GOW series
- The "Dark Forest" DLC doesn't really add much to the experience
- Some of the puzzles are very annoying
What's Bad:
- Nothing that should be a deal breaker.
In all, this game is awesome. Gameplay wise, if you like any of the God of War games then you'll like this. Story wise, I found it superior to the God of War series.
