Dante's Inferno- First gameplay details revealed

SovietMudkipz

I saw this at VGAs and god it looks cool. Next to the Uncharted 2 trailer it was easily the highlight of the show.

My main skepticism is whether or not the developers are ripping off the Divine Comedy's synopsis so they can have a backdrop for an action game.

New trailer: http://www.destructoid.com/dante-s-inferno-has-a-video-and-pictures-will-ruin-books-forever-122725.phtml
GameSpot preview and interview:http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/adventure/dantesinferno/news.html?sid=6205196&tag=topslot;thumb;1
First gameplay details:http://www.destructoid.com/first-details-of-dante-s-inferno-emerge-121199.phtml/http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=207880

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SJkldNQXWg

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6202319.html?tag=recent_news;title;1 GameSpot article

Apparently to be developed by EA Redwood who were responsible for Dead Space.

The Divine Comedy (Italian: Commedia, later christened "Divina" by Giovanni Boccaccio), written by Dante Alighieri between 1308 and his death in 1321, is widely considered the central epic poem of Italian literature, and is seen as one of the greatest works of world literature.[1] The poem's imaginative and allegorical vision of the Christian afterlife is a culmination of the medieval world-view as it had developed in the Western Church. It helped establish the Tuscan dialect in which it is written as the Italian standard.[2]

The poem begins on the night before Good Friday in the year 1300, "halfway along our life's path" (Nel mezzo del cammin di nostra vita), and so opens in medias res. Dante is thirty-five years old, half of the biblical life expectancy of 70 (Psalm 90:10), lost in a dark wood (perhaps, allegorically, contemplating suicide—as "wood" is figured in Canto XIII, and the mention of suicide is made in Canto I of Purgatorio with "This man has not yet seen his last evening; But, through his madness, was so close to it, That there was hardly time to turn about" implying that when Virgil came to him he was on the verge of suicide or morally passing the point of no return), assailed by beasts (a lion, a leopard, and a she-wolf—allegorical depictions of temptations towards sin) he cannot evade, and unable to find the "straight way" (diritta via) - also translatable as "right way" - to salvation (symbolized by the sun behind the mountain). Conscious that he is ruining himself and that he is falling into a "deep place" (basso loco) where the sun is silent ('l sol tace), Dante is at last rescued by Virgil, and the two of them begin their journey to the underworld. Each sin's punishment in Inferno is a contrapasso, a symbolic instance of poetic justice; for example, fortune-tellers have to walk forwards with their heads on backwards, unable to see what is ahead, because they tried to do so in life. Allegorically, the Inferno represents the Christian soul seeing sin for what it really is.

darleysam

SovietMudkipz wrote: »

My main skepticism is whether or not the developers are ripping off the Divine Comedy's synopsis so they can have a backdrop for an action game.

Quite probably, but there'd be less complaints if it were a Japanese developer.

As for youtube, just paste the url of the video. The site takes care of the rest.

fragglefart

I hear this is based on a book...

LittleBoots

Book was better.

Carcharodontosaurus

Well, it might make for a decent if utterly horrifying action game. Seriously, you don't even want to know why the sea Dante encounters looks like it's constantly boiling even though there is no storm present.

Be warned;

At the bottom of the the sea there is an incredibly thick layer of damned souls. They can never die, so spend eternity screaming in anguish as they writhe against each other, suffering all the pain of drowning whilst never having the release of death.

I never understood why it was called the "Divine Comedy". The only people who would find it funny need to be locked away somewhere away from humanity.

Hoz

It's worse than a book. It's a poem.

LittleBoots

Carcharodontosaurus wrote: »

Well, it might make for a decent if utterly horrifying action game. Seriously, you don't even want to know why the sea Dante encounters looks like it's constantly boiling even though there is no storm present.

Be warned;

At the bottom of the the sea there is an incredibly thick layer of damned souls. They can never die, so spend eternity screaming in anguish as they writhe against each other, suffering all the pain of drowning whilst never having the release of death.

I never understood why it was called the "Divine Comedy". The only people who would find it funny need to be locked away somewhere away from humanity.

I believe the word comedy had a different context and meaning back-in-the-day

Visti

Carcharodontosaurus wrote: »

Well, it might make for a decent if utterly horrifying action game. Seriously, you don't even want to know why the sea Dante encounters looks like it's constantly boiling even though there is no storm present.

Be warned;

At the bottom of the the sea there is an incredibly thick layer of damned souls. They can never die, so spend eternity screaming in anguish as they writhe against each other, suffering all the pain of drowning whilst never having the release of death.

I never understood why it was called the "Divine Comedy". The only people who would find it funny need to be locked away somewhere away from humanity.

It was a different time. It's thick with irony. That's basically all there is to it.

Chance

Unless it follows the ... dare I say 'trend' of visceral first-person combat set by Butcher Bay, Condemned and Mirror's Edge, it looks to be a God of War style balls-out action game.

Like Jason and the Argonauts, I'm prepared to give it the benefit of the doubt until it's released and all our hopes are dashed.

*

Also, that 'based on a book' line would have been just fine if they'd given it to a super-hot woman with any comedic sensibilities at all, instead of what seemed to be just an idiot model.

Antihippy

Isn't the whole point of the poem is that the guy is just there observing?

Edit: well, not the whole point, but you know what I mean.

Chance

Antihippy wrote: »

Isn't the whole point of the poem is that the guy is just there observing?

The point of Metal Gear is that war sucks ass, but that doesn't stop Snake from being super-awesome and snapping a few necks. I was quite fond of that Keanu Reeves movie Constantine, so I like the idea of using religious paraphenalia to dispatch demons (plus it had Rachel Weiss playing twins, so that was like, twice the Weiss) - I'm not against the idea thus far.

darleysam

Yeah, I'm happy to see what they do with this and how it turns out. If they use it as an awesome setting for a kickass action game, I'm down with that.

Jay Foxfire

Carcharodontosaurus wrote: »

I never understood why it was called the "Divine Comedy". The only people who would find it funny need to be locked away somewhere away from humanity.

In the old days when something was called a comedy it meant that it had what could be considered a good ending with most of the characters still alive by the end of the show. A Midsummer Night's Dream is considered a comedy. Macbeth, while an awesome play, is not a comedy.

I'm not familar with The Divine Comedy but I think he eventually winds up in Heaven with the woman he loved. I'd call that a good ending if there ever was one.

Antihippy

Chance wrote: »

Antihippy wrote: »

Isn't the whole point of the poem is that the guy is just there observing?

The point of Metal Gear is Snake being super-awesome and snapping a few necks.

:P

I agree to a point though, but making an action game out of observationing hell is still kinda weird to me.

Seeks

Isn't the whole point of the poem is that the guy is just there observing?

Edit: well, not the whole point, but you know what I mean.

First thing I thought, too.

I'd be amazed if they could make a good game out of following some angel dude around and being terrified or disgusted by everything you see.

Actually, I'd play that game.


...I kinda doubt they'll go that route, though. I guess an action game in that setting could be fun, but it isn't the Divine Comedy, and it'll be pretty fucking stupid to see them actioning it up. It'd be like giving Jesus a giant Cloud sword and making him fight off the Romans.

Whatever though... I guess it could be decent. And in all honesty, I've only made it through part of Dante's Inferno... that poem style kills me. Maybe he goes all Kratos later and I just haven't made it that far yet. I somehow doubt it.

darleysam

Antihippy wrote: »

Chance wrote: »

Antihippy wrote: »

Isn't the whole point of the poem is that the guy is just there observing?

The point of Metal Gear is Snake being super-awesome and snapping a few necks.

I agree to a point though, but making an action game out of observationing hell is still kinda weird to me.

In a world where Bayonetta and Devil May Cry can exist, it doesn't bother me so much.

edit: basically, replace 'EA' with 'Capcom', and watch the enthusiasm skyrocket.

Dr. Jeebus

Dante's Inferno describes a special ring of hell for PA forum goers.

Antihippy

darleysam wrote: »

Antihippy wrote: »

Chance wrote: »

Antihippy wrote: »

Isn't the whole point of the poem is that the guy is just there observing?

The point of Metal Gear is Snake being super-awesome and snapping a few necks.

I agree to a point though, but making an action game out of observationing hell is still kinda weird to me.

In a world where Bayonetta and Devil May Cry can exist, it doesn't bother me so much.

edit: basically, replace 'EA' with 'Capcom', and watch the enthusiasm skyrocket.

It's all good if I could go into hell wielding an electric guitar and a bike.

Bayonetta isn't based on anything though, right?

Xtarath

Dr. Jeebus wrote: »

Dante's Inferno describes a special ring of hell for PA forum goers.

I find this highly ironic.

Gyral

Remember the last game based on the concept of Dante's Inferno? Irrational Games' The Lost. Went through development hell and was never finished. I won't be surprised if this suffers the same fate.

Glal

Antihippy wrote: »

Bayonetta isn't based on anything though, right?

It's based on every teenager's sexual fantasy. And every 20-year-old's fantasy. And every 30 year-old's fantasy.




It's based on every man's fantasy.

UnbreakableVow

Gyral wrote: »

Remember the last game based on the concept of Dante's Inferno? Irrational Games' The Lost. Went through development hell and was never finished. I won't be surprised if this suffers the same fate.

I just came here to ask what the hell ever happened to The Lost.

Cherrn

I love the Divine Comedy, and there are likely several ways they could visually adapt it that would make for a frightening and emotionally draining experience.

Turning it into God of War is not one of them. Blade-armed babies and scythe-wielding badasses my patoot. Satan frozen in the ice of Cocytus this is not

LewieP

More like Franchise's Inferno

Gyral

UnbreakableVow wrote: »

Gyral wrote: »

Remember the last game based on the concept of Dante's Inferno? Irrational Games' The Lost. Went through development hell and was never finished. I won't be surprised if this suffers the same fate.

I just came here to ask what the hell ever happened to The Lost.

Went through two or three engine rebuilds and then the Publisher (Crave) sacked the project in favor of focusing their monies on shitty $20 shovelware.

Aldo

So how about that youtube link or some actual information about the damned game other than "it's about Dante in hell"?

Elementalor

Jay Foxfire wrote: »

Carcharodontosaurus wrote: »

I never understood why it was called the "Divine Comedy". The only people who would find it funny need to be locked away somewhere away from humanity.

In the old days when something was called a comedy it meant that it had what could be considered a good ending with most of the characters still alive by the end of the show. A Midsummer Night's Dream is considered a comedy. Macbeth, while an awesome play, is not a comedy.

I'm not familar with The Divine Comedy but I think he eventually winds up in Heaven with the woman he loved. I'd call that a good ending if there ever was one.

A Midsummer Night's Dream was also pretty funny.

This game sounds....eh to me.

LoveIsUnity

LewieP wrote: »

More like Franchise's Inferno

Well, technically, The Inferno was part of a franchise. It's the first part in a trilogy that includes Purgatorio and Paradisio...

Oh...oh....fuck....you all have to promise me you will never tell EA about this discussion.

chasehatesbears

Aldo wrote: »

So how about that youtube link or some actual information about the damned game other than "it's about Dante in hell"?

I saw screenshots, Virgil has a machine gun for an arm and mostly spouts Duke Nukem catch phrases.

Fuck yes!

Edit: Okay I'm lying, this game just sounds stupid as hell. URHUR!

Aldo

Ok, I guess I'll be googlin' then.

Uh, is it this? www.dantesinfernogame.com ? Doesn't look like it, right?

No wait, found it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRxtW7xojEI

Aldo

Their pun is "go to hell"

This cannot result in good game.

Basil

Aldo wrote: »

So how about that youtube link or some actual information about the damned game other than "it's about Dante in hell"?

What more do you need?

Lookie, a trailer. It's about hell. And you're going there.

Honestly I think that trailer would better suit Dwarf Fortress.

Evil Multifarious

That's not really a pun.

It's just a tagline.

I kinda liked it.

Aldo

Basil wrote: »

Aldo wrote: »

So how about that youtube link or some actual information about the damned game other than "it's about Dante in hell"?

What more do you need?

Lookie, a trailer. It's about hell. And you're going there.

Honestly I think that trailer would better suit Dwarf Fortress.

There wasn't even a trailer in the thread, which is why I asked. The art looks like brainvomit, the whole thing looks generic and their tagline or whatever the fuck you want to call it is retarded.

Duffel

Jay Foxfire wrote: »

In the old days when something was called a comedy it meant that it had what could be considered a good ending with most of the characters still alive by the end of the show. A Midsummer Night's Dream is considered a comedy. Macbeth, while an awesome play, is not a comedy.

I'm not familar with The Divine Comedy but I think he eventually winds up in Heaven with the woman he loved. I'd call that a good ending if there ever was one.

Yeah, the Divine Comedy actually refers to the three-part epic poem, of which the Inferno is the first and most famous. It does indeed have a happy ending.

After he escapes Hell he journeys through purgatory and eventually ascends to the highest level of heaven (Purgatorio and Paradiso).

Although even in the Inferno it can get pretty bizarre and even hilarious. Squadrons of military demons which blow farts instead of bugles for their marching orders? Yeah, it's in there. There's also more subtle humor, as well. In the circle of the lustful, there are two adulterous lovers who were killed by the girl's jealous, dirty-old-man husband (who is in hell himself for, you know, murder). Their punishment? They have to be together forever. By now the woman, Francesca, hates her lover (Paolo's) guts, because all he does is cling to her constantly, weeping, while they're blown about in a violent hurricane.

Evil Multifarious

This is probably the worst epic to base a game on

It's a travel guide to the afterlife.

If you were to be loyal to the poem, you would make a game like Pokemon Snap where you have to take pictures of various sins and sufferings.

The real question is, which epic would be a good one to make a game from?

I'd say a good Beowulf game would be super, and would end up much like Shadow of the Colossus.

Aldo

Evil Multifarious wrote: »

This is probably the worst epic to base a game on

It's a travel guide to the afterlife.

If you were to be loyal to the poem, you would make a game like Pokemon Snap where you have to take pictures of various sins and sufferings.

The real question is, which epic would be a good one to make a game from?

I'd say a good Beowulf game would be super, and would end up much like Shadow of the Colossus.

Didn't the recent movie Beowulf had a videogame tacked to it?

Cherrn

Evil Multifarious wrote: »

If you were to be loyal to the poem, you would make a game like Pokemon Snap where you have to take pictures of various sins and sufferings.

The real game will never be as good as I'm imagining this to be.

durandal4532

Yeah, I have to say, this is the least sensible thing to make a game from ever. I mean, I guess you could like, be attacking hell? It would be kind of cool if they got the art to be interesting. I mean, the frozen lake could look neat but but... but... you're a beat-em-up action hero in the setting of a 1300's travelogue to the afterlife.

Antihippy

Evil Multifarious wrote: »

This is probably the worst epic to base a game on

It's a travel guide to the afterlife.

If you were to be loyal to the poem, you would make a game like Pokemon Snap where you have to take pictures of various sins and sufferings.

"Brutality!"

"Erotic!"

Seeks

The Odyssey would make a pretty cool game, maybe.