The latest issue of PSM3 has a ten-page preview spread on EA’s forthcoming game based on Dante Alighieri’s Inferno. Developed by the company’s Redwood Shores studio (known for their work on Dead Space), the title is described as a third-person and draws comparisons to the God of War and Devil May Cry series.
From what little we’ve been able to glean from the article without having the opportunity to read it yet, all of the now-standard conventions of the genre are present. Enemy juggling? Check. Quick-time events? Check. Huge boss enemies? Yup. All that’s missing is a cocky personality for Dante and we’re set.
They’ve twisted around the story a bit to offer a more goal-oriented objective also. Instead of experiencing the afterlife and learning the punishments and rewards of the hereafter for the choices made in mortal life, Dante is traveling into Hell to retrieve his lost love, Beatrice (who is Dante’s guide through Heaven in the third part of The Divine Comedy, Paradisio). Hooray for the lowest common-demoninator!
I wanted this to be something different. I don’t even know what, exactly. And it may yet be unique, as it’s really too early to tell, but everything I’ve heard so far sounds like just another generic action title. They had better at least have a river of feces in there somewhere or I’m going to experience all kinds of Classical literary nerd rage.
