Poor old Mr. Alighieri... | ryuuzaki's Blog

Intrigued by a recent Penny Arcade strip, I've been watching the developers' diaries for the Dante's Inferno game that will be released early next year.  From what I've seen, Dante Alighieri must be spinning in his grave...

From the trailers and concept art, it seems fairly faithful in places.  It's disgusting and faintly shocking in places, but that is the nature of Hell.  The poem is disgusting and faintly shocking in places - full of virulent diseases, rivers of excrement and dead babies.  The developer's need to make the game a true vision of Hell means that a lot of this stuff is included.  People are already complaining the "unbaptized baby monsters" that appear in Limbo.  Developers haven't gotten as far as revealing the seventh level of Hell yet, but if the burning sodomites make an appearance I imagine they will receive even more complaints.

I must admit, I have a fondness for the Divine Comedy and really like the way the game looks.  I'll emphasize that word again.  LOOKS.  I do not think I will actually enjoy the so-called plot of the game but it looks the part.  Although the levels of Hell have been simplified and adapted slightly, and the "bosses" reimagined somewhat (as Cerberus has become some kind of mutant tapeworm) they are still true to the poem in essence.  The second level still is plagued with a tempest, and the fifth level still contains the river Styx and the City of Dis.

However, the plot is laughable.  You're probably aware that the Divine Comedy was written in the 14th Century and is both a lamentation that Dante never met with the woman of his dreams, and a metaphor for his exile from Florence.  Thus, Dante travels (reluctantly) through Hell with Virgil as his guide, until he can meet with Beatrice and continue his journey through Purgatory and finally reach Paradise.

The game transforms Dante into a crusader who has committed every sin (revealed in a tapestry which he has sew onto the skin of his chest) who pursues Beatrice into the depths of Hell where Lucifer seems to be making her into his bride while also poisoning her mind to Dante.  Armed with Death's scythe and a magical crucifix, Dante battles his way through Hell to finally reach Cocytus where (presumably) Lucifer and Beatrice wait.  Confirmed bosses thus far include Charon, Minos, Cleopatra and Cerberus.

I'm not sure what made anyone sit down and read the Inferno just to think "hey, this is a great idea for a video game".  What part of this characterization of Dante sounds like a good idea?  I don't know whether to laugh or cry thinking about it.  Yeah, I will probably play this game no matter how bad it ends up, purely because the level and monster design is rather inspired, but I really think that they could have thought up a better plot for the game than this...

If you're really interested in seeing more, here's the official site --> www.dantesinferno.com/home.action