Near the end of my high school days, I was lent a book that would forever change me.
The book was a poem about a guy who walks through literal Hell. As a fan of all things dark, I was immediately sold. I went home that night and began reading. Even as a large work of poetry, I found myself absorbed; not only did I find the language to be stunning, but the world-building of Hell was fascinating. Among all the books, comics, and manga I read throughout high school, this poem was my favorite.
The poem was called Inferno, the first part of an epic titled The Divine Comedy, written by Dante Alighieri in 14th century Italy. Inferno has since become one of my all-time favorite reads. So as a huge fan of Inferno, it came as an incredible surprise when I found out it was being adapted into a video game.
Released back in 2010 by Visceral Games – the lovely folks who brought us Dead Space – Dante’s Inferno is a creative adaptation of the classic poem. Through its incredible design, gameplay, and narrative, Dante’s Inferno has come to be one of the most exhilarating action games of the 2010s.
For the sake of presenting a more action-driven story, Visceral went ahead and made a few changes to the source material. Whereas Dante is a poet and Beatrice is a symbol of Divine Love in the poem, the former is a soldier and the latter is his lover in the game.
The story begins with Dante during the Third Crusade (1189–1192). In the midst of combat, he is all of a sudden stabbed; he awakens on another plane having to confront the physical embodiment of death. After defeating death, Dante steals his scythe and returns home – only to find his father and love Beatrice dead. This is when Dante discovers the latter’s soul being dragged to Hell by Lucifer. From there, along with his guide Virgil (just like in the poem), Dante transverses through Hell to save his love (laying waste to every demon in his path).
We’ve had numerous works of media present Hell in a physical means. In regards to video games, we have everything from the heavy metal designs of Doom, to that of the gruesome Agony. With this in mind, Dante’s Inferno’s world and level design is one of the game’s greatest selling points.
Dante’s Inferno not only captures the concept of Hell portrayed in the poem, it masterfully brings the imagery to life. Dante’s Hell is made of nine circles: Limbo, Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Wrath, Heresy, Violence, Fraud, and Treachery. Depending on the sin one commits in life, they will be sent to the given circle that represents said sin.
The game breaks up each of these circles into different levels, presenting magnificent theatricality. Each circle embodies its sin; from Gluttony’s rivers of flowing excrement to the boiling golden lava found in Greed, Dante’s Inferno radiates with nightmarish visuals. But the imagery doesn’t stop there, for the game also utilizes enemies to represent the sin of a given circle. In Lust, for example, players will encounter beings that use genital-like weapons to attack. While there are common enemy types throughout the game, there’s a remarkable amount of variety throughout Dante’s Inferno.
As a soldier, Dante is a beast when it comes to combat. Movement and action is similar to that found in God of War, supplying consistent and brutal adrenaline. Along with his scythe, Dante has access to different spiritual attacks; his scythe embodies more demonic-like traits, while a cross he carries with him contains holy abilities. The cross primarily acts as a ranged weapon, allowing for some fantastic combos when used alongside the scythe. Dante can also perform various finishing moves – depending on the move he uses, he’ll collect souls that act as in-game currency. This currency is what allows Dante to expand his two skill trees, one catering to the scythe and the other to the cross.
Outside of combat, the game also offers various puzzle and platforming challenges. There are also interactable NPCs who Dante can judge. These NPCs are based off real-world historical figures; a message will pop up that displays what the person is in Hell for, and Dante can decide whether to absolve or punish them. Depending on the chosen action, Dante will receive souls to further his skillset.
However, at the core of this game lies a compelling tale. The original poem follows Dante’s emotional turmoil, while also including various political and historical reflections. Dante’s Inferno is more centered on Dante and how flawed of a person he is; as he progresses through Hell, his past cruelties are highlighted. For all that he has done wrong, saving Beatrice is how he can make things right. This emotional core makes for an excellent narrative and adds important emphasis to Dante’s journey.
Ten years later and I’m still amazed by this game. From its fantastic action and creative approach to the source material, Dante’s Inferno is a fascinating title. Inferno proved to be a visual treat to me when I first read it; never could I have ever expected how Visceral Games could take such a classic and elevate its imagery. Dante’s Inferno is not only an amazing action game, but it’s also an excellent journey into one of the most nightmarish representations of Hell ever depicted in art.
