I felt like being a little dramatic with the title of this post because Dante’s Inferno brings out the poet in me… and as it should. The game is based on ‘The Divine Comedy’ and is riddled with excerpts from the poem written by Dante Alighieri in the 14th century. If you haven’t the faintest idea what The Divine Comedy is, that’s OK too, you won’t need to know to be able to enjoy Dante’s Inferno but it helps if you want the full experience.

I can’t yet talk about Dante’s Inferno (it doesn’t release until the first week of February worldwide) in specifics but what I can say is that the storyline and characters are truly out of  this world and if you’re into your character driven games, you’ll love it. It’s set in third person perspective with lots of fighting and bloodshed, especially of the demon-killing kind.

I thought I would post a different image this time instead of a screenshot of the game. This image is taken from the DC comic based on the game released last month in the US on DC’s Wildstorm imprint. There is also a really cool animated movie based on the game releasing in the UK early next month. Created by some of the best animators in the world, Dantes Inferno the movie looks positively fantastic as does the graphic novel.

You can find the official website for the game here, the website for the movie here and the comic details here.

So what are you waiting for? Go to hell why don’t ya

Electronic Arts Inc announced that the playable demo for Dante’s Inferno will be available as a free download on PlayStation Network and Xbox Live on December 24.  Dante’s Inferno takes gamers on a quest through hell, in an action-packed adaptation of part one of Dante Alighieri’s epic poem, The Divine Comedy.  The ‘Gates of Hell’ demo includes the entire opening level and gives gamers a taste of the terrifying odyssey to come in the Nine Circles of Hell as depicted in the full game.

In the demo of Dante’s Inferno, players are introduced to Dante Alighieri’s re-imagined past as a crusader who returns home to Florence to discover his true love, Beatrice, murdered.  As her soul escapes her body, she is kidnapped by the dark shadow form of Lucifer.  Sworn to her rescue, Dante must journey to the Gates of Hell and beyond to battle undead monstrosities, unholy boss demons, and Death himself.  Offering a glimpse into the vast world of Dante’s Inferno, the demo serves as a prelude to the player’s perilous journey to the inner bowels of hell.

“The world of Alighieri’s Dante’s Inferno is such a rich, detailed, and often alarming universe, that all of us at Visceral Games put our hearts, and dare I say souls, into creating something truly intense and exciting,” said executive producer Jonathan Knight. “We hope gamers enjoy this tease of hell, and come away from the experience lusting for more when the game comes out.”

Developed by Visceral Games, the award-winning developers behind the critically-acclaimed Dead Space franchise, Dante’s Inferno is an epic descent through Dante Alighieri’s nine circles of hell – limbo, lust, gluttony, greed, anger, heresy, violence, fraud and treachery. At a blazing-fast 60 frames per second, each circle features unique environments, all new creatures, terrifying demons, story elements and are scored distinctly to set a tone that fits each circle of sinners.

Gamers will get to go to hell in New Zealand beginning February 5, 2010 for PlayStation3 computer entertainment system and the Xbox 36 video game and entertainment system as well as the PlayStation Portable (PSP).  The Gates of Hell demo will be available on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 consoles.

Dante’s Inferno is not yet rated in New Zealand. For more information on Dante’s Inferno, please follow the Dante’s Inferno team at Visceral Games on Twitter at www.twitter.com/danteteam and visit the game’s official web site at www.dantesinferno.com where the team explores a new circle of hell, with new content and updates on the ninth day of every month.

Details of the Dante’s Inferno demo follow from the official press release announced via EA:

Coming this December, the ‘Gates of Hell’ demo includes the entire opening level and gives gamers a taste of Visceral Games’ blockbuster adaptation of Dante Alighieri’s epic poem, The Divine Comedy.

The ‘Gates of Hell’ demo will introduce players to the game’s hero, epic story and intense action gameplay, tracing Dante’s battles from the surface all the way to the Gates of Hell. Players will experience fast-paced hack-n-slash combat as they fend off waves of enemies before taking on the ultimate battle against Death. After defeating this boss, Dante will be armed with Death’s scythe, a powerful holy cross, and will be ready to tear open the Gates of Hell. The demo also features two stunning cinematic movies made by Blur, the award-winning visual effects, animation and design studio.

EA’s Dante’s Inferno is an epic descent through Dante Alighieri’s nine circles of hell – limbo, lust, gluttony, greed, anger, heresy, violence, fraud and treachery. At a blazing-fast 60 frames per second, each circle features unique environments, all new creatures, terrifying demons, story elements and are scored distinctly to set a tone that fits each circle of sinners.

Gamers will get to go to hell in New Zealand on February 12, 2010 for the PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system, the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system, and the PlayStation Portable.  The Gates of Hell demo will be available on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 consoles.

Dante’s Inferno has not yet been rated by the ESRB or PEGI.  For more information on Dante’s Inferno, please follow the Dante’s Inferno team at Visceral Games on Twitter at www.twitter.com/danteteam and visit the game’s official web site at www.dantesinferno.com where the team explores a new circle of hell, with new content and updates on the ninth day of every month.