Electronic Arts and Visceral Games takes on God of War with Dante’s Inferno.  In many cases Dante’s Inferno is a watered down version of God of War and can leave you bored after a few hours of playing.  The combat is hack and slash and flawed in some cases.  The story and bits of poetic history can be refreshing during your journey through Hell.

The story of Dante’s Inferno is about a man fighting to save the woman he loves and atone for his sins.  Dante is a crusader who has done unspeakable acts during the holy wars.  He becomes disenchanted and returns home to his love, Beatrice in Florence, Italy.  Once he arrives home, Dante finds his house has been destroyed and Beatrice dead outside their home.  Top make things worse for Dante, Lucifer appears and drags Beatrice’s soul into Hell.  Dante fights his way through Hell, facing his sins and other dark creatures before taking on the Devil himself.

If you have read the the Divine Comedy do not expect to recognize much.  This interpretation of Dante’s Inferno is fresh and fun to play.  The player’s main goal is to find and save Beatrice.  The player gets to hack, burn, blast, slash from the top of Hell to the bottom.  The story is told through CG movies, and in-game cutscenes.  The story has plot-twists, and many moments that will rival any drama.

The game is based around the different levels of Hell from the Divine Comedy,  If you are familiar with how they are described then you might know what to expect.  There is plenty of violence, torture, nudity and creatively disturbing areas in the game.  This is not a game for the family or kids.  I found times in the game where I felt bad for the tortured souls from the punishment they received.

Moving on to combat, we all know that for any action game, creative and fun combat is the key.  Dante’s Inferno offers some creative maneuvers for the player to use to dispatch hordes of enemies.  Dante’s primary weapon is his scythe which he gained from fighting Death.  Dante also has the power of the cross which gives Dante the ability to attack from afar.  Once the player kills any enemy, the player gains its soul.  Think of God of War, souls let you buy powers and upgrade abilities.

The player has two ways to finish off enemies, the player can punish enemies or judge them.  If the player chooses to punish the enemies, Dante will use the scythe and the souls will collect into Dante’s unholy meter.  If the the player judges the enemies, Dante will use the cross and thus collecting souls in the holy meter.  Souls translate into points, points let you buy attacks and abilities. Unholy points will buy scythe attacks and holy points will buy cross attacks.  Also you can buy other skills and acquire boosts by collecting relics.

As the player battles their way through Hell, they will come across many historical figures such as Pontius Pilot, Orpheus, Electra, Marc Antony and many others.  All these figures have been damned to eternal punishment in Hell.  With these figures the player is faced with a choice, either absolve them or punish them.  If the player chooses to absolve the historical figure it starts a mini-game, where the “sins” float towards one of the four icons on a cross.  It is a game of timing and if the player is good enough they can earn a lot of points.

The combat system is extremely simple but comes across very complex.  The player has a ton of option available to them in combat.  The player can chain together fun and creative ways to dispatch enemies.  The player can combine scythe and cross attacks to deliver some very powerful attacks.  Sadly, most enemies can be killed with a single hit.  The combat is fun and there is not a shortage in the supply of enemies.  Dante’s Inferno offers more than battle after battle, it is packed with puzzles and platforming.

Dante’s Inferno is a visually stunning game and the explicit depiction of Hell is for a mature audience only.  There are some parts of the game that are for shock value only.  Each circle of Hell is unique and has a style of their own.  The level of Greed is covered in gold and a brightly colored level compared to the rest.  The color scheme of the game is dark, with splashes reds adding to the feel of moving down into darker more evil places.

The game has a good amount of replay value, the player can replay in Resurrection mode.  Resurrection mode allows the player to carry over their skills and souls into a new game.  There is a prequel level that came out in March which I will write about later.  The other mode is called Gates of Hell which is a timed endurance mode.  Overall, the game is solid but nothing new, it has a good story and neat historical info.  I recommend that players buy this games used or get it from a friend.

Last words,

Overall, the game is solid but nothing new, it has a good story and neat historical info.  Dante’s Inferno will shock you and disappoint you, the imagery pushes the limit of ratings and I applaud that.  The story is refreshing and poetic, it fits nicely into the game.  I believe that we will see more to this game in the future and I hope we see new game play and mechanics.  I recommend that players buy this games used or get it from a friend.

The last Remedy game I played was Max Payne.  A game with wonderful dialogue and innovative action.  That was more than seven years ago and finally the small Finnish studio produced another masterpiece Alan Wake.  Alan Wake is a far cry from the snowy NYC streets with gangs and drugs – instead Remedy takes you on a beautiful journey through a small mountain town known as Bright Falls.

Alan Wake is not what you would call an action hero, he is your average-joe horror writer thrown into his own nightmare.  Alan Wake is on vacation with his wife and she goes missing after a heated argument.  As Wake searches for her, he tumbles down the rabbit hole of strange David Lynchesque world.  The new horrors he faces, forces Wake to abandon all he knows to be right and fight to stay alive.  The game takes the player on an adventure through the dark worlds of Stephen King, and H.P. Lovecraft.  The game delivers plot-twist, scares, laughs, and great character development to keep you playing till the end.
The story is six episodes, each having an ending song and giving the player a feel of a TV drama.  Sadly this reminds me of Alone in the Dark.  I will say this game is cannot be placed into same category as that sub-par game but the idea is not original.  At the beginning of the next episode there is a short recap of what has happened up to that point. The game plays like a novel or TV show which keeps you hungry for more.

Remedy has left nothing out when it comes to the art of the game, the voice acting sounds natural.  Character development is fantastic and not rushed.  Even how you interact with the environment is simple.  The internal monologue of Wake as you progress through the story acts as a storytelling device.  The game has your standard cut-scenes which really makes you feel that you are there as the action unfolds.  As you play through the game and come to understand Wake, you start to share the creepy feelings, mystery, and dread that Wake is surrounded by.

I strongly recommend that you never take the straightforward path and explore the surroundings.  The amazing scenery is awesome to look at but the findings are even better.  Radios, television sets can be found all over the environment, so be sure to check every outpost and shanty for these.  Once you find enough you can gain achievements.

There are details that you should not overlook, from the radio and television sets, the live-action “Night Springs” television shows are a spoof of the Twilight Zone. Not only are these funny but they add a richness that Remedy has placed into this game that I have not seen anywhere else.  Wake also stumbles across manuscript pages which gives you a small taste of events to come. Not only are these hints but they provide a bit of backstory adding even more depth to the game.  Here is the kicker about the pages, they are written by Wake and he has no memory of writing them.  Make sure to collect as many of these pages as possible, not only do they help you in the game but achievements are to be gained.

Bright Falls is a forested mountainous region in northern Washington.  Remedy has done a fantastic job of providing realistic views and scenery.  It is a town where everyone knows each other.  Everyone you meet in Bright Falls has rich character and unique dialogue offering many funny and creepy events.  As any horror enthusiast knows, every small town has its secrets.  All the major characters and some of the smaller ones are built off of real models and not just random computer designs.  Be sure to stick around and listen to each one and enjoy the artistic work Remedy has put into them.

The environment that Remedy created is astounding.  Each location is packed with detail some apparent others subtle.  Areas may be old and unused like an old logging mill with rusted out equipment and stairs. The air around Wake is filled with dust adding to the atmosphere.  Tall grass and fallen trees denote areas no longer used by the town or a long forgotten car or truck.   A therapy building is filled with empowering posters and paintings depicting beautiful scenery.  The use of these intimate details is what sets this game apart from the others like it.  Vast vistas surround the area as you look into mountain valleys dripping with shadows.  The environment makes you feel that this place has always been there and not just scraped together and placed into the world.  It has a reason, a history and we can all see ourselves there on vacation, hiking through the wooded trails and enjoying the beauty.

Each episode has a part in which Wake can explore during the daylight hours, you are able to collect items and interact with NPCs.  This gives you a chance to really pick up on details and story.  Once nightfall comes the world changes, and Wake is in for a whole different kind of environment.  During the night you can really marvel at the lighting effects Remedy has added to the game, from the moonlight, to the street lamps, and even the flashlight.  Small beacons of light from buildings off in the distance calls your attention.  The atmosphere and darkness around you feels like a living beast best described in “The House of Leaves”.  Your best friend in the darkness is your flashlight and also the best way to deal with your threats.

The combat system is simple and straightforward.  Wake’s arsenal is small and realistic which is refreshing.  Your enemies are slightly repetitive but threatening.  When dealing with the various threats you will encounter in the game, you use the flashlight to burn off the darkness and then dispose with them as you see fit.  As you fight you will be wrapped in sound effects that will shatter your reality.  The reactions from the enemies and the sounds made when you destroy them, give you a feeling of power.  As you play you are given more and more ways to deal with your enemies.  Flares, flash bangs, and flare guns, give your combat even better and creative ways to dispatch your threats.  I warn that you should not fight every chance you get but to pick your battles carefully.  The enemies can overwhelm and take Wake down with a quickness, also ammo can become scarce at times.  The enemies are alarmingly fast and deadly, they wield axes, shovels, knives, and even throw axes at Wake.  When entering combat you have to take into account different things, ammo, weapons, number of enemies.  Wake does not have an unlimited amount of sprinting power, and to dodge requires excellent timing.

Combat is not hopeless but requires some advance thought, also the environment has tools to help give Wake some advantages.  Other light sources such as lamps and spotlights, and explosive barrels will help turn the tide in combat.

The story raises many questions and provides tons of entertainment.  As for the end of the game I will let you decide.  Next month there will be more episodes added to Alan Wake so there is more to the story than the six episodes.  To get everything out of the game you will need to go trough a second playthrough on Nightmare mode.  There are manuscript pages to find and combat will really test your skills.

I have to say there are a ton of product placements in this game.  I understand we are in a new age of advertising and marketing, but damn.  Some of the placements are not so overwhelming but there are a few that really stand out and takes away from the game and environment. I understand endorsements and such but it almost takes away from the true artistic endeavor that this game really is.

Last Words

This game is beautiful and unique nothing cutting edge.  I enjoyed the environment, dialogue and richness the game offered.  Remedy has created a world that is begging to be explored.  Camera controls are fine for the game it is and simple to use and perfect for combat.  I have to say Remedy has topped themselves with this game and once you start you will not stop.

If you have not gotten yourself a Xbox 360 yet, now is the time.  The Pro dropped $50 dollars and the Elite dropped a $100!  Go get yours!

Shortly after the release of Fable 2, Molyneux stated that he plans releasing a total of five Fable games.  Here is the third installment that will be released Holiday 2010.  The game was officially announced at Gamescon along with a teaser trailer (shown below).   In Fable 3 you play the child of the Hero from Fable 2, some five decades later and Albion is divided.  You are in pursuit of the crown and will face many tough choices on how to rule Albion.  This is a new and interesting idea; it will be intriguing to see how it will be pulled off.  Fable 3 will stick with the traditional choices of good, evil, and neutral alignments of past games, but the paths to each will be guided by tougher choices.  Molyneux as promised many things in the past and has delivered on some of them.  We can only wait and see what Fable 3 will bring to the table and hope that it will not disappoint.

Microsoft has plans to launch an add-on to the Xbox 360 as soon as next year, maybe.  Microsoft showed off Project Natal at E3 and you can watch the video below.  I have to say after watching the demo I am impressed with what I saw.  My only question is how stable will this add-on be.  Microsoft has reached a 54% fail rate with their current system; it makes you wonder if the same problem will happen with Natal?

What is Project Natal?

Natal uses a motion sensing camera with vocal and facial recognition software turning you into a controller.  You can scan items and control the system without the use of a traditional controller of joystick.  This new system has other functions than playing with your 360, you will be able to use this with your PC or as a general media center for your home.  If this works as they say it will, Microsoft will change the way we game forever.

E3 Demo

The Secret World is the next MMO to be on look out for.  In a press release earlier this year with USA Today people got a small taste of the innovative style of this (TSW) MMO.  TSW will be breaking the mold of the usual fantasy/sci-fi MMO and placing players into a real world/present time setting.  For many people that play MMOs this one will differ in many ways.  One huge difference will be the absence of a leveling system.

Different from other MMORPGs, The Secret World will have no classes and no leveling up. “We want to get away from the grind,” he says. “The Secret World begins where other MMOs end, is sort of our philosophy. We want everyone to participate in the end game. We want everyone to fight the really cool monsters and use the really cool weapons. (USA Today)

This can be a little shocking to some but I can say that it will be refreshing.  Even with traditional RPGs, grinding can take a lot of fun out of a game.  Without this promise of no grind, I’m stoked to see what it will be like.

Funcom (Age of Conan; Anarchy Online) has woven a backstory that goes 100 million years into the past. “We are drawing from ancient history and mythology, fairy tales, pop culture and conspiracy theories. We are talking all those and combining it into a coherent reality of our own making. (USA Today)

This to me is the most promising aspect of the game.  How many times have you sat around with your friends in the dead of night talking about conspiracy theories?  Too many to count I’m sure.  Now you can play them, adding in monsters, vampires, and demons in a real world setting.  This is a wet dream for all of you that love The Da Vinci Code and X-Files. I know I cannot wait! Until I can dig up more check out this trailer.

With three great names working on this title: Activision, id Software and Raven; Wolfenstein will take you on a ride you will not forget.  With less than a week away from the release date you should grab your pre-orders now and get ready for mayhem and in your face action.
This trailer has everything you could want from Wolfenstein: (my favorite) Zombies, demons, bad-ass weapons, the amazing castle, in your face monsters, oh and something special jet-packs!  This game will be intense and expect nothing less from Wolfenstein.  Lock and load and get ready on August 18th for trip through the hellish world of Castle Wolfenstein.

[Header photo courtesy playworksonline

This trailer says it all.  It might be another Post-apocalyptic game but nothing can come close to touching this.

“Alan Wake is a psychological action thriller from Remedy, the makers of the award-winning Max Payne games.”  I have been waiting for this game when I caught wind of it in 2005.  It had some hype then, and shortly after it fell off the radar.  Alan Wake returned to make a splash at E3 this year showing off a beautiful trailer. This game is going to rock the Action-Thriller genre with its captivating story and astounding graphics.  This game reminds me of the movie In the Mouth of Madness meets Silent Hill. Alan Wake has a skin crawling creepiness that seeps deep within you leaving breathless and wanting more.

This is a general idea of the story from Alanwake.com:

Alan Wake, a bestselling writer hasn’t managed to write anything in over two years.  Now his wife, Alice, brings him to Bright Falls to recover is creative flow.  But when she vanishes without a trace, Wake finds himself trapped in a nightmare.  Word by word, his latest work, a thriller he can’t even remember writing, is coming true before his eyes.

Screen-shots: From AlanWake.com