Two new RPG titles for the PS3 and XBox 360 have sparked further controversy about videogame content. Darksiders puts players in charge of one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, while Dante’s Inferno takes players on a combative tour of Hell.
There have been ‘protests’ against both titles and Darksiders has already been banned in countries where the biblical references may give offence. The two titles have also been clearly identified in the press as ‘hack ‘n slay’ games rather than RPGs.
It’s certainly fair to say that these games are ‘combat heavy’, even ‘happy’, and the 17+ certification attached to both Darksiders and Dante’s Inferno is justified. However, like Assassin’s Creed 2, there’s more going on in these games than simply sharpening a God-sized axe, or scythe, and carving everything up.
Both Darksiders and Dante’s Inferno show clear signs of continuing the lead taken by last year’s most innovative titles. These typically used rich settings, immersive plots, extensive characterisation and challenging problems to offer games that go beyond glorified ‘hack ‘n slaying’.
Darksiders
In Darksiders events have not been going according to plan for our ‘hero’ War, one of the four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Armageddon has kicked off ahead of schedule and War arrives late to the Final Battle. The three other Horsemen of the Apocalypse have been posted missing and a weakened War is killed by a minion of his nemesis the Destroyer. Following death War is accused of starting the Apocalypse too early but begs to be allowed to return to the devastated earth to discover who really brought forward the Final Battle.
Above ground players have an open world to explore, with rich graphics and a wide selection of weapons to choose from. Combat is certainly to the fore but the combat options aren’t too complex. Play also goes underground and it’s essential to solve a variety of puzzles and challenges to progress.
Dante’s Inferno
The main ‘protest’ against Dante’s Inferno seems to have been organised by the game’s publishers Electronic Arts as a marketing ploy. The title is probably less controversial than Darksiders, because the religious connection isn’t biblical. Dante’s Inferno does, however, draw heavily on Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy and its depiction of a demon-infested Hell spread over nine themed levels: Limbo, Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Anger, Heresy, Violence, Fraud and Treachery.
We haven’t seen the whole game yet but what we have seen is impressive, if somewhat gruesome.
The game’s Dante is a Crusader lying close to death after an assassination attempt. Death appears to claim Dante and sentences him to eternal damnation for his sins. A remorseful Dante decides to redeem himself and promptly hacks Death in two with Death’s own scythe. Sadly, the now peace loving Dante returns home to find his fiancée murdered and in the middle of being dragged off to Hell by Lucifer, who plans to use her to help him escape from Hell.
Our back on form, scythe-wielding and spellcasting Dante sets off in pursuit, armed with a flaming cross and the ability to tame beasts. The beasts are particularly good fun, as Dante can control them and direct their attacks against others after dispensing with the original owner.
Along the way Dante meets tormented souls, which he can either absolve or condemn. Absolving souls makes Dante more ‘righteous’ and increases the power of his flaming cross. Condemning souls makes him more ‘unholy’ and increases the power of the scythe he ‘borrowed’ from Death.
Dante’s Inferno is as violent as Darksiders and both macabre and sexual when depicting ‘life’ inside Dante Alighieri’s vision of Hell. Neither title is at all suitable for children or teenagers under the age of the games’ formal certifications.
Nevertheless, Darksiders and Dante’s Inferno do not depend on cheap shocks or relentless combat to entertain. Both offer adult RPGs, which make an effort to serve up the variety of gameplay that made Batman: Arkham Asylum and Assassin’s Creed 2 stand out during 2009, i.e. forensic investigation and parkour, respectively.
There is some special edition nonsense attached to Dante’s Inferno. The Divine Edition is, perhaps, worth the money as it contains additional game content which is going to become available to purchase online. The Europe-only Death Edition appears to fall into the ‘bonus’ category and is probably more for collectors. Given the choice between versions of Dante’s Inferno, we’d prefer the Divine Edition if we were looking to buy a present for someone we like.
Given a choice between Darksiders and Dante’s Inferno we’d go for Darksiders. One commentator’s remark, which compared Darksider’s gameplay to Zelda: Twilight Princess, is fairly accurate, and a good recommendation.
