A few days ago Capcom so awesomely released Lost In Nightmares, an expanded chapter and the latest in the line of DLC for Resident Evil 5 across both Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 consoles simultaneously.
Lost In Nightmares takes you back through the past of Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine, when they were on assignment with the BSAA to track down Albert Wesker who had previously defected from S.T.A.R.S, and contrived a plan of his own to manipulate the Umbrella Corporation.
Set in an eerily nostalgic Spencer Mansion(just another one, not the original), you are tasked with...well nostalgia.If It's one thing that I'll credit Capcom for, It's that they really know how to take you back to the past. Lost In Nightmares is definitely a treat for anyone who stepped into the shoes of our two protagonists in the first Resident Evil title. The whole layout and placement of objects is quite uncanny(creepy), and allows to to relive those feelings of anxiety and claustrophobia. Even the characters themselves are thrown back to the events of the first mansion, and are saying pretty much everything you're thinking. The Spencer "Estate" contains a fair amount of classic RE puzzle solving(cranks and levers ^_^), as well as some minor back-tracking, and a new play-mate(abomination)for you to contend with(and it is SUCH a joy the first time you meet)as well. Capcom has also graciously put in a nice little easter egg for all It's fans(nostalgic and newcomers alike)by enabling the classic "fixed camera mode," a matter which is achieved by participating in a certain "door checking event(giant happy grin)."
So how does this expanded chapter add up? Is it worth 400 microsoft points(roughy $5 USD), I'd say yes on the grounds that it delivers much in such a short amount of time(very short). During your first run of the game it should take about 1-2 hours at maximum to complete, given that you're trying to get a feel for your surroundings. Once you've gotten yourself acquainted, subsequent/follow-up play-throughs should clock in at just about 30-40 minutes tops. Granted that this is all from the perspective of a solo game(with the A.I. controlled 2nd player being a bit less stupid than before...thank goodness), in co-op(local/xbox live)you should be able to accomplish everything much quicker and more efficiently. In fact I believe that Capcom's intention was for two human analogs to run the gauntlet together as "partners."
Lost In Nightmares is a short, but oh so sweet flash-back expansion. It bolsters some nice fluff to the already complex story-line of the entire franchise, and surprisingly has much replay value. Because of how long the chapter isn't and that It's just so damn fun, you can pick up a controller and pop this right onto the TV like it were any classic NES title(although oddly enough, Nintendo being the only system this particular game isn't on...burn!), a feat that is rarely seen these days in the realm of video games...damn you Capcom, for being so brilliantly nostalgic!
Dante's Inferno is the latest project by none other than Visceral Games, a subsidiary of Electronic Arts who brought us the Dead Space franchise in October of 2008. Dante's Inferno is part of the Divine Comedy, an epic poem written by Dante Alighieribetween the period of 1308-1321, and is based on his visual/graphic representation of a "Christian" hell.
As the main protagonist of the same name, your mission in the opening act and/or tutorial level is loosely based in history, as is has you participating in the 3rd Crusade. A particular event in which the European leaders have you forcefully reclaiming the Holy Land from Saladin under orders of the Pope. It's here that you come face-to-face with your own mortality and battle for redemption from eternal damnation against Death.
Before mentioning anything more about the plot and what-not since this is kind of a tie in of sorts. Dante's Inferno is steeped in controversy, and if there's one thing that there's a copious abundance of in this game is simply...boobs, tits, breasts(insert name for the aforementioned subject). But they aren't just there to be a distraction, which in most cases you don't really have time to be glazed over by such wonders since you'll more than likely be fighting or dying...probably both. The representation of sexuality in this game isn't so much pleasurable as it is corrupt and disgusting, but also somewhat comical because of how over-the-top some of it is(every naughty bit of the Lust Level, I'll leave it at that). However, being that it is Hell it would seem fitting for it to be so, It's all about sin and not in a good way(is there a good way?).
That beauty pictured above is Beatrice Portinari(I wish I could find a better picture of her, at least pre-inferno because she is quite beautiful. However google images sucks, and google sucks because people like to fill it with ridiculous amounts of crap that's completely unrelated to the subject matter...oh well, moving on), Dante's wife/love interest who's soul was stolen away from him after making and losing a deal to Lucifer, during his return to Italy from the Crusades. Unwilling to damn an innocent soul(and his wife for that matter)Dante gives chase and fights through the Nine Circles of Hell to free her.
Your epic journey takes you through: Limbo, Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Anger, Heresy, Violence, Fraud, and Treachery under the guidance of another poet Virgil, who also acted as the guide for the poet Dante Alighieri on his epic journey. Although I'd like to go through great detail about each of these, It's more of a sight to immerse in yourself. Based on the descriptive imaginings from the poem itself(which actually sticks pretty close to the source material for the most part)while having It's own spin from the developers, the Nine Circles of Hell are filled with pretty much everything/anything you can imagine while provoking thought to the very basis(in this case the word of representation. or title)of the Circles themselves.
Being a game of the action genre, Dante's Inferno has your furiously fighting through the hordes of the underworld, every manner of demon and beast is sent after you, attempting to thwart your quest. However, Dante isn't without his resources. Brandishing Death's scythe and Beatrice's Cross which is imbued with the Holy Spirit, Dante is given many options in which he is to deal with his enemies. Like most action oriented titles, you mash buttons in combination with one another to engage the enemy in a stylish, yet effective fashion. Using the scythe for more up-close encounters, and the cross for ranged battles since It's main function is to fire out volleys of cross-shaped energy.
One of the more central themes in this game is the soul, and which path It's allowed to take, combat is no exception to this rule. And although you can't do this to everyone, for most of the enemies you're given the choice either: damn, where your obliterate them with your scythe, or absolve them by striking them with your cross. During your travels, you may also happen upon some historically note-worthy denizens of the Inferno which you may also choose to damn or absolve(restricted to the denizens themselves, absolving takes you through a Dance Dance Revolution type of mini-game which allows you to play for bonus basic soul experience). Following through with one of these actions allows you to obtain: holy, or unholy experience which can be used to level up those respected skill trees, allowing you to unlock further additions to combos, access to magic, and upgrades to health and mana reserves. Remember how I mentioned choice earlier? Well, you can just defeat your enemies without regard of neither damn nor absolve, and just obtain basic soul experience which is used to buy all that you've unlocked on the trees.
Another added element to this title is the addition of relics, which are scattered throughout the Nine Circles. Relics, are accessories that enhance Dante's abilities and unlock special little tweaks to further assist you in battle. Ranging from more experience gain, to auto-countering upon a successful block, they're there to make life in Hell a little easier for you(^_^).
While Dante's Inferno borrows mechanics from titles like God of War, namely flow of combat and quick-time events, I believe that It's a game all on It's own and should be allowed to stand as such. It deserves merit and justification for taking the concept of an epic poem, and translates quite well in my opinion into the medium of video games. Telling the story in as little as a few hours(about 8-10 with the first play-through...because It's impossible to get everything in one go), it does a fairly good job of keeping with the themes/elements of the original medium, which leaves you to beg the question: what won't I get sent to hell for?
Before we start this fiasco, let me state that I originally wanted to just make a simple review about this game. However after reading through numerous reviews about this game, and my own experiences/conclusions thrown into the mix. I feel as though I have to address this growing epidemic of bull-shit, centered around this title.
This is really just a long rant, but in light of that I'd like to consider this part one of the now, two-part Dante's Inferno review. So why so much trouble/controversy over a title such as this? Let's find out!
Dante's Inferno, a game that only I seemed I care about, much like Tatsunoko vs. Capcom. Did you know that on the release date of the latter aforementioned game, that I was one of two people to actually pre-order the title? Much of that scenario was replayed when I strolled into GameStop on Tuesday morning. Needless to say I felt like something was wrong, but I guess that's what happens when the sequel to BioShock is released on the same day. -_-
Getting into the thick of it, let's take a gander at one of the major factors surrounding/asphyxiating Dante's Inferno which doesn't give this game It's fair dues. If you haven't figured it out from oh...nearly(there's probably only one that seems fair)all of the reviews out there since I last checked, all anyone seems to do is compare it to God of War. Now I know similar play styles, and certain game mechanics will garner comparison to something that did it before and what not, but in light of a fair critical analysis, most reviewers and reviewies tend to stick with(and I paraphrase): "_______________________________________________________________________________"(insert any and or random comment/comparison about God of War because that's what this game was apparently suppose to have been, but because this wasn't God of War it was terrible.)You know, that's so funny because last time I checked, this game was titled: "Dante's Inferno" and not God of War right? I mean when I pre-ordered/bought the "title" it was under the name, Dante's Inferno right? Hmm...
...well according to the box cover, I have indeed purchased Dante's Inferno and not God of War, I guess the majority of people on the web with an apparent lack of any sort of free will(you know, that thing that lets you decide for yourself about something)at all can't be right all the time huh?
Adding more insult to injury is the overly restated fact that it "emulates the style of God of War poorly." Alright, what game in the action genre doesn't have some form of quick-time events? For that matter, what action game whose main focus on close-quarters combat doesn't have a "button-mashing-combo" system?Do I need to go on? Seriously, do I?
I suppose the point of all this if you haven't been able to put the picture together yet, is that in every single pro/con about Dante's Inferno whether It's mentioned or not is in some way/shape/form the bastard child of It's "parent," God of War. Having little to no mention about the actual game and story that It's based around(pretty much because It's weighed down by a ton of bull-shit), Dante's Inferno quite literally lives in the shadow of the parent it never had, and until people get over it, it will never truly shine and once and for all be recognized as a title all on It's own.
Stick around for part two, which will be posted later in the day. Or when I get around to it...
