Editor’s note: This review was written by David Follo, a game design student at Full Sail University. As a child, his love for videogames was apparent, but his passion was elevated to a whole new level once his father bought him his first NES. From that point on, there was no looking back. Some of his fondest memories of time spent with his father were watching him violently jerking the controller in the direction he wanted the character to go. If he only knew back then that his father unknowingly invented the first motion controls. David is determined to make his dreams a reality and start his own game company, with Full Sail being the catalyst. David lives by his motto: “If I’m not trying to be the best at something, then someone else is.” .

What do you get when you combine classic literature and videogames? The answer, nine times out of 10, is a creative and storied tale of adventure. Dante’s Inferno lights a fire under the player that burns bright. With future readings of Dante Alighieri’s epic poem The Divine Comedy sure to come up as required reading, students now have a modern-day adaptation of the first part — the Inferno.

Whatever you thought the game could deliver, think again. Visceral Games and EA team up to give you a gruesome and visually imaginative game. It plays mostly linear but is a nice treat compared to the amount of open-world games on the market today. As you follow Dante through the nine circles of Hell, you will hack and slash your way through a variety of demons. This is not just another hack-’n’-slash game because you are given an interesting leveling system. As you level up, by absolving enemies or punishing them, you have the option to assign points to either the Holy or Unholy paths. Each path unlocks spells and moves to help Dante decimate his foes. These unlockables more than help the game to not feel hopelessly repetitive.

The story follows Dante on his quest of vengeance and redemption to reclaim his beloved Beatrice’s soul. Dante had fought bravely in the Third Crusade but committed many violent and traitorous sins. One of those sins was he cheated on Beatrice with another woman. All of his sins result in the murder of his fiancée, and returning home for Dante gives him no comfort as he finds his Beatrice slain. Death himself then takes her soul. Dante vows to get her back and is forced to repent all of his sins along his quest through Hell’s nine circles. If there was any sort of moral to this story, it’s that you probably shouldn’t cheat on your spouse.

From the first level, you immediately feel a connection with Dante through the high-quality cutscenes. I found the variety of CG, in-game footage and hand-drawn animations a refreshing spin. I was sucked into the story as if I were watching an epic movie. The voice-overs are professional and in tune. The score keeps you engaged in the moment, whether you are merely fighting demons or are involved in heart-thumping boss battles.

The nine circles of Hell leave you wanting a 10th circle or more. The creative minds in charge of adapting each sin with a visual interpretation are shear genius. For example, gluttony is portrayed by a demon Cerberus-like creature that has many heads containing no ears or eyes, only mouths. The mouths are to represent the insatiable hunger instilled in the demon, which is used to feast on our souls. Each circle — whether it is lust or anger — is brilliantly designed and appealing to the eye with the use of extreme imagery and compelling backdrops. I found myself entranced throughout each level, dying to see more.

To further deepen the story, a poet, Virgil, accompanies you. Virgil in real life was Alighieri’s role model, or mentor. Virgil in the game, though, serves as your guide and helps Dante ground his narrative in a kind of familiarity. Virgil is at home in these otherworldly realms and knows the ins and outs. He is sent by none other than Beatrice on this divine mission to steer Dante through Hell and Purgatory to her. On the way, Virgil provides backstory and relics to further aid you in your quest. Personally, I think the addition of Virgil is an outstanding call. I felt compelled to learn more of the story long after the game was over and even found myself researching. Who would have thought a videogame would induce learning?

The gameplay is smooth and polished. You can tell the developers had taken their time making sure of it. I found no glitches on multiple plays and was able to maneuver and attack with ease. One of the best moves and most exciting for me were ripping the demons in half. Once I obtained enough points to unlock the ability to do so, I was able to cleverly move the analog sticks in opposite directions while in midair, effectively ripping demons in two halves. If you are a fan of blood, gore and intense violence, this game is for you. I can assure you that you will not be disappointed, especially if you love a great story.

While most of us, myself included, sometimes compare our lives at times to a living hell, there is no such hell like that of Dante’s. I found it strangely satisfying destroying my enemies, as if this was my quest. As if I was repenting my own sins, which is assuming that I had any to repent. Dante’s Inferno is one of those games you play at night, with the lights off and the volume up. It is one of those games you can lose yourself in. It stimulates the mind and the eyes while keeping the action moving, and that to me makes a solid game and a must-own title.