Game Classification

Dante's Divine Comedy is the second entry in Enter the Story, an interactive world of classic novels of which the concept was started in 1997, independently developed by Chris Tolworthy. The main series acts as a framework with a separate background story and starting from this title additional features related to the framework are introduced. There is for instance a "between games" functionality where items from the second game can be used in the first one and playing the second game also opens up new rooms in the first. The music can be shared along the different instalments and tracks can be saved as favourites, which is also remembered across the different games in the series. This title is offered along with the first game as well as the third one, even though they were released at different dates.

The game follows the original story by Dante Alighieri written between 1308 and 1321 in chapters, as Dante travels through Hell, to Purgatory, then Paradise, and through the heavens to finally see the face of God, of which the general storyline is continued in the third game. As the author is mostly concerned with the ideas behind the story, there are many variations and interpretations, and the game also introduces characters from later in history as well as modern, contemporary figures. The link to the first game is also present, as Petri, the real protagonist in the first game, introduces Dante's story at the start of the second game.

The core gameplay is based on the characteristics of a point-and-click adventure game, but with major differences. It is largely presented as a visual novel with linear, interactive choices that further the plot. Controlled through the mouse, a left click is used to explore, double clicks have the player learn more about another character and right clicking is used for all other actions and suggesting ideas to characters. There is no inventory, but objects can be recognized and then suggested to characters as an alternative. Also very different is that the player is able to leave the protagonist Dante behind at a location to explore other areas in the meantime. The game includes a help key where hints are offered to progress through the game.

The entire game is shown through a world with manipulated images and paintings, and stroke-based art for all other objects and the animated characters, with text for conversations and descriptions. There are no voices, but different music tracks in the background. Next to regular gameplay sequences, there are also cutscenes. The game contains a map and a log of recently clicked people or objects, and recent conversations.

This title also includes a more action-based mini-game where moving characters need to be clicked inside a whirlwind. [source:mobygames]

Distribution : Retail - Commercial
Platform(s) : PC (Windows)

Links

• http://www.mobygames.com/game/enter-the-story-volume-2-dantes-div [...]