Fresh new games aren't very numerous these days as more and more companies try to play it safe and develop on their famous franchises, which guarantee a profit, especially considering these financially troubled times.

But while Electronic Arts has announced that it will release four new titles in its long running Need For Speed franchise, it doesn't mean that it will not develop new IPs (Intellectual Properties), like the video game adaptation of Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy, focusing on the journey of Dante through Hell. Entitled Dante's Inferno, the video game was announced a few months ago, during the 2008 Video Game Awards but has since entered a cone of shadow.

That is, until now, as PSM3, a gaming magazine focused on the PlayStation 3, has just released a complete preview of the upcoming action adventure title from EA Redwood Shores, the team that was also responsible for last year's Dead Space horror survival title. While it doesn't say quite a lot of things, the headline of the article will surely make a lot of players excited about the future game: “Dead Space meets God of War in Hell.”

The article goes on to say that the control scheme is the same as the one found in the hit action adventure series God of War: “Button-for-button the controls are identical to GOW's - from using the right stick to evade, to regular and heavy attacks being mapped to Square and Triangle. Holding R1 and pressing Square lets you knock enemies into the air Devil May Cry-style and keep them hovering with a volley of rapid, light attacks. 

The attacks will be easily chained together and will allow for some very fluid fighting sequences, which will also feature quick-time events, especially when it comes to boss fights. The aftermath of these fights leave behind health and magic orbs, similar to the Devil May Cry series.

In the end it seems that PSM3 has really enjoyed its sneak peek at this future title as it concludes its article with: “What really sets this apart from God of War is the setting. Dante's trip through hell is altogether more unpleasant, twisted creatures burst from doorways, lava spews from inverted crosses and bottomless fiery pits yawn deep beneath your feet.”

All in all, it seems that while it will be based on a new IP, Dante's Inferno won't be shy to take successful parts from titles such as God of War and Devil May Cry and implement them in the final product. While a lot of players will be pleased with this, some critics are worried that the game will lose its identity. Let's just wait and see if this book-based game will confirm our hopes.