Dante's Inferno PS3 demo does 60FPS

By Richard Leadbetter Published 14 December, 2009

Digital Foundry analyses performance.

Visceral Games' Dante's Inferno has received its first public outing with the release of a playable demo that's available to download from the American PlayStation Store. First impressions are that the game is clearly inspired by Sony Santa Monica's epic God of War series, albeit with the ancient Greek mythology swapped out for Crusader-era Christianity, as the eponymous Dante battles enemies of a literally biblical scale, Kratos-style.

The DF video analysis of this particular demo is actually much more useful as a preview of the demo itself, as the FPS analysis is what you might call rather one-note. Frame-rate graphs are rather uninteresting as this is a 60FPS game in the truest sense of the word. Six of the eight clips selected for the video are from gameplay, and out of the 25,000+ put through our tests we only saw a measly two dropped frames: 0.008 per cent of the overall capture - of course completely invisible to the human eye. Tests confirm the drop to a locked 30FPS for the cinematics.

A fair few games aspire to sustained, uninterrupted 60FPS gameplay, but few achieve it. Dante's Inferno looks like being one of that select group.

The truly impressive performance we see here does come with a cost of course. Compared to its immediate competitor God of War III the geometry, detail and effects are significantly pared back. Resolution is confirmed as native 720p, but there is no anti-aliasing. On the plus side, this is 60FPS with no apparent compromise: the game is v-synced and absolutely rock-solid, certainly in the sampler levels provided in the 1GB download.

Where the game is a touch on the disappointing side is in its cinematics. The drop to 30FPS isn't a particular concern, but while it's clear to see that elements such as the player model gain detail, there's still no anti-aliasing and no motion blur or other post-processing effects, resulting in a sometimes-rough appearance.

More than that, the game switches between FMV sequences and engine-driven cut-scenes, making for a rather jarring jump in image quality. The inclusion of high-end CG and even what you might call cartoon animation mean the overall presentation is somewhat inconsistent.

Overall though, first impressions are favourable. In an industry where the 30FPS is effectively the standard, it's refreshing to see Visceral Games sustain 60FPS so impressively, especially in a cross-platform project. Yes, Dante's Inferno will also appear on Xbox 360, but the corresponding demo won't be appearing on Xbox Live until Christmas Eve, when we'll all be on holiday. If we can sneak a look at the 360 demo during the festivities, we'll see about updating the DF Twitter feed with our thoughts.

Picture of Richard.

About Richard Leadbetter

Rich has been a games journalist since the days of 16-bit and specialises in technical analysis. Commonly known around Eurogamer as the Blacksmith of the Future.

Read more articles from Richard by visiting the Richard Leadbetter archive page.

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Comments (56) Latest comment 2 years ago

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  • KayJay #1 2 years ago

    Looks really nice...
    Edited by 1 at 14/12/09 @ 10:45

  • Widge #2 2 years ago

    Its... ok. The intro fight was meh, but from Death onwards it was pretty good. Introducing a tap tap QTE to health items is a big mistake... in fact its QTE implementation is pretty poor. Feels almost like they are introduced because they feel GOW would have one at "that point", except it never feels attached to the action and flow. Plus the on screen indicators aren't so hot. Because of this, I end up feeling a bit meh'd by the QTE rather than drawn into the action with them and satisfied after getting them pulled off.

    Still, it seems nice enough if you like the GOW template and simply want more of it. Storytelling looks really good too.

  • mkreku #3 2 years ago

    Maybe they should call up those recently fired Pandemic guys and ask for that SPU-AA solution they've got running on The Saboteur? If they have a few SPU's free, of course..

  • Beano #4 2 years ago

    The demo has no AA problems - looks nice and polished.. fairly simple models and environment though.

  • DrDamn #5 2 years ago

    I thought the demo was pretty good - very obviously influenced in a lot of ways by the God of War series - but I also thought it looked fantastic. Nice style, and crucially (as commented by one of the other guys playing) you could actually see what was going on. Maybe the lack of effects, blurring etc is a good thing eh?

  • cianchristopher #6 2 years ago

    Cool, well done Visceral!

    Now, all we need is for God of War III to get a locked, v-synced 60fps framerate and we're good to go!

    Please, Santa Monica Studio, please???

  • Murton #7 2 years ago

    Alternative the art department of these games could stop relying on post-processing effects and smooth edges of the actual models, just a thought. AA takes up a hell of a lot of resources that could be freed up for more polys, better real time lighting and shadows, better particle effects, the SPU-AA solution that Pandemic came up with is a great application of the work that Naughty Dog have been doing with shifting work that the GPU would usually cover to the SPUs and something I would love to see more of in future games.

    This is where cross-platform development has to go. Rather than taking the path of least resistance of creating on a single platform and then lazily porting across then tweaking afterwards, create on several platforms taking advantage of each machines strengths and overcoming its weaknesses, that will be the difference maker between a good game and a great game and I will be urging people to buy Saboteur in order to promote that principle.

  • penhalion #8 2 years ago

    I hate quicktime events as I feel they ruined a lot of God Of Wars gameplay (especially the end fight with Zeus). So this is out for me. I mean why the heck isn't it just a canned animation for having the monster open the huge door and why can't they just tell you to execute a head smasher to dismount riders or something like that. Seriously why the frak have a random button sequence that can and often does lead to unnecessary frustration to the gamer!

  • spatss #9 2 years ago

    Sure it's aping God of War a lot, but I still liked the demo. Not enough to buy the game but I'm glad I tried it. Now about that GOW3...

  • Widge #10 2 years ago

    I'm ok with the God Of War QTE because its a risk/reward thing, you can take down the larger enemies using a bog standard attack method or you can go for the QTE, the reward being a satisfying takedown and usually orb bonuses, the risk being failture and getting nailed. Adds a certain amount of tension to the climax of that particular battle, a test of sharpness and reactions and brings more satisfaction than just kicking off an animation. If it gets it right, these methods add that little bit of pizazz to draw you into the game. If it gets it wrong, it pushes you away from the game.

  • sfp_noodle #11 2 years ago

    i thought the demo was absolutely fantastic. i seriously doubt there will be anything but minor nitpicking when there is a face off later on as i am struggling to see ways in which the 360 build cud outperform the ps3 build. there will be a rare platform parity on this one i think. either way an excellent game.

    the only problem for me is that im currently playing the gow collection and with DI being out around a month before gow3, i probably wont play the full game until the summer when its quiter. i expect bioshock 2 and mass effect 2 to take up my winter period.

    i know its not out yet, but i highly reccomend 360 owners who have never played gow to check the demo out on release. its a very satisfying taster

  • penhalion #12 2 years ago

    @Widge

    Did you ever actually do a GOW boss battle? If you don't pull off the QTE on a boss you get either to repeat the sequence infintely until you succeed or to fight the boss again from the start! In the case of the Zeus battle. You had a split second to press each button and if you missed then Zeus got back half his health and you had to whittle it down again. You certainly did not get an option to use standard attacks for those fights and there was zero risk/reward involved in the process. The same with opening doors and chests.

  • Badassbab #13 2 years ago

    spf_noodle-

    Totally agree, the PS3 demo was brilliant, if the 360 version is better I'd be quite surprised. EA are good with the PS3. The PS3 might win the face off on this one.

  • Beano #14 2 years ago

    Agree - nothing wrong with the PS3 demo - it's fast, stabile, polished and no tearing in sight.

  • KidCactus #15 2 years ago

    @penhalion I had some problems with the QTE in the Zeus battle at first, until I realized you don't even need to press only the correct button; push all four buttons at the same time in every QTE and it will in fact register the correct button whatever is it.

  • Beano #16 2 years ago

    PS3 version also have 60fps and AA... geee

  • EvilBob_leeds #17 2 years ago

    I've never found QTEs so subtract from GOW - they're pretty damn well integrated into the flow of the game. I did quite enjoy the Dante's inferno demo, but I'm agreeing with what Widge said - the QTEs aren't as well integrated, and kind of detract from the pacing. This year I probably would have bought it. Next year against GOWIII and Darksiders... I think I'll probably give it a miss.

    Also, each to their own and that, but unless it's a driving game, personally I'd much rather have better textures and lighting than 60 fps.

    And imho, the problem with the GOW II Zeus boss battle was the very last QTE section (where Kratos kneels down with his back to Zeus), which must've taken me about 20 really bloody annoying minutes. Epic ending though.

  • Beano #18 2 years ago

    QTE in GOW also always annoyed me a bit, but at least they have made them a more intuitive in GOW3 by placing the buttons diffrently.

  • muscleblade #19 2 years ago

    "with this, GoW III and Bayonetta (although the latter to a lesser extent if you're a PS3 owner, like me, =[ ). "

    Too bad since Bayonetta might be the best of the three. Might be better to have a crippled version of Bayonetta than no God of war 3 mind. Bayonetta is out in three weeks time so im very happy that the 360 version is flawless ( Edge Magazine).

  • Widge #20 2 years ago

    Cathedral City Mature grated is a genius exercise in time-saving in the cheese on toast world. (Cheese Monthly)

  • EvilBob_leeds #21 2 years ago

    Well I don't agree with that. Ready grated cheese is for losers. Big blocks of cheese FTW!

    Cheese monthly is obviously biased. A friend of mine had two bags of cathedral city ready grated go mouldy.
    Edited by 2 at 14/12/09 @ 13:41

  • Widge #22 2 years ago

    There are some advantages though:

    1) No need to wash a grater
    2) Straight to food action - insta-sprinkle on beans on toast is effecient
    3) Resealable containers - no hard cheese ends

  • kangarootoo #23 2 years ago

    A real man grates cheese on his face.

  • Widge #24 2 years ago

    I don't have firm enough stubble for that. Plus you end up with cheese smears.

  • kangarootoo #25 2 years ago

    @Widge

    Sounds like neither your face nor your cheese are hard enough. A real man's cheese never smears.



    This is starting to turn into one of those Chuck Norris lists.

  • EvilBob_leeds #26 2 years ago

    lol. You grate-bots and your lists. Everyone knows that the correct way to make cheese on toast is to slice your cheese thinly and lay it over the bread to ensure even coverage.

  • Lord_Gremlin #27 2 years ago

    After playing the demo I new it was 60 FPS - you can feel it. And it's good - now I understand why Sony Santa Monica wan's to make GoW3 run smoothly at 60 FPS as well.

  • chubster2010 #28 2 years ago

    It's all very polished...just a shame it has no ideas of it's own!

  • davisorle #29 2 years ago

    Im loving this game more and more. I find it unfair that everyone keeps trashtalking ( well most kiddos do, not everyone ) cause they see it as a threat to GoW and just as a plain Copy of it. Yeah its obviously affected by it a lot still doesnt mean that its crap for that matter. None complains that COD was copying MOH and MW1+2 are now there where they are. If you saw the new trailer from MOH its EA now after MW2 which is plain evolution and push of the genre. Nothing wrong with it. They are even having exclusive PS3 demo and extra art books etc on the PS3 version of Dante's just to try to calm and convince the PS3 audience to give their title a chance. Chill and try it. If you like God of War gameplay then you are most likely bound to love this game too I suppose.

    The game looks great and the team has proved their capabilties with the amazing Dead Space, for which I cant wait to get my hands on the second one that they are working on. Only cmoplain with the analysis is that you only told us downsides from God of War 3 demo... You could tell us a few more about the demo instead of this plain analysis. Id appreciate it more. ty :)

    P.S. Im curious to see if they paid attention also on the 360 version to stress the machine enough and see differences, if any.
    P.S.2 Nipples is the new trend in videogames or is it just me?!

  • Widge #30 2 years ago

    No, grated cheese is

  • Quixz #31 2 years ago

    I have a feeling this one will suck on the 360..

  • Darren #32 2 years ago

    I wonder if the Xbox 360 version will have AA...? I'd expect it to, the Xbox 360 being better at that kind of thing and all that, but you never know.

    Anyway, this article reminded me that I downloaded the PS3 demo from the US PS Store on Friday but completely forgot about it! Must check it out tonight...

  • Scimarad #33 2 years ago

    Rather pleasantly surprised by that - I'd previously dismissed it as a GoW wannabe and hadn't really given it any more thought but that actually looks rather good.

  • freakzilla #34 2 years ago

    Not really saying much are you? Yeah, 60fps, v-sync what else? Maybe you should have waited for 360 version to do a comparison or when both GOW3 and DI are both released. To have more substantial post.

  • freakzilla #35 2 years ago

    And the game itself didn't really impress me, the animation really got to me. And same as the AvP head-ripping there just doesn't seem to be enough drama (or holy shit factor) in the gore. Ripping Helios' head looks brutal but ripping a creature apart in this game isn't quite as satisfying.

    And the beast-master thing just failed completely. The space is so small you can barely do anything other than turn in circles, and when control an ogre on GOW Kratos looks like a badass (constantly stabbing it to make it go never gets old) but in DI it feels a bit meh.

    I understand most of you liked the demo but yeah please allow me to express my views without minusing it to hell.

  • freakzilla #36 2 years ago

    "If you like God of War gameplay then you are most likely bound to love this game too I suppose. " - devisorle

    I like gow gameplay. I don't like DI gameplay.

  • drumbaby #37 2 years ago

    Thought the demo was really good...I loved it. Then I played the God of War 3 demo straight after, and it's clear to me that GOW is still the daddy, in virtually every concievable way.

    But I'll be buying Dante's Inferno, no doubt about that.

  • BabyJesus #38 2 years ago

    Why do people think GOW invented the genre?

    Is it the same reason why people think Infinity Ward invented shooters that are set in the(near) present day?

  • IronGiant #39 2 years ago

    Its alright, and that's it's biggest problem.. by copying just about everything from God Of War this feels almost pointless. If you're a 360 owner then head for Bayonetta for your action as that at least has plenty of it's own ideas and wonderful design.

    I'll be getting GOW3 and waiting for this to hit the bargain bins which maybe fairly quickly. Considering how fantastic Dead Space is i'm a bit disappointed that this game is such an obvious clone of GOW, maybe the Dead Space guys are working on Dead Space2 instead :)

  • HokutoNoKen #40 2 years ago

    Frame buffer data:

    Will the game have 2xAA on 360?

    1280x720 * 2 * (32/8 + 32 /8) = 14 745 600 approx 14 Mb

    It will exceed the 10Mb EDRAM so they will have to solve that with tiling (but tiling introduces other problems).

    Frame buffer data on other games:

    Bayonetta (360) 0xAA:
    1280x720 * (32/8 + 32/8) = 7 372 800 = 7Mb

    Ninja Gaiden 2 (360) 2xAA:
    1120x585 * 2 * (32/8 + 32/8) = 10 483 200 = 9,9975Mb

    Both games fit the 10Mb EDRAM.

    Predicated tiling seem to be required when going 720p and MSAA:

    [link url=http://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/20060426/3dhd11.jpg
    ]http://ga me.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/200...[/link]

    / Ken
    Edited by 1 at 15/12/09 @ 11:08

  • IronGiant #41 2 years ago

    In fact fire up your old PS2s or grab the God Of War collection and play two games that are far better than this young pretender ;)

  • man.the.king #42 2 years ago

    @Widge

    "I'm ok with the God Of War QTE because its a risk/reward thing, you can take down the larger enemies using a bog standard attack method or you can go for the QTE, the reward being a satisfying takedown and usually orb bonuses, the risk being failture and getting nailed"

    While I agree about the risk/reward thing for most cases in the GOW series, I do think that they shouldn't be mandatory to bring down a boss anywhere within the game. I mean, some of the bosses in GOW & GOW 2 require QTE mini-games, and sometimes that can become frustrating, especially when the button-presses have a very short window.

  • Badassbab #43 2 years ago

    Semitope-

    360 can do MSAA without edram but then like the PS3 it uses up CPU/GPU power. Edram essentially gives it 'free' AA hence a lot of multiplat games 360 gets AA, PS3 doesn't.

  • TRUTH #44 2 years ago

    This game has great graphics, control, fighting and atmosphere - yet people simply slag it as it's not a Exclusive for PS3. Having played GOW III demo with my imported GOW Collection - I can honestly say these games are both AAA. I actually find Dante's Inferno more atmospheric more exciting and on level with graphical detail with GoW III.

    Don't slag it because it's not an exclusive for PS3 - if it was I know all PS3 fanboys will saying this is best game of it's kind and unable to be done on 360. By the Bayonetta on PS3 (is excellent too and so dam fun (imported my game)

  • freakzilla #45 2 years ago

    HAHA your name is so ironic. Its just not that atmospheric graphics are a bit better than infamous. Your lies are just not very well concealed, you'll have to try harder.
    Edited by 1 at 14/12/09 @ 21:26

  • davisorle #46 2 years ago

    @semitope
    Amazing.. I dont know if I should admire the fact that through your ignorance you manage to stay intact when it comes to your selfrespect, or feel sorry for you being out in the open talking about shit you have no idea about.. lol You just keep coming back for more though.. is Halo's Reach video buggin you so much or you really think that your dumb comments will actually change someone's mind on something? At least you have to make some sense in order to achieve that.

    And to top that of you actually say that Bayonetta looked way better on the PS3 than this? Another one dropped on his head at birth.. lol Seriously... Wtf is so scary for you if Dante's sells good on the PS3? are you so fn addicted and obssessed that you are so worried if a game that looks like God of War does good? I'll try to find a reason to get you out of your missery with a silly excuse in order to start thinking straight... Ok, so lets say that Dante's sell huge on the 360 and bad on the PS3, Visceral sees it as a good reason to not bother with a sequel or a next platformer on the PS3 for failing on the platform and they release the next title ( which you can only expect to be better I suppose ) and then you give reasons to the 360 owners to throw it in your face for owing another exclusive and even maybe call that a God of War killer or wtf you might imagine ( scenario... just to get his head out of his ass ). Are you going to prefer it? Just for feeling like boycotting a game that threats your God of War, which is amazing franchise but is, you, making a complete idiot out of yourself worth it?

    I know Ill be buying sooner or later a PS3 with Uncharted and God of War ( finished the first 2 already ofc.. ) but ill never get how ccan tihs console fanatism damage brains so badly. If you dont like the game dont fucking buy it. Going around asking from others to not buy this game is plain fucked up. Cheers

  • Kaminari #47 2 years ago

    I'm not going to comment on the ok but not awesome gameplay, nor on the annoying lack of visual consistency between ingame graphics, CG cutscenes and cartoon cutscenes (a huge mistake in terms of immersion). Above all, this game is a prime example of why 60 fps is not the Holy Grail of video games. What people will rightfully remember first and foremost about Dante's Inferno is not its solid framerate, but the relative austerity of the graphics compared to games like Heavenly Sword or God of War 3.

    Now you understand why studios like Insomniac definitely have a point.

  • ukgamer #48 2 years ago

    it looks like the GOW collection to be honest. GOW3 demo blows it out of the water.

  • 3william56 #49 2 years ago

    No matter what his frame rate, some noncy emo Italian Catholic poet just doesn't cut it in the bad-assery stakes when compared to a white and red face painted spartan pint spiller. Kratos could have Dante and all his mates, no problem.

  • davisorle #50 2 years ago

    @semitope
    You are a fanboy who calls another PS3 owner(farticusmaximus ) a whore cause he said he will buy both the PS3 exclusive and the multiplatform one and enjoy them? Seriously your parents have either abandoned you or failed too much while raising you. Dropped on your head cant have caused all this damage itself.

    And also for one more time you are talking about shit you have know idea about. For one you are telling us how better GT5 is which is suposed to be released a year after Forza 3 and also telling us that you are sutisfied with Bayonetta 's FPS for being over 30 FPS when its also not the case. lol how many CPS (crap per sec ) can come out of your mouth have you done that count?

  • TRUTH #51 2 years ago

    Even though Bayonetta has scored highly (40/40 Fautsmi (XB360) 38/40 (PS3), 10/10 Edge (XB360), 9/10 Eurogamer, 9.3/10 Games Master...I've noticed PS3 fanboys continue to slag it of as poor GoW III - Is this due the 360 version running/looking better then the PS3 version ?... Yet Bayonetta has been praised in all areas - with the most fluid combat system so-far , music, effects, graphics, framerate, boss battles, animation, humor etc; yet PS3 fans will continue to slap it down as they will do with Dante's Inferno simply because it's not a PS3 exclusive and could hold up against GoW III, as Bayonetta seems to be doing at moment.
    Edited by 1 at 15/12/09 @ 19:35

  • martin1841 #52 2 years ago

    @mkreku
    Sabouteur runs at 30fps, Dante runs twice faster.


    GoW 3 sure will have better models, better textures and more advanced shaders but its 30 fps on average.
    You can do all this in 30 fps game but not in 60 fps game.

  • Quixz #53 2 years ago

    Quixz "I have a feeling this one will suck on the 360.. "

    The reason why i said this was because they are only showing the ps3 version of the game. Usually this indicates that this is the best/better version.
    Edited by 1 at 18/12/09 @ 00:17

  • Geordiemp #54 2 years ago

    Looking forward to testing DIF....

    Shocked by Bayonneta, no weight or feel, if a massive heel came down from above after pressing 3 buttons or whatever the combo was, it felt I was just observing a shoe come down like monty python. Tried the demo 5 times now, just cant understahnd the love, its a button masher with skill / timing for the dodge, witch time.

    Maybe been spoilt with too much NG...

    Strange when everyone raves about a game and you think its crap, even when I love Hack and slash ? Am I alone, or do others agree ?
    Edited by 1 at 18/12/09 @ 19:14

  • Badassbab #55 2 years ago

    GOW3 demo is definately not 60fps though the finished product may well be. I don't think the demo reached 60fps at all.

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