Dante's Inferno: Complete Beginner's Guide

Getting Started in Dante's Inferno

You begin as Dante in the Holy Land before the descent into Hell. The opening sections teach basic combat: light attacks (square), heavy attacks (triangle), the holy cross projectile (R1), and magic abilities. Before entering the first circle, you'll have choices to Absolve or Punish your first condemned souls — choose Absolve for the early game if you want Holy upgrades, Punish for Unholy power.

The upgrade system has two trees accessed between circles. Spend souls (currency dropped by enemies) on Holy abilities for defensive magic and divine armor, or Unholy for raw attack power and crowd control. You can invest in both, but specializing early makes the mid-game easier.

Core Mechanics

The scythe combo system uses light attacks for fast hits and heavy attacks for knockdown power. The most useful combo is: Light, Light, Heavy, Heavy — it launches enemies into the air for aerial follow-ups. Learn to juggle airborne enemies to maximize damage before they hit the ground. The Holy Cross projectile stuns distant enemies and interrupts charging attackers.

Magic abilities are activated by holding the magic button and selecting with the analog stick. Holy Aura (unlocked early in the Holy tree) is a screen-clear burst effective against large groups. Unholy Maelstrom whips enemies into a vortex for crowd control. Save magic for dense enemy groups and boss phases.

Best Build for Beginners

Holy tree focus: Prioritize Divine Armor (damage reduction), Martyrdom (extend combo timer), and Righteous Path (faster Holy Cross recharge). Holy builds survive longer and have more forgiving combat encounters. For the Unholy tree on new game plus: Demon Unleashed (power upgrade) and Scythe Storm (AOE spin attack) are the highest damage options.

Essential Tips

1. Absolve named sinners for big XP. Historical figures like Cleopatra, Paolo and Francesca give significant soul rewards.
2. The scythe's heavy attack breaks shields. Enemies with shields must be hit with heavy attacks or hit from behind.
3. Save Beatrice's Aura for bosses. This powerful defensive cooldown is wasted on regular enemies.
4. Collect damned souls after every fight. They float away quickly — grab them before they disappear.
5. Circle of Anger has the hardest regular enemies. Stock up on mana potions before entering.
6. Lucifer's final phase requires targeting specific weak points — aim for the glowing areas on his body.
7. New Game Plus starts with all upgrades intact and is the best way to experience the alternate moral choices.

First Major Boss: King Minos

Minos is a giant judge who wraps sinners in his serpentine tail. His attacks come in two patterns: a ground slam (dodge sideways) and a tail sweep (jump over it). His weak point is the glowing souls in his chest — focus attacks there between his attack windows. After dealing significant damage, a quick-time event triggers for massive damage. Repeat the pattern three times for the kill. Stay mobile and don't get cornered against the arena walls.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is Dante's Inferno available on modern platforms?
A: It's available through PlayStation backward compatibility on PS3 games and physical Xbox 360 copies. No native PS4/PS5 or Xbox Series version exists.

Q: How faithful is it to the actual poem?
A: Very faithful in visual design — each circle matches Alighieri's descriptions closely. The story takes significant liberties by making Dante an action hero.

Q: How long is the game?
A: 6–10 hours for a first playthrough. New Game Plus adds 4–6 more hours if you explore alternate moral choices.

Q: Is it worth playing in 2025?
A: For fans of classic action games and literary adaptations, absolutely. Its art direction and ambition haven't aged at all.

Q: Which upgrade tree is better?
A: Holy for first playthrough (more survivable), Unholy for new game plus (more fun offensively). Both are worth experiencing.