## Description

_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.

Enter the Story: Volume 2 – Dante’s Divine Comedy