Infernal: Hell’s Vengeance Review

I have played a ton of bad games over my review writing career. So many that I am hard pressed to name a front-runner for the title of “worst reviewed game ever”. Infernal: Hell’s Vengeance is not the worst game I have ever reviewed, but it certainly is an honorable mention. This game, particularly for a next-gen console like the Xbox 360, is an atrocious attempt on every front. From the graphics to the storyline, controls and gameplay, pretty much everything about Infernal will make you want to commit the ultimate sin: suicide.

The first problem that I encountered with Infernal was the very first level where it became pretty clear that the game lacked a coherent storyline, as well as competent voice actors for the dialogue. You play as some agent for hire that left working for heaven in favor of hell (apparently Satan has a nice benefit package). There was definitely potential with a story of this type. Heaven versus Hell movies do quite well in Hollywood. There’s no reason a video game could not pull it off as well. Painkiller for the PC comes to mind. Unfortunately, the story is neither interesting nor entertaining and borders on cheesy. All attempts at humor in the game fall flat as well.

As far as the gameplay goes, the problems start with the clunky controls. You will have a hard time to land a shot on a moving enemy and getting a head shot is even more difficult. Of course the AI is barely smart enough to use cover. Most of the time they will just run directly towards you. The cover mechanic for the game is pretty much useless and is actually more of a hindrance since you will sometimes get caught on walls when you never meant to take cover.

Not that you need to use cover anyway. Most of the game will be a cakewalk on any difficulty level. Another major gripe that I had with the gameplay was the fact that you have to stop in the middle of action to pick up ammo. In terms of regaining health, you have to do this soul collecting move that is the same “hold down on X” mechanic as picking up ammo. This takes a good 3 seconds in the middle of combat where you won’t be able to defend yourself. I actually expect more from a game in the 1990s than what the developers delivered here.

Just to give you a better idea of how bad this game is, I thought that I would describe one of the levels in Infernal. You are up in some mountains where a monastery full of monks are the target of your wrath. I have no idea where this is located, the game doesn’t say, but it gives the atmosphere of Tibet only the monks speak with a Brooklyn accent. To make matters worse their means of defense is not the Holy Bible, but pistols and shurikens. Yes, shuriken wielding monks. A new low in video games.

To wrap this all up, I would just like to say that it is a shame that Microsoft even allowed such a shoddy product to be released on the Xbox 360. If this is the best that traditionally PC centric Playlogic can come up with, I don’t see much hope for them as a console publisher. Infernal: Hell’s Vengeance is a game that you should avoid at all costs. It is an abomination that is better served in the depths of Hell than in your video game collection.