Mediterranea Inferno Review

Have you ever wondered what living life as an Italian socialite would be like? Have you wanted to be the life of the party, be one of the top models of the internet or have a famous, powerful family? Well, I have some bad news for you because there is a game that will show you exactly how horrifying life can be. I am, of course, talking about the latest game developed by Eyeguys and Lorenzo Radaelli, Mediterranea Inferno. 

Mediterranea Inferno classes itself as an adventure game, although a read-along may be a better name for this particular title. The story follows three young men: Claudio Visconti, Mida Marangoni, and Andrea. Claudio, Mida, and Andrea are known to everyone as "I Ragazzi del Sole” translated to “The Sun Guys”. Together they were living the high life in the Italian party scene, at least until that pesky COVID came around. Two years later, the restrictions are lifted, and the Sun Guys decide to reconnect with each other at Claudio’s grandfather’s house.

Mediterranea Inferno takes players on a journey of self-discovery and the nature of regret by using the Sun Guys and their relationship with each other. The players will see these characters slowly reveal their inner secrets and regrets as the game goes on. These revelations and introspections come about due to the fruit of mirages presented by the mysterious Madame. Essentially, these fruits allow each of the boys to go on a psychedelic quest to learn more about themselves. There is a catch, however: the Sun Guys need to consume four of the fruit each to "ascend to heaven". This is what the player is charged with, they need to gather enough sun coins throughout the plot and make the choices that will allow one of the Sun Guys to taste the fruit and then lead them through the subsequent mirage. 

If you happen to think that the description I just gave seems a little light, you’re not wrong, at least from a gameplay perspective. Mediterranea Inferno is not a game as some would define it, it is more of an experience. There isn’t much for the player to do other than make a few minor choices and click a few buttons, and that’s only in the mirages. Mediterranea Inferno isn’t a game to while away a few hours on, this is a game that requires focus. There are odd occasions where the game can drag slightly. Thankfully it is saved by the characters and their stories. The Sun Guys initially seem vapid, even dull, but there is a depth to them for the player to discover, and the writing is enough of a slow draw to keep players invested.

Mediterranea Inferno is mainly helped by its visual style, namely the use of colours and silhouettes. The drawings are simple, but they retain a strong sense of character even though they all have the same base model. I never felt like I didn’t know who I was looking at, and nothing was lost in the mess of colours that each scene presented me with. However, while the art is distinctive, it misses having some proper animation or voiced lines. There are a few basic animations but nothing complex and often, these are repeated. The music is in a similar boat, to be honest. The songs are fine, but they repeat often and there’s nothing that stands out. 

Overall, Mediterranea Inferno offers something unique to players, and there’s a fair bit to get through. While the main story takes about 3-4 hours to complete, you can play through multiple times to see all the endings. However, while the game is certainly unique, it isn’t something that can be picked up and played. The lack of an actual gameplay loop will turn some people off, and the lack of any real challenge can make the experience feel less than rewarding. However, if you’re looking for a more reading experience and want to be reminded of how mentally exhausting lockdown was, then Mediterranea Inferno could be worth your time.