DmC: Devil May Cry

Seems the destruction this game had was felt in the real world too

DmC: Devil May Cry
Developed by Ninja Theory
Published by Capcom

Review by Jeremias de Leon

Wow, this game has it's fair share of controversy. Who thought an alternate universe with changes would garner so much of it?

Wrong DMC. Rest in peace Jam Master Jay though

Synopsis

Dante and Vergil are twin sons of a demon father named Sparda and angel mother named Eva. Eva was murdered by the king of demons and Sparda was subjected to eternal torture by Mundus. Cue Dante looking for revenge and Vergil starting a group that opposes demons and is looking to dethrone Mundus. They also try and expose the world as it really is in what's pretty much a throwback to the movie They Live. The story isn't going to win any awards but I have to say the way the story played out in this game is pretty fleshed out. Dante over time in this universe grows as a character and so does Kat and Vergil.

Hair can cause a lot of backlash...

Gameplay

Here is what Devil May Cry is all about. Does Dante still fight like Dante, in short, despite what some people may cry foul over, is yes, yes he does. It may be done with a different focus where being stylish is based on using the different weapons stylishly where in the original it was more on doing the crazy combos and having them keep going while not taking damage. Dante's different weapons add a different take on frenetic combat, and I have to say I truly do enjoy it. It's not better or worse than the previous games it's different and is just as good. It makes you think about your combos in a different way and it's still enjoyable. Switching from angel and demon weapons and knowing which enemies take more damage from which and setting it up so you can hit the right enemies with the right weapons.

Also yes, the gameplay is responsive when you push a button Dante does it. Yes, the frame-rate is 30fps instead of 60 the game still plays just fine, Dante is not sluggish and the action feels great. If I don't see slow responses with my weird, mutated eyes (don't ask) then I don't see a problem. It plays different, yes, but it still plays great and Dante still has his signature moves like fireworks and stinger.

Presentation

The character designs are different obviously but they work as a more realistic looking Dante, Vergil and Mundus. The enemies look more like creepy demons as they should and Dante although skinny and with a different haircut is not a design I can complain about, it's still better than all the gritty brown shooter heroes you see nowadays. I also happen to love the design of Vergil especially his coat. It invokes the original but still has it's own design.

The level designs are great in the beginning, the first levels are pretty imaginative but as the game goes on they do seem to bit more bland and if someone walked in and didn't know what you were playing they would guess any number of games you were playing before Devil May Cry.

Verdict

Devil May Cry is honestly enjoyable the gameplay is tight and the storyline keeps in mind the original but goes on to make things more fleshed out. The game does kind of peter out in the end with a bit of a lame puzzle and some boss fights that are a bit anti climactic. Well, the penultimate boss fight anyway. The final one is pretty good.

I give DmC an 8.5 out of 10

Small Type #1: DarkSiders II & Sleeping Dogs

Small Type #1: DarkSiders II & Sleeping Dogs

Reviewed & edited by Jeff Williams

Welcome to a new review section I'm doing called "Small Type". With most modern gams being full of time consumption, I though it would be best with some to start doing smaller, scaled down reviews for specific games.

The lucky two to be the Starters for this will be THQ's DarkSiders II and Square-Enix's Sleeping Dogs, reviewed for the PlayStation 3.

DarkSiders II 

Developer: Vigil games

Publisher: THQ

Release Date: 08-14-12

Systems: Windows PC (OnLive/Stream),  PlayStation 3 (Review),  X360 & WiiU "Late '12"

After the success of 2010's Darksiders,  publisher THQ commissioned series developer Vigil Games to start working on a sequel. Two years later and their published almost 6 ft. under, Darksiders II was released to the gaming public on August 14th (a day earlier for steam users).

Plot:

Though this is a sequel, the game's plot flows parallel to the original. You play as Death (voiced by Michael Wincott) and your on a quest to prove War's innocence with the 100-year imprisonment of the Horseman War and the extinction of the Human race.

Presentation:

Unlike the original's look having the same "nothing but BROWN" feeling when it comes to the post-apocalypse, this game's universe and look has color.

The Voices that bring these characters to life has been one of the most impressive voice casts I've seen this year.. so far.

Michael Wincott's portrayal of the Pale rider makes him feel  a complete opposite to War. Where as War was a noble horseman, Death is the one that's in "The Gray".

This cast also includes James Cosmo of "Game of Thrones" fame and he voices Maker Elder Eideard, Death's guide.

The music done by Jesper Kyd of Assassin's Creed, Hitman and Borderlands fame,  is an amazing score. I know ALOT of people know and use this word to often, but this soundtrack is the perfect definition of the word Epic!

Gameplay:

The Combat in the sequel is fast and fluid. With this series being a action-adventure/RPG, it improves it more with that ideal. The loot that you pick up and acquire from your fallen enemies is easier, the menus are cleaner, the weapons/armor that you pick up or buy throughout the game shows the stats and the pros/cons of it.

Bottom Line:

Not only this is an improvement to the 2010 original, but it's an improvement to the action/RPG genre that it should become the new standard. In other words, Like how developer Vigil Games were inspired by the legendary Nintendo series, "The Legend of Zelda", Nintendo should and hopefully would be inspired from DS II's gameplay and presentation for the little elfin boy's next adventure.

DarkSiders II gets an almost perfect 9 out of 10.

Sleeping Dogs

Developer: United Front Games (additional work done by Square-Enix London)

Publisher: Square-Enix

Release Date: 08-14-12

Systems: Windows PC (OnLive/Steam), PlayStation 3 (Review) and X360

Plot:

You play as Hong-Kong officer, Wei Shen. Your undercover to infiltrate a locally feared Triad gang, The Sun On Yee or "Water Street Gang". Will you survive the ordeal? Will you discover who's more corrupt or Loyal? You'll have to stay alive to find out...

Presentation:

The recreation of Hong-Kong is Amazing. Though this game's mission structure is a Linear one, the city itself feels like a character of it's own.

With this being United Front's first big title, the talent they acquired for the voice cast is highly impressive and showing that finally, Voice-overs are becoming a more recognized/accepted gig in Hollywood. From Hollywood actors/actress such as: Tom Wilkinson, Emma Stone, Lucy Liu and Kelly Hu to recognizable actors as Robin Shou of Mortal Kombat fame, this cast is both respectively diverse and great.

The music for Sleeping Dogs was done by composer Jeff Tymoschuk (007 Nightfire and Everything or Nothing). While it's the same flair in regards to previous action scores in the the industry, it gets it's job done. If theirs one thing that does differ itself with others is that it acknowledges it's background and culture beautifully.

Gameplay:

With Sleeping Dogs, developer United Front has made a perfectly crafted game when it comes to it's combat…. almost. The melee combat in SD does take a page from Rockseady's "Freeflow" combat from their Batman: Arkham games, but has made it more fluid and assessable. The shooting mechanic however felt in some places, sluggish.

Sleeping Dogs has done one thing that Rockstar's own Grand Theft Auto series STILL can't get right and that's the driving mechanics. While the driving physics and control in GTA IV were hair-pulling annoying, in Dogs it's more refined. In other words, the driving in Sleeping Dogs feels more realistic than in GTA IV.

Bottom Line:

While I dislike their games in resent years, I have to applaud Square-Enix for picking both this IP and the developer up after Activision cancelled it. From the plot to it's gameplay mechanics, this is another game (like the previously mentioned Darksiders 2) that could be a dark-horse for Best Action Game of 2012. Besides the mentioned linear mission structure, this should and must become the industry standard for future Sand box games.

Sleeping Dogs gets a 8 out of 10.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What are your thoughts? Do you agree? Disagree? Leave you comments below in the comment box. Also, please leave some creative criticism below in the comment box as well. It will help me get better and improve in future articles, editorials and reviews. 

If you want to follow my recent endeavors on the interwebs…

Twitter: @16bitJeff

tumblr: [insert title here]

Darksiders II review!

Developer(s): Vigil Games
Publisher(s): THQ
Platform(s): Playstation3, Xbox 360, Wii U, Windows, Cloud (OnLive)
Genre(s): Action, Hack and Slash
Release: August 14, 2012 (PS3, Xbox 360, Windows), Late 2012 (Wii U)
Rating: Mature

You have not seen the story of the Apocalypse or the Four Horsemen told like this before! Darksiders gave us a vision of the End of Days in a way we could only imagine. The sequel delves further into the game mythos. Darksiders II follows the story of the most feared of the Four Horsemen, Death. The sequel coincides with the storyline of first game but follows what occurred in War’s story. The Charred Council has detained War for bringing about the Apocalypse and wiping out humanity to which War proclaims his innocence. Death, knowing War to be the most noble amongst them, rides to clear his brother’s name and, in turn, restore humanity.

The Pale Rider starts off already on his horse Despair with Scythe in hand as he rides hard into battle. You are thrown to the wolves in this opening tutorial to get you familiarized with Death’s combat mechanics. Let me tell you, the way that Death fights he might as well be called the “Pale Ninja”. The Reaper is far more agile and swifter than his brother War. He comes equipped with two small Scythes that he uses to dispatch enemies with ease. War was more of heavy hitter, exhibiting power rather than speed. Death is a contrast with his speed and agility. However, what really sets him apart from War is how customizable he is. Where War had only a few items and weapons, Death can use a variety of secondary weapons, such as an axe or hammer to deal massive damage, and items, like armor to increase his defense. The enemies you battle drop these materials upon their defeat. Customization in Darksiders II takes a page from RPGs. Outfitting Death with different weapons and armor changes his stats, giving you the freedom to make him into the awesome Harvester of Souls he is known as. Some materials will actually change Death’s appearance.

The world of Darksiders II is far more expansive that in the previous title with bigger environments allowing players more exploration. Since Death has his noble steed Despair with him right from the gate, traversing this open plane is more appreciating than in the first game where this could not be full explored since War is reunited with his horse Ruin late in the game. Graphically, the sequel is just as impressive as its predecessor if not more so. Bigger environment means greater attention to detail and very little was spared here. There are more puzzles and dungeons to solve than before that allow Death to continue his journey so long as he solves them properly, think of an RPG crossed with God of War. The element of side-quests also exists which play on the expression “scratch my back and I scratch yours”. Some NPCs will give Death a special gift or upgrade only if he completes their task whether he likes it or not. Some of these gifts are useful and some are not but all-in-all, the job has to get done.

PRO: Darksiders II takes several pages from other titles. Let’s start with customizing. I’m immediately reminded of Castlevania: Symphony of the Night when I saw the customize screen and how different items change different stats. Even the layout closely resembles SotN. Death can also use items to change his stats. Their effect varies upon the item used and the same goes for Death’s weapons and armor. Like Alucard did with swords, Death uses a variety of Scythes each with their own attributes. As awesome a game as the first Darksiders was, War felt limited in this aspect. He should’ve had a much larger arsenal than what was given to him. Another problem that was corrected was dodging. Death moves like the wind when avoiding enemy attacks AND he can do it mid-strike even with a heavy item. Thank Dante or Kratos for this one. War was pretty quick on his feet too, but his heavy strikes left him open for counters. Another detail in the combat mechanics is the seamless transition between primary and secondary weapons while fighting. Starting a combo with either one and finishing it with the other will lead to variety of attacks including Death combining his two Scythes into one and sending it whirling about, punishing his enemies with multiple strikes.

CON: There aren’t too many complaints about Darksiders II except sometimes the background graphics tend to lag when focusing especially in the forest area. The controls are still a bit lacking when riding on horseback and do not feel as tight as they should be.

OVERALL: Darksiders II is a fast-paced hack and slash, beat ‘em up that falls well into the genre along with games such Ninja Gaiden, God of War and Asura’s Wrath. Death is an amazing character with crazy combat skills, a wicked cool Reaper Form and a mean looking ride. There is so much going on in this game between the puzzle solving and open world exploration that, rest assured, you won’t be bored to…well, you know.

Darksiders II gets 4 scythe slashes out of 5.

See you on the next level! BrianM.