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

DmC: Devil May Cry demo review!! Does Ninja Theory bring it?!

Did I mention that I’m a Devil May Cry fan? No? Well …I AM!! I just tried out the demo for DmC: Devil May Cry and I’m excited even more for this game. Combat is as fast-paced as ever; however, the mechanics may take some getting used to, especially if you’re new to the series. But once you learn them, you’ll be demon slaying in no time. Dante can switch in between weapons during combat just as in Devil May Cry 3, except the secondary weapons aren’t set to stay permanently. Instead, you have to hold down a second button while pressing the action button to access it. This is a nice incorporation of an element from the Darksiders games. The switch between weapons is almost seamless. Grappling plays are a part in both combat and traversal through the stage. Switching to a specific secondary weapon allows Dante to grapple enemies and designated platforms along with other environmental hazards such as the cameras that constantly watch him. By illustrating this, the demo suggests that Ninja Theory’s take on the series will have puzzle solving much in the way of other hack and slash titles such as God of War and Darksiders, both of which use grappling mechanics.

The Unreal Engine gives this demo the neo-cyberpunk feel that works well for this version of Dante. There are two stages available in the DmC demo. The first is the demo stage that has been shown at E3 this year as well as other events. The city comes to life in an attempt kill Dante. Buildings are closing in, the street comes apart to reveal a bottomless void and you got to high tail it out of there or be destroyed by your surroundings. One sequence did take me by surprise. Dante enters what looks like a church which leads to a way out. As he runs toward to exit, sections of the floor suddenly shift back, creating environmental hazards. He has to jump and use his dash maneuver and grapple ability to make it across. The second is a boss battle with a really gross and foul-mouthed horror.

After playing the demo, I have high expectations for Ninja Theory’s take on the popular series created by Team Little Devil. There are folks out there giving the company and new Dante a whole lot of smack. Hopefully, they have played this demo and realize their folly. As Devil May Cry fan, I only care about using super cool demonic powers to hack my way through hordes of demons with stylistic flare and a cocky attitude. January 15 can’t come fast enough but I like the building anticipation so I can wait.