Hey guys and gals!

I know I’m supposed to have a new Despondent Mega Man up today, so to make up for it I’m giving you a more in-depth game review with pictures and everything. As usual, these reviews aren’t objective and are based solely on my personal opinion.

DMC is the reboot of the Capcom series Devil May Cry. DMC, however, was not developed by Capcom, but rather a company called Ninja Theory. Ninja theory has developed other such games like Heavenly Sword and Enslaved: Odyssey To The West. I was worried at first that Capcom was using an outside developer for one of its beloved franchises, but DMC crushed my expectations.

Let’s get this out of the way first: Dante’s new look. There has been a lot of controversy about it, but I think he looks great. His style is a lot more subdued, and he no longer looks like a cosplayer. The simpler the better, I say. I also hear complaints that he doesn’t act like Dante should. I think Dante had just the right amount of attitude, style, and depth. Just because something is new, people, doesn’t mean it’s bad.

Onto the story. Think The Matrix meets They Live as directed by Quentin Tarantino. Mundis, a very powerful demon, is ruling mankind though media and governmental control. Dante is a Nephylym, a half human half demon. He and his brother Vergil lead a rebellion against Mundis in order to save mankind. DMC doesn’t really feel like a reboot, but more of a prequel to the original. Yes, it’s over the top and campy, but It’s also badass, funny, and engaging.

The gameplay is where DMC really shines. It’s all about style. During battles you’re graded as to how much variety you use in your demon killing. This means you have to use all the moves and weapons in your arsenal to get that coveted SSS rank. I’ll admit that I had a hard time getting used to the controls at first (there are a LOT of weapons and abilities) but once I got the hang of it combat was fun and engaging.

Despite the excellent combat, I do have some gripes with the gameplay. In between battles you have to do a lot of platforming, and the controls are such that it feels very scripted, especially when you have to traverse with the Angel Lift or Demon Pull (think Link’s Hookshot). The platforming also slows the pace of the game down a lot. Combat is so fast and exciting that it’s very jarring to go from that to running around and getting lost around corridors.

The graphics are all over the place. The textures can be a bit rough around the edges and there are some consistant hiccups and flickering. The character models, however, are excellent. Ninja Theory has a real knack for facial expressions and animation. The characters emote so well that I sometimes forgot they were digital.

I also really liked the music. I’d call it acid techno meets metal, kind of like Prodigy or early Marilyn Manson. It’s got a unique soundtrack that fits the game very well. It got me really pumped to kick some demon ass.

I really enjoyed DMC. Despite some graphical issues and problems with pacing, the game more than makes up for it with excellent combat and a unique style. This is a great re-imagining, and I’m looking forward to what comes next for the franchise.

NOTE: All images used in this review are property of their respective owners.