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A soft reboot for the Devil May Cry series, DmC is under-appreciated and incredibly creative. This definitive edition brings every together, making it the perfect time to grab this gem of a game. More than just a collection of the base game and its DLCs, Devil May Cry: Definitive Edition brings upgraded visuals and a very welcome frame rate upgrade. This allows console players to enjoy the fluid combat and timing PC players enjoyed the first time around.
The Devil is in the Detail
I just want to say immediately that the story is fantastic and much deeper than anyone thought it would be. Playing through the definitive edition gave me time to truly appreciate just how ambitious it is. Previous Devil May Cry titles aren’t exactly known for their story, so the bar is pretty low. But with DmC, Ninja Theory crafted a story with depth, believable characters, and an assault on commercialism, capitalism, and the media. Some moments of satire are a little heavy-handed in places but it savagely goes for the likes of Fox News. The demonic Bob Barbas’ Raptor News Network and addictive soft drinks with the deadly soft drink Virility follow in the footsteps of Futurama and Slurm.
DmC’s story isn’t the only hard-hitting aspect of this hack ‘n’ slash title. You’ll be going from one action sequence to another at incredible speed, with only a few platforming sections thrown in to give you time to catch your breath.
DmC is also just as stylish, if not more, than its predecessors. Everything is visually stunning, from crumbling cityscapes to labyrinthine tunnels. Every part of DmC is dripping with detail. Sadly the fast-paced nature of the game means there’s little time to enjoy it.
Idle Hands are the Devil’s Playground
The move from 30 to 60 frames per second makes for a much more responsive experience. But it doesn’t make the game any easier than its initial release. You’ll need to practice and master Dante’s impressive movesets if you want to tackle later levels or harder difficulties. And don’t even look at the newly added turbo mode until you can pull off SSS combos regularly.
And if you really hate yourself, then turn on the “Must Style” modifier. Which stops you from damaging enemies until you’ve achieved an S or higher style rank.
There’s also Vergil’s Bloody Palace mode. Similar to Dante’s Bloody Palace from the original release, except this one does away with the easy levels to ease you in and throws you straight into 60 levels of hardcore arena battles.
Boss battles are somewhat formulaic. They usually involve learning a boss’s attack patterns and looking for an opening to attack. But they’re wonderfully impressive. The battle against Bob Barbas is a definite highlight. The fight sees you transported into the Raptor News Network and directly into its news reports, complete with the TV commentary and helicopter shots.
Before its initial release, fans of the original Devil May Cry series threw their toys out of the pram and complained about the newly designed Dante, mainly attacking his hair colour of all things. This led to negative press about the game before its release. Some said they didn’t like the direction Ninja Theory went with DmC and never gave the game a chance. This is a huge disservice. The fast-paced combat, gripping storyline, and memorable character all deserve your attention.
Final Thoughts
Devil May Cry: Definitive Edition isn’t just a lick of paint and a technical upgrade. It introduces a plethora of hardcore challenges to an already impressive game. Returning players can enjoy the punishing challenges. Newcomers can enjoy the compelling and inventive story while getting to grips with the deep combat mechanics. DmC is an absolute classic of the hack ‘n’ slash genre and is more than worthy of the Devil May Cry name.
