Devil May Cry's hardest of hardcore fans would like to tell you that Ninja Theory is throwing up a middle finger at Capcom (and fellow fans) with the radically different look of Dante in the Devil May Cry reboot. But it turns out that the original creators are the ones urging Ninja Theory to push the creative bar.
In an interview with Develop, Ninja Theory's Nina Kristensen says Capcom Japan gave the studio full artistic freedom with the redesign. It even had to, at one point, tell the studio to "go crazy" with the character, after Ninja Theory submitted concepts that were deemed too conservative.
"The concepts for Dante went through a lot of different iterations," Kristensen said in the interview. "They went all over the place. We went really far out with some. The first time we sent our initial concepts to Capcom Japan, they said 'no, no you need to push it way further.'
"Because, obviously, Dante is a big character for Capcom, we stuck fairly close to the original design template. But Japan said we needed to go much further, go crazy with it, and so we did."
== TEASER ==The new-look Dante hasn't thrilled fans of the iconic character. A glance at the threads about the redesign in Ninja Theory's official DMC message board reveals the fervor of DMC fans and the disgust for the new slimmer, younger, and more industrial Dante. Some members are even offering to redesign the character themselves, as if Ninja Theory needs the help. Also, there's a lot of talk of a Twilight connection, but I haven't seen any new DMC videos with the werewolves and teenagers yet.
In the Develop interview, Kristensen added that Ninja Theory hopes that, with time, people will begin to like the redesign, as the game is to remain respectful of the franchise and its hack-and-slash mechanics. But I think fans need to be willing to show some respect in the first place for this to happen.
By the way, here's a look at the old Dante in Devil May Cry 3 for comparison (and ridicule) purposes:
Its certainly been a decade of remakes, reboots and prequels. I think we're all getting a bit weary of it now. Might well turn out to be decent. Their record is two good games, two bad, so far. It could go either way.
I think it's cool!!! I'm going to smoke cigarettes and cut my hair as well.
Are devils immune to lung and throat cancer?
I hope Capcom sells enough copies of this game for it to be considered successful.
Afraid people are going to stop buying Capcom games due to hard achievements (Mega Man 9/10, Street Fighter 4, Devil May Cry 4)...I still want this, maybe play under a different tag...
" While I do like changes in video games, this guy just looks like a flaming faggot. So what's the point? Attract all the fucking weabo girls that are into the anime skinny "pretty" men to play DMC? Guess so. "
" I think Capcom knows exactly what they're doing here. Pull in some new fans with the reboot, and pull back old fans who felt it got stale. Meanwhile, all the hardcore fans they pissed off that are saying they aren't gonna buy it, will probably still be the first ones at the checkout. "
I think it could fit, maybe - growing up half-demon with a dead father and full demons constantly trying to murder you probably wouldn't make you a model youth, y'know? And If my hair was silver-white when I was high school age I probably would've dyed it dark too :) The design changes for young Dante don't really bother me, so long as the gameplay's fun.
edit: Yeah, the reboot thing is a little disappointing. The series hasn't always been fantastic, but it doesn't need a do-over. Seems they're kind of making it a bit of both a prequel and a reboot? That was the impression I got from the interview up on the Playstation blog, anyways.
Yeah, as a big DMC and Dante fanboy, I'm not too impressed. I'd been under the impression it was a prequel, too, but it's a reboot... that just makes it worse. >: Hopefully it'll turn out alright anyway.
" I'm really digging the new Dante and after playing Enslaved I'm really looking forward to this DMC with there art style and story telling with those who did the combat for either DMC 3 or 4 backing them on how to do the combat then I'm alright and its kinda funny saying that this Dante should be in Twilight while Dante 1 and 3 would be more of a match for it. "
i love ninja theory, i think they can do a lot with it, i jsut think they're all wrong with this twilight vampire looking lead character. he looks like a skinny emo punk. he looks like the ebony and ivory weigh more than him.
@HitmanAgent47: they want to appeal more to the west. Everyone about the graphics and the tone is pretty decent, just the character model itself is terrible. If its a western they're going for, they need to make him look like Clint Eastwood (not literally, but just stronger and tougher looking) and not the pansy wannabe that followed him around in Unforgiven.
If the game's good, I'm all for enjoying the game while I hate Dante. Or, maybe they'll get his character down, so I won't even have to hate him. I'll just have to wait to say any more than that.
I'm really digging the new Dante and after playing Enslaved I'm really looking forward to this DMC with there art style and story telling with those who did the combat for either DMC 3 or 4 backing them on how to do the combat then I'm alright and its kinda funny saying that this Dante should be in Twilight while Dante 1 and 3 would be more of a match for it.
I'm relatively indifferent to the design, and more curious to how the game will play. Given that it's Ninja Theory, who has a pretty decent track record so far in my book, I'm pretty excited for it actually.
I couldn't care less by them wanting to change his design. But I don't really like the look of their redesign at all. There is a difference between being a fanboy and just not liking their final decision.
It would have been awesome if they released several redesigns and let the fan base vote. But hey ninja theory are talented developers and I have faith in the game they will make, bad main character design or not.
ok so its teenage dante, smokes, has emo hair, hes a bit more of punk then a cocky bastard... makes sense, i don't hate it, i think the people who are really complaining about this are the ones who never played a lot of DMC, but claim to to sound cool.... much like with a lot of things like this.
well it's understandable i can't say on hitman actions but its rare that early reboots work, half the reason of it is the same fans don't support it. The other half is it does not improve the game in a big way. I think you would get the same reaction if bungie tried to pull a fast one and turn halo reach into a different game and try to call it a halo game. But i will try my best to hold judgement until we see gameplay but gameplay has never been ninja theory good points in a game. It's more in line with allowing SquareEnix to make the next ninja gaiden game. "
It's just weird to me that people are getting so upset about Devil May Cry...I was not aware the series had such rabid fans. I could certainly understand the reaction if, say, Nintendo handed over the reins of the Zelda franchise to, say, Bioware or something. But Devil May Cry?
Either way, this whole argument is pretty moot because the damn game hasn't even been released yet.
So I was actually right, they are literally just using the name to sell a game in a similar vein... Nice... Fuck heads. It's a pity that these guys are stuck working someone else's IP when they are so capable of creating unique games.
" he looks like a little bitch. thats it. too small, too skinny, too emo, too much like the leader of ninja theory which is weird as hell, and uh...yeah. he needs to be a slick lookin dude i get that, but a big and badass and most imporantly he needs to look like he can totally handle those big ass guns, unlike this new guy who looks like he is totally outweighed by them. the new guy looks like something out of Final Fantasy VII. that little guy holding a giant sword never looked right but it was cool in its own right. here is different. he needs to look more like Clint Eastwood, not literally, but more tough and strong. otherwise those guns just look ridiculous in his hands. oh and is that Andy Serkis again in the VO? ninka theory sure loves that guy! "
If this were like Final fantasy you wouldn't be able to tell if Dante was a girl or a boy with that pretty face.. but then again the first dante you would toss a long haired wig on and say was a lady XD (cept DMC4 Dante, now that looked like a guy)
And the VO I thought sounded more like Steven J Blum.. but that's just me XP
I don't give a crap about the redesign, I'm worried the combat. Both HS and Enslaved have horribly boring and simplest combat. DMC's appeal is in it's combo and system and nothing NT has done shows that they can pull it off.
I don't consider myself a hardcore fan but I am actually against the redesign of Dante. I was shocked when I first saw the trailer and I'm not sure if I'd grow to like it.
"I really like the new design, and I really don't want to see the same character dragged out through yet another game full of pizza kicking one liners. I still liked old Dante, but I also thought the series was getting pretty stale with DMC4. Anybody know the song they used in the trailer, btw? Also it's absolutely hilarious to me to see how butthurt people like HitmanAgent47 are getting over this. A game company is changing something about a game I like? TIME TO SPERG THE HELL OUT ON THE INTERNET ABOUT IT "
well it's understandable i can't say on hitman actions but its rare that early reboots work, half the reason of it is the same fans don't support it. The other half is it does not improve the game in a big way. I think you would get the same reaction if bungie tried to pull a fast one and turn halo reach into a different game and try to call it a halo game. But i will try my best to hold judgement until we see gameplay but gameplay has never been ninja theory good points in a game. It's more in line with allowing SquareEnix to make the next ninja gaiden game.
he looks like a little bitch. thats it. too small, too skinny, too emo, too much like the leader of ninja theory which is weird as hell, and uh...yeah. he needs to be a slick lookin dude i get that, but a big and badass and most imporantly he needs to look like he can totally handle those big ass guns, unlike this new guy who looks like he is totally outweighed by them. the new guy looks like something out of Final Fantasy VII. that little guy holding a giant sword never looked right but it was cool in its own right. here is different. he needs to look more like Clint Eastwood, not literally, but more tough and strong. otherwise those guns just look ridiculous in his hands.
oh and is that Andy Serkis again in the VO? ninka theory sure loves that guy!
This game will probably be out next year if not later which would make it ten years since the very first title. So I guess a reboot isn't too bad of an idea. Let's just hope the voice acting is up to par. Anyone remember the lousy dialog from the first game?
I really like the new design, and I really don't want to see the same character dragged out through yet another game full of pizza kicking one liners. I still liked old Dante, but I also thought the series was getting pretty stale with DMC4. Anybody know the song they used in the trailer, btw?
Also it's absolutely hilarious to me to see how butthurt people like HitmanAgent47 are getting over this. A game company is changing something about a game I like? TIME TO SPERG THE HELL OUT ON THE INTERNET ABOUT IT
That's cool and all brad but this is old news and granted capcom usa did want this crazy version of dante. But my problem is why does this dante look like the main guy in ninja thoery. Also i think his comment about what was cool 10 years ago is not cool now really did not help to win over fans. All i can say is i will wait for gameplay but i can't say i'm looking forward to it.
Also lets call this for what it is a big F*** you to fans and a warm welcome to potental new fans!
@HitmanAgent47: In the end you can't call a game crap for scores on a gamer-ranking. Play it for yourself. Then draw your own conclusion, simple. it's called having a mind of your own and not being a sheep. We've only seen one Trailer, and i'm sorry your closed minded, but I myself would rather think positive. If it's shit, then we can say it's shit once we get our hands on a demo / see more footage. As someone said before on here NT isn't a big company and if they have someone who looks like the look they were going after convenient, they would use them to get it done and save on costs. It's called being smart with your money. You can use it for better things than on the character creation.
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