Ninja Theory Did Not Take A Devil May Care Approach With This Devil May Cry
DmC Devil May Cry comes with my full recommendation to character action game fans who have history with the series and also those looking for a way into the genre. DmC isn't especially challenging until the later, unlockable difficulties, and is I think a good starting point if you've played some action games but have shied away from games that throw words like RAD COMBO 67 HITS on the screen. While DmC has been largely aged out by Platinum Games' games, it's still what you'd describe as loud and fun as hell, and makes attempts like Castlevania look quite staid.
The developer in question here is more known for story, animation and production values than they are combat, as much as they've tried to push mechanics in the past (Heavenly Sword, Enslaved) so I imagine this was quite an honor/chance for them to prove themselves to the some of the hardest corest game fans - fans of Capcom's Devil May Cry. While DmC lacks some of the original Japanese developer's charm, Ninja Theory went to incredible lengths to capture the spirit of the original. In the end, this is what stuck with me most. Look - Devil May Cry ain't Shakespeare, and DmC isn't either. That said, Dante, Virgil and Mundus are all known characters, and if there was anything we could say about the original Devil May Cry it's that it was bleeding style. Dante, whether you love or hate silver haired handsome but not too handsome Japanese video game characters, was burned in our memory. If you close your eyes you can still see him pull off the dashing stinger. For better or for worse, the red trenchcoat, silver hair and hilarious one liners ("Keeping it stylish!") are cornerstones of the DMC foundation. Now we all know the rest of this story: young game-playing badasses, upon seeing the new "emo" Dante, completley melted-down and lost it. But new Dante ain't so bad. And he ain't so new either.
DmC Devil May Cry is a love letter to DMC - that's what I appreciate about it most. There are many, many shout outs and references (sounds effects especially - listen close) to the first game but more than that it's a mythological retelling of the origin of Dante and Virgil, wrapped up into a remake of the first game as well. What was once told in a word scrawl is now half the point of the game, with the other half (Mundus) being the real whole of the original DMC. The tale of Sparta is retold here but with a real care for characters, regardless of the absurdity / hilarity of their modern demon existence. While DmC seems a deviation from DMC as it runs on it begins to pull the reality closer and closer to the original so many of us know and love. Not super subtle but still deft and very fun if you recall the original story well. If you don't, go watch Bradley May Cry.
Combat wise I had tons of playing DmC, even if whoever decided there should be fall damage IS A FOOL WHO SHOULD BURN FOR A THOUSAND YEARS. Bosses and enemies are well balanced but, like the aforementioned Castlevania, DmC waits a strangely long time to introduce some late game mechanics that suddenly are intensely required. The game generally ran well on PS3 but you should absolutely upgrade to PC if you have the horsepower. The level design is preeetttyyy mind blowing in its abstraction and exploded-out views (makes sense when you get in there, trust). Again the jumping penalities are hilariously out of whack with the precision you actually have to platform but outside that one major miscalculation the enemy arena's are generally balanced and fun and scale exceptional well over time, really letting you dig in to the game's combo systems. Just do yourself a favour and play this game in a short burst - you won't have fun relearning the combat if you jump in and jump out weeks apart. The game evolves its enemies far too fast for that.
Like all of Ninja Theory's games, DmC just couldn't seem to catch a break. I mean people liked it but all it it's got a rough rap. Production wise the character delivery (in terms of animation / facial fidelity) is right up with there with The Last of Us but instead of a touching story it's stuff like FUCK YOU DEMON FACE. Comedy, you know.
DmC Devil May Cry is a fun, light-hearted romp through modern demon land and I'd recommend it to anyone who finds that even remotely appealing. Also, *great* sawed off shotgun in this game.