Much like Dante in DMC5, I have awoken from my months-long slumber and I'm ready to go! Only instead of killing demons, I have an insatiable urge to... blog!!

You know how back in the day, people would say that games are “good rentals?” For many, those opportunities have sadly dried up. The decay of stores like Blockbuster has left the state of game rentals in a bad place. Unless you can borrow a copy from a friend, you’re usually better off playing through your streaming service of choice, waiting for a sale, or just biting the bullet and buying it outright.

I mention this because at a completely unrelated trip to my local library this week, I noticed that they had begun lending out fairly new games. That included Devil May Cry 5, which had been on my wish list for a while. Since action games tend to have short campaigns, I checked out the game without a second thought and eagerly began plugging away.

Before now, DMC was one of the many important franchises that I’ve never touched. I knew there’s a Dante and a Vergil, and that at some point someone’s dark soul was meant to be filled with light. No real story details beyond that. I am a fan of its stepsister series Bayonetta, plus other Platinum games like The Wonderful 101 and Metal Gear Rising. However, despite thoroughly enjoying their tone and characters, I would not consider myself “good” at those games.

To be honest, I was kind of put off by the fanbase surrounding DMC. I’ve wandered into some Discord servers where hyperfans sneer at those unable to form artful combos at impossible difficulty levels. In order to get the most enjoyment possible, I made the executive decision to set DMC5 to the easiest level, called Human.

I know, someone out there probably just got a heart attack. I cheated not only the game, but myself, etc. Don’t worry about it. Seeing as I had a limited window to get my fill, I didn’t want to have any trouble.

To DMC5’s credit, Human mode gave me exactly what I wanted. The game proper was probably designed for committed players with more time on their hands, but easy mode let me through the whole way while still asking for a minimal amount of skill.

For those unaware, the game has not one, but three characters to master. With some exceptions, the player is forced to use a specific one in each level the first time through. All three feel fully featured with seemingly endless weapons and techniques, both inherent and unlockable. And surprising to me, they are totally distinct in feel.

First up is Nero, another “blue dude with ‘tude” from Capcom. Out of the three characters, he was probably my least favorite to play (However, his battle music, “Devil Trigger,” is an unexpected earworm). While Nero has a lot of tools at his disposal, I never felt like I fully understood them all. For starters, he can rev his sword for more damage, but at no point did I grasp timing of that mechanic.

The big new thing this time is Nero’s suite of Devil Breakers, mechanical arms that give him new abilities in combat. These could have been implemented better, in all honesty. In total there are a… handful of arms that each have different properties. For example, one is made for flying enemies, one is focused on grappling, and another simply buffs Nero’s other attacks.

Devil Breakers are consumable items, and they will break if Nero takes a hit while using them. Replacements can be bought in the shop or found scattered in levels, though there must be an empty space to pick them up. Strangely, there’s no way to switch your equipped Breaker on command without destroying it. Am I supposed to intentionally do so if I have an arm that’s better for the situation? The intricacies of the myriad arms never clicked for me. I would have preferred one or two arms with more customization options, as the management aspect did not improve my playthrough.

V is the new kid, a Kylo Ren-looking weirdo with sandals and a book of 101 poems. He has to rely on three summoned creatures to fight for him, then V has to land the finishing blow. V has the fewest options of the characters, which makes him the mashiest. By accident, I was able to build SSS combos on a fairly regular basis. To my knowledge, this is a new way to play an action game, and I give them credit for experimentation. Despite that, I imagine V is too passive for many people.

In the end, Dante ended up being my favorite. First of all, I love his attitude during the whole thing. While V is in constant pain and Nero has a debilitating Napoleon complex, Dante is never not having fun. I have no idea if this is correct, but in my head the series is taking place in real time and Dante is fighting demons well into his forties. He certainly looks the part, and all I can do is hope I enjoy myself that much at his age.

Dante has far and away the most options of the three. I was worried I would be overwhelmed, but I could mostly wrap my head around it (though the forgiving difficulty certainly helped). Dante has four styles to switch between, swappable weapons with independent movesets, and two super modes that add even more complexity. A fully pimped-out Dante has a dictionary full of potential moves. Thankfully, the game makes some attempt to ease you in, adding more moves later.

Dante could have probably carried the game on his own; however, he isn’t playable until halfway through. It’s not that Nero and V aren’t fun, but I would have liked more levels with Dante. In general, I found the character limitations pretty disappointing, though you can go back with the other guys if you want.

I want to keep my criticism light, but my biggest problem with the game is there are only two major environments. You’re either in a busted-up city or a gross demon tree. With a few exceptions, I can’t identify individual levels from each other, especially in the late game. Looking at Platinum games that often go all around the world and beyond, it feels like a missed opportunity.

Another element that doesn’t match the Platinum standard is the over-the-top attitude I’ve come to expect. It’s fine if the game takes itself slightly more seriously than Bayonetta, but I’d prefer if it didn’t. The opening credits are sufficiently bonkers, but it goes away after that. Much later, Dante does a whole Michael Jackson dance routine, and I wanted to yell, “YES! That’s what I’ve been missing!” Outside of those instances, the wackiness is pretty limited.

Finally, I was left hanging by the last boss. The first phase was a difficulty spike for sure – it gave me my only death of the playthrough – but afterwards, it’s largely the same fight as a different character. Don’t get me wrong, I was happy to see The Other Guy I Knew (and not just from English class), but I expected a huge boss monster to follow that just didn’t happen. Also, his plan is 100% Xehanort, and that is NEVER a good thing.

Now that I’ve finished the game, I have to say I’m glad I didn’t pay anything for it. I don’t mean to sound that harsh, but while I enjoyed DMC5, it probably doesn’t hold $45 in value for me. Maybe one day I’ll go back on a harder difficulty and – who am I kidding, I always write this crap at the end and then I never do it. Anyway, I’m excited to go back to the library and check out more stuff.

What about you? Any recent experience renting games? Furious at my difficulty choices? Recommendations? Let me know, and until next time, happy gamin’.