Devil May Cry 3: Special Edition

"The series once again has risen to it's former glory."

Devil May Cry

Devil May Cry 1 was one of the best action titles of all time. It was heralded as the very definition of what makes an action title great. It had everything. A good story-line, cool characters, great action and replayability. It's battle system was complex and unique, with plenty of upgradable features, multiple guns and a few weapons with their own unique style. Devil May Cry was the champion of action.

Devil May Cry 2 was released a few years ago. Hoping that it would be as good as the first, the fans of the original DMC flocked to it. But they were disappointed. The game didn't approach the original game's brilliance by a single bit. The depression began, and what was once a great title had lost it's reputation of a great action series in one blow.

However, after the fall of DMC2, the company went back to work on a new title, going back to what made the original so great, and adding much more to it. A complex battle system, upgrades for all weapons and guns, a good, heavy difficulty for hardcore gamers. The title shipped and was released, and here we are. DMC is set back up to the top of the list as best action game.

DMC3 fulfills the quota to achieve a greatest hits release, and more content is added and released in Devil May Cry 3: Special Edition.

First, the audio.

This is the best music in any of the DMC games. Don't get me wrong, I like the first DMC music, but this is even better. It's delicate application of an orchestra and a chorus provide a beautiful harmony when the game takes on a more series note. The action is fast paced, and the music accompanies it, featuring a couple metal tracks that keep your adrenaline pumping. While adventuring through the game, the creepy soundtrack will keep you nerved up, expecting danger around every corner.

The atmosphere and direction of the game was well harmonized with the music that was used for this release.

The game looks beautiful.

Another step up for Devil May Cry. The visuals are great, the characters look solid. The monsters are unique and varied. Granted there's not a humongous roster like in the first DMC game, that's nothing bad; it's still a good roster. The locations throughout the game will blow your mind. The tower at the beginning of the game looks Gothic and haunting. As the story unfolds, the tower changes in unique ways. Paths open, others are closed, and the landscape at a whole changes along with the story.

You'll get a definite feel for this when you play through Mission 8. I won't ruin the story for you, but throughout the mission the action of Dante and the plot in the game will advance in a way that the visual effects will be represented in the very environment itself.

My only complaint in the visuals is the one issue which prevents the title from receiving a perfect 10 score. The camera. The camera has gotten in my way so many times throughout the game that I've taken hits from enemies I haven't even seen. Control over the camera is limited, and when you're unleashing a blitz of attacks on the enemies, you can't spare to take your eyes off of focus from the action for a second. The end result: a hit from behind, immediately lowering your Style, and possibly even preventing you from achieving an S or SS ranking at the end of the level.

Nevertheless the gameplay makes up for it.

This is perhaps the most deepest action engine I've every experienced. It requires so much from the player. It may be a bit difficult at first, as it was for me, but you'll be kicking those pesky demons around in no time. While playing the game you'll discover tactics by utilizing the game's different Style selections. One Style allows you to zoom past the enemy, another to barrel into them using a special sword/hand-weapon attack, another to allow you to fill your enemies with lead, another to defend against and return damage. There's a couple more too that I won't spoil for you.

The title delivers whether it be gameplay or strategy. As you perform unique techniques, you'll watch Dante in amazement. You'll flip past an enemy, land a couple blows into him from behind. Switch weapons, knock him into the air, fill him with lead, cut into three more enemies at a time, blow them away with a special attack, taunt, and carry on in any manner of forum. You create your own style. You decide how you play the game.

Playing through the title it's adventurous and action packed style keeps you hooked. I couldn't wait to start the next mission. Each level will lead you further into the game's environment in a deep and unique way. Even moving back to the previous environment is exciting, as the changes throughout the game, as I have said before, change the environment.

The special edition also delivers the extras. Virgil is now a selectable character, who's story alone makes the game work the $50 the original edition was released for. Luckily this is the Greatest Hits Special Edition, so you get this amazing character for only $20. Not only that, but you receive other bonuses. A 9999 level dungeon, a new boss fight, a cutscene viewer, more unlockable costumes.

If you missed out on the original release of DMC3, you MUST get this one.

So would I recommend it?

Of course I would. It's one of the best games I've ever played. Granted it's not for everyone. The difficulty may turn away some of the more casual gamers. Even when I began playing it I died about eight times on the first stage. But you know what? I loved it. I played and played some more, learned new tricks and created my own style. Now I can easily play levels and take down most bosses without a single hit.

I would recommend this game to anyone. For $20, you really can't go wrong. It's one of the best games out there right now that will hold you over until Devil May Cry 4 on the PS3. Should you rent or purchase it? I'd recommend a rent to see if you can handle the difficulty. However, if you cannot find a rental of the Special Edition, or would rather not waste your time, go for the purchase. One of the best games of all time which raises DMC back to it's former glory. I give DMC3 a nine out of ten.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 08/14/06