Devil May Cry 3: Special Edition

"It's not Devil May Cry 2! Award a point!"

GAME REVIEW: Devil May Cry 3 Special Addition (PS2)

Well, I've already done one review on Devil May Cry, so if I went by logic, the next review would be Devil May Cry 2...which I actually really want to review, but it's been years since I've played it, and can't remember that much, and my sister lost the game that came with the Devil May Cry Anniversary set, so I'm forced to jump ship to number three right now. But don't worry, someday I'll get a copy of DMC2, and I'll rip on it the best I can.

For now, let's focus on an actual good game. What am I saying? This game isn't just good, it's fantastic! Where DMC1 revolutionized the 3D action genre, DMC3 took this even farther, delivering what may be the very best action game on the PS2, or any other console. That's a big statement I've just made, but luckily several years have past, so it's not like I'm gambling with this statement, it is a fact. Right now I'm just revisiting this game, and showing you how it holds up a few years after launch, especially now with the release of Devil May Cry 4.

Despite being the third in the series, DMC3 is in fact a prequel to the original, featuring a very teenage Dante. At first you're kind of disapointed that you don't get to play as the grown up bad-ass we know him as, but after a few minutes, you grow to accept the game for what it is, since it paints a much clearer picture of Dante's family tree, and clears up some of the haze surrounding the first game. That includes showing Dantes twin brother Virgil as his normal self, and showing how he became what he was in DMC1.

Right from the start you know you're in for a treat. The opening movie shows a bit of what happens half way through the game, as Dante and Vergil duke it out, swords flailing, with rain pouring down on them. Then it cuts back to the beginning, as a scene ensues with Dante being attacked by demons, but dispatces them in some of the coolest ways imaginable. Capcom hired a Japanese action film director to direct the cut scenes, and man did it pay off. I haven't been this thrilled wathcing action scenes in a long time, and it isn't an over-statement for me to say that hollywood could learn a thing or two from these scenes, and man are there a lot of them in the game. The in game action looks almost as good as the cut scenes, with some of the best graphics on the PS2, and that's not likely to change seeing as how the PS2 is slowly being phased out.

Veterans of the first two won't have too much trouble adapting here. The controls are similar, and a lot of Dante's combos from the first two are still here, along with a lot of new ones, including some environmental ones! The biggest change in this game is the classes that Dante can use. He starts the game with four, but can unlock a few more through the course of the game. The starting four classes are Gunslinger, Swordmaster, Trickster, and Royal Guard, and each one has it's own unique set of moves, combos, and powers. These can be switched at the start of an episode, or at save statues, though it would have been nice to be able to switch mid game, what is here is acceptable. These different classes can also be leveled up by collecting red orbs, the common currency dropped by enemies in every DMC game. Each class has three levels, and gives you more skills as you progress them. It normally takes one entire playthrough of the game to max out each class, so if you're worried about replay value, don't be, because there's a lot to do here.

The classes are a great addition to the game, and really push the series forward by leaps and bounds. One thing that may turn some off to the game is the extreme difficulty. Let me say this now, this game is HARD! It has some changes from the normal edition, but it's still no walk in the park. You will die, and die, and die, but if you're persistant, you'll keep coming back. Beating this game is an accomplishment you should be proud of, and it's a welcome change of pace to some of modern games that seem to be walks in the park. Capcom tried to make DMC2 easier, and look what happened. Now they really got back on track, and have made one of the most balanced difficult games ever, which is no easy feat.

If normaly mode is too easy, wait until you unlock hard mode. Still not enough? How about Dante May Cry mode? If you're still saying it's easy, then you are either lying, or have found some type of glitch that I don't know about, because this game beat me to a pulp.

So if maxing out the classes, and playing through higher difficulties isn't enough for you, unlocking Dantes brother Vergil very well should do the trick. Exclusive to the Special Edition, Vergil is unlocked after beating the game, and instead of being just a skin for Dante, he actually has a very different set of moves and style, that makes playing as him a welcome treat to die hard fans.

There are still some of the same problems in this game that will turn some gamers off. The camera is still in a fixed position, meaning those who can't adapt are left out, although in my opinion the camera always gives the best angle of the action. The difficulty will surely turn people who don't like torturing themselves away, which is fine, because Devil May Cry is not about holding your hand. Fans of the first will rejoice over the comeback of the series, which has continued rather succesfully with the release of Devil May Cry 4, and hopefully we won't have another mistake like DMC2 in the future.

So if you have a PS2, like action games, and don't mind a challenge, or loved the original, this game belongs in your library. For others who can't stand the heat, please get out of the kitchen so the rest of us can rock!

GRAPHICS: 9/10- Some of the best on the PS2, and the cutscenes will make your jaw drop.

SOUND: 9/10- The music is a generic rock track during battles, which may irritate a few, but if fits the game nicely. The voices are very well done, though Dante's one liners are definetly going to annoy some as much as the difficulty.

CONTROL: 9/10- Very tight controls give even better movement than the original. The jumps are easy to perform, and combos take a lot of skill without resorting to button combos that take a genious to memorize.

GAMEPLAY: 9/10- One of the most purely fun experiences to be had on any console.

OVERALL: 9/10- If it's not the best action game on the PS2, it's obviously one of the best. It deserves a spot in your library.

REPLAY VALUE: Decently High

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 04/17/08

Game Release: Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening Special Edition (US, 01/24/06)