Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening

"It DMC3 really difficult? Yes. Is it still really fun? Hell yeah."

The original Devil May Cry caught the videogame community somewhat by surprise when it came out in 2001. With its tight control scheme, over-the-top style, and edge-of-your-seat gameplay, the game marked for some the first true reincarnation of old-school 2D gaming on a 3D platform. It sold well, and became a very hot property for its creators at Capcom – so much so, in fact, that a sequel made its way out the door only a year and three months later. Much to the gaming world's indignation, however, this follow-up seemed thrown together, and had almost none of the original's charm or style.

Naturally, Capcom wanted to save the fledging franchise from an early grave, and so when they announced Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening in 2004, there were plenty of questions to be answered. The developers promised a return to the series' initial, successful formula, in both style and substance, and they had many a gamer eagerly awaiting the final product. It was released in early 2005, following on the heels of one of the biggest holiday seasons in the PS2's history. Did it live up to its potential? Read on:

Visuals:

The menus are designed in a simple, highly functional manner. There is a fair amount of information portrayed in each menu, and it is always very well labeled and described. Navigating the menus is equally simple, as every option is in the place you would expect it to be. In-game menus allow for quick access to any of the tutorial information, as well as information on many other features of the game, and the presentation on these menus is handled as well as can be expected.

In-game graphics for DMC3 are some of the best ever to be featured in a PlayStation 2 game. Dante's character model looks simply amazing, from top to bottom, and little flourishes like your equipped weapon or gun are always present. Enemies are less detailed, but they make up for their fewer polygons by being stunning to watch in motion. In fact, character animation is clearly DMC3's strongest visual aspect. ‘Smooth' is the best way to describe how everything flows on your screen; from Dante's tricks to enemy attacks and dodges, nothing will ever seem forced or stunted. Controlling Dante is like watching poetry in motion, and comes off as very entertaining even to just watch.

The settings in the game have all clearly returned to the gothic style of the original DMC. You'll traipse through an assortment of torture rooms, castle interiors, and otherworldly dungeons, and all of them look very good. They feature a good amount of interactivity, as red orbs (the game's currency) and other secrets are hidden throughout each level, and you'll be tempted to search for each as you're playing. Dante can also perform tricks off of many of the environments, which adds to the feeling of immersion.

Of course, the comeback of DMC's smaller environments brings back the biggest problem that the original had: static camera angles. Yes, that's right folks, this free-flowing ‘crazy action game' for some reason utilizes a mostly static camera. This means that there will be plenty of times when you'll be attacked from off the screen, or you will be left fighting the controls after a sudden change in the camera angle. There's little that can be done to combat this – supposedly, you can rotate the camera with the left analog stick, but this doesn't work for all camera angles, and the camera can only be moved from side to side anyway – and as a result, you will be faced with the prospect of taking needless damage on a number of occasions. This does not ruin the game by any stretch, but it will leave you very frustrated at times, given the game's already-steep difficulty level.

The cinematics that play both in between and during missions are nothing short of spectacular. Dante is an extremely active character, and almost everything he does during these videos is so off-the-wall crazy (and cool) that it will leave you with a smile on your face. The scenes are very well animated, and they are an extremely memorable part of the game. The high quality of game's graphics engine shows through in these scenes, as most of them are rendered using the in-game character models.

DMC3's incredibly well-produced visuals, from the game environments to the character animation, live up to the caliber of the game's high-flying premise. Unfortunately, the static camera angles that the game uses conspire to hurt the overall performance of the presentation.

Score: 7/10

Sound:

The sound effects in DMC3 are another very strong area of the game. Dante will end up with nearly a dozen weapons at his disposal at the end of the game, and no matter what situation you put them in, the sounds they give off are always in tune with the action. The same can be said for the enemies in the game, as their interactions with the environment and your character will become recognizable through sound alone. The background sounds of the game's different locations all fit superbly as well.

While you might expect the voiceover work in the game to be campy and poorly done – this is an action game, after all – you will be pleasantly shocked by the overall quality it shows. Yes, it's all incredibly over the top, but it's over the top in a good way. Dante's voice actor does a fine job of providing his lines, matching his character's inflection to his emotional state stupendously, and all other characters meet his level of quality most of the time.

Heavy metal is the preferred background music in the DMC series, and DMC3 is in no short supply of it. Combat sequences against generic enemies will always be accompanied by the same one or two tracks of this hard stuff, which come complete with screaming, guttural vocals that can be quite catchy when you first hear them. During exploration sequences and most boss fights you will hear a score that is comprised of generic orchestral tracks. Both of these styles of music fit well into the game when they are included, and although the metal stuff can get on your nerves if it's not to your tastes, it never becomes more than a minor nuisance.

Overall, the acoustic performance in DMC3 is on the same high level of quality as all of its other parts, and it improves the game experience as a result.

Score: 9/10

Gameplay:

So, we now know that DMC3 has seen a return to its old glory in the audio and visual aspects of the game; unfortunately for many a developer, though, game quality is not determined solely on these characteristics. Without fun and involving gameplay, a videogame might as well be an interactive movie – or a coaster. Luckily for everyone involved, this game features some of the most fun and involving gameplay ever seen in the action/adventure genre.

The controls in DMC3 are the best thing that the game has going for it, bar none. Everything you will be doing with the controller during your time with the game is extremely intuitive and well-designed, and it translates effortlessly into your actions on the screen. You will move Dante with the left analog stick, while (as mentioned before) the right analog stick rotates the camera in certain areas. The X button has Dante jump, the square button uses Dante's currently equipped firearm, and the triangle uses his equipped ‘Devil Arm' (his melee weapon). The circle button is uses your style-specific abilities, and also examines items in the environment. R1 is used to lock on to a target, L1 transforms Dante into his demon form, and L2 and R2 cycle through your outfitted firearms and devil arms, respectively. The four directions on the D-pad bring up different in-game menus, such as enemy information and your inventory, and the Start button brings up the pause menu. The Select button has Dante taunt his opponents – a feature that is utterly useless, other than for laughs. Without question, this game controls as solidly as any that has ever come before it, and it's a good thing that it does, as you will need every bit of those excellent controls to master the deep and challenging gameplay.

It should be noted right away that DMC3 is an extremely challenging game at its start. The gameplay here is based on fundamental ideas that run contrary to what you may expect from previous experience with similar games. Dante, while a brash and powerful character, is extremely vulnerable to damage at the beginning of the game – indeed, so vulnerable that a few hits will kill him outright. You'll be hit quite a bit, too, if you charge headfirst into battle, which you are likely to be inclined to do. Death will come quickly and mercilessly at first, and this means that you will have to replay the entire level that you on when you died, regardless of how far through you were.

Once you've been slaughtered a few times, you should come to realize that you'll need a drastically different approach. This is your first clue to figuring out how the game ticks, and to being able to survive it. Combat in DMC3 is not a typical hack-and-slash affair – it's a game of patience and quick reflexes. You will need to keep your foes at bay when fighting them, never opening yourself to attack from your foes, while getting in your blows when there is an opportunity. The importance of the game's excellent sound and animation become readily apparent here, as you will be listening and watching closely for your cues to either attack or get the heck out of dodge.

Once you get the hang of things, you should be able to maintain yourself fairly well during the missions. Things get progressively more difficult as the game goes along, but you will become more powerful in concert with your foes, thanks to the acquisition of many new weapons, health-increasing blue orbs, and the ability to purchase health-replenishing items. One small failing of the game is the fact that it never really lets you know the importance of these healing items. It would have been nice to hear about them in the tutorial, or even the instruction manual, where they receive only passing mention.

The game will additionally grow easier as you earn more experience for your chosen style. DMC3 features four different ‘styles' for Dante to utilize, and each has its own unique and useful abilities. You'll initially be able to choose from Trickster, Swordmaster, Gunslinger, and Royal Guard styles, and you'll earn an additional two styles as you progress through the game. Trickster is the best style for most players, as it allows you to escape dangerous situations much easier, but each of the other styles can be equally as helpful when powered up. It's disappointing that you can't pick and choose different abilities for our own, personal ‘style,' but each of the existing styles is suitable enough for gameplay.

Perhaps the coolest piece of the game – and certainly the part that makes it a blast even just to watch – is the combo system. Since Dante can switch between two equipped weapons instantly by pressing R2 or L2, a skilled player can string together some truly crazy and impressive moves. The game's combo meter provides an instantaneous judge of your performance, and you can actually earn more red orbs from fallen enemies by getting higher ratings on your attacks. This isn't necessary to the gameplay, but it is tremendously pleasurable to play around with; after all, you need to fight the enemies anyway, so you may as well have some fun while you're at it.

Enemy A.I. isn't too much of a concern (how the heck can you tell if a demon is acting realistically?), but the adversaries in DMC3 do a good job of maneuvering through their environments and attacking Dante when they can. There aren't any obvious bugs or flaws in their movement or assault patterns, which is all you can really ask for, since the challenge here isn't due to brilliant foes.

Most of the missions pack a boss fight at the end. These can be a real pain in the butt, since the enemies here usually pack quite a punch, and dying forces you to start all the way at the beginning of the mission. You might need to fight each boss (and, concordantly, the rest of the mission) several times, but once you figure out their attack patterns and warning signs, you should be able to dispatch them all without too terrible of a struggle.

The game jams in a couple of light puzzles, which are simple enough that you should be able to figure them out in a few minutes. Most of the puzzles-type elements are simple item fetch quests, and the items you're looking for will always be in a pretty obvious place. The gameplay is mostly focused squarely on combat, and the lack of puzzles really doesn't hurt the game.

DMC3, simply put, is an incredibly challenging, but incredibly pleasing, game to play. The tight controls and beautiful gameplay system come together so cohesively that you will want to keep partaking in it, no matter how frustrating it is.

Score: 9/10

Story:

The storyline in DMC3 starts out very slowly. Dante is suddenly and rudely attacked by demons in his office, after being ‘invited' by a mysterious visitor to meet his twin brother Vergil in a gigantic tower that has sprung up out of the ground in his home city. You will, throughout the course of the game, fight your way up and down this tower, confronting Vergil at different points, and finding out the tower's purpose, and the mysterious intentions of the visitor from the beginning of the game. You will also interact with a female devil hunter named Lady, who has her own set of curious motivations.

Dante is an extremely likable character, and his personality just oozes out of him in whatever he does. His interactions with the other characters are always entertaining, and the fact that the cutscenes and voice work are so well done just add to the intrigue of the story. The overall plot is pretty cliched, but it's entertaining enough to watch happen that you shouldn't care.

The DMC games have always been fairly light on story, and DMC3 is no exception – at least, in the beginning. As you progress though the game, you may be surprised at how captivating the story is. It won't win any Oscars, but it will certainly give you your money's worth.

Score: 7/10

Features/Modes:

DMC3 features four separate difficulty levels, although all but normal must be unlocked to be played. Once each mission has been completed on a difficulty level, it can be replayed at that difficulty level at any time. This is great for secret-hunters, as well as players who want to play around with the combo system, but playing through the levels again won't do much for anyone looking for new content. Other than these difficultly levels, and some videos and concept art that are unlocked as you beat more of the game, there aren't any extra features or modes to speak of.

Given the hardcore fanbase the series commands, DMC3 certainly has plenty of replay value; unfortunately for the less hardcore, the fact that there isn't much to do but play the game through more times will render the replay value of the game minimal.

Score: 5/10

Total Score:

At its heart, Devil May Cry 3 is a simple game. You will progress through different-but-vaguely-reminiscent areas, kill plenty of enemies, solve an occasional puzzle, retrieve an intermittent key, and face tough boss fights at the end of each mission. These are staples of videogame design, and in many other games, they are simply motions that the developers put you through; this game, however, is going to make you earn your way through, and you will need to decipher how to do just that without seeing the ‘Game Over' screen. It's a complex and demanding challenge, yes, but by playing it from beginning to end – by experiencing the game in all of its crazy, stylish, difficult glory – you will ultimately understand why it is so rewarding.

If you own a PlayStation 2, and have even the slightest predilection for action/adventure games, then you should definitely try DMC3 with a rental to see if you can handle its difficulty. If you like a good, stiff test of skills in your games, then you should definitely pick up a copy of the game. If you don't fit either of these categories, though, and are still interested, then be cautious in your approach, as DMC3 is not a game that will leave everyone satisfied. It will only sate your gaming desires if you can handle the steep initial complexity of the gameplay – if you can, though, you're in for one hell of a ride.

Score: 8/10 (not an average)

~~

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 02/17/06