DmC: Devil May Cry (Xbox 360)

It is a genuine pity that so many DMC fans are boycotting this game because of Dante's new look, and the drop in frame-rate from 60 to 30 fps (on consoles).Personally, I love this game. The gameplay, artwork, & soundtrack are all top notch. The drop in frame-rate has not really affected the gameplay at all - it still feels perfectly smooth & responsive to me. And very satisfying. It all looks so stylish & the animation is at times breathtaking. I admire the art work so much, I've decided to order the companion art book for the game. The soundtrack consists of both licensed music (which is very industrial) & an original score. They complement the game perfectly & add to the gritty, edgy atmosphere to this interpretation of the franchise.For the first time, we have a DMC with a coherent plot. The story is well written and the voice acting is first class. Some people may not like the political nature of the story - it has a swipe at corrupt/sleazy bankers, the media, corporations etc. Initially you may not like Dante's personality, but as the game progresses, so does his maturity & sense of responsibility.. By the end of the game, I found him to be one of contemporary gaming's more interesting & likeable characters.As for Dante's appearance, I prefer the new version. I felt that the old one looked like a camp magician or a (stereotyped) Broadway dance choreographer.Overall, I love the job that Ninja Theory have done. I hope that they are commissioned for a follow up. They have laid down some great foundations, & so it would be a great pity if they were to stop at just the one title. There is so much potential for future releases in this franchise. Speaking of which, I would like to see a prequel where you play as Dante's father; either as DLC, or a standalone game. Another reviewer on here said how they'd like to fight alongside Dante's brother. That would be great as we know how much fun co-op games can be, especially local co-op.For those that enjoyed DMC, check-out both Heavenly Sword & Enslaved: Journey to the West. Like DMC these titles have great stories, characters, art & sound design etc.

Dante and Vergil are back. Whilst this still has the Devil May Cry name, a lot has changed. The Devil May Cry games proved themselves on the PS2 and established themselves within the action/platforming genres. Now that Ninja Theory have taken what we know and twisted it, do Dante and Vergil still feel the same?-------------------------------------------------------Story-------------------------------------------------------You could argue that the newest Devil May Cry storyline is both the simplest and the more complex of all the games so far. Our story begins with Dante in a nightclub, unknowing of his power and potential. Shortly after a wild night-out, Dante wakes in his pier-side caravan before being dragged into Limbo, fighting hordes of demons and slaying one big baddie. That's just the first level, by the way!The demon-king, Mundus, is controlling the human world through the use of politics, media, news and food. He has eyes everywhere, but us humans do not see it the way demons or angels do and when the mysterious "Order" comes forward and Dante meets their leader, his past begins to unravel. Despite the rivalry in previous DmC games, Dante and Vergil seem more humane in this one when it comes to their relationship. Together, the brothers work to destroy Mundus' control over the world and, at the same time, get revenge for their parents destruction.You can see that Ninja Theory have taken familiarities from previous DmC games and expanded on them. The storyline is mix of other Devil May Cry games but you must remember that this isn't a direct sequel. The over-the-top action and pulse-pounding music are familiar aspects of older Devil May Cry games but I'm pleased that there's also a solid, decent storyline behind it all.-------------------------------------------------------Graphics-------------------------------------------------------DmC: Devil May Cry hasn't broken any boundaries with its graphics but it doesn't have to. I'll admit that the initial cut-scene and first few minutes of gameplay don't offer anything unique but after a while, gorgeous visuals and backdrops become apparent. The normal human world is bleak and grey and it seems as though the developers have tried to convey this in gameplay. There's colour, but not enough to make the world feel "alive."However, when Dante is dragged into Limbo by various demons, you see a dramatic change in the world, the graphics and the feel. Buildings tear themselves apart, floors collapse, secrets are revealed and huge, spanning backdrops make themselves known. Sure, you can't visit these backdrops or interact with them but it's such a difference between how the demon, angel and human worlds are portrayed that you can't help but admire it.Character models are solid with enough personality to drive them. Vergil looks like a gentleman in his black coat but you know that's because he's the cool, calm brother. Dante looks like a rogue, his hair ruffled and his attitude towards pretty much everything is lacking. However, this is the divide between the two brothers and I believe that Ninja Theory did a great job symbolizing that.-------------------------------------------------------Gameplay-------------------------------------------------------Ah, here we are! The core aspect of Devil May Cry has always been, in my opinion, the frantic button-mashing and over-the-top action that you are given. This DmC is no different as there's plenty of moves, abilities and button-mashing to satisfy even Dante himself. Despite the platforming sections, you can't help but want that epic battle music to start because you know that's where you get to shine.As soon as the music kicks in, you know you've got a fight on your hands. The music has always been a dramatic part of previous games and in this one, the music is fantastic. It gets you in the mood to fight wave after wave after wave of enemy demons without so much as a second glance. For example, when you first get Arbiter, a large demonic axe, the music kicks in and several demons pop up behind Dante. He smirks and spins around, setting the scene for you, the player, to lay waste to them using fancy combs and brute force. Killing the final enemy always results in a slow-motion finisher which never gets old and really makes you want the fight to never end.At first, I was a little awkward with the controls for combat. Once you start getting more weapons and abilities, remembering the buttons might take a while. I found that once I'd got Arbiter and Osiris, I was forgetting my buttons and messing up my combos. You see, using Arbiter requires you to hold the right trigger to use followed by various other buttons whilst Osiris requires the left. Don't get me wrong though, the control scheme itself is rather simple but with so many options in combat, I found myself messing up. Give it some patience and you'll soon become a master.Speaking of moves and abilities, there's a fair chunk of them in this game. Similar to previous games, you can upgrade Dante's abilities or his weapons through the use of upgrade points. These are aquired through completing missions and finding the various collectibles located in each mission. Upgrade points aren't difficult to aquire but the beauty of it all is that you can try out moves you want BEFORE you buy them. I would advise doing this so that you can learn the buttons! It seems as though Ninja Theory wanted to simplify the controls whilst also retaining the degree of control needed to pull off those truly epic and badass combos that we all know and love!You can replay each mission for completion bonuses and to compare yourself in the leaderboards, if that's your thing. Whilst each mission might not take too long to complete, there's various difficulty modes on this game designed to push you to the extreme. The later difficulties remix enemy waves so you'll have to adjust your moves and tactics to avoid being overwhelmed.Despite being different in a lot of ways, this Devil May Cry is still the game that we know and love. Casual gamers can pick up and play with little regard to the story thanks to the simple controls and genre of the game, whilst die-hard fans might want to take it with a pinch of salt. Fans of the series will probably appreciate the over-the-top action, swordplay, abilities and humour whilst newer players can just pick it up and play and get engrossed in everything going on. All in all, this is still a solid and enjoyable action-fest but it doesn't really offer anything else.PROS+ Combat is as fun and stylish as before+ Humourous dialogue+ Replay value+ Challenging at the higher difficultiesCONS- The game is quite short- Most of the level structure is the same