DmC Devil May Cry

DmC: Devil May Cry is one of those rare games that feel like they came from another generation, but despite this fact, they work and play no worse than most modern titles. It's a journey through the literal hell-infested streets and back alleys, into the darkest corners of demon reign over humanity. It is even more brutal than it sounds - but you can fight back.

Plot - 7/10

The plot holds no great revelations or twists. You play as Dante, a young man, who, for as long as he could remember, saw and fought demons, although he didn't know where they came from or what it all meant in the grander scheme of things. He was just living his simple life of debauchery when, one morning, a girl helped him kill a hunter demon. A demon sent specifically after Dante. And this girl worked for Dante's brother - a brother he didn't know he had. After that, the story develops slowly, but continuously and coherently up until the very end.

Is it interesting? Not enough to keep you on the edge of your seat, but it's not bad. As a bonus, it includes instances of harsh and sometimes strange humor. I am not personally acquainted with the franchise, so I can't assess whether anything was wrong with the characters or if something didn't fit - but as a standalone story for a game of this genre, it is more than enough.

Gameplay - 10/10

This is what DmC is all about. The combat is superb - throughout the whole campaign, Dante will constantly acquire new, cool weapons - but new, dangerous enemies will keep coming as well. Each weapon offers numerous possible combos, especially when fully upgraded. Chaining them all into one fluid and savage assault of your foes - that's a real treat for the eyes.

The system itself is not the easiest to master, but it's rewarding when you get the hang of it. Every enemy has its powers and weaknesses - as do your own weapons. Choose wisely. The bosses, unfortunately, aren't too original, but considering the year of the game's release and their low number it's not that big of a deal.

Besides all that, DmC offers seven different difficulty levels - some of them with a twist. The completion of those is mandatory if you want to get all the achievements - and they are hard. They will want tons and tons of your time. That's where the game will really tap deep into the despair and gloom at the bottom of your soul, and probably even make you question your life choices.

Graphics & Visual Design - 8/10

Even for the year the game came out the graphics were already a little outdated - more so today. Despite that, DmC holds out thanks to the amazing work on visual design and the continuity of action. What do I mean? Most cutscenes and fights flow seamlessly into each other, creating an almost movie-like experience. Add to that well-designed, half-dream and half-hell-like objects during the missions - and you've got a perfect mix.

On top of that, the developers weren't afraid to experiment. Is this a fight against a news speaker? A part of the level will be inside the TV screen. Are we in a nightclub? Cool, that means dubstep and a little bit of craziness. Wait, is that a carefully planned break-in? We can paint some parts like a blackboard with chalk and talk the players through it as they play - no need to overburden them with excessive information ahead of time. That makes DmC more open about everything - and therefore, more interesting.

Soundtrack - 10/10

The music in DmC is heavy, aggressive, and tastes of blood. Its intense notes impeccably align with the dark tone of the game, its distorted sounds rip us from reality and send us spinning into a world of endless conflict. It's energetic and marvelously done - no surprise, then, that the game on Steam even has a 'Great Soundtrack' tag.

Atmosphere - 9/10

While DmC does a great job of creating the impression of running and fighting in a literal hell (technically Limbo, but let's not get hung up on details), it's still not a game that prioritizes atmosphere. It's a game about a merciless battle - therefore, the developers never had the task of putting an atmosphere above all else. Rather, they had to put it somewhere at the end of the line - but even so, DmC makes you feel as if you're in the bowels of hell when you play it.

Verdict - 9/10

DmC: Devil May Cry is an illustrious example of a splendidly crafted action game with deep mechanics and attention to detail. If you want to try something like this or get acquainted with the franchise, now might be the perfect time. Besides, if the topic of demons or any subjects of hell always appealed to you - one more reason to not miss out on the fun.