DmC Devil May Cry Definitive Edition - Maxi-Geek Review

It has become a common trend this console generation to re-release games from the last, with a few tweaks and some DLC on the disc, but they usually fall into one of two groups, the rush jobs with the least amount of effort, or the second, where a lot of care and attention is paid to each area resulting in a great version of the game, DmC Devil May Cry Definitive Edition falls into the latter.

For anyone who played the game when it was released on the previous console generation, the story here is nothing new for you, but for others it is a prequel to the events of the original Devil May Cry series, where Dante becomes the demon slayer we know. As the story unfolds, Dante learns more about his past and his abilities, which are fun to explore. Throughout the length of the campaign, Dante will join forces with Vergil and Kat, members of a group known as The Order, who are doing what they can to take down Mundus, a demon who has taken over mankind.

The problem with the story is that all the characters seem to accept their fates without question, someone says something and Dante just agrees. Vergil and Kat are just as bad, without batting an eye they proclaim these are the things we need to do, they are super hard and crazy to boot, but you do them Dante. Mundus is also a problem, the protagonist and company talk about Mundus as this great evil, who has done countless atrocities and needs to be stopped, but we never see anything of that, we are just given the orders reason and expected to accept it.

The story however moves along pretty fast, which keeps the pace of the game moving along and it is possible to complete the main story in a weekend, should you be so inclined. As you explore each of the stages, you will find collectables and doors, which will help you get the best rating possible, but they also unlock bonus missions for you. Which means, that if you miss some collectables on your first play through, you will be able to return to a specific mission in an attempt to collect them all. Of course, once you do complete the game, you will be given the chance to play through again, only with some elements changed, enemies using different attack patterns and more, which means you can play through twice and experience the game in completely different ways.

What has changed from the original release though is the speed and fluidity of the game, back when it first released, the game had lofty ambitions and sadly, with the limits of the consoles was never quite able to reach them, but with the power that the new consoles possess, it is no longer an issue. The game now moves along at a solid 60fps, running full 1080p and boy does it show, each time a wave of enemies approached I never once noticed any slowdown in the games performance, but that is not all, at the start of each mission you can enable turbo mode and have the game run 20% faster than normal, if you want to see things move at an even more blistering pace.

Swapping from one weapon to another, mid combo and tearing through the demon horde never once slowed down the fun I was having and nor did it impact the game itself. Of course, a game like Devil May Cry should run at a good speed, it’s a necessity for the gameplay, but even when not in open combat, the game still runs smooth and steady. Combat is dependent on your skill, as getting the best rank at the end of the level is one part combat, one part time and one part collectables, with the latter two being easy enough to accomplish, the combat can break you. In order to achieve the best score, you must always be changing up your attacks, swapping from a heavy attack to a light, weapon to gun, ground to air and while it is easy enough to do it, sometimes the game just requires more from the player than most players will be able to give, thankfully though, swapping between a few weapons occasionally does nothing to major to damper your fun. If again, only due to the smoothness of the combat and visuals.

Of course, visual upgrades are as important as making the game run smooth and here the team behind it have done a really nice job. If you were not aware that it was a remastering, you might be convinced it was a game built for the new consoles, it just looks that good. Of course, there are sometimes where the game is not quite ready and you get slow loading textures, but the times that this occurred could be counted on one hand, the characters look detailed and well designed, the environments equally so.

The games audio has also received a nice bump and things sound sharper and more eerie than they did in the original release, the music is not my thing, but it does suit the game very well. The voice acting is performed well, with each of the characters having a sense of weight to them that helps sell that this world could exist. Perhaps the only real letdown audio wise is that of the demons, they all sound a little too predictable, which if you look at the designs, they are anything but.

What makes this a worthy purchase for everyone, even if you got it the first time around is that the game now comes packed with all the DLC previously released, including Vergil’s Downfall, but it also has new modes as well. All the doors you find throughout the game will actually unlock bonus challenges, which you can access from the main menu, there is even a nice mode to test your skills against an unending wave of enemies. Overall, it is a well-rounded package and worth your time.

For anyone who played it last generation, there is enough additions here to recommend a second dip, for those who have not played it, now is a great time to get into one fine gaming experience and to lose yourself if really solid gameplay.

Thanks to Capcom for supplying the game for review.