Devil May Cry - Xbox 360

This Party’s Getting Crazy! Again!

Joe Juba — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 08:01:00 GMT

I’ve been a fan of the Devil May Cry series since its inception, and I don’t care that Dante doesn’t have white hair, or that his origin story has been retooled for this entry. I don’t even care that he’s fighting the demon king Mundus again; altering and revisiting key elements are expected in any reboot. Regardless of how characters and events change, Ninja Theory stays faithful to the heart and soul of the series with this reimagining – and that’s what matters.

Stylish combat is the pillar supporting every other aspect in this incarnation of DMC. Wherever Dante goes or whatever new powers he gets, everything is focused on letting players tear through hordes of demons in entertaining ways. You start with Dante’s signature sword and handguns, but your arsenal soon grows to rival previous titles in variety and complexity. By the end, you rapidly switch among weapons like a shotgun, axe, and scythe in order to keep the advancing enemies in check. The responsive, fast-paced battles require timing and precision, but cultivating those skills pays off. Stringing together elaborate multi-weapon combos to hit an SSS rank is extremely gratifying.

I’m impressed by the sheer variety of Dante’s moveset. Three guns, two angelic weapons, two demonic weapons, and one sword have unique abilities that you purchase. Because some moves are more useful than others (I still love the Stinger/Trillion Stabs combo), you can refund any spent points at no cost, encouraging you to experiment with the possibilities. Thankfully, you get the grappling powers for free, and they add mobility to the battlefield in ways that combine the concepts behind Nero’s Devil Bringer and Vergil’s teleportation from previous installments.

As complicated as combat seems, it is surprisingly easy to control. Taking a page from its previous title, Heavenly Sword, Ninja Theory uses the shoulder buttons to shift between angelic and demonic weapons. I rarely found myself staying in one mode too long, opting instead to fire off a couple moves with one weapon before switching. One basic combo involves launching an enemy in the air from a distance (demon mode), then grappling and zooming toward it (angel mode), juggling it in the air with some scythe swings (angel), then slamming it to the ground to create an impact radius (demon). In practice, each move in that sequence only involves one trigger and one face button, resulting in rewarding (and visually stunning) displays of violence that you can direct with ease.

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When Dante isn’t fighting, he’s traversing a bizarre and breathtaking world. Despite the modern-day setting, most of DMC’s action takes place in Limbo, a dimension that exists parallel to reality. It sounds ridiculous, but this set-up serves as an excuse to put players in a surreal dreamscape where anything can happen. Streets break apart and crumble. Gravity inverts. Buildings constrict. These visually amazing events aren’t relegated to cutscenes; the ground can change beneath your feet at any moment, which is a fantastic way to keep things interesting as players move from one fight to the next. Fortunately, the hints of platforming here are much better than previous entries in the series, so you can appreciate the curveballs the world throws at you without getting too frustrated.

I have a lot of praise to heap on DMC, but it doesn’t do everything right. With the exception of the final fight, the boss battles feel outdated. Instead of using the combat skills you’ve been honing, they mainly involve a brand of pattern recognition and dodging that would feel more at home in a 3D platformer. I was also disappointed by the implementation of the devil trigger ability. It’s useful, but it charges slowly and depletes quickly, giving it too small of a role in the combat experience. Lastly, the final levels don’t clear the high bar set by the early part of the game. Limbo becomes more predictable, and thanks to aggravating enemy combinations, combat involves far less imagination. It’s a shame, because these final missions should have been an opportunity to go all-out with combat and visuals. Instead, the game feels like it is running on fumes. Activate four generators and then align the symbols? Whatever you say, Vergil.

The last few missions aside, the mechanics, gameplay, and environments in Devil May Cry are exactly what I wanted. A reboot is a chance to revitalize a flagging series, and Ninja Theory has done that with a striking vision for the DMC universe and top-notch combat. Maybe this version of Devil May Cry will need rebooting in another 12 years, but for now, I can’t wait to see what’s next for Dante.

Where to Start?

Players can choose from three difficulty levels when starting Devil May Cry: human, devil hunter, and nephilim. If you’ve played through any previous game in the series, the first two options are too easy. Nephilim offers a reasonable challenge without constantly pushing your skills to the limit. If you change your mind, you can always switch difficulty for any mission you’ve unlocked. Your first playthrough should be fun; plenty of post-game difficulty modes open up if you’re looking for a more brutal experience.

Free Bloody Palace DLC Coming To Devil May Cry

Kyle Hilliard — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 16:37:08 GMT

Bloody Palace mode, which offers over 100 levels of pure combat, will be coming to the upcoming Devil My Cry at no cost "shortly after launch."

According to Ninja Theory's Twitter account, "Bloody Palace gets really hardcore towards the end. You'll have to be something special to beat it." Sounds like a lot of fun, or the opposite of fun depending on how much you like difficult games.

Devil May Cry will be releasing on January 15 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

Dante Shows Off His White Hair In Devil May Cry's CGI Trailer

Kyle Hilliard — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 16:33:41 GMT

The Devil May Cry reboot is getting close, and Capcom and Team Ninja have put together a CGI trailer to make sure you don't forget.

You won't see any gameplay here, but you will see Dante with a bright red coat and Leslie Nielsen hair as he chops up some demons.

Devil May Cry is releasing for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 on January 15, and PC on January 25.

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Four Stylish New DMC Trailers From Japan

Ben Reeves — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 16:23:00 GMT

Now that we've had some time off for the holidays, we're starting to catch up on our backlog of games, so it's time to start looking forward to the games we'll be playing early next year. At the top of that list is Ninja Theory's new Devil May Cry.

Check out these three new Japanese trailers which show off Dante's brother, Vergil, and the duo's devastating combos.

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Here's The Third Episode Of The Devil May Cry Performance Diaries

Kyle Hilliard — Sat, 24 Nov 2012 18:42:26 GMT

The third episode in the developer diary series covering the performance capture of the Ninja Theory developed Devil May Cry focuses on Dante, and some other guy. The other guy is Phineas, someone we haven't seen very much about in the coverage of the Devil May Cry reboot. He only has a half a head. For parts one and two of the performance diaries, hit the links.

DmC Devil May Cry is coming to Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on January 15.

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[via Capcom Unity]

Capcom Delivers The Second Episode Of The Devil May Cry Performance Diaries

Kyle Hilliard — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 18:11:06 GMT

Last week we got to take a look at DmC's antagonists, and this week Capcom is giving us a look at some the protagonists.

The video shows off Dante's brother Vergil and newcomer to the series, Kat.

DmC is coming to Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on January on January 15.

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[via Capcom Unity]

Capcom Offers Five Minutes Of Uninterrupted DmC Gameplay

Kyle Hilliard — Sun, 11 Nov 2012 23:49:31 GMT

We've seen all kinds of edited trailers for Dante's upcoming re-imagining, but the latest video from Capcom and developer Ninja Theory offers straight gameplay with no cuts. Except of course for the cuts Dante is handing out with his sword.*

You'll see plenty of impressive demon-slaying action, a little bit of story, and a new level that feels more like the Gothic settings we're used to seeing Dante hang out in.

DmC: Devil May Cry is set for release on January 15 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

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[via Capcom Unity]

*I personally apologize for the use of this sentence in this news story. It was uncalled for, and unacceptable.

Watch Devil May Cry's Actors In Motion Captured Action

Kyle Hilliard — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 16:36:00 GMT

Capcom has released what appears to be the first in a series of videos covering the performance capture of the actors in Ninja Theory's upcoming Devil May Cry.

This video looks mostly at DmC's antagonists. You can see the same technology being used here that was used to make Avatar.

DmC is coming to Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on January 15.

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[via Capcom Unity Blog]

Devil May Cry Gets Chaotic In New Trailer

Jim Reilly — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 00:30:00 GMT

Capcom wants to remind fans the new Devil May Cry still looks awesome. The company released a new trailer from the New York Comic Con combines a mix of old and new footage. Devil May Cry releases on January 15, 2013 on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. It releases on PC at a later date.

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Uppercutting Demonic Fools In DmC

Ben Reeves — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 05:38:00 GMT

We’ve been on board with Ninja Theory’s reboot of the Devil May Cry franchise since the beginning, but in the game’s newest build we got to explore an inverted city and knock a few enemies into space with some fiery fists. It’s safe to say, we have no intention of deboarding this hype train.

The game’s newest demo starts as Dante jumps into a lake and emerges into the demon realm, which is an upside-down reflection of the city as seen in the lake. Platforming around this inverted city is fun, but it takes a bit of skill, forcing you to make good use of Dante’s new Angel Lift and Demon Pull grapple attacks.

One of the game's new weapons is a pair of demonic gauntlets. These weapons deal a lot of damage, but they force Dante to get up close and personal with his enemies. These massive fists let Dante do a three-staged charge attack that builds towards a Shoryuken-like uppercut, sending demons careening into the sky. While in the air, an enemy’s weapon immunities lapse and they will be more vulnerable to any number of Dante’s attacks. I found these gauntlets particularly effective against some of DMC’s larger foes.

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My skills were put to the test against DmC’s new Rage enemies. These bad boys are like a cross between a porcupine and a saber-toothed tiger. They skitter across walls and shoot spikes at you while you try to dodge their massive paws. These enemies also attack in packs – there is always an angel version and a demon version, and each version is only vulnerable to its corresponding weapon. The trick is that after a Rage’s brother has fallen, the remaining Rage is becomes infuriated and powers up. This means that it is often better to spread out damage between the two enemies equally, so that when one falls the newly powered-up foe will also be close to death.

Our hands-on time with the game left us more excited than ever for this stylish action title. If you’re still not convinced that you should pick up DmC when it comes out on January 15, check our Gamescom coverage for more reasons to get excited about Ninja Theory’s take on a Japanese classic.

Dante Just Keeps Showing Off In New DMC Trailer

Joe Juba — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 16:53:02 GMT

With a mid-January release, Ninja Theory's reboot of Devil May Cry is poised to become one of the early hits of 2013. Capcom is using the Tokyo Game Show to show players more of what's in store for the post-holiday gaming season by releasing these new screens and a new trailer.

We already know about Vergil, we've heard some of the soundtrack, and we've gotten hands-on time with the game, but that doesn't keep us from getting excited about this new batch of media. The trailer spends a lot of time showcasing combat (and Dante's flaming fists), which has always been the core component of the franchise. Watch the video below to see how everything is coming together in the final months before release.

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Dante Takes On Energy Drinks In Devil May Cry

Jeff Cork — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 20:13:00 GMT

You've probably quaffed an energy drink or two in your lifetime. If they had the same secret ingredient as the leading brand in Devil May Cry, you'd probably think twice before tossing back a can. Capcom showed off a new playable level at Gamescom 2012, which blew the lid off what's inside Virility--and it's not pretty.

In Devil May Cry's universe, the world is secretly controlled by demonic influences. The media, banks--and even soft-drink manufacturers--are in cahoots to keep the human population under control. One of the ways they're able to do it is through the energy drink, Vitality. People who drink the stuff become more pliable and easy to manipulate. Of course, Dante isn't having any of it. In fact, he takes on the source of the drink's secret ingredient in a memorable boss battle.

The source of the secret sauce is a disgusting worm creature, called the Succubus. She has a horrible humanoid face, and a fleshy orange body. Her arms are punctured by tubes, which supply a noxious fluid to Vitality's producers. Yeah, if you drink the stuff, you're chugging down demon juice. If you saw her ugly mug, you'd realize that the idea is worse than it initially sounds.

Dante isn't about to let something like this go on unpunished. Unlike his more altruistic brother, Vergil, Dante's motivations are more selfish. If he happens to release people from their unconscious slavery, it's a bonus.

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The battle takes place in Limbo City's parallel demon plane. The Succubus attacks with her massive hands, which I slashed at with both my angelic and demonic weapons. Periodically she'd swipe at me (at attack easily avoided by jump-dashing) or belching out a noxious acid. When that happened, I swung out of the way, grappling on to chunks of floating debris swirling around the disgusting beast. Eventually I was able to tear out each of the tubes individually. She didn't seem to like that very much. After that, her attacks grew more frenzied, but I was able to knock her away from the floating platforms.

The Succubus is a boss, so she wasn't about to let something like a fall into a pit of flame stop her. Sure enough I ran into her one more time. She wasn't quite so tough this time around, as she was getting pulled toward a giant fan. Her two hands made an easy target, and I eventually knocked her elongated fingers loose. As for what happened next, just imagine putting a giant maggot in a blender.

The boss battle was a satisfying end to a great demo. Dante's combos are easy to pull off, and it's satisfying to knock enemies into the air, pull them back down, push them away, and blast them with guns--all in one extended chain. I didn't manage to score any SSS combos in my playthrough, but Devil May Cry veterans know that's part of the challenge. And it's one that I'm looking forward to taking January 15.

Vergil Also Stars In Devil May Cry Reboot

Jim Reilly — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 11:05:00 GMT

Capcom revealed during a press conference at Gamescom that Vergil, Dante's older twin brother, is also starring in the upcoming reboot. Devil May Cry launches in North America on January 15 for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. A PC version is coming at a later date.

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Dante Does It With Style

Matthew Kato — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 14:25:21 GMT

You know when the guitars come out in a trailer, you're in for some action-filled gameplay. On that front, this new Devil May Cry trailer does not disappoint.

This new Japanese trailer posted on YouTube by Famitsu gets straight to the point: Don't get in Dante's way, otherwise you'll likely be sliced up or brutalized in a variety of different manners. That being said, the trailer also shows off some of Dante's evades and aerial movement/platforming around levels.

For more on Devil May Cry, check out Ben's hands-on time with the game and the title's previous trailer.

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Devil May Cry comes out for Xbox 360, PS3, and PC on January 15.

[via CVG]

We Play With Angels And Demons In DMC

Ben Reeves — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 22:59:00 GMT

Update: Trailer added. Fans of the Devil May Cry series will love Ninja Theory’s take on the series, but the game should also be able to appeal to a lot of new players.

A majority of DMC takes place inside the demonic realm of Limbo, a dark mirror of our own reality where the environment shifts around and creates obstacles that try to kill Dante. The world’s most powerful demons are able to pull Dante into limbo anytime they wish, but we got sucked into DMC’s fast paced combat right away.

One big change for DMC is the introduction of demonic and angelic weapons. Dante will still possess his iconic sword Rebellion, but he now has access to an angelic-powered scythe and a demonically-infused battle axe. Each weapon performs differently in combat. The axe is powerful and knocks enemies back with a sickening crunch, while the scythe is fast and a great way to work crowds of enemies. While Dante’s sword is a great balanced weapon, some foes will only be vulnerable to either demonic or angelic attacks. Dante will also earn several other types of angelic or demonic weapons as the game progresses, but so far we’ve only seen these two.

Dante’s new angel lift power lets him zip towards enemies, while his demonic push allows him to pull enemies towards him similar to the Devil Trigger abilities in DMC 4. Half the fun of this DMC is working the crowd, pushing and pulling enemies around the screen and flying up into the air to slice them up in classic Devil May Cry fashion.

This spectral pull mechanic can also be used to help Dante navigate the world. The angelic lift can be used to zip towards high points just like a grapple hook, while the demonic pull yanks out large sections of buildings, providing Dante with new platforms to seek purchase.

Our encounter with one of the game’s bosses was a lengthy encounter, but we enjoyed the battle, which saw us battling a massively fat demon as it hung over the side of an acid bath. After hacking at its hands for a minute, this demon leaned forward to spit acid on us, which allowed us to split open the soft parts of its head. After a few cycles of whittling away the demon’s life, we were able to chop off the cable chaining the beast to the ceiling and then shred the demon to hamburger on a giant industrial fan.

The game is fast a fun and it already looks fairly polished, so we’re hoping that Ninja Theory won’t have too much trouble hitting their January 15 release.

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