By NICK McCOY
Tiger Media Network
The 2010s were a pretty bleak year for the much beloved “Devil May Cry” series. While players were gifted with the Special Edition of “Devil May Cry 4”, most players recognize this period for the strange, unwanted reboot, “DmC: Devil May Cry.” Despite being a polished and fun hack-and-slash title, “DmC” changed everything about the series’ tone and characters, alienating series fans and resulting in a significant amount of backlash. With the disappointing sales numbers of the reboot, fans worried whether or not we would ever see the return of Dante and company.
Thankfully, all concerns were thrown out the window, at E3 2018, “Devil May Cry 5” was announced, and confirmed to be a return to the series’ classic story and characters. It’s safe to say fan hype was higher than ever, but people were cautiously optimistic following the reboot. Series director Hideki Istuno also stated that the fifth main entry would exceed their expectations, an incredibly bold statement to make considering what came before.
However, to see his statement ring true would be nothing short of an understatement. “Devil May Cry 5” was a massive hit when it was released in 2019, and has only become more beloved and legendary as the years have gone by. From its entertaining and surprisingly heartfelt story, charming and goofy tone, and perfect hack-and-slash gameplay that expands and improves on basically everything that came before, “Devil May Cry 5” is, without a doubt, one of the greatest action games ever released, and a true love letter to the entire series.
- Released in March of 2019 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PCs
- Developed by Capcom, and once again directed by Hideaki Itsuno
- Itsuno returned to direction with the intention of making it his best work
- Saw a return to the series’ original story and timeline following the 2013 reboot “DmC.”
- Uses the Capcom’s RE Engine, previously used for the “Resident Evil” remakes.
- The Special Edition of “Devil May Cry 5”, featuring new content, was released in November of 2020 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.
“Devil May Cry 5” continues the story of “Devil May Cry 4”, featuring the return of 4’s protagonist, the young devil hunter Nero, series main protagonist Dante, and new character V. The three of them all work together in an attempt to stop the demon king Urizen, who has erected a massive demonic tree known as the Qliphoth in the middle of Red Grave City. Urizen plans to harvest the blood of Red Grave’s citizens to grow an apple that will grant him great power, enough to destroy the human world. Dante, Nero and V all suffer a disastrous defeat at the hands of Urizen, which results in the capture of Dante’s allies Lady and Trish, and Dante himself missing in action. Ultimately, gathering their strengths, they all continue their pursuit of Urizen, their paths often crossing as they attempt to defeat the demon king for good. As the game progresses, more is revealed about the mysterious V, and his and Urizen’s connection to Dante’s lost twin brother, Vergil. The game sees players taking control of all three characters, each with unique playstyles, as they do what they do best: defeat hordes of demons in the most stylish way possible.
Next to “Devil May Cry 3”, “Devil May Cry 5” has the best story in the entire series. The narrative is expertly written, and gives an amazing deep dive into the series’ beloved characters; Vergil, in particular is absolutely amazing in this game, and his relationship with Dante does return to the forefront. While “DMC 3” focused on their rivalry, “DMC 5” puts a lot more focus on their backstory and completely deconstructs their relationship, giving much more depth to Vergil’s motivations for ultimate power. Nero is also given much greater depth this time around, taking an already interesting and likable character and making them that much better. I also really found myself liking series newcomer V, whose quiet, calmer demeanor is a nice contrast to the other characters. Speaking of new characters, “Devil May Cry 5” also introduces one of the best additions to the series: Nero’s partner and gunsmith Nico Goldstein. Goofy, dorky, and endlessly entertaining, she is a very welcome new addition, and provides a plethora of amazing moments, particularly with her relationship with Nero. While they don’t get as much screen time, Lady and Trish are still great characters as well.
The tone of this game is something else I absolutely adore. I can’t tell you how refreshing it is to see the return of the series’ trademark goofy and, no pun intended, devil-may-care attitude and tone, following the more serious and painfully edgy reboot. Some of the cutscenes and dialogue in this game are simply masterpieces and perfectly encapsulate what “Devil May Cry” should be. This is perfectly showcased with Dante. If you think he was amazing in 3 and 4, Dante in “Devil May Cry 5” is simply a work of art. His cocky attitude, laid-back demeanor, and goofy charm add so much to this game. This is helped tenfold by the voice work: Reuben Langdon is the best he’s ever been as Dante. The voice cast gives phenomenal performances: Daniel Southworth as Vergil and Johnny Yong Bosch as Nero are particular highlights for me. This game really benefits from his goofy and lighthearted tone, and is a big reason why “Devil May Cry 5” has become so popular online.
Now, I’ve mentioned before how much I absolutely adore “Devil May Cry”’s gameplay, and it’s some of the best the action genre has to offer. Well, lo and behold, “Devil May Cry 5”’s gameplay is some of the finest in the entire series, and in hack-and-slash games as a whole. I can honestly say that it is perfect. Even though I still think “Devil May Cry 3” is a masterpiece, “Devil May Cry 5” beats it in so many ways. Players are once again tasked with slaying large amounts of demons, all while trying to fill a style meter that increases as they perform varied and stylish combos. The grade going from D to SSS the more damage and style they put out. Defeating demons and exploring the levels grants players Red Orbs, which they can use to purchase new skills and upgrades for their weapons. Both Dante and V, and later Nero, have access to a “Devil Trigger,” which greatly increases their attack power and regenerates health. Players can also find Blue Orb and Purple Orb fragments, which increase their health and Devil Trigger gauge, respectively.
As I mentioned before, players will take control of Dante, Nero and V throughout the game, with each having their own unique playstyle. Things like health and Devil Trigger are carried over between characters, but the player must buy individual upgrades for each of them. Nero returns with his Red Queen sword and Blue Rose gun, and has most of the same moves he did in 4. However, having lost his Devil Bringer arm in the story, Nero is equipped with a brand new mechanic: the Devil Breakers. Created by Nico, these are a series of robotic arms each with different abilities, from a short-ranged but powerful drill, a rocket fist, a large whip or a damaging dash ability. The keyword to these arms is “breaker”; they do not last forever, and if the player gets hit while performing the Breaker’s attack, it will shatter. Players are given the option to customize their Devil Breaker loadout, allowing multiple different arms to be selected, and some can even be found in levels. Managing your loadout and deciding which arms to use is crucial to Nero’s game plan. The addition of the Devil Breaker adds so much to Nero’s gameplay, and makes him so much more interesting and deep to play than he was in “Devil May Cry 4”.
Dante, much like his character, is the best he’s ever been in terms of gameplay. His ability to switch between his four combat styles on the fly (Trickster, Swordmaster, Gunslinger and Royal Guard) on the fly, his vast array of weapons and ridiculous combo potential make him one of the most fun characters to play. Aside from his trademark swords and guns, Dante gets a few new tools: a motorcycle that can break apart and be used as a sword, nunchucks with the power of fire, ice and lightning, an even more powerful version of his DT known as “Sin Devil Trigger,” and one of my personal favorites: Dr. Faust, a cowboy hat which shoots projectiles from the players’ red orbs. It’s also the reason behind one of the greatest cutscenes in video game history. Dante’s playstyle is made for those who really want to experience the true potential of “Devil May Cry 5’s” combat, or just want to have a ridiculously good time killing demons.
Lastly, there’s V, who brings one of the most unique play styles to the entire series. I will admit, as much as I like V as a character, his playstyle certainly isn’t my favorite and is much more gimmicky and mindless than I’d like it to be. At the same time, I really appreciate his inclusion, and I can’t deny I did have some fun experimenting with his play style. Basically, V himself does not fight enemies; instead, he summons demonic pets to fight for him. Griffon, a demonic bird, is your ranged tool that can layer the screen with lightning, and can also be used for evasive maneuvers. Shadow, a demonic jaguar, is your main combo tool that attacks enemies on the ground. Then, there’s Nightmare, a massive golem who is summoned when V activates his devil trigger. Nightmare is pretty much a guaranteed SSS rank, as he absolutely destroys everything on screen, and is completely invincible. Griffon and Shadow, however, aren’t. If they take too much damage, they will be “stalemated,” and V will be left vulnerable until they slowly heal. Players can speed up the process by standing close to them or just popping Devil Trigger, as it instantly revives them. Lastly, Griffon, Shadow and Nightmare can’t actually kill enemies. When enough damage is dealt, enemies will turn a purplish white, and that’s when V must finish them off with his cane. While he may not be my favorite character to play as, he is a thoroughly unique character and one I can still have fun with.
When you combine all these characters and their playstyles together, you have one of the best hack-and-slash games you will ever pick up. There are a few other factors that go into this; While “DMC 3” and “DMC 4” suffered from some god-awful enemies, “Devil May Cry 5” has the best enemy lineup of the entire series, no question. On top of that, I haven’t even gotten into Vergil, who was made playable in the Special Edition and as DLC for the vanilla version. While I haven’t really talked about Vergil in my previous reviews, playing as him in both 3 and 4 was fantastic, despite the unoriginal levels. Vergil in “DMC 5?” Another level of amazing. Seriously, even if you can’t get the Special Edition, the “Devil May Cry 5” + Vergil bundle is more than worth it.
Other highlights
- Some gorgeous graphics and character models, courtesy of the RE Engine
- A phenomenal soundtrack (another staple of the series)
- An insane amount of replay value
- Really interesting level design and environments
Minor criticisms
- Load times can be absolutely ridiculous
- Lock on system is a bit finicky
- A bit of a cumbersome camera
But at the end of the day, anybody who mildly enjoys the hack-and-slash genre should absolutely play “Devil May Cry 5”. From its amazing story, charming characters and tone, great graphics and pitch-perfect gameplay, it really is a masterclass in how to create an action game. And as the supposed final game in the series (at least for now), “Devil May Cry 5” is a true love letter to the fans of the series. Itsuno was right when he said it would surpass expectations, as this game will undeniably go down as one of the greatest games in the hack-and-slash medium, and of the best of all time.
Nick McCoy is a senior at Fort Hays State University, studying digital media and journalism. An avid gamer and music listener, he reviews video games and songs and hosts the radio show “The Understanding of Nick” for KFHS.
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