Devil May Cry

aka: DMC
Moby ID: 5086
PlayStation 2 Specs
Buy on PlayStation 2
$4.01 used, $14.00 new on Amazon
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Description official descriptions

Legend has it that 2000 years ago in the depths of hell, a demon rebelled against the devil, waging a one-man war in support of the human world.

In the present, Dante, a private investigator of the supernatural, realises that the devil is rallying to rise again against mankind. Deep within Dante's blood lies the power of ancient demons and as his power builds he transforms into a demon state where he can use his power against evil he encounters.

Commencing his battle against the demonic legions with just a sword and his twin pistols, Ebony and Ivory, Dante will soon come across more powerful weapons, such as a shotgun to aid him in his mission. However, to defeat the devil Dante must also discover special weapons possessing various elemental powers. When channelled correctly these weapons will allow Dante to call upon demonic energy and launch powerful attacks against a range of enemies.

Spellings

  • デビルメイクライ - Japanese spelling
  • 鬼泣 - Chinese spelling (simplified)
  • 데빌 메이 크라이 - Korean spelling (Hangul)

Groups +

Screenshots

Promos

Credits (PlayStation 2 version)

135 People (129 developers, 6 thanks) · View all

Planning
Stage CG Artworks - Lead Modelers
Stage CG Artworks - Castle
Stage CG Artworks - Garden
Stage CG Artworks - Wrecked Ship
Stage CG Artworks - Underworld
Stage CG Artworks - Slums
Character CG Artwork
Conceptual Design - Stage Design
Conceptual Design - Character Design
Conceptual Design - Monster Design
Motion Animation - Enemies
Motion Animation - Player
[ full credits ]

Reviews

Critics

Average score: 88% (based on 43 ratings)

Players

Average score: 3.9 out of 5 (based on 117 ratings with 7 reviews)

A frightening Action adventure game.

The Good
I loved all the different weapons, and combos you can perform through out this game. Also some of the boss battles are quite fun and addictive. I loved the animation in this game, very well executed and very well thought out and put together. I also liked the fact that there were quite a few sub bosses. this game rocks with it's sound track also, really getting you into the game. Also did I mention that this game is a bit on the scary side. There are some boss battles that have bosses, that will scare the living crap right out of you. this game has wonderful presentation, and a huge fun factor. I suggest that you buy this game, to anyone who likes an addictive action adventure based game.

The Bad
I didn't like the fact that the camera angles were a bit hard to focus at times. And at times it was very difficult to turn around, when you had an enemy nibbling at your heals. Other than that not a bad game, quite good actually.

The Bottom Line
A very action packed, fun and addictive action adventure game. That keeps you thinking, as well as pushing the trigger button.

PlayStation 2 · by David Bryan (21) · 2007

The Devil is in the details

The Good
Devil May Cry might be a relatively simple game at its very core, but it's also an incredibly polished one. The controls are smooth and Dante's movements feel free and very precise at the same time. Attacks you can perform strike the perfect balance between variety and convenience - they're varied and creative enough to make the combat genuinely engaging throughout the entire game, yet not too difficult or overwhelming. The difficulty is very well-balanced too, combining a gentle learning curve with actually challenging enemies and providing the player with many different ways to deal with occasional difficulty spikes. As a result, gameplay in Devil May Cry feels great and satisfying pretty much all the time.

What stands out the most - apart from the delightfully over-the-top acrobatics and aerial combat - is the inclusion of two main weapons with very distinct movesets and fighting styles. As mentioned before, their moves aren't too overwhelming or hard to master, yet they provide the player with multiple options in handling each fight and add an element of experimenting, finding your own playstyle, and adapting it to the game's various challenges.

In an action game, combat and character movement are crucial, but they're not everything. Thankfully, the presentation in Devil May Cry doesn't disappoint either. Immersing yourself within ultra-gothic environments of the castle is a true dark delight that's difficult to deny, and descending into Hell later in the game is as fascinating as it is disgusting. The music, combining an orchestral score, dark ambient soundscapes, heavy guitars, and trance or breakbeat beats, adds to the atmosphere of both mystery and intensity.

The aspect of the game which combines the most intense elements of both gameplay and presentation is obviously the boss and miniboss encounters. From the swift, cat-like beast Shadow and the elusive Death Scythe to the bizarrely mangled giant bird Griffon and cute yet deadly scorpion Phantom, from the mysterious yet sassy Nelo Angelo to the shapeless abomination of Nightmare, they're all very different and distinct in terms of both gameplay mechanics and audiovisual design. They all present a challenge and require you to adapt without being actually unfair or overpowered.

The Bad
The flaws of Devil May Cry are minor and usually linked to merits that overshadow them. The levels might be a bit too straightforward and the game as a whole a bit too short, but that also adds to the tight, focused experience which ends up being extremely satisfying. The first-person diving segments might be out of place and slightly awkward to control, yet they provide a very interesting change of pace. There are some isolated moments where fixed camera angles work to the player's detriment, but they're also an integral part of the game's brilliant visual style.

The Bottom Line
Devil May Cry is a game that's iconic and influential, but first and foremost ridiculously fun to play. It's a tight, focused, and meticulously polished piece of hack-and-slash gaming that's a must-play not just for fans of the genre, but for anyone who appreciates action games in general. 9/10

[based on the PC port in the HD Collection]

PlayStation 2 · by Pegarange (282) · 2023

"What? Are you actually playing now?"

The Good
The graphics of this game were truly eye popping then, its gothic style was hauntingly beautiful, gameplay was simple, but very satisfying and the atmosphere was unique. I loved the way the camera moved. It gave me the distinct impression of an anime with all its visual power and flair. And this game was all about power and flair.

The Bad
Well, not much. Maybe the voiceovers could be better. Capcom has a long tradition of less than perfect voiceovers, but this game is excellent by their usual standards. Some of the platform stunts might prove a little frustrating, especially the optional ones.

The Bottom Line
This is the game that made me buy a Playstation2. It was the first time I actually gaped at a game's visuals and I've been a gamer for as long as I can remember (that's a quarter of a century now). When I saw a friend of mine playing the game for the first time I found myself asking: "Are you actually playing now?". And that's a question I heard many times while I was playing. Combat looks more like a surreal dance than a game, and though it sounds improbable, the double gun/ sword combination was a sight to behold.

PlayStation 2 · by Silverblade (1382) · 2004

[ View all 7 player reviews ]

Discussion

Subject By Date
How is this different from PS2 game entry? MAT (240759) Nov 23, 2019

Trivia

1001 Video Games

Devil May Cry appears in the book 1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die by General Editor Tony Mott.

Anime

There is an anime series Devil May Cry released in 2007 based off of this PS2 game.

Dante

DMC's main character is named after Dante Alighieri, a famous Italian poet in the 13th century who wrote the famous poem Divina Commedia (Divine Comedy), an epic about a journey through hell. The game also makes several references to someone called Virgil, Dante's lost brother. In real life, Virgil was a Roman poet who lived around 60b.c., and whose works had a profound effect upon Dante while writing Divina Commedia.

Development

Devil May Cry originally started out as Resident Evil 4 but the series creator (and current producer), Shinji Mikami, decided to start a new franchise when the game started going in a completely different direction than originally intended. A glitch in the game script made the enemies fly up when you would shoot them. They decided to make a new game instead of trying to fix this glitch. it became Devil May Cry and the glitch was changed into the High Time attack.

Sales

According to publisher Capcom, Devil May Cry has sold 2.16 million copies worldwide since its initial release (as of June 30, 2016).

Awards

  • EGM
    • February 2006 (Issue #200) - #161 out of 200 of the "Greatest Games of Their Time"

Information also contributed by Big John WV, David Roop, MAT and Tiago Jacques

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  • MobyGames ID: 5086
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Contributors to this Entry

Game added by Macintrash.

Nintendo Switch added by Rik Hideto.

Additional contributors: Unicorn Lynx, JPaterson, Jeanne, Maw, DreinIX, erbaltan, CalaisianMindthief, Patrick Bregger, Rik Hideto, FatherJack.

Game added October 23, 2001. Last modified January 30, 2024.