Devil May Cry

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]