There are moments in life where you rediscover the joys of passion, the kind of sincere happiness that was once a part of your childhood, but has been lost to the sands of time since then. But something makes you look back to these yesterdays, and all of a sudden, that joy is there, as though it never left.
Devil May Cry V is one of those games which speaks to our inner child. It’s stylish action, weird and cheesy storylines, and the utter dedication to fun is a rare commodity in today’s industry.
Games nowadays have two options when it comes to AAA titles: big sandbox RPG hybrids (the Witcher 3, Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey) or they are intense first person experiences, meant to be played with friends instead of enjoying the story campaign at your own leisurely pace. In a world where microtransactions are everywhere, the idea that developers prioritized making a fun game over one a profitable one seems like a novel concept, representing a powerful break from the norm.
Devil May Cry has always been an unique entity, in that it’s not about just how many enemies you killed, but the way you went about killing them. As you play through a Devil May Cry, you become better at combat, especially when receiving cool weapons that provide quite the bang for your buck. The story, which is perfectly serviceable- and downright enjoyable- for the most part is only there to serve as the backdrop for some glorious hack n’ slash action.
Disecting DMC V is a thankless task in many ways. It’s a game that’s meant for enjoyment and escape rather than winning accolades or becoming the next Fortnite. And that’s perfectly fine. In fact, that’s fantastic.
The game wears its symbols proudly on its sleeves, and although the storyline has always been convoluted in a way that gives Metal Gear Solid IV a run for its money, the narratives have always worked as a cool setting for you to try for that SSS rank in a level for the umpteenth time. And who can forget the never ending battles with Virgil in DMC 3?
It’s the kind of game where Nero, one of the playable characters, constantly uses different kinds of prosthetic arms as weapons. When Nero brings out his stylish sword and revs the hilt of the sword like a motorcycle handle, he says “who brought the marshmellows? ’Cause I am bringing the fire.”
DMC’s characters have always been cocky to a fault, ready for banter and taunts, balancing that tightrope between realism and over the top campiness well for the last two decades. DMC V ramps up the schlocky to grounded ratio up a notch, always aware that it’s a game, and that the characters in it are mostly cool and badass. There’s no other rationale for Nero having a new female companion named Nico, who speaks a very twangy Southern accent and has a cigarette and a quip equipped for every occasion.
You start the game with Nero, who was last seen in DMC 4. His playstyle is comfortingly familiar, helping series veterans to ease into the kinetic flow of the new game. However, due to story line reasons, Nero now cycles through a host of prosthetic arms, each of which comes with unique powers. One of them acts like projectile weapon, launching like a missile and powering through your enemies with the greatest of ease. While it’s a cool concept, in practice it can be cumbersome.
You can’t switch directly to the Devil Bringer arm you want to use: rather, you have to break your limited supplies until you can cycle over to the ones that you want to use. The arms also cost orbs, which means you constantly have to make a choice between choosing new moves and health upgrades and using your preferred Devil Bringer. Weirdly, this limitation means you have to try a little harder to be inventory conscious, meaning that you adapt to the changing battle conditions more easily.
Playing with V almost feels contrarian, as his playstyle requires you to stay away from the front lines, directing his demonic familiars, which include a shape-shifting panther (Shadow) and a bird (Griffon) to deal with his enemies. It makes for a happy coincidence, because V’s hands-off approach to violence means it’s easier to get high rankings with the character. V also gains access to a third familiar, Nightmare, when you use a Devil Trigger with the character.
This restraint, which seems counter-intuitive in a DMC game, is a refreshing addition to a game that revels in stylised, lightning quick offense.
Playing with V almost feels contrarian, as his playstyle requires you to stay away from the front lines, directing his demonic familiars, which include a shape-shifting panther (Shadow) and a bird (Griffon) to deal with his enemies. It makes for a happy coincidence, because V’s hands-off approach to violence means it’s easier to get high rankings with the character. V also gains access to a third familiar, Nightmare, when you use a Devil Trigger with the character.
This restraint, which seems counter-intuitive in a DMC game, is a refreshing addition to a game that revels in stylised, lightning quick offense.
And of course, there’s Dante. He comes equipped with his familiar styles: Swordmaster, Gunslinger, Trickster and Royalguard. Armed with all the different weapons Dante collects throughout the game, Dante engages in combat with the flourish of a master tactician. Even better, Dante’s core personality remains intact, and within a short time, you feel like you are picking up where you left off with an old friend.
The different playstyles mean that you need to give yourself some time to get used to the combat ecosystem. As you learn the basics, new combat mechanics are frequently peppered in throughout the story, making sure that you stay lively and engaged with the game.
Of course, what would DMC combat be without bosses to test yourself against? Almost every boss brings a particular set of challenges to the mix, and you have to get used to a variety of game mechanics to overcome them.
DMC V succeeds as both a worthy followup and as an insanely fun action game that constantly pushes you to improve, always nudging you towards the right direction. The stellar visuals, incredibly fun combat mechanics and pumping soundtrack all set the stage for the signature hack and slash combat of the franchise.
When asked about which kind of fans the developers are most concerned with, Michiteru Okabe said, “I think about the opinions of the core players first. They’re the ones who are going to be really into it, they’re the ones who are going to be actively seeking out new information as it’s released, and they’ll be the first to play the game.”
“We’re really lucky in that Monster Hunter was received well, it did well,” said Matt Walker. “When we announced RE2 and DMC5 at E3 everyone was excited about that and now RE2 came out and it got a 91 Metacritic. And so we’re all cognisant of that and we’re all really happy that we’re doing this well and that people are enjoying what we’re making.”
As it stands, DMC V may very well be the best game in the franchise so far. That’s an impressive achievement, especially given how long DMC 3 has endured in the minds of fans and casuals alike. Over time, however, new things must replace things of the past. Thankfully, DMC V is every bit as memorable as DMC 3.
With DMC V and Resident Evil 2, 2019 may as well be the year of Capcom. If that happens, then I for one would be very pleased about that.