It’s been almost five years since Devil May Cry 4, but Dante’s back and better than ever. Many people were skeptical of the new Dante when Ninja Theory officially unveiled the game back in 2010, myself included. However, those fears can be put to rest because DmC maintains the same stylish crazy action of its predecessors and improves the formula in numerous ways.

To start off, Dante is a much more likable character this time around and his over the top cockiness is still intact from past games. For example, when Dante is about to enter a nightclub a bouncer stops him and says “you’re not on the list.” Dante proceeds to knock the guy out, write “fuck you” on the list and say’s “now I am.” Although, Dante can be a dick most of the time, Ninja Theory has done an admirable job humanizing him. Look past Dante’s devilish exterior and you’ll see that he has a heart and is more interested in doing the right thing than seeking power.

It’s very evident with Dante interacts with the female lead Kat who helps him navigate the tricky world of Limbo where the ground shakes and disappears before your very eyes. You’ll also notice Dante’s reluctance to assist his brother Vergil in certain tasks and that the bond between them is starting to break.

The story feels like it could happen in a modern day setting and what a motion picture of DMC would be like. At times, it doesn’t feel like DMC, but Ninja Theory is still faithful to the source material.

While the plot was expected to be strong with Ninja Theory’s previous background with games like Heavenly Sword and Enslaved Odyssey to the West, the gameplay has received a welcome upgrade as well.

DmC is the rare action game that I can recommend to casual gamers because the combat system makes them feel empowered and is easy to grasp. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever played an action game that’s given me so much freedom to eviscerate enemies like DmC does.

In DmC, you can slices enemies with your sword, stun them with firework blast from a shotgun, pull them towards you, launch yourself at them to go in for the kill and more.

Switching between weapons is effortless because it happens seamlessly with a push of a button instead of having to go to a menu and do it manually. Another interesting thing about the combat is that some foes can only be hurt with certain weapons and you’ll have to make full use of your arsenal to survive. This time around guns are way more useful than they were in past DMC games. For example, use your shotgun to fend off enemies with Dante’s firework move or use the nightmare gun to plant a bomb on enemies to stun the momentarily.

Boss battles are also very surprising, and some are unlike anything you ever encountered in a DMC game before. The bosses are akin to God of War where the encounters are meant to be more memorable battles then repeat encounters with similar enemies. Some of the fights are too reliant on Dante’s grab/pull mechanic and drag on a bit, but overall their nicely done.

To complement the action, you will do a lot of platforming in this game. Thankfully, it’s pretty forgiving, and you won’t have to redo large sections if you miss a jump. As for puzzles, there aren’t very many, and the few included don’t overstay their welcome. Also, included are secret missions hidden around the main stages that test your speed and combat skills.

In terms of replay value, it may be disappointing for some to hear that DmC isn’t a terribly difficult game compared to previous entries in the franchise. I played on the nephillm(hard) mode and only died a handful of times. The lower difficulty didn’t bother me because I think DmC is a less frustrating experience than past games that got bogged down by annoying platforming sections and too many repeat boss fights. However, like past DMC games there are unlockable difficulties once you beat the game so you can further challenge your skills.

The Verdict

To wrap up, Ninja Theory has successfully rebooted Capcom’s DMC franchise and will no doubt attract newcomers with its accessible gameplay and exceptional presentation. While nothing here is revolutionary, DMC is a hell of a lot of fun to play and anyone looking for a solid action game to add to their collection could do much worse. Hopefully, Capcom will allow Ninja Theory to do a sequel or reboot another Capcom franchise like Resident Evil since they’ve proven to gamers and critics that they’re more than capable of doing a good job.

Score 9.0 Amazing

Dmc is a great reboot and a good starting point for those new to the franchise.

+ Phenomenal Presentation

+ Stylish Crazy Action Intact

+ Dante much more likable this time around

+ Creative Boss Battles

– A little too easy