Just because everyone says "this game doesn't exist for me" doesn't mean you have to.
This next episode sees the gamer once again in control of Dante, son of legendary Dark Knight Sparta. But there is a twist. The overall plot is covered twice - the first as Dante, and the second (on a separate disc) as Lucia. Each story is slightly different, and each character has different styles of fighting, with different weapons.
The story (the beginning of which seems entirely random and contrived - Dante is a devil hunter, not a tomb raider) sees Lucia ask Dante for help in destroying (murdering?) Arius, who wants to become immortal through a ritual involving artifacts called Arcana.
"Awh, Arcana ..."
Just like in Resident Evil, apparently the camera is already as good as it will ever be, because the stiff, dated camera makes a return, with no discernible improvements. Movement, and characters' move sets, remain largely the same, making the learning curve short for people who have played the previous instalment. When the camera changes angles the game has the habit of remembering what direction your control stick is pointing while you move - if players so wish they could find themselves moving forward into the screen with the controller pointing the opposite way, briefly, or at length, depending on where players want to go. This is a pain more often than not, especially for boss fights, such as Bolverk.
Level designs are what you'd come to expect from a sequel. Very little is offered in the way of improvements. Secret levels (that offer up a variety of orbs once completed - health, devil trigger, and increase max health) are found by checking doors scattered about the missions. New weapons can also be found, including new devil trigger abilities in the form of amulet pieces - there are three types that can be equipped at once, each offering various abilities to the wearer. Some can't be equipped at the same time, so there is an element of strategy required here.
Speaking of devil trigger ... for those who have not played the first game, this is the equivalent of a temporary boost of strength and cool new graphics. Depending on your amulet pieces, you might be able to run very fast, fly, or regenerate health quickly. There are few differences between the two characters here, but there are differences. A brand new Desperation Devil Trigger is now possible too for when your health is critically low, allowing for some pretty powerful moves and combos. Just like before, you'll have to collect red orbs from anywhere and everything to buy things, but unlike before you can now power up the weapons you already have.
Bosses and enemies are nothing short of impressive. Although most of the names look like a combination of random letters and seem unreadable, Devil May Cry 2 boasts a building that comes to life and attacks you (not just any building - a sky scraper!), Bolverk (who totes a sword bigger than the rooms you fight him in), a giant minotaur, a giant orangutan, and many more. The regular enemies are different - variety and little repetition are a welcome sight in a sequel. Sargasso makes a return, but only for a cameo.
But this game remains unpopular among the masses. Why?
There are two big reasons for this. Difficulty is one such issue. One of the reasons the original game was so popular was its difficulty. The game. and the bosses, were tough. So tough, in fact, that later difficulties required careful planning and accumulation of the limited number of Untouchables (temporary invincibility items) from all the previous difficulties. The only way to carry large quantities of items was to pick up the items - there was an item cap that prevented buying too much, and continues were rather useless as they reset boss health, forcing you to start over again from the beginning. Not so here. Continues take effect immediately. Even enemies and bosses seem a lot easier than the first game. Even Devil Trigger enemies, only possible in Dante Must Die mode, are a walk in the park - often all you have to do is just keep jumping around while you fire long range weapons. Minus one rating point here.
The second reason is Dante himself. Words to the effect of "he doesn't have the same 'mouth' on him" float around forums and blogs, but really, there isn't much dialogue anyway. There are some clever tricks with coins though, which show a compassionate side to Dante we didn't really see much of in the first game until towards the end. Perhaps the intent here was to show more of Dante's human side - he is half-human after all. But to rate a game solely on this bad-ass factor is a bit of a stretch. Ultimately you'll like this new, more reserved Dante ... or you won't. Minus another rating point here.
In the end Devil May Cry 2 is still a worthy addition to any gamer's shelf, despite what some perceive to be a radical change in presentation. Admittedly, it can be predictable at times, but the concept of being able to play the game as two characters on separate discs, listening to the pumping battle music, and listening to Arius' comical dialogue makes it all worth it.
Lucia: Now, kill me. It's your job to hunt devils.
Dante: No. Devils never cry.
Did I mention Bloody Palace? If this was all the game was it'd still be worth it.