The begining of a real action gaming genre on the PS2 back in 2001.
Graphics:
Back then, the graphics are very good for the PS2. The weapons are nicely designed, heck, even Dante and Trish looks so cool with their character designs! The special effects for example are still top notch stuff until today, besides that... the devil trigger in DMC1 is much better looking than DMC2 or DMC3.
Sound:
To accompany the gothic architecture, you need an appropriate and very moving gothic church organ type sound track. Remember "The Omen", "The Medusa Touch" or "The Hammer House of Horror" with their pant-wettingly good musical accompaniment? Maybe just me getting old? But the music really "fits" this game so well, building the tension, excitement and intensesity.
Gameplay:
The game itself is splitted open into 23 missions (there are also a number of "Secret" missions you may discover through out the game ). At first there is literally nowhere to go and each subsequent mission opens up new regions of the castle to explore.
When killing enemies you are awarded with red orbs which are the main currency of the game, allowing you to replenish your health and upgrade your weapons/abilities. With each attack you are awarded an onscreen rating based on how well you have disposed of your enemies, the better the rating the more red orbs you get after killing them off. So "Dull", "Cool", "Superb", "Awesome" depends on how much flourish you add to your swashbuckling sword-swivelling and gun-toting attacks.
Get IT or RENT it??
Well, this game definitely deserves a GET IT sign!! Its one of the best action games on the PS2 right up until today! Its basically less $10 everywhere, if you haven't get it... do so now!