First off, there was Devil May Cry. That game redefined the action/adventure genre whit its stylish combat manuevers, and lightning fast gameplay. Then when everyone heard there would be a sequel, there was much rejoicing...until it came out. Let's just say that 'disappointment' doesn't cut it when describing Devil May Cry 2, what with it's slower gameplay, lack of techniques, and extremely low difficulty, even on the harder levels. Now, Devil May Cry 3 is here, and it has made up for every wrong cast upon us by Devil May Cry 2...and then some. Let's start, of course, with the gameplay. As always, you start as the demon-slayer, Dante, and you begin the game with an awesome cut-scene that takes place in his office, which at this point in time, he hasn't named. After this jaw-dropping scene, the player is charged with defeating a few demons left behind, and it can be done with so much grace and style this time around, that it makes the first DMC seem tame in comparison. There are four styles to choose from: Trickster, Swordmaster, Gunslinger and Royal Guard, and each of these styles is made to fit the needs of the different kinds of players out there. Like Matrix-style acrobatics, used to avoid enemy attacks? Use Trickster. If you're the type that loves Dragon Ball Z-ish beatdowns in mid-air, the Swordmaster will do you just fine. Wanna pull some gunplay that would make John Woo proud? Use Gunslinger. And, if you're the careful, defensive type, the Royal Guard style should do the trick for you. The combat system is vastly improved over the last two games, allowing you to pull off moves and combos that are pretty much only limited by your imagination. You'll also be able to learn new moves and styles, and find new weaponry as well, and each weapon has its own techniques and combos. As everyone knows, a lot of pepole complained about the low difficulty of the second outing. Well, that complaint has been nulled, because the Normal difficulty in the American DMC3 is the Japanese version's hard mode. Already, it's more difficult than DMC2 in its entirety, but it isn't so hard that you'd want to break a controller, and I think it's a crime for anyone to lower their rating of this game just because they couldn't handle the difficulty. Next, the graphics. This game has some really slick visuals. From excellent lighting, to blurring effects from sword swings and quick movements, everything is vividly emphasized through impressively done effects. As far as character detail goes, Dante and all of his enemies are well done, and their movements are'nt stiff at all. This game is simply a testament to what the PS2 is capable of, and that fact is made even more clear with the cutscenes in the game, with their blazing action. The sound department...well, what would you expect? This is a Devil May Cry game, so, of course, the game's gonna be filled with rock music, but this time around, it's fantastic, and it fits the overall mood of the game. Dante, Vergil, and the living dead show their cockyness and rage with shudderring, convincing clarity, and the voice acting is nicely done as well. Fighting is accompanied by all kinds of screams, clangs, thuds and thumps, and you'll probably find yourself screaming at the sheer excitement it can cause when you hear the sound of Dante's sword running a demon through. As I said before, I never thought I'd see a game that could compare to or surpass Ninja Gaiden on the X-box. I'm not an X-box fan, nor will I ever be one, but I'll admit that they struck gold with Ninja Gaiden. DMC3, though, has 1-upped NG in every way possible, and I, for one, hope that you don't let rumors of this game's difficulty deter you from buying this game. No PS2 owner should be without it.
Dante is back and he is back with a bang. DMC never looked so good. After an abysmal performance in DMC 2, DMC 3 really shines. The game is pretty much between normal and hard and could get a bit frustrating to new come... Read Full Review
Get ready for some action that's so good it's liable to make you gnash your teeth and possibly smash your controller. Devil May Cry 3 is an appropriate about-face for the most memorable of Capcom's more recent franchises... Read Full Review
