DmC Devil May Cry Demo Impressions - Playeressence -

By Furious Francis editor-in-chief of playeressence.com

DmC Devil May Cry is one of the most controversial games to be released this generation. Thousands of enraged DmC fans, internet raged Capcom and Ninja Theory when the game was first shown. A lot has changed since then in the game, and the look of Dante. Capcom has released the DmC Demo on the Xbox 360 and PS3 for everyone to try out and it's safe to say, the game plays brilliantly. It's not perfect by any means, but it's a blast to play. Keep reading for Playeressence's hands on preview of DmC Devil May Cry, complete with my own captured footage of DmC's strengths and weaknesses.

[Summons75]

Is game is as predicted by true Devil May Cry fans. It's slow combat, and no skill required gameplay make this a terrible addition to the Devil May Cry series. It is slow and suffers from unresponsive controls. There is also a game breaking glitch that will not let me finish the boss no matter how many times I quit the demo or redownload it, this was on both systems. This demo only goes to prove Ninja Theory dose not care about anyone or anything besides their over inflated ego. They have no idea how Devil May Cry is suppose to play, act, and feel. Fans all stood up to let them know they were doing it wrong and all NT could do was insult fans and the creator of Devil May Cry.

[WeAreLegion]

You didn't play the demo, did you?

It sounds like you didn't play it. The controls are tight, the combos are intricate, and it FEELS like Devil May Cry.

[InTheLab]

You must have skipped the boss fight?? I always thought that gif of Dante mashing the same heavy attack over and over again and getting an SS was a gag, but you can in fact mash the same two buttons repeatedly to achieve an SS on that boss and the rest of the enemies. The combat feels nothing like Devil May Cry.

I do, however, agree that the controls are outstanding. Especially the platforming which NT has never done well.

[WeAreLegion]

I played both levels multiple times. You can't get SS by mashing. You have to change it up... Which version were you playing? Perhaps there is a bug. I was on the PS3 version.

[Gohadouken]

we must not have the same definition of intricate . It was an easy spam fest . And harder difficulties will be the same , only obviously harder but still broken , not stylish and easy .

It was called eons ago , but why did they even bother including platforming ? It's yet another iteration of quasi-auto platforming , that serves no purpose in the game

[Summons75]

Did you because the demo was anything but tight and intricate. That or you have never played Devil May Cry in your life and you think your some sort of hero defending this POS game.

[ThanatosDMC]

Wow, really? You couldnt get an SS ranking on the boss fight?

They must need to dumb down the game some more. 1st hit should start at S.

Edit: I had SSS rank the whole time without getting hit. I bet some people here on N4G has done the same on they first time. Bet they all ready have a gameplay vid of it on youtube too.

http://youtu.be/nuW1Yfu4Enk <- that's hard?

[Theyellowflash30]

When I was making this preview I played through the demo multiple times. The only thing that felt a little stiff was the jumping controls

[Zechs34]

I personally thought the demo was fantastic, it felt great, and was very fun. If this demo is any indication as to how the final product will turn out, they at least have one guaranteed sale.

[TheMutator]

pure garbage!!!

[ritsuka666]

Played the demo and this game lacks creativity compared old Devil May Cry games.. u_u'

[kanetheking]

not as Japanese is that why there is a lack of creativity?

[Kenshin_BATT0USAI]

Nah I think it just has something to do with NT being extremely bland and boring devs.

[kanetheking]

Vashlion you can call nt bland but your can't really call the game bland, since the levels look pretty different from other hack n slashs, or is there something else what is bland?

[Neko_Mega]

It was ok, but alot of buttons felt they were wasted on doing the same thing with another weapon.

Why do we need a angel weapon to swing/hook to things? As well as a demon one? I think they had no idea what they should do with this game or the weapons.

The game isn't fully bad, but it feels like they could have done alot more with it. Seeing how alot of the DMC games have in the past.

[yami930]

This demo feels and looks horrible, hope it fails, capcom learns some things, and the orignial comes back

[WeAreLegion]

Great demo. I can't wait to play the whole thing.

[BigTonytheDon]

I really can't wait to play this one!

[InTheLab]

The combat is weak. The game handles well. The dialog is worse than ever and the addition of pointless cursing only makes it that much worse. Particularly, the conversation between the succubus and Dante where they sit there and scream "f*** you" at each other.

The game looks dated as hell thanks to the UE3 but the stuff going on in the environment is pretty cool.

Lastly, wtf were they thinking with the button layout for this game. Hold R2+[]+L2+[] to pull you to the enemy or them to you. R1 to evade. No targeting system to speak of. Instead of tapping evade in the air to dash, it's L2+X...why? What were they thinking?

[colonel179]

I agree about UE3. I hate that engine, and the only game that actually looked good with it was Gears of War 1, and that was 6 years ago!...

I really hope that UE4 is much more improved, or that another engine becomes commercial, because it only drags down every game made with it.

[Norrison]

Batman AC looks mind blowing on PC with Physx on, the console version looks good too, there's other UE3 games that still look good.

[ThanatosDMC]

Go to youtube and check out the mocap action videos they used for the game. They spent so much money on something the game didnt need.

[InTheLab]

double post...derp

[ABizzel1]

I played the demo and the game was solid. It's not as fast as the original DMC's, the combat isn't as deep as DMC4, and while I like the new look of the world, the game isn't pushing unreal engine to it's max. The addition of Demon powers and angel powers have yet to prove anything worthwhile to the franchise based on the demo. The lack of 60fps is also disappointing as well. The game feels more like DMC + Heavenly Sword, rather than an evolution to the DMC franchise.

Now all that being said the game is fun. The combat is similar to previous DMC's, just lite. While the combat is simple, it's also very fun and easier for everyone to learn than previous DMC, but there is some difficulty in mastering it for veterans. Switching between the demon axe and angel scythe in game is flawless, and feels like an evolution to the formula Heavenly Sword laid. The world of limbo has the potential to be the most revolutionary thing about this DMC, the shifting walls, moving floors, all make it seems as if the demons and the game world are really trying to kill you.

Overall the game is a solid hack and slash, however it feels more like a love child between DMC and Heavenly Sword than a full fledged DMC. That being said the demo is entertaining. There's a bit of unnecessary profanity among Dante and the Succubus, but I would expect a demon to be a bit vulgar so it's passable. The DMC Haters will continue to hate the game, however for everyone else it's a solid addition to your hack and slash collection.

Based off the demo it's an 8 - 9 / 10 for me (8.5). The story, boss fights, and the acting are what would push it up higher or drop it lower, as well as what other powers, and abilities you get later on in the game. Since story and acting are Ninja Theory's strong points, I'm expecting it to push closer to the 9 / 10.

[Theyellowflash30]

You don't want to push the UE3 to max though cause it could have a effect on the frame rate of a game ABizzel1? I respect your technical expertise and want to hear your opinion.

[Der_Kommandant]

The demo really made me change my mind for good.

[NovusTerminus]

Played it... Still playing around with the combat every now and then... But I still stand beside what I have been saying...

It's controls are Heavenly Sword, the Auto Lock sucks, I had Dante swing at a trash can next to him rather then the enemy. And we have TWO roll buttons... Why could one of those not be a lock on?

The graphics are far worse the DMC4, to be expected though, the Unreal Engine doesn't stand a chance against the MT Framework. And due to such, animation, framerate and graphics all take a hit... I really don't like the UE3 because of this.

Just Dodge's are far to easy to do, and the counter system works the exact same as Heavenly Sword, attack before it hits you. Staying in the air was not the focus of DMC, and to achieve such hang time took skill in the old games, now being in the air is super easy.

The game feels choppy, the combat is not that smooth, though they did get rid of that GoW 30ft roll they used to have, which is nice...

All in all. It's not DMC, the art and designs is by far not even close, the story doesn't feel anything close to the game. And above all else, the controls have also been shifted to resemble Heavenly Sword...

It is not, and can not be DMC, this feels like a brand new I.P given the name of "Devil May Cry" just to try and get the fans to buy it, and by the looks of it, that has mostly turned against them.

If they wanted NT to make a game, why not try something new? That way everyone wins. DMC doesn't get destroyed, and they get a brand new title out of it.

[Flewid638]

I couldn't do any of the moves/controls in Heavenly Sword that you speak of. Please share the details of the button config in Heavenly Sword available in this game.

Would be much appreciated considering you can't jump in Heavenly Sword, nor shoot. But if you found some secret set up....def share.

Thanks!

[RyuX19]

Wow people are disagreeing with people just for telling the truth. The game is clunky, we've been saying this since day one once Ninja Theory became involved. Demo comes out people still don't like it. Why? Because it sucks.

It does not feel like 60fps, it doesn't even feel like Devil May Cry. It's a clunky and cumbersome game that is replacing what was once a great series of games.

This game wouldn't even be torn apart like it is now if it didn't have the Devil May Cry name on it. When people play Devil May Cry they expect top notch gameplay and the gameplay in DmC is totally half-assed.

[Flewid638]

But its a GOOD clunky. :-)

[RyuX19]

No such thing.

[Flewid638]

The only thing I don't like is that it runs at 30fps

The controls DO take some getting used to as I feel that there are too many buttons unnecessarily mapped for different purposes.

Otherwise, it looks like it'll still be a solid price-drop purchase.

[josephayal]

The game is good...cry devil

[Williamson]

From what I played it was really fun, felt new but also kinda similar to past games.

[Clogmaster]

***Possible spoilers. If these are even true at all!

I read somewhere that a playtester said this game's story has no redeeming qualities. There is no character development to the main character. His hair turns white after defeating Vergin.

The example given was that Mundus' sons are killed by the MC and then the MC makes Mundus eat his own kids.

At the end of the game, we find out it is an alternate universe. And there is a time machine fueled by tears. OG Dante and Donte have to team up from then on.

If this is true, then Ninja Theory is the M Night Shyamalan of videogames. Making ridiculous stories, trashing series, and mispronouncing names like Mundus is similar to messing up the pronounciation of the name Aang in The Last Airbender.

[Hicken]

I'll reserve my judgement until I actually put my hands on the game.

But it's disturbing that the people who aren't fond of it have such an overwhelming number of disagrees. I know people have differing opinions, but come on.