DmC review: A facelift never looked so natural

After I heard Ninja Theory was taking up the reigns to the newest installment in the Devil May Cry series, I felt at ease. Since they brought us games like Heavenly Sword and Enslaved: Odyssey to the West, I felt like the series was in the right hands.

I was right to feel this way because this is probably the best reboot I have ever played, and possibly the best Devil May Cry game that I've played. DmC manages to keep the fast-paced, stylish action that the series is known for, but manages to surpass its predecessors with a captivating storyline and creative level design.

A Devil May Cry game never has had a story that made me want to keep playing to progress the narrative and see what happens next. They've always been games that I played for the addictive, fast-paced action and cheesy one-liners said by Dante. DmC changes that providing a gripping story about revenge, loyalty, betrayal and the sacred bond shared between brothers. The only disappointment with the story is that it cuts itself short when all you want is more. The story is so good that I found myself disappointed that it ended about 10 hours after I started.

Visually the game is absolutely stunning. I, unlike many fanboys of the series, like the new Dante and wasn't bothered at all by the change of appearance. More importantly, the world that Ninja Theory has created for the game is remarkable. Instead of the using the Gothic style world that was used in the previous installments in the series, Ninja Theory created a new world with a real life, modern day feel. A world that is controlled by an evil corporation owned by the demon king Mundus, and by a propaganda television news network also controlled by Mundus.

Stabbin' and jabbin'

During the game, Dante is constantly pulled in and out of a parallel world called "Limbo." In Limbo, Dante is attacked by the demon king Mundus's demon army and also by the world itself. I was in absolute awe when I first saw the ground in Limbo fall out from under me, and the walls close in an attempt to crush me. The way the world literally shifts while you are playing the game creates a visual spectacle that is unmatched by other games in the genre. Enemies don't look bland or generic, but instead they are creatively designed and look creepier than ever.

Where this game really shines is the combat. Dante is Nephilim, meaning he is the spawn of both an angel (Eva) and a demon (Sparda). This means Dante can wield both angelic and demonic weapons, making the possibility for awesome combos a lot higher. Of course Dante's beloved sword Rebellion returns along with his trusty pistols Ebony & Ivory. Devil Trigger is back as well and allows Dante to freeze his enemies in the air and destroy them with powerful attacks. It also replenishes health.

What impresses me most about this game is the ability to seamlessly swap weapons in the middle of a combo in order to gain more style points. All you need to do is hold down LT or L2 to switch to angelic weapons and hold down RT or R2 to use demonic weapons. There are two angelic weapons, two demonic weapons, three different firearms and one Rebellion, giving players eight different weapons to choose from. Since the D pad is used to equip weapons, it is possible to use every weapon in your arsenal in a single combo. The only problem is the lack of an ability to lock-on to enemies, but the intelligent auto lock-on suffices so combat doesn't get too frustrating.

Platforming is also smooth and actually fun considering how simple it is. Dante is given an angel hook and demon hook which can be used to grasp on to certain parts of the environment and enemies. The angel hook is used to pull Dante towards the targeted point, while the demon hook is used to move objects and platforms.

Hackin' and slashin'

The game offers three difficulty modes to begin with, and offers four more that can be unlocked by completing the game on the hardest modes, offering a big incentive to play the game over. There are also collectibles in each level and secret challenges. Gathering the collectables and doing these secret challenges factor into your mission score at the end of each level. Bloody palace mode also makes a return and is available for download via XBL and PSN.

Boss fights are well designed and extremely fun, but not very difficult. Each boss has a small set of moves that are easy to predict and don't do much damage. Still, this doesn't take much away from the battles. They are still satisfying and epic, especially the fight against Mundus.

I can't imagine DmC being much better than this. Ninja Theory went above and beyond to create a game that looks nothing like the others in the series, but feels just right. Because of its well written and acted storyline, gorgeous and creative level design and fluid, fast-paced gameplay, this game deserves a SSS ranking and Ninja theory deserves the highest of fives for creating it.

Also, for all of the crybaby fanboys out there. Ninja Theory is releasing a character skin so you can play as your precious old Dante again. I hope this gives you incentive to play this game, because this game should not be neglected over something so stupid.