PS2 Game Review - Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening

Devil May Cry 3

Dante’s Awakening

A PS2 Game Review By
Le Chupacabra

Name any other game that let's you surf on your enemies with your guns blazing in every direction, and I'll call you a blatant liar!

A prequel to the uber cool DMC and its worthless sequel DMC 2, Devil May Cry 3 is a game that effortlessly redefines the word stylish to unheard-of proportions!

DMC 3 stars a younger Dante. But this isn’t the same Dante from the sequels. This Dante is so full of in-your-face cockiness and attitude, that you can’t help thinking he’s the coolest game character ever! Forget his trademark one-liners from DMC; they pale in comparison to his never-ending, smartass banter in this game!

The gameplay in DMC 3 isn’t good nor is it excellent.

The only phrase that could probably describe it is: Holy Shit Awesome!

The gameplay in DMC 3 is unbelievably fast and utterly smooth. You can pull off combos so over-the-top and wicked-looking that other games seem abysmally slow and boring in comparison. Without breaking a sweat, Dante can switch from using twin scimitars to tri-headed ice nunchuks to his to-be-classic (it’s a prequel after all!) twin handguns and devilishly cool sword. The end result can make for some seriously brutal and satisfying chain attacks with action that moves so fast it's almost hard to believe.

The game isn’t about mashing buttons or hammering block! The enemies give new meaning to the word evil. They’ll launch sneak attacks, gang up on you and generally make life Hell® for you. This makes DMC 3 one of the most refreshingly challenging titles of this decade – which is another way of saying it can be quite hard at times. However, the fights are so brutally fast and furious that even when you’re getting your butt kicked you can’t help but enjoy them immensely. The enemies will keep you on the edge of your seat and will have you constantly adopt split-second strategies to adapt to their tactics. This game requires razor sharp reflexes to keep the blood spilling! Consistency is of paramount importance as is maintaining a varied and stylish fighting style, my friend wisely advised me. The boss fights are something you’ll relish and present some of the tensest and most exciting battles since Metal Gear Solid 3. The half-dozen bosses are the embodiment of the word devious. They’ll constantly switch their battle strategy to wrong-foot you to your demise. You must constantly adapt to the bosses and with some righteous swordplay (and gun-totin’), you can finally deliver the killing blow! It may seem slightly frustrating at first, but at one point everything somehow clicks together and you’ll find yourself a master of this excellent game. There five unique melee weapons to use ranging from the omnipresent demon sword to the twin scimitars, Agni and Rudhra to the uber jam-tastic guitar called Nevan. Yes you read it right, I said guitar. Find out what it does by yourself; I’d rather not ruin the experience! Six selectable play styles ranging from the zippy Trickster to the brutal Swordmaster ensure that everyone will find their own niche in this game. These styles are completely unique and have such awesome combos that it’s worth playing the game multiple times to see it all! Add hyperactive devil transformations into the mix and you have a relentlessly exciting action game where the party never ends!

Capcom has also shattered the space-time equilibrium of their long-endured tradition – DMC 3 actually has a story worth following! Not only it is pretty good but it’s utterly amusing in the way it presents its own brand of family dysfunction!

The graphics in Devil May Cry 3 complement the action to perfection. The visuals move at a blistering 60 FPS and with a fluidity that is rarely seen elsewhere. This ensures that the action you see is a non-stop, all out bloodbath! The enemy designs are distinctly sinister and reek of a citizenship to Hell. The environs are dark, grim and moody and the whole game is drenched in a very Gothic atmosphere. Perfect for our metal-crazed rocker Dante! Then we have the cutscenes! Boasting some of the most over-the-top sequences in gaming - heck film – history, each one is superbly directed and will have you playing the game repeatedly to watch them all over again! The Matrix looks as exciting as cheese mould compared to what you’re about to see here!

The soundtrack is so fitting in DMC 3 that without it, the game loses more than half of its appeal! The music is generally slow and creepy orchestra until you find some enemies – all of a sudden heavy guitar riffs kick in and hard rock pounds through your speakers! This really makes every encounter a head-bangin’ rush of an experience as you slice and blast your enemies back to Hell! The voice acting is pretty good too (another Capcom first) and Dante sounds as every bit of the cocky, arrogant bastard he acts like!

DMC 3 is a pure adrenaline rush of blazing guns, whirlwind swordplay, intense action and head banging music. Find the word style in the dictionary and chances are that there will be a picture of DMC 3 under it! DMC 3 is a return to form of one of the greatest PS2 games of all time…Welcome Back, Dante!