Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening Special Edition - PC

Review

The good news is that we no longer have to worry about the Devil May Cry franchise falling into generic action game obscurity; Devil May Cry 3 rises from the ashes of the series' sophomore slump with a vengeance that cannot be ignored. The bad news is that it seems pretty angry. Offering improvements that add a brand new dimension to the combo-driven demon meat carving, this title takes the concept of a hardcore action experience and contorts it into a humiliating position before administering a handgun enema.

Devil May Cry 3 is, without a doubt, the most difficult game I have played this generation. Yes, it's even harder than Ninja Gaiden (pre Hurricane pack). However, it lacks the same strategic finesse of Tecmo's infamous title, often requiring you to earn your victories through pure blood and sweat rather than art and precision – it's the working man's ruthlessly challenging game. Some victories are just made sweeter by working hard to earn them, and the game allows you to replay previous missions to collect orbs and style points to make sure those triumphs are within reach. The sense of accomplishment you get when you master your skills and beat one of the insane bosses into submission makes all the toil worthwhile. That is, if you consider performing outstanding feats of supernatural combat "toil."

Of all the new tools at Dante's disposal, the ability to switch armaments at the press of a button does the most to add new depth to the battles. Given the versatility of each weapon, I was frequently impressed by my own overwhelming awesomeness as I effortlessly switched swords mid-air and seamlessly kept the combo going with a barrage of new attacks. The game masterfully blends form and function to create situations that look incredibly stylish and complex while keeping players intently focused on the frantic action at hand.

In an utterly unexpected turn of events, even the story commands the player's attention. With cutscenes before and after each mission, Dante's purpose and intentions are much clearer and the sequences provide the perfect venue for him to showcase his unique talents. The only gripe I have in this department is Dante's recent attitude adjustment; his one-liners and party dude demeanor were so clearly brewed in the early ‘90s that I expected Bebop and Rocksteady to show up for a boss fight.

The game has its fair share of problems: the difficulty is an obvious hurdle, your demon form isn't available until you've completed the seventh of 20 missions, and the camera remains a consistent problem (though it is thankfully better than in DMC 2). Even though Devil May Cry 3 hasn't entirely renewed that indefinable spark of the first game, it is still relentlessly entertaining, and has certainly established DMC as an enduring and dynamic franchise as opposed to a one-trick demon-pony.

Brand : Ubisoft

Manufacturer : Ubisoft