Hands on with DmC

Style, swords and a devil may care attitude – it can only be DmC. Take a look at the demon hunting action adventure which is blasting its way onto PS3.

Devil May Cry made its debut on PlayStation 2 with a swagger and a smile back in 2001, wowing players everywhere with a slick blend of hack and slash combat and glittering visuals. DmC on PlayStation 3 is a re-imagining of the popular series, featuring a fresh look for demon hunter Dante, yet packing the same charm and blistering action that fans of Devil May Cry love. Put any fears aside, as developer Ninja Theory is aiming to make DmC just as sharp as Dante's sword. 

Better the devil you know

No longer the white haired charmer, Ninja Theory's demon hunter is an interesting contrast to the blade wielding hero Devil May Cry fans are used to. Younger and sporting short, cropped black hair, Dante looks different and the developer is keen on emphasising why - while paying respect to the core of the original character.

"Capcom gave us this extremely important series and told us to do something fresh with it," explains Tameem Antoniades, co-founder and chief creative at Ninja Theory. "Traditionally, Dante is a really cool guy and does lots of cool stuff, but we wanted to go a bit deeper and strip him right down to his essence, from his birth to how he grew up. We wanted to take a look at the events that shape his attitude, irreverence and anger towards demons."

Exploring this youthful Dante isn't just about an involving storyline that features a few winks and nods to previous Devil May Cry titles - there's also a lot of spectacular action to enjoy as well to make sure fans of the series will feel right at home.

Limbo dancing

Before you get to grips with Dante, it's important to know one thing - the world he lives in is a sham. Unknown to regular humans, there is another world called Limbo, lurking out of sight to most. Full of dark spirits influencing humanity in the subtlest of ways, Limbo is a danger to anyone unfortunate enough to drop into its realm. And Dante is one of the few who can travel between Limbo and Earth.

Dragged into this dark domain more than he'd like, Dante is well equipped to handle its threats. His trusty pistols Ebony and Ivory can be used to keep horrific demons and dangerous angels at bay, while he also wields a variety of edged weapons such as swords and scythes to dispatch foes.

Combat plays a massive part in DmC, with combinations the key to survival. Launching enemies into the air and then attacking them before they get a chance to retaliate gives you the opportunity to create huge combos. The style ranking system keeps tabs on your successive hits, grading you on the final total. So mastering complex combos becomes an essential part of the challenge, with the game offering plenty of different attacks to make your play style unique and constantly entertaining.

"Style and attitude"

Mix and matching your own combos is a breeze thanks to accessible and smooth controls. Dante is nimble and adaptable, making giant leaps into the sky to match his foes whilst being able to evade attacks and parry blows. Every move feels natural and whether you're air dashing across platforms, battling demons or just walking with a swagger, controlling Dante is a rewarding experience.

While the classic Devil May Cry combat style is clear to see in DmC, it's all wrapped up in a new punk rock tone that doesn't feel forced. The visuals crackle with energy as you travel through Limbo. Shadowy figures flicker around you, gruesome beasts rip through the environment and imaginative details shine with every step. This is everything you want from Devil May Cry - and is something both new and veteran fans will enjoy.

"We didn't want to just repeat what Devil May Cry has done before," says Antoniades. "When the game first came out it broke new ground in terms of style and attitude. That's how we approached this game - to create a new style and attitude while keeping the core of what makes Devil May Cry."

Make sure you keep reading playstation.co.nz to keep an eye on this devil in a crimson coat as it emerges from Limbo and onto PS3 later in 2012.

Post comments and share all the latest PlayStation happenings along with the rest of the PlayStation community at the Official New Zealand Facebook Fan Page.