Game Commentary: Devil May Cry 5

Devil May Cry 5 was a title no one knew they wanted but were glad they received. I should actually note that no one knew they wanted it because no one thought they were going to make it. After the DMC: Devil May Cry hipster reboot (which is, admittedly, pretty good), fans of the original games never thought we'd see the original universe and lore come back. But lo and behold Capcom had blessed us with this entry and what an entry it is.

DMC5 is a very solid singleplayer, hack & slash experience complete with a satisfying story, amazing music, excellent gameplay and it does all of these with incredible finesse. I was hyped going in with very high expectations and what I got delivered on all those notes and then some. It's a game I highly recommend anyone to pick up but keep in mind that it is a direct sequel to all prior entries. The game does give out bits and pieces of information to catch players up on the lore, story and characters so far but I highly recommend going through a condensed recap of everything up to this point before diving in.

The best part of the DMC franchise is the combat and this entry cements the series as one of the very best in delivering high quality hack & slash combat with exhilarating combos and finishers, all the while featuring its signature edgy, dark humour to it all. Whether you play as Nero, V or Dante, they all feel and play very differently from one another yet somehow the game manages to nail every aspect of their combat to ensure that the player ends each combat sequence with a satisfying carnage of combos, stylish finishers and realised catharsis. I won't go into each character's differences because the game does do a great job in providing you information on all enemies and weapons to arm you with the knowledge to then test out in the training zone. You'll feel like a badass almost immediately but with some minor reading and practice, the S ranks are all yours to claim!

The story this time around is also rather decent in my opinion. The crux of the story is actually very spoiler heavy so I won't even make mention of it here. But know that I found it better than all previous entries with the added bonuses of hyper-realistic graphics and fantastic character performances. And yes, you do get some of that infamous 'DMC humour'. Some people call it teenage cringe, I call it sophisticated gags.

And how can anyone talk about DMC5 without even making mention of the music? As is with the design of DMC, most of the tracks lean hard into heavy metal, screamo and rock music. Not a fan? Don't worry, you'll be one by the end of it. Did I also mention that the game features dynamic combat music? If you suck, you don't hear much. If you're super stylish, be sure to welcome the devil as he enters your room.

Overall, the three points above kind of make up the pillars of DMC5 but of course, the game comes packaged with all the best parts of a score-focused, hack & slash title. Tons of unlockables, multiple difficulties, Bloody Palace mode, and even costume changes definitely serve to flavour the dish to greater heights.