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Devil May Cry

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File:DMClogo.jpg
The series takes its name from a shop owned by Dante, the main character

Devil May Cry is a series of action video games set in the modern day, developed by Capcom and created by Shinji Mikami. Originally intended to be a sequel in Capcom's Resident Evil series, Devil May Cry has been cited as the beginning of a sub-genre of action games by the name of Extreme Action. The series centers on main character Dante's goal of avenging his mother's murder by exterminating demons. In the process, he encounters his long lost brother with whom he develops a dysfunctional relationship. As the series progresses it is revealed that the demon emperor Mundus is responsible for the loss of Dante's mother and the corruption of his brother. The gameplay consists of heavy combat scenes in which the player must attempt to extend long chains of attacks while avoiding damage in order to exhibit "stylish" combat; this element along with time and amount of items collected and used are taken under consideration when grading the player's performance.

The series has been a marketing success with the first three games selling multiple million copies and being awarded the "Platinum Title" award by Capcom. The success of the video game series has led to the creation of comic books, novelizations, an upcoming anime series, guides, collectibles, publications, and a variety of action figures.

As of 2007 there are three games in the series with a fourth installment currently in production.

Series origins

In 1998, after the completion of Resident Evil 2, preliminary work on a PlayStation 2 installment of the Resident Evil series began under the direction of Hideki Kamiya, under the name "Team Little Devil". [1] Early research and development work included a trip to Spain to examine various castles as a basis for the game's environments. However, in prototype status, it proved to be a radical departure from the established Resident Evil formula and the survival horror genre in general. Rather than abandon the project entirely, the premise was changed and it eventually became Devil May Cry.[2]

Although the series is substantially different from its original inspiration, its lineage is still apparent, from the recurring boss characters and tendency towards grotesque adversaries, the need to solve elaborate puzzles to proceed, to the "This Game Contains Scenes Of Violence And Gore" warning at the opening sequence and "You Are Dead" game over screens. The violent finishing moves some monsters can perform are also reminiscent of its lineage.

Games in the series

Title Year Platforms
Devil May Cry 2001 PlayStation 2
Devil May Cry 2 2003 PlayStation 2
Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening 2005 PlayStation 2, PC
Devil May Cry 4 2007 PlayStation 3, PC, Xbox 360

Common gameplay elements

File:SternnDMCpwnage19841.png
Dante battles a group of demons in Devil May Cry

The gameplay of the series focuses primarily on fast and 'stylish' combat; gaining a high style ranking requires long attack and evasion strings while avoiding damage. In later games, the system was slightly modified so players had to actively vary the attacks used, so as to maintain the style rank. The style rank is tracked during combat with letter grades, from worst to best: D, C, B, A, S. They are also represented by words that start with the first letter of the class, "Dull" for D for example. The third game introduced "SS" and "SSS" ranks, which will continue in the fourth. Each level, or "mission", is also ranked using these letters.[3]

The game also features some puzzle-solving and exploration elements retained from its survival horror beginnings, but these are downplayed; Devil May Cry games put emphasis on action.

The Devil Trigger ability enables the player's character to transform into a devil-like form with additional powers based on their current weapon, while the character's strength and speed increase and health is slowly restored.[3]

Dante is generally the lead character in the games, though Devil May Cry 2 featured two other characters who could be selected instead of him (Lucia or Trish), the Special Edition of Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening allowed the player to use Vergil, and Devil May Cry 4 will feature a new protagonist named Nero.

Series innovations

Each game in the series has added new elements to the gameplay.

Devil May Cry introduced the 'style' meter and ranking, encouraging players to attack and evade continuously while avoiding damage.[3]

Devil May Cry 2 introduced the ability to perform combination attacks in mid-air and an evasion button. It also introduced a weapon-change button, so the player could cycle through ranged weapons without switching to the inventory screen.

Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening added a selection of gameplay styles, allowing the player to focus on their favorite techniques or weapons, whether it be swords, guns, evasion or defense. Each of the four basic styles gain experience points, which unlock more techniques and abilities without costing 'red orbs', the common currency of the series. A second weapon-change button was added, allowing the player to cycle through the character's melee weaponry as well.[4]

Devil May Cry 4 is bringing at least one known innovation in the form of main character Nero's "Devil Bringer" arm, which will give players the ability to pull distant enemies in to be attacked, push them away, or smash them into the ground.[5]

Series Plot

The chronological order of the Devil May Cry series does not follow the release order of the games. Devil May Cry 3 takes place first as a prequel to Devil May Cry, which is followed by Devil May Cry 2. The currently unreleased Devil May Cry 4 takes place between the first and second game.

The plot of the series begins in Dante's as-of-yet unnamed shop as a mysterious man named Arkham appears to offers an invitation from Dante's brother, Vergil.[6] An immense tower erupts from the ground a short distance away from the shop and Dante takes the situation as a challenge.[7] Following numerous battles Dante arrives at the tower's summit and battles Vergil. Vergil defeats Dante and departs. He eventually catches up in the control room located in the tower's basement. The brothers battle again until they are interrupted by Lady, then Arkham, who has been manipulating them all to reactivate the tower. Arkham intends to steal the Force Edge, Sparda's sword.[8][9]

Dante crosses over to the demon world and catches up with Arkham, and he and Vergil work together to bring down Arkham. Dante and Vergil battle, and Dante is victorious. Returning to the human world, Dante meets Lady outside the tower where she coins the phrase "devil may cry" while trying to comfort Dante over the loss of his brother. They form a friendship and the beginnings of a partnership in demon-slaying, and he names his shop "Devil May Cry".[10][11]

Devil May Cry begins with Dante being attacked in his office by Trish. He brushes off her assault and she claims that the demon emperor Mundus is planning a return.[12] Dante explores Mallet Island, encountering a variety of demons, including one named Nelo Angelo.[13] Dante is defeated but Nelo Angelo flees. Other encounters with Mundus' demon generals serve to indicate Dante has become even more powerful than his father since his initial awakening in Devil May Cry 3.[14] Nelo Angelo attacks twice more in later missions, and is eventually revealed to be Dante's twin brother, Vergil. Dante enters the underworld in search of Mundus, where Trish sacrifices herself to save him. Dante's releases the power of Sparda that Virgil sought in Devil May Cry 3.[15] Dante and Mundus then battle on another plane of existence. Trish returns and lends Dante her power. Dante then defeats Mundus.[16] Dante and Trish escape as the island collapses, and later work together in the renamed shop, "Devil Never Cry".

Devil May Cry 2 begins with Dante entering a museum where an important item called the Medaglia is stored, where Lucia invites Dante to Dumary Island. Lucia's mother Matier asks Dante to help fight Arius, a businessman who wields demonic power.[17] Dante decides to help.[18] Lucia confronts Arius, who reveals that she was his creation.[19] Shortly afterward, Lucia gives Dante the last of the Arcana before leaving.[20] Dante then encounters Matier who asks Dante to take the Arcana to save Lucia from Arius.[21] Lucia attacks Arius, though he captures her. Dante arrives and trades the Arcana for Lucia, then attacks Arius, who escapes.[22] A large stream of energy strikes the Uroburos tower and a portal to the demon world is opened. Dante and Lucia argue over who will enter, with Dante entering the portal to deal with Argosax.[23]

After Dante departs, Arius returns to, though Lucia goes on to defeat him.[24] Within the portal, Dante fights and defeats the partially summoned Argosax. Finding the portal closed, Dante instead drives further into the demon realm on a motorcycle. In the aftermath of the battle, Matier insists to Lucia that Sparda returned from a similar trip. Sometime later in Dante's shop, Lucia muses about Dante. Outside the sound of a motorcycle echoes, and Lucia leaves to investigate. The player is not shown whether or not it is Dante.

Cultural impact

The Devil May Cry series has sold over five million copies world wide,[25] gaining all of it's releases Capcom's "Platinum Title" award.[25] Devil May Cry has been cited as the beginning of a sub-genre of action games called "Extreme Combat", which focus on powerful heroes fighting hordes of foes with a focus on stylish action.[26] The game has also been described as being the first game that "successfully captured the twitch-based, relentlessly free-flowing gameplay style of so many classic 2D action games".[27] The series has become the game against which other 3D action games are measured, with comparisons in reviews of games including God of War,[28][29] Chaos Legion,[30] and Blood Will Tell.[31]

Dante's confident and fearless attitude have gained him widespread popularity. He was ranked as the seventh of Game Crush's "Top 10: Most Badass Video Game Characters" list,[32] and third among the "Top ten coolest video game characters" list of Screwattack.[33] The popularity of the Devil May Cry series lead to a line of Devil May Cry action figures produced by Toycom.[34] Japanese company Kaiyodo produced a similar line for Devil May Cry 2 and a Devil May Cry 3 Dante action figure.[35][36]

Other media

File:Dante Anime.jpg
Dante in a promotional image for the anime

Two Devil May Cry light novels, written by Shinya Goikeda and illustrated by Shiro Miwa have been published, first in Japan in 2002 and later translated and released in the United States in 2006. The first, entitled Devil May Cry Volume 1 published in Japan in conjunction with the release of the first game and depicts Dante in an adventure set before the events of the first game. The second novel (entitled Devil May Cry Volume 2 in the U.S.) was published in Japan to coincide with the release of the second game and takes place after the events of the first game. Publisher TokyoPop released the books in the U.S. in June and November of 2006, respectively.

Two volumes of a planned 3-part Devil May Cry 3 manga series have been published in Japan and the U.S. Taking place about a year before the events of Devil May Cry 3, the manga tells the story of how the characters came to where they were at the start of the game. Whether the events of the manga are considered canon by the game developers is currently unknown.

Three issues of a comic adaptation of the first game was published by Canadian publisher Dreamwave Productions in 2004, but was left unfinished when the company went bankrupt in 2005.[37]

An anime series entitled Devil May Cry featuring Dante is scheduled to debut on the WOWOW TV network in Japan on June 12 2007. The series is scheduled for 12 episodes.[38][39] The show is being produced by the anime studio Madhouse and is being directed by Shin Itagaki. Bingo Morihashi, one of the writers for the third and fourth games, is on the writing staff. The first full trailer features Dante in his garb from the first game, and a character list including two of his partners from the games (Lady and Trish) and two new characters.

In other games

  • In the Viewtiful Joe games, another Capcom series also created by Hideki Kamiya, Devil May Cry characters appeared in the PlayStation versions. Dante is a playable character in the PS2 version of the first Viewtiful Joe and the PSP version of Viewtiful Joe: Red Hot Rumble includes him as well as Vergil, Trish, Sparda, Marionette, and Plasma.

References

  1. ^ Mielke, James (2006-18-08). "The Okami Family Tree". 1UP.com. Retrieved 2007-03-29. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ "E3 2001: Interview with Shinji Mikami". IGN. 2001-05-17. Retrieved 2007-05-25. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ a b c Devil May Cry Instruction Booklet. Capcom. 2001.
  4. ^ "List of styles in Devil May Cry 3". devilmaycry.org. Retrieved 2007-04-03.
  5. ^ "Official English language DMC4 site from Capcom Japan". Retrieved 2007-01-31.
  6. ^ Arkham: Is your name Dante? Son of Sparda? Dante: Where did you hear that? Arkham: From your brother. He sent this invitation to you. Please accept it. Dante: Invitation huh? (Devil May Cry 3) Capcom, 2005
  7. ^ Dante: It's been nearly a year since we last met. Where does the time go? No doubt you've got some fun planned for me. Right Vergil? (Devil May Cry) Capcom, 2005
  8. ^ Jester: It was quite a ride, you know! If any of you had died before getting here, our little plan would have gone to waste! Therefore, my job was to get you to battle each other in order to weaken you. But at the same time, I needed to guide you here and make sure you were kept alive. I even went so far as dressing like a complete idiot! (Devil May Cry 3) Capcom, 2005
  9. ^ Arkham: He plucks the threads that make us dance, finger and toe! We surrender in joy to the lowest of the foul and rank; we submerge through darkness, rancid filth. Hour by hour, we move downward, ever closer to Hell, in a slow, steady gait. Now, let the world resonate! Sloth! Gluttony! Greed! Envy! Lust! Wrath! And pride! A bell of chaos that tolls human desires! After two thousand long years, the once sealed gate to the demonic world will open! Destruction! Carnage and Despair! Let your instincts drive you! Entrap this world in fear! As its very name Temen-ni-gru strikes terror into the heart of mankind. Then I will become the ultimate ruler of this wasteland engulfed with pandemonium. The demonic power that Sparda once imprisoned... will be mine! (Devil May Cry 3) Capcom, 2005
  10. ^ Lady: Are you crying? Dante: It's only the rain. Lady: The rain already stopped. Dante: Devils never cry. Lady: I see. Maybe somewhere out there even a devil may cry when he loses a loved one. Don't you think? Dante: Maybe. (Devil May Cry 3) Capcom, 2005
  11. ^ Lady: Oh, speaking of a kind devil, he finally decided on a name for his shop. It took him quite a while to pick one. Want to know the name? Devil May Cry. (Devil May Cry 3) Capcom, 2005
  12. ^ Trish: Yes, his powers were sealed by Sparda, he's attempting to take control of the human world again. He has been preparing to open the gate on... Mallet Island. (Devil May Cry) Capcom, 2001
  13. ^ Dante: This stinking hole was the last place that I thought I’d find anyone with some guts. (Devil May Cry) Capcom, 2001
  14. ^ Griffon: Yours is definitely the power of Sparda... No. Even more so. (Devil May Cry) Capcom, 2001
  15. ^ Dante: How much longer are you going to keep zapping? Come out and show yourself, Mundus! (Devil May Cry) Capcom, 2001
  16. ^ Trish: Dante, use my power! Dante: Trish! Okay! (Devil May Cry) Capcom, 2001
  17. ^ Matier: Son of Sparda... we must ask this favor, of you... You see, there's a man who's transformed our land into a demon's paradise; his name is Arius. And although he is the president, of an international public corporation... he uses the demon power. Please, deal with Arius and his master for us. (Devil May Cry 2) Capcom, 2003
  18. ^ (After flipping a coin and noticing the result is heads.) Dante: ...Looks like it's your lucky day. (Devil May Cry 2) Capcom, 2003
  19. ^ Arius: You are my creation. Lucia: Liar! Matier is my mother. Arius' secretary removes her mask, revealing the fact her face is identical to Lucia's. Arius: She merely found you when you were about to be disposed of, and then raised you as a soldier. Is that what you consider to be a mother? (Devil May Cry 2) Capcom, 2003
  20. ^ Lucia: But... actually... I do not deserve this power... Lucia: Bring this to Matier for me... please... I... I've got something that I need to take care of... (Devil May Cry 2) Capcom, 2003
  21. ^ Matier: There is one more thing I need to ask of you, son of Sparda. My daughter went to face Arius all by herself... Please, take these, and save Lucia. (Devil May Cry 2) Capcom, 2003
  22. ^ Arius: You cannot win... someone is holding you back... Lucia: Ugh, forget about me! Kill Arius! Dante: Don't worry. I've got you... (Devil May Cry 2) Capcom, 2003
  23. ^ Lucia: But...! Dante: Let's leave it to fate. Heads, I go; Tails, you go. He flips the coin and it lands as heads again Dante:See ya around. Lucia: Don't you want to hear the story about Sparda from... Matier? Dante: I know... He did the same thing... Hold on to my coin, Lucia. (Devil May Cry 2) Capcom, 2003
  24. ^ Arius: You are not human! You are just a monster... a monster that I created! Lucia: Dante told me... Devils never cry! (Devil May Cry 2) Capcom, 2003
  25. ^ a b "Platinum Titles". Capcom. 2007-01-17. Retrieved 2007-04-04.
  26. ^ Bateman, Chris (2005-08-29). 21st Century Game Design. Charles River Media. pp. pp. 246-247. ISBN 978-1-58-450429-0. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  27. ^ Ahmed, Shahed (2001-17-10). "Gamespot Devil May Cry review". GameSpot. Retrieved 2007-03-29. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  28. ^ "God of War". IGN. Retrieved 2007-04-03.
  29. ^ "God of War Review". Playstation World. 2005-06-16. Retrieved 2003-04-03.
  30. ^ Varanini, Giancarlo (2003-08-04). "Chaos Legion review". Gamespot. Retrieved 2007-04-03.
  31. ^ Bedigian, Louis (2004-29-09). "Blood Will Tell review". Gamezone. Retrieved 2007-04-03. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  32. ^ Rocco Inzauto, Edward (2007-02-25). "Top 10: Most Badass Video Game Characters". Retrieved 2007-04-20.
  33. ^ "Top ten cooloest games". Retrieved 2007-04-20.
  34. ^ Borst, Brian (2003-06-01). "Devil May Cry Action Figures review". Retrieved 2007-04-20.
  35. ^ "Amazon.com Listing for Devil May Cry 2 Action Figures". Retrieved 2007-04-23.
  36. ^ "Amazon.com Listing for Devil May Cry 3 Dante Revoltech action figure". Retrieved 2007-04-23.
  37. ^ "Dreamwave Productions closes up shop". Retrieved 2007-04-23.
  38. ^ "ActiveAnime:Devil May Cry Anime and Pre Site Opening". Retrieved 2007-01-23.
  39. ^ "Devil May Cry anime official site (in Japanese)". Retrieved 2007-01-23.
  40. ^ James Ransom-Wiley (2005-02-09). "Joystiq's report on Dante's inclusion on the Soul Calibur III roster". Retrieved 2007-04-04.
  41. ^ "Atlus USA presents Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne". Atlus. Retrieved 2007-04-16.
  42. ^ "Fighting Evolution- JEDAH by *UdonCrew". Retrieved 2007-05-25.
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