Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening

Last updated

Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening
Devil May Cry 3 boxshot.jpg
North American cover art
Developer(s) Capcom Production Studio 1
Publisher(s) Capcom
Director(s) Hideaki Itsuno
Producer(s) Tsuyoshi Tanaka
Artist(s) Daigo Ikeno
Writer(s)
Composer(s) Tetsuya Shibata
Series Devil May Cry
Platform(s)
Release
February 17, 2005
  • Dante's Awakening
  • PlayStation 2
    • JP: February 17, 2005
    • NA: March 1, 2005
    • AU: March 22, 2005
    • EU: March 25, 2005 [1]
  • Special Edition
  • PlayStation 2
    • NA: January 24, 2006
    • JP: February 23, 2006
    • EU: September 29, 2006 [2] [3]
    Windows
    • EU: June 28, 2006
    • JP: June 30, 2006
    • NA: October 16, 2006
    Nintendo Switch
    • WW: February 20, 2020
  • HD Collection
  • PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
    • JP: March 22, 2012
    • NA: March 29, 2012
    • EU: April 3, 2012
    • AU: April 5, 2012
    PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One
    • WW: March 13, 2018
Genre(s) Action-adventure, hack and slash
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer [a]

Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening [b] is a 2005 action-adventure game developed and published by Capcom. The game is a prequel to the original Devil May Cry , featuring a younger Dante. [4] Set a decade before the events of the first Devil May Cry in an enchanted tower called the Temen-ni-gru, the story follows Dante as he attempts to stop his twin brother, Vergil, from opening a portal to the Demon World. The game introduces combat mechanics with an emphasis on combos and fast-paced action. The story is told primarily in cutscenes using the game's engine, with several pre-rendered full motion videos.

Contents

Devil May Cry 3 was released in February and March 2005 for the PlayStation 2 and ported to Windows in June and October 2006. It was widely praised by critics, hailing it as a return to form for the series, yet did receive some criticisms for its high level of difficulty in the North American release. [5] [6] It was re‐released in 2006 as Devil May Cry 3: Special Edition [c] , featuring retooled difficulty levels, the addition of mid-mission checkpoints, "GOLD mode", and Vergil as a playable character. Combined sales of both versions were over 2.3 million. It has been cited as one of the greatest video games ever made.

A 2005 manga prequel to Devil May Cry 3's storyline was published in Japan and later the United States.

Gameplay

Dante firing Ebony and Ivory at an opponent Devil May Cry 3 gameplay.jpg
Dante firing Ebony and Ivory at an opponent

The gameplay in Devil May Cry 3 consists of levels, missions, in which players battle enemies, carry out platforming tasks and solve puzzles to progress through the story. The player's performance in each mission is graded from D through C, B and A, with top marks of S and SS. Grades are based on time taken to complete a mission, the number of red orbs (currency obtained from defeated enemies) gathered, "stylish" combat, item usage and damage received. [7] The games tracks stylish combat by an on-screen gauge, which is the performance of a series of attacks ("combos") while avoiding damage. The longer a player attacks without repetition and evades damage, the higher the score. [7] The gauge registers "Dope" after a few attacks, progressing through "Crazy", "Blast", "Alright", "Sweet", "SShowtime" to peak at "SSStylish". If Dante receives damage, the style rating falls; if the gauge is "Crazy" or below, it will reset. Devil May Cry 3's battle system allows a player to link attacks, with each weapon having a set number of attacks.

Devil Trigger is a mechanic which enables the player's character to assume a demonic form. This alters the character's appearance, increases attack and defense, restores health and enables special attacks. This is a departure from the previous titles, where Dante draws power from weapons and items he procures throughout the game. The Devil Trigger state lasts as long as there is energy in the Devil Trigger gauge; the gauge rises by attacking or taunting enemies in normal mode, and falls when using the Devil Trigger transformation or other abilities using Devil Trigger power. [7] The Devil Trigger mode is not available to Dante until one-third of the way through the game, while Vergil, playable in the special edition, has the ability at the outset.

The other major difference from previous Devil May Cry games is Devil May Cry 3's combat system, which allows a player to choose one of Dante's four combat styles; each style has a different focus and techniques. Dante can switch between all four equipped weapons (two guns, two melees) on the fly, allowing for far greater combat freedom and variety than in previous Devil May Cry games. Style selection is available at checkpoints and at the beginning of each level. [5] The styles are "Trickster", for dodging and agility; "Swordmaster", with abilities for swords and other weapons; "Gunslinger", with firearms techniques; and "Royal Guard", which allows a player to repel attacks with a button press (storing energy for retaliation). Later in the game, two additional styles become unlocked: "Quicksilver", slowing enemies, while the character attacks at normal speed; and "Doppelgänger", which creates a shadow double who fights alongside Dante. A second player may control the shadow double by pressing "Start" on a second controller. A two-player mode, similar to the Doppelgänger style, is accessible while Dante and Vergil battle Arkham. [8] In the special edition Vergil has another style, "Dark Slayer", which is similar to Trickster.

The Devil May Cry 3: Special Edition version of the game makes some changes to the gameplay. Along with making Vergil a playable character, other changes included an additional survival mode called "Bloody Palace" (which originally appeared in the second game) with 9,999 levels; a Jester fight early in the game, with optional fights later; a "Turbo Mode", increasing game speed by 20 percent; an easier GOLD mode "continue" feature, allowing a player to revive a character or restart a lost fight, and rebalanced difficulty levels. Vergil's gameplay differed from Dante's; although Dante was weaker than Vergil in terms of skills and combos, he was easier to control. Because of the game's space limitations, not all of Vergil's moves were included in the special edition. [9]

Vergil has one style, "Dark Slayer" (similar to Dante's "Trickster" style), with evasive maneuvers which can be leveled-up twice like Dante's four styles. He has three weapons: a katana known as Yamato, Beowulf gauntlets and greaves and the Force Edge broadsword. Vergil has two ranges of attack: "Summoned Swords" (creating magical swords for a variety of effects) [10] and "Judgment Cut" (creating spheres of force). [11] The new boss is Jester, a character encountered several times in first-edition cutscenes but not fought. In Devil May Cry 3: Special Edition, he is a boss who may be fought three times.

The Nintendo Switch version of Devil May Cry 3: Special Edition added the ability to switch between styles at any point during combat. [12]

Plot

Devil May Cry 3 starts with Dante's yet-unnamed shop in the early 1990s. A mysterious man, Arkham, arrives with an invitation from Dante's brother Vergil in the form of a demonic attack. [13] [14] After Dante defeats a group of demons, a huge tower erupts from the ground nearby. [4] [15] Sensing that Vergil is on top of the structure, Dante interprets this as a challenge. [16] He begins fighting more demons during his journey, some of which become his weapons once defeated. [17] Dante is attacked by a woman on a motorcycle who turns out to be Mary, Arkham's daughter, who wants revenge on her father for causing her mother's death. [18] [19] It is revealed that Arkham works for Vergil; they plan to take Dante's half of their mother's amulet and use its power on the tower to connect the human and demonic worlds. [20]

After a number of battles and an encounter with a being named Jester, [21] Dante reaches the tower's summit and battles Vergil. Vergil defeats Dante by stabbing him with his own sword, Rebellion, steals his amulet and leaves. Dante's blood releases a seal on Rebellion, causing Dante's dormant demonic powers to emerge, and he sets out in pursuit, [22] only to be swallowed by a giant whale-like demon. After escaping from the beast, Dante catches Vergil in a control room in the tower's basement, where Vergil cannot reactivate the tower. The brothers fight again, until they are interrupted by Mary and Jester. Jester reveals himself to be Arkham, who has manipulated them all to reactivate the tower in order to reach the demonic world. There he plans to steal the Force Edge, the dormant form of Sparda's sword with his power, using it to rule a demon-infested Earth. [23] [24] The tower transforms as the spell is broken; Arkham is carried to the summit, and Vergil disappears in the confusion.

Dante battles his way back up the tower, fighting Mary for the right to pursue Arkham. He is victorious, and Mary lends him her most powerful weapon. Reaching the summit, Dante crosses to the demonic world and catches Arkham, who has by now assumed Sparda's demonic form. Overwhelmed by power, Arkham transforms into a blob-like creature and attacks Dante. During their fight, Vergil reappears, and the brothers work together to expel Arkham from the demonic world. Weakened, Arkham lands on the tower where Mary finds him. She renounces her name and calls herself Lady, a nickname given to her by Dante because she refused to tell him her name, before killing him. In the demonic world, Dante and Vergil fight for ownership of the Force Edge and the amulet halves. After Vergil's defeat, he remains as the portal closes, vanishing with his half of the amulet. [25]

Dante meets Lady outside the tower. They become friends and begin a partnership as demon-slayers; Dante ends up naming his shop "Devil May Cry". [26] [27] A scene after the credits shows Vergil in the demonic world, weak but determined, as he charges into battle against his father's old foe Mundus. [28]

Development

A comparison between the motion capture and the results in the game. Reuben Langdon and Daniel Southworth provided their voice and moves for Dante and Vergil, respectively. DevilMayCry3motion.png
A comparison between the motion capture and the results in the game. Reuben Langdon and Daniel Southworth provided their voice and moves for Dante and Vergil, respectively.

After the mixed reception of Devil May Cry 2, Capcom developed Devil May Cry 3 in a similar manner to the series' more critically acclaimed first game Devil May Cry; its gameplay elements, such as environment size and battle engine, were reexamined. Other aspects of Devil May Cry 2, such as the toning-down of Dante's cockiness and the game's lack of difficulty, were brought back in line with Devil May Cry. [29] According to a pre-release interview with the game's producer, Tsuyoshi Tanaka, the focus of the game's design was a battle system which allowed a player to control weapons in new, "stylish" ways. This coincided with the design of a new type of in-game camera which kept the character in focus, avoiding disorientation in crowded battle scenes. Devil May Cry 2's difficulty was reduced for greater acceptance in the Japanese market, but this move cost the game support elsewhere. To remedy this, the Japanese release of Devil May Cry 3 had a lower degree of difficulty than the North American and European releases and Dante was a younger, more arrogant character than he was in the previous games. [30] [31]

The game was officially announced in the June issue of PSM Magazine #85 and received a trailer at E3 on May 12th, 2004 with a playable demo stand available at the expo. [32] [33] The issue also contains an interview with Tsuyoshi Tanaka, in which he mentions that at that point the game has been in development for a little over a year, which indicates that the game had entered production shortly after Devil May Cry 2's release. Devil May Cry 3 was slated to release in December, 2004, but got pushed back to February in Japan and March, 2005 in all other regions. [34]

Capcom promoted Devil May Cry 3's release with a multi-million dollar television campaign and extensive advertising in video game magazines; both emphasized the game's plot and number of fighting styles. [29] The company produced a second, "special" edition, released in North America on January 24, 2006. A Windows version, with minor graphics changes, was developed by SourceNext; it was released by Ubisoft on June 28, 2006 in Europe and October 16, 2006 in North America. The Devil Trigger versions of Dante and Vergil were designed by Kazuma Kaneko from Atlus, who previously collaborated on Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner , Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne , and the Persona series. [35] [36] The Capcom staff was impressed with Kaneko's work, and Ikeno felt that it was not difficult to model. [37]

In the original Devil May Cry, Vergil was said to have been killed by demons early on after his descent to the demonic world, leaving his soul under the control of Mundus: as such, Bingo Morihashi wanted to create an alternate universe in which Vergil was alive. However, Hideki Kamiya gave Morihashi the freedom to retcon Vergil's backstory and make him a living teenager for the events of Devil May Cry 3. [38] One of the key themes of Devil May Cry 3 is familial conflict, with Dante being in conflict with his brother Vergil. Itsuno said he did not like the idea of Lady killing Arkham, as he believed a child should never kill their parent. Morihashi wanted this scene in the final product, along with Dante defeating Vergil, as themes of the game. To balance this, Morihashi wrote a scene leading up to Arkham's death, where Lady said that Arkham was her responsibility. [39] While the characters were designed by Daigo Ikeno for Devil May Cry 3, the designs for Dante and Vergil's Devil Triggers were created by Kazuma Kaneko from Atlus. [36] As there was currently no existing design for Vergil, except that of his possessed alter ego Nelo Angelo, Morihashi was put in charge of designing his appearance. Most of Capcom's staff believed Vergil was Morihashi's favorite character because he became appealing. Morihashi stated that the idea of Vergil wielding a Japanese sword, called a Yamato, existed in a previous design. Vergil does not wield guns in contrast to Dante; Morihashi said that making Vergil's characterization was challenging because, being the older twin brother, he was intended to be more likable than Dante. [40] Jester was designed to contrast his human persona, Arkham, with Nara and Ikeno believing the clown's form worked well thanks due to how the twist that they are same person surprised gamers. [41] His final form provided by Sparda's powers was designed to resemble previous villain Arius due to how inhuman he became after becoming a demon to the point of lacking a face. [42]

Cast and narrative

Dante appears bare-chested underneath his coat, something that surprised the audience. [43] This design was meant to fit his young personality as well as contrast Vergil's fully clothed look. [44] Additionally, in contrast to Dante's longsword Rebellion and red clothing, Vergil was made to wield a Japanese katana and wear blue clothing. [45] Ikeno stated that because Vergil and Dante are identical twins, they share a hairstyle in the opening of the game, which was intended to make new players confuse them. Vergil's clothing was meant to contrast with his brother's; similarly, Nelo Angelo's design was prominently blue while Dante's was red. The staff had problems with the creation of Vergil's outfit because of the way it moved in 3D computer graphics; they joked that Vergil should remove his coat whenever he starts fighting. [46]

Reuben Langdon provided the character's voice and motion capture. Although he was directed in Dante's portrayal, Langdon was confused by staff suggestions and played his own version of the character. [47] Langdon auditioned for the character four times before he was chosen. Although he played the first Devil May Cry game, he was not aware of the title's popularity. Before the release of Devil May Cry 3, Langdon said that fans were angry with the new teenage Dante's look. After its release, however, he said that the fans had come to enjoy the character's new incarnation. Langdon enjoyed his work on the game, saying that it was, "one of the most difficult, frustrating and yet rewarding character of anyone I've ever played." He felt that he could enjoy the character even more in Devil May Cry 4. [48] When being cast to voice Vergil, Southworth was aware of the character's history and had a knowledge of samurai culture, which allowed him to give a good performance. According to the game's development staff, Southworth's knowledge about the samurai allowed him to fit well into Vergil's character in terms of voice and motion capture. When describing Vergil, Southworth stated that while he often appears to be calm, the audience would notice he shows signs of rage. Southworth found motion-capturing the action scenes challenging and said these were his favorite parts of his work for the game. [49]

Vergil's character was made playable in Devil May Cry 3: Special Edition due to extra time the team had after the making of the game. Capcom had to remove some of his moves due to space limitations. They tried keeping the moves he uses when being faced as a boss in Dante's campaign. His move set was made to reflect his calm personality that contrasts with Dante's brash confidence. When creating the characters, Vergil was made stronger than Dante, but harder to control because the player would have to learn more moves. Vergil became a popular character among the game's development team; Itsuno stated that he was also well-received in the United States because several characters from Hollywood films wield a katana. [46]

Release

Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening was released in Japan on February 17, 2005 for the PlayStation 2. [50] It was followed by releases in North America and elsewhere in the world in 2005. It was a commercial success, and sold 1.3 million copies. [51] [52]

After Devil May Cry 3's release Capcom introduced merchandise based on the game, including a manga (written by Suguro Chayamachi and published by Tokyopop in North America) and a Dante action figure manufactured by Revoltech. A 2006 sourcebook, Devil May Cry 3 Material Archive - Note of Naught, featured previously unreleased production and CG artwork, storyboards and a UMD video disc for the PSP with trailers and videos (region 2 only). [53] A three-disc Devil May Cry 3 soundtrack was released on March 31, 2005 (shortly after the game's release), produced by Tetsuya Shibata and Kento Hasegawa [54] [ failed verification ] with lyrics and vocals by Shawn McPherson. [55]

Special Edition

At the 2005 Tokyo Game Show, Capcom announced a special edition of Devil May Cry 3 with gameplay changes and additional content. [56] The special edition was released on January 24, 2006 as part of the PlayStation 2 greatest hits collection, and it was later confirmed that the PlayStation 2 version of the game would be released in Europe. [57] Devil May Cry 3 Special Edition went on to sell 1 million units. [51]

PC

On February 1, 2006, Ubisoft announced that they would be releasing a Windows version of the game developed by SourceNext. [58] The European PC version was the first one released on June 28, 2006, before the special edition PlayStation 2 version in that region. The Japanese version was released two days later, and the North American version on October 16.

Devil May Cry HD Collection

Together with Devil May Cry and Devil May Cry 2, and Devil May Cry 3: Special Edition was re-released in the Devil May Cry HD Collection for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 on April 3, 2012. [59] The HD collection was later released on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One on March 13, 2018, [60] with this iteration of Devil May Cry 3 sporting extra improvements over the original PC release, including XInput controller support.

Nintendo Switch port

In 2020, Capcom rereleased the game for the Nintendo Switch. This edition is based on the Devil May Cry 3: Special Edition in the Devil May Cry HD Collection, with additional features such as allowing Dante to switch among all weapons and styles, just like in Devil May Cry 4 and Devil May Cry 5. It also adds the option to have local co-op in Bloody Palace mode using Dante and Vergil. Matt Walker was in charge of aiding the developers of this port of the game, seeking new ideas that might fit into it. [61]

Reception

The review aggregator website Metacritic gave the original PlayStation 2 release an 84 out of 100, and the Special Edition an 87 out of 100. [63] It was included on Game Informer 's list of the top 50 games of 2005, and the special edition received a "Game of the Month" award. [68] In 2010, IGN ranked it 18th on its list of the top 100 PlayStation 2 games, [72] and a GamePro retrospective that year rated it the 28th-best game for the PS2. [73]

Reviews typically praised the game for avoiding its predecessor's mistakes and for customization options, gameplay, combat engine and the musical score despite the contradicting plot lines and character arcs. The style-based combat engine was considered to produce fighting sequences superior to games such as Ninja Gaiden and Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones , [74] and the camera and controls were praised. [6] [69] [75] [76] [77] Devil May Cry 3 was included in the 2010 book, 1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die . [78]

The high level of difficulty of the North American version of the initial release was criticized in otherwise-positive reviews. Critics disagreed with Capcom's decision to make the Japanese version's "hard" mode the North American "normal" mode, [67] [71] and the European version of Devil May Cry 3 had the same normal mode as the Japanese version, but maintained the yellow orb continue system of the North American version. [79]

Vergil attacking with his sword, Yamato. His addition as a playable character in the special edition was well received by critics. Vergil gameplay DMC3.jpg
Vergil attacking with his sword, Yamato. His addition as a playable character in the special edition was well received by critics.

The PC version was considered vastly inferior to the PlayStation 2 version due to the poor porting process. Issues included its game engine (thought rough and underpowered), its controls and the inability to save the game and exit, a feature of most PC games. [80] Jeremy Dunham of IGN gave the PC version a score of 5.8 out of 10 (compared to the PS2 version's 9.6), [71] citing its "awful performance" and "craptacular controls". [81] In 2021, PC Gamer listed the PC version as one of the worst PC ports. [82]

The special edition PlayStation 2 release ranked ninth on GameSpy 's 2006 "Game of the Year" list; it was commended for recalibrating its difficulty, a survival mode known as "Bloody Palace" returning from the second game and making Vergil a playable character. [75] Play as Vergil was cited for the character's difference from Dante, although the reuse of Dante's bosses and the lack of cutscenes was criticized. [83] [84]

Notes

  1. Nintendo Switch version only
  2. Known in Japan as Devil May Cry 3 (Japanese: デビル メイ クライ3, Hepburn: Debiru Mei Kurai Surī)
  3. Japanese: デビル メイ クライ3 スペシャルエディション, Hepburn: Debiru Mei Kurai Surī Supesharu Edishon

Related Research Articles

Dante (<i>Devil May Cry</i>) Fictional character in the Devil May Cry series

Dante, also known under the alias of Tony Redgrave, is a fictional character and the protagonist of Devil May Cry, an action-adventure game series by Japanese developer and publisher Capcom. Introduced as the protagonist of the 2001 game with the same name, Dante is a devil hunter dedicated to exterminating them and other supernatural foes in revenge for losing his mother Eva and having his older twin brother, Vergil, lost. He is the son of Sparda, inheriting demonic powers which he uses with a variety of weapons in the games. The character also appears in several Devil May Cry novels and manga volumes and is featured in the 2007 anime television series. Dante has also made multiple guest appearances in crossover games. Since 2005, he has been portrayed in voice acting and motion capture by Reuben Langdon.

Vergil (<i>Devil May Cry</i>) Fictional character in the Devil May Cry series

Vergil is a fictional character and the main antagonist of Devil May Cry, an action-adventure game series created by Japanese developer and publisher Capcom. He was introduced in the first Devil May Cry game as a boss called Nelo Angelo. Vergil is one of two devil-human hybrid sons of one of the devil lords called Sparda, and possesses demonic powers. He has appeared in three video games opposing his younger twin brother, Dante, and in a novel and a manga based on the series. A re-booted portrayal of Vergil also appears in the 2013 video game DmC: Devil May Cry as the leader of a group of rogue vigilantes bent on stopping the demon king, Mundus. In the main continuity, Vergil is portrayed in voice acting and motion capture by Daniel Southworth.

Lady, born Mary Arkham, is a fictional character in Devil May Cry, an action-adventure game series created by Japanese developer and publisher Capcom. She was introduced in the 2005 title Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening, as a demon hunter on a mission to avenge her mother's death at the hands of her father, Arkham. She is also present as a playable character in the sequel Devil May Cry 4: Special Edition (2015). Since her introduction, Lady has appeared in the series' various anime and manga releases, supporting the protagonist Dante, to whom she often provides support and employment.

<i>Devil May Cry 2</i> 2003 video game

Devil May Cry 2 is a 2003 action-adventure game developed and published by Capcom. It was released from January to March, originally for the PlayStation 2. In terms of chronological order, the game's events are set after Devil May Cry and prior to Devil May Cry 4.

<i>Devil May Cry 4</i> 2008 video game

Devil May Cry 4 is a 2008 action-adventure game developed and published by Capcom. It was released for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Microsoft Windows platforms. It is the fourth installment in the Devil May Cry series and is written by Bingo Morihashi and directed by Hideaki Itsuno. The story follows Nero, a young man possessing demonic powers who is on a mission to stop the series' main character, Dante, after he assassinates the leader of the Order of the Sword. The player assumes the role of both Nero and Dante as they fight enemies using their demonic powers and a variety of weapons.

Trish is a fictional character in Devil May Cry, an action-adventure game series by Japanese developer and publisher Capcom. She debuted in the first installment of the series, released in 2001. A demon taking a female human form, the mother of Dante, Eva, Trish seeks the aid of protagonist Dante in eliminating her creator, Mundus. Besides being a supporting character in subsequent games, she also appears in the other titles created by Capcom.

Devil May Cry 3 is a manga series based on the best selling video game Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening was released in Japan and later an English translation was released in 2005. The manga is divided into three parts, Code 1: Dante, Code 2: Vergil, and the (never) to-be released Code 3: Lady. The plot of the manga centers on the events that happened one year before Devil May Cry 3, it explains how the conflict between Dante and his brother Vergil started and how the game's characters were introduced to each other. Code 1: Dante explores the storyline from Dante's point of view, it introduces the main characters. It explains how Vergil and Arkham meet and how they formed an alliance. Dante is first introduced as a mercenary willing to take any job that offers a good reward, eventually revealing that the reason behind this is a desire to avenge the death of his mother by slaying those that killed her. Code 2: Vergil introduces the Temen-ni-gru a structure that holds the door to the demonic realm and it follows Vergil and Arkham on their quest to unseal the door to it. It illustrates the moment when Dante's demonic powers began awakening.

<i>Sengoku Basara</i> Video game series

Sengoku Basara (戦国BASARA) is a series of video games developed and published by Capcom, and a bigger media franchise based on it, including three anime shows, an anime movie, a live action show, and numerous drama CDs, light novels, manga, and stage plays. Its story is loosely based on real events of the titular Sengoku period in the history of feudal Japan. Sengoku Basara was popular in Japan when the games released as they won multiple awards, became a cultural phenomenon and a commonly cited example of games as art, and gained a passionate fanbase.

Nero (<i>Devil May Cry</i>) Fictional character

Nero is a fictional character and the deuteragonist of Devil May Cry, an action-adventure game series by Japanese developer and publisher Capcom. He is the nephew of original Devil May Cry protagonist Dante, and the son of recurring series antagonist Vergil. He first appeared in Devil May Cry 4 as the primary protagonist. Nero, a teenager who works for the Order of the Sword, uses demonic powers inherited from Sparda to hunt demons. Nero returns as the primary protagonist in Devil May Cry 5 to fight the demon king Urizen, a new threat. He has also appeared in printed media related to these two games. He is portrayed in voice acting and motion capture by Johnny Yong Bosch.

Characters of the <i>Devil May Cry</i> series Fictional character

Devil May Cry is a series of video games set in the present, created by Hideki Kamiya, a video-game designer and developed by his employer Capcom and Clover Studio. The series' success has led to comic books, novelizations, two anime series, guides, collectibles and a variety of action figures. The first game focuses on devil hunter Dante's mission to avenge the death of his mother, Eva, by exterminating demons. In the process he encounters his long-lost twin brother, Vergil, with whom he has a dysfunctional relationship. As the story progresses, Dante encounter his father's nemesis, a demon emperor, Mundus, who is found to be responsible for the murder of Dante's mother.

Hideki Kamiya is a Japanese video game designer and director. He began his career in 1994 with Capcom, where he directed Resident Evil 2 (1998), Devil May Cry (2001), Viewtiful Joe (2003), and Ōkami (2006). From 2004 to 2006, he worked for the Capcom subsidiary Clover Studio.

Devil May Cry is an urban fantasy action-adventure game franchise created by Hideki Kamiya. It is primarily developed and published by Capcom. The series centers on the demon hunter Dante and his efforts to thwart various demon invasions of Earth. Its gameplay consists of combat scenarios in which the player must attempt to extend long chains of attacks, avoiding damage and exhibiting stylized combat by varying their attacks; this combat, along with time and the number of items collected and used, are considered in grading the player's performance.

Capcom developed two light novels in the Devil May Cry series, written by Shinya Goikeda, illustrated by Shiro Miwa and published by Kadokawa Shoten. Originally released alongside Devil May Cry and Devil May Cry 2 the novels act as preludes, with the epilogue of the novel leading into the opening scene of the game. In 2006, Tokyopop released English language editions of the novels, translated by Paul Cheng and Gemma Collinge and adapted into English by Ethan Russell.

<i>Devil May Cry</i> (video game) 2001 video game

Devil May Cry is a 2001 action-adventure game developed and published by Capcom. Released from August to December, originally for the PlayStation 2, it is the first installment in the Devil May Cry series. Set in modern times on the fictional Mallet Island, the story centers on Dante, a demon hunter who uses his business to carry out a lifelong vendetta against all demons. He meets a woman named Trish who takes him on a journey to defeat the demon lord Mundus, who is responsible for the deaths of Dante's brother and mother. The story is told primarily through a mixture of cutscenes, which use the game engine and several pre-rendered full motion videos. The game is very loosely based on the Italian poem Divine Comedy by the use of allusions, including the game's protagonist Dante and other characters like Trish and Vergil (Virgil).

<i>Devil May Cry 5</i> 2019 video game

Devil May Cry 5 is a 2019 action-adventure game developed and published by Capcom. The game is the sixth installment overall and the fifth mainline installment in the Devil May Cry series. The plot follows returning protagonists Nero and Dante as they are hired by a mysterious stranger named V to stop the Demon King Urizen. Players control Nero, Dante and V, who each feature a different playstyle.

<i>DmC: Devil May Cry</i> 2013 video game

DmC: Devil May Cry is a 2013 action-adventure game developed by Ninja Theory and published by Capcom. Released in January for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Windows, it is a reboot of the Devil May Cry series.

<i>Devil May Cry 4: Special Edition</i> 2015 video game

Devil May Cry 4: Special Edition is a 2015 action-adventure game developed and published by Capcom. A remastered version of Capcom's action-adventure game Devil May Cry 4, it was released for PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One. The game features new playable characters, new cutscenes, polished gameplay, improved graphics, the option to switch between English and Japanese voice tracks, and additional costumes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Udon Entertainment</span> Canadian comic studio and publisher

Udon Entertainment Corp. is a Canadian art studio and publisher. The company publishes original and translated comic books, graphic novels, manga and art books related to anime and video games. It was founded in 2000 and is named after udon, a kind of Japanese noodle.

Bingo Morihashi is a Japanese novelist. He also contributed to writing the video game franchise Devil May Cry, its television anime series, as well as two light novels based on it.

References

  1. "Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening". Eurogamer.net. February 1, 2005. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  2. "Devil May Cry 3 - Special Edition kommt nach Europa: Die verbesserte Version erscheint auch hierzulande ..." Gameswelt (in Austrian German). May 19, 2006. Retrieved November 26, 2023.
  3. "Sony PlayStation 2 - Release Dates // PlayStation 2 /// Eurogamer". Eurogamer . August 21, 2006. Archived from the original on August 21, 2006. Retrieved November 26, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  4. 1 2 Lopez, Miguel (February 1, 2005). "Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening". GameSpy. Archived from the original on August 26, 2014. Retrieved November 15, 2012.
  5. 1 2 3 Lopez, Miguel. "Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening Review". GameSpy. Archived from the original on October 30, 2012. Retrieved July 20, 2008.
  6. 1 2 3 Kasavin, Greg. "Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening for PlayStation 2 Review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on December 6, 2008. Retrieved July 20, 2008.
  7. 1 2 3 Devil May Cry 3 Instruction Booklet. Capcom. 2005.
  8. "List of styles in Devil May Cry 3". devilmaycry.org. Archived from the original on July 20, 2008. Retrieved July 20, 2008.
  9. Mielke, James. "Postmortem on DMC3:SE". 1UP.com. Archived from the original on June 24, 2013. Retrieved June 23, 2013.
  10. "Devil May Cry 3: Special Edition Review". Gameslave. Archived from the original on July 5, 2008. Retrieved July 20, 2008.
  11. "DMC3: SE - PlayStation 2 Preview at IGN". IGN. January 12, 2006. Archived from the original on April 5, 2008. Retrieved April 1, 2010.
  12. "Devil May Cry 3 On Switch Will Introduce A Style Change System". GameSpot. January 15, 2020. Archived from the original on January 10, 2020.
  13. Dante: Damn it! you guys totally wrecked my shop and I haven't even named it yet! (Devil May Cry 3) Capcom, 2005
  14. 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
  15. Arkham: Well? Doesn't it excite you? The Temen-ni-gru has revived. The Great One who once ruled this earth as the medium between the Human world, and the Demon world. Isn't it a magnificent view? The greatest minds of their time, those who revered Evil, constructed this glorious edifice. Now after two millenniums of confinement it can at last fulfill the purpose for which it was intended - Vergil: That's... none of my concern. Did he have it? (Devil May Cry 3) Capcom, 2005
  16. 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
  17. Cerberus: You are not a human, are you? Dante: Who knows? I'm not even sure myself. Cerberus: Regardless, you have proved your strength. I acknowledge your ability. Take my soul and go forth. You have my blessing. Dante: Too easy! (Devil May Cry 3) Capcom, 2005
  18. Vergil: Why didn't you kill her? Perhaps, because she is your daughter? Did some pesky fatherly love get in your way? Arkham: That is none of your - Vergil: To further your study of the black arts, you sacrificed your loving wife, to become a devil as well. Knowing this I thought you'd be more useful to me, but I was wrong. No wonder your attainment of power is incomplete. (Devil May Cry 3) Capcom, 2005
  19. Mary: Shut up! He was obsessed with becoming a devil, so much he killed his own wife. For that, he butchered innocent people too. He's the vilest kind of creature. To top it off, that filthy scum... is my father. Dante: Well, we have something in common. I have a dysfunctional family too.Mary: And what would you know about family? You're a demon! This is my father. My family! This was all supposed to end by my hand! (Devil May Cry 3) Capcom, 2005
  20. Vergil: Why isn't this working?! is there something missing? Must more blood be shed? Dante : You seem to be in a bad mood. Vergil: Dante. Dante: So my mother's amulet is the key that unlocks the door to the Demon World. Good Plan, Pop. Vergil: Just the opposite actually... Originally it was the key to the Demon World but was given to humans as a gift. Dante: It doesn't matter to me one way or the other. More importantly, I've come all this way. I'm sure you have time for one more game, right? Vergil: Why not? After all, we share the same blood. I'll just use more of yours to undo daddy's little spell. Dante: So you want a piece of me. literally. Okay, bro. come and get it, if you can! (Devil May Cry 3) Capcom, 2005
  21. Jester: That could be a problem. Just hear me out. You got nothing to lose, right? My name is Jester, and I know a thing or two about this place. That thing there, is a power generator for this entire sector. In order to open the door, you need to apply a little something to it first. Do you know what that is, kid? Or is that too difficult for you? Ahahahahahaha - (Devil May Cry 3) Capcom, 2005
  22. Vergil: Why do you refuse to gain power? The power of our father Sparda? Dante: Father? I don't have a father. I just don't like you, that's all. Vergil: Foolishness, Dante, foolishness. Might controls everything. And without strength, you can't protect anything. Let alone yourself. (Devil May Cry 3) Capcom, 2005
  23. 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
  24. 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
  25. Vergil: No one can have this Dante. It's mine. It belongs to a son of Sparda. Leave me and go, if you don't want to be trapped in the demon world. I'm staying. This place was our father's home. (Devil May Cry 3) Capcom, 2005
  26. Mary: Are you crying? Dante: It's only the rain. Mary: The rain already stopped. Dante: Devils never cry. Mary: 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
  27. Mary: 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
  28. Vergil: It would be fun to fight with the Prince of Darkness. If my father did it, then I should be able to do it too! (Devil May Cry 3) Capcom, 2005
  29. 1 2 Brightman, James (April 6, 2005). "Devil May Cry 3 Poised for Success". GameDaily. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved April 12, 2007.
  30. "Interview with Tsuyoshi Tanaka". GameSpot. January 28, 2005. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved April 18, 2007.
  31. "Retro GAMESPOT - Devil May Cry 3 Developer Interview With Tsuyoshi Tanaka (2004)". Originally Gamespot, reuploaded by Austin532 on YouTube. June 12, 2015. Archived from the original on December 12, 2021. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  32. "PSM Magazine". PSM Magazine (85): 44.
  33. Dunham, Jeremy (May 12, 2004). "E3 2004: Devil May Cry 3 - Hands-On". IGN. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  34. Devil May Cry 3 - TGS Trailer, October 16, 2006, retrieved January 16, 2024
  35. "Devil May Cry 3 PS2 Preview, Devil May Cry 3 PlayStation 2 Preview". 1Up. Archived from the original on November 6, 2004. Retrieved July 20, 2008.
  36. 1 2 "Atlus designer Kazuma Kaneko working on Devil May Cry 3 - News at GameSpot". GameSpot. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved July 20, 2008.
  37. Devil May Cry: 3142 Graphic Arts. Capcom, Udon Entertainment. 2015. p. 205. ISBN   978-1927925485.
  38. Devil May Cry: 3142 Graphic Arts. Capcom, Udon Entertainment. 2015. p. 211. ISBN   978-1927925485.
  39. Devil May Cry: 3142 Graphic Arts. Capcom, Udon Entertainment. 2015. p. 211. ISBN   978-1927925485.
  40. Devil May Cry: 3142 Graphic Arts. Capcom, Udon Entertainment. 2015. pp. 11–12. ISBN   978-1927925485.
  41. Devil May Cry: 3142 Graphic Arts. Capcom, Udon Entertainment. 2015. p. 28. ISBN   978-1927925485.
  42. Devil May Cry: 3142 Graphic Arts. Capcom, Udon Entertainment. 2015. p. 31. ISBN   978-1927925485.
  43. Devil May Cry: 3142 Graphic Arts. Capcom, Udon Entertainment. 2015. p. 13. ISBN   978-1927925485.
  44. Devil May Cry: 3142 Graphic Arts. Capcom, Udon Entertainment. 2015. p. 24. ISBN   978-1927925485.
  45. Devil May Cry: 3142 Graphic Arts. Capcom, Udon Entertainment. 2015. p. 26. ISBN   978-1927925485.
  46. 1 2 Devil May Cry: 3142 Graphic Arts. Capcom, Udon Entertainment. 2015. p. 206. ISBN   978-1927925485.
  47. Willoughby, Shane (August 27, 2011). "Dante Speaks! An Interview With Reuben Langdon". The Gaming Liberty. Archived from the original on January 18, 2014. Retrieved May 20, 2013.
  48. "Dante Speaks! An interview with Reuben Langdon". Gaming Liberty. August 27, 2011. Archived from the original on November 28, 2011. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
  49. "Interview with a Capcom star - Dan Southworth". Capcom. August 20, 2015. Archived from the original on July 23, 2018. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
  50. 1 2 "デビル メイ クライ 3 [PS2]". Famitsu . Archived from the original on September 10, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
  51. 1 2 "CAPCOM | Platinum Titles". CAPCOM IR. Archived from the original on January 2, 2017. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
  52. "Japanese Sales Charts, Week Ending March 6th". Gamasutra. March 11, 2005. Archived from the original on October 9, 2012. Retrieved July 20, 2008.
  53. "Devil May Cry 3: Note of Naught artbook". Devil's Chapel. Crystal. Archived from the original on May 28, 2008. Retrieved July 20, 2008.
  54. "Listing for DMC3 OST". Amazon. Archived from the original on September 10, 2020. Retrieved July 20, 2008.
  55. McPherson, Shawn. "Shawn McPherson's Web site". Shootie HG. Archived from the original on June 3, 2007. Retrieved July 20, 2008.
  56. "TGS 2005: Devil May Cry 3: Special Edition Confirmed". GameSpot. September 14, 2005. Archived from the original on January 11, 2009. Retrieved July 20, 2008.
  57. "Release dates and production teams of Devil May Cry 3". IGN. Archived from the original on September 6, 2008. Retrieved July 20, 2008.
  58. "Ubisoft To Publish Capcom Titles On PC". Gamasutra. February 1, 2006. Archived from the original on June 24, 2008. Retrieved July 20, 2008.
  59. Goldfarb, Andrew (December 20, 2011). "Devil May Cry HD Collection Release Date Announced". IGN. Archived from the original on October 9, 2013. Retrieved July 13, 2013.
  60. "Devil May Cry HD Collection on Steam". October 15, 2019. Archived from the original on September 10, 2020. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  61. "Interview: Capcom's Matt Walker on Devil May Cry 3, Working at Capcom, and Card Fighters DS". Siliconera. February 28, 2020. Archived from the original on February 28, 2020. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  62. "Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening for PlayStation 2 Reviews". Metacritic . CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on June 10, 2020. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
  63. 1 2 "Devil May Cry 3: Special Edition for PlayStation 2 Reviews". Metacritic . CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on August 25, 2010. Retrieved July 20, 2008.
  64. "Devil May Cry 3: Special Edition for PC Reviews". Metacritic . CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on December 29, 2012. Retrieved July 20, 2008.
  65. "Devil May Cry 3: Special Edition for Switch Reviews". Metacritic . CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on June 29, 2020. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
  66. "DMC3: SE Review for PS2 from". 1UP.com. January 24, 2006. Archived from the original on November 7, 2012. Retrieved July 2, 2012.
  67. 1 2 Reed, Kristan (April 29, 2005). "Devil May Cry review". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved July 20, 2008.
  68. 1 2 Game Informer (Issue #153) - January. 2006. p. 84.
  69. 1 2 Clockwork Crow (March 1, 2005). "Devil May Cry 3 review". GamePro. Archived from the original on August 6, 2008. Retrieved July 20, 2008.
  70. "GT DMC3: Dante's Awakening Video Review". GameTrailers.com. May 6, 2005. Archived from the original on April 5, 2013. Retrieved February 1, 2008.
  71. 1 2 3 Dunham, Jeremy (February 25, 2005). "Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening review". IGN. Archived from the original on July 23, 2008. Retrieved July 20, 2008.
  72. "Top 100 PlayStation 2 Games". IGN. Archived from the original on January 3, 2015. Retrieved November 16, 2012.
  73. The 36 Best PS2 Games, page 2, Feature Story from GamePro
  74. GamesTM. No. 30. March 2005. pp. 120–123.{{cite magazine}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  75. 1 2 "GameSpy's Game of the Year 2006". GameSpy. Archived from the original on September 7, 2008. Retrieved July 20, 2008.
  76. Jones, Scott (May 25, 2005). "Devil May Cry 3 review". Gamecritics.com. Archived from the original on July 9, 2008. Retrieved July 20, 2008.
  77. "Devil May Cry 3 review". G4. Archived from the original on April 27, 2006. Retrieved July 20, 2008.
  78. Mott, Tony (2010). 1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die. London: Quintessence Editions Ltd. p. 187. ISBN   978-1-74173-076-0.
  79. "Why Devil May Cry 3 Was Harder in America". March 12, 2018. Archived from the original on August 18, 2018. Retrieved July 8, 2018.
  80. Kasavin, Greg (October 21, 2006). "Devil May Cry 3: Special Edition for Personal computer review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on December 19, 2008. Retrieved July 20, 2008.
  81. Dunham, Jeremy (October 22, 2006). "Devil May Cry 3 for PC review". IGN. Archived from the original on July 6, 2008. Retrieved July 20, 2008.
  82. Elliott, Matt (April 23, 2021). "The worst PC ports ever". PC Gamer . Future plc . Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  83. "Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening - Special Edition Review". GameSpot. January 24, 2006. Archived from the original on September 10, 2020. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
  84. Dunhan, Jeremy (November 22, 2006). "Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening Special Edition Review". IGN. Archived from the original on March 10, 2013. Retrieved April 25, 2013.