Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening, undoubtedly one of the best action games to grace any of the next generation systems, provides unparalleled game play. The first Devil May Cry (DMC for short) was enthusiastically received on the PlayStation 2, but its sequel drew harsh criticism for its brevity and unimaginative gameplay. DMC3 returns to the original's successful formula of stylized action and innovative, eclectic modes of play.
In Dante's Awakening, a prequel to the DMC saga, protagonist Dante works through a family feud with his brother, Virgil. Both brothers share their demon father's bloodline, and their rivalry is fierce. Dante is a mercenary demon-slayer-for-hire, and the inexplicably wicked Virgil is hell-bent on releasing demons into the real world. Early on, Dante finds himself fighting a demonic invasion, after which he sets out to stop the demons -- and Virgil -- for good.
Even the most skilled gamers will have trouble polishing off Dante's Awakening -- this game is hard with a capital H. Previous series installments featured few weapons and only one mode of fighting, but DMC3's new modes like Trickster, Sword Slayer, Royal Guard and Gun Slinger put a unique spin on classic beat-em-up gameplay. On top of these new modes, gamers are given several weapons and ways to play the game -- most of the game's difficulty comes from choosing the right style for levels and boss fights.
DMC3's boss fights, the series trademark, are bigger and badder than ever before. The first boss in particular may take a gamer several tries -- or several days -- to beat. And while normal enemies aren't particularly difficult, the scythe-wielding witch creatures and bomb-carrying zombies are as tough as they come. Luckily, Dante's fighting styles -- a mixture of guns and swordplay -- keep things interesting. An on-screen meter tracks Dante's combat, and stylistic fighting gives gamers points towards an overall mission completion ranking -- words like "Dope," "Crazy" and "Showtime" describe a gamer's performance
Grapically, Dante's Awakening is the series' best-looking game. Dante looks slick, moving with a fluid motion. Unlike other games' relatively unappealing monochromes, DMC3's colors are vibrant and eye-catching. And the game's sound is as beautiful as its graphics. The music is mainly hard rock with a twist of techno, dramatically shifting before fight sequences. Boss fight music is thematic and, in some instances, intensifies the action. Between fights, the music shifts to low, ambient sounds that give the gamer a hint of isolation. The gamer might hear lone gusts of wind with an occasional sharp piano note, and faint chanting sometimes can be heard in the background and game menu music.
After one of the 20-plus missions is completed, the gamer has the option to redo previous missions. Gamers with an unusual talent for DMC will be happy to hear there are several difficulty settings to challenge any skill level. If Dante is killed often enough in normal mode, an easy mode is unlocked. And once the game is beaten on the normal mode, more difficulty settings are unlocked.
Aside from its steep learning curve, Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening is a genuinely fun game. The graphics are top notch, the sound is premium to say the least and the gameplay is solid to the core. Plus, this game's replay value is huge -- it'll be the fall semester before gamers put down their controllers.
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