Written by Alexander O. Cuaycong and Anthony L. Cuaycong
Title: Devil May Cry HD Collection
Developer: CAPCOM Co., Ltd.
Publisher: CAPCOM Co., Ltd.
Price: $29.99
Genre: Action
Also Available On: Steam, XB1
Few can argue the gravitas of the Devil May Cry series. Debuting on the PlayStation 2 in 2001, the original release featured Resident Evil-style puzzles and camera angles, albeit with a more fast-paced, action-oriented gameplay. Featuring witty combo mechanics, an easy-to-understand and interesting upgrade system, and multiple ranged and melee weapons to choose from, it garnered a significant following and spawned three more main games and even a reboot in 2013. Given its commercial — if mixed critical — success, its legacy is clear; never mind that there are no new DMC offerings on the horizon.
While the DMC series itself has seemingly been relegated to the wayside, its games have not been forgotten. Concomitantly, attempts have been made to bring it to modern gaming systems. Originally published in May 2012, the DMC HD Collection boasts of the first three of the four main titles in the series, with improved resolutions and graphics, and with all special edition content available to play through. And, not surprisingly, the bundle has found its way to the PC, the PS4, and the Xbox One.
The premise is simple. In each game comprising the DMC HD Collection, you play as Dante and hunt demons. On a mission to avenge your mother’s murder, you make your way through various bosses and their hordes of minions with a cacophony of swords, scythes, and guns, all the while learning more about your demonic ancestry. And on the PS4, it is a visual and auditory feast. Presented in 4K resolution at a consistent 60 frames per second, it has brought the included DMC titles up to snuff graphics-wise. With improved textures and a smoother gameplay to boot, it gives you the experience you remember having in your previous-generation console, but in much-better quality.
Parenthetically, everything that has made the DMC series interesting is kept intact. The weapon choices, the upgrade systems, and even the various fighting styles available to you as Dante are still in each game, giving you a ton of alternatives in how to approach each encounter. While eliminating foes, waiting between strikes and varying your attacks give you a better style rank and access to more substantial rewards at the end of each stage. You are able to buy and use items, purchase upgrades to weapons, unlock ground and aerial combos, and even go into overdrive via the "Devil Trigger," allowing you to become stronger during combat. In short, the DMC you recall is present in all its glory.
To be sure, this also means that the DMC HD Collection retains all the flaws in each of the games. Even as they are given a beautiful facelift, they show their age when it comes to their design. In particular, DMC feels the most clunky. Combining fixed camera angles with fast combat sequences was not the best of ideas, and while it's still fun, it can be a bit unfair if the vantage point gets stuck on a pillar or on an enemy's back. DMC 2 fares better in terms of showing the action, but is the worst in terms of content, with cookie-cutter combat sequences and uninteresting boss fights. Under the circumstances, it helps that DMC 3: Dante’s Awakening is able to pull its weight in terms of looks and gameplay. All the same, cutscenes have been left untouched, and it's jarring to see just how dated they look when compared to the in-game textures, serving to draw you out of the moment.
Certainly, the DMC HD Collection contains the definitive versions of the first three games in the series, which, despite their inherent flaws, retain what made them fun and unique. For those who haven’t played them yet, the bundle is a must-buy, especially at the $30 price point. Meanwhile, those who remember the fast-paced combat, the cockiness of the protagonist, and the edgy humor with fondness should welcome the graphical upgrades.
THE GOOD
- Better graphics and smoother performance
- All special edition content available
- Tons of playtime and enjoyment
- DMC 3 provides bang for the buck
THE BAD
- DMC and DMC 2 remain clunky
- Cutscenes still look horribly dated and pixelated
- Just a remaster of the original games with no additional content
RATING: 7.5/10
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