I’m not going to lie, traveling to Germany for GamesCom is a little outside of our budgetary allowances. Sadly, I did not just leave a private hands-off demonstration of Capcom and Ninja Theory’s controversial reboot of ‘Devil May Cry[DmC].’ After reading the first few previews from those who did make the journey [links below], I wish I could have thrown responsibility to the wayside just this once. While I did not actually witness the demonstration, there is still plenty to ponder as the details come into focus. But first, let’s take a look back at the controversy and fan reaction since the project was unveiled in 2010.September 2010 – Project Announcement & Initial Controversy
No game announcement in recent memory has sparked such controversy as Devil May Cry 2010. While I found myself more enthusiastic about the franchise since the release of Devil May Cry 3, my excitement was met with a resounding ‘No’ from the larger fan base. Initial complaints cried out against what appeared to be a much slower combat system and the more serious tone of the story. Given the over-the-top, light hearted nature of previous entries in the franchise, it is easy to understand why many might lash out against such a different approach. Why the drastically different direction this time around? Staying in line with Capcom’s most recent business strategy (mirroring that of Dead Rising 2 and Resident Evil), the news struck that this new game will be handled by a western developer this time around; the highly respected UK based studio, Ninja Theory. However, with a fresh set of eyes came a drastically different version of a beloved IP and perhaps most importantly, an established character.
Dante gets a makeover
The dividing line in the sand was made clear almost immediately upon the game’s unveiling at Tokyo Game Show 2010. Gone was the buff, shirtless, demon-slayer of previous installments and in his place stood a lanky and disheveled looking youth with a penchant for smoking cigarettes. Message boards were immediately lit up with trash talk and disapproval and I can definitely understand why some people may not be fond of the redesign. While I don’t wish to waste a lot of time arguing one way or another, I have been a big fan of the character redesign since day one. I find Ninja Theory’s approach to be refreshing and a better alternative to another rehash of Devil May Cry 4. Some might say i’m part “emo” (I hate that fucking word) but I prefer to just admit that I have always been a fan of characters who defy the norm. The perspective and visual approach is unique to this iteration of the series but is also very reminiscent of the most popular entry, Devil May Cry 3. Not only am I interested to see exactly how Dante was in his younger days but I am also intrigued by the prospect of witnessing a boy growing into his super human abilities. It may not be what some want or even care to see but it already gives Ninja Theory a lot of room to work their magic with the fiction.
General lack of confidence in Ninja Theory
Ninja Theory is a developer that is leading the charge for gaming as a legitimate storytelling medium. They are best known for presenting mature and stimulating stories wrapped in the same fast-paced, action-based gameplay that appears in some of today’s best selling action games. Heavenly Sword and Enslaved were both well received critically and as a result, no one will debate their ability to craft a well made game. The skepticism instead lies in their ability to produce a good Devil May Cry game. Many doubt that Ninja Theory is capable of producing game with such a demanding and intricate combat system. Given their history with combat, these accusations don’t seem far from the truth. Heavenly Sword, while fast and fluid, lacked the depth of even a basic God of War game and Enslaved was more known for it’s storytelling and platforming than it’s deep combat mechanics. To make matters worse, news broke that DmC will be locked at a disappointing 30 frames-per-second and contain weapon cool down periods. As you might expect, many fans have found themselves asking what Ninja Theory was doing with their beloved franchise.
GamesCom 2011
With the first hands-off demonstration held this past week at GamesCom in Germany, I was surprised to find so many positive things being said about the controversial title. Since I wasn’t there to witness the demo first hand, feel free to check out the following previews yourselves. I have summed up some of the more important bullet points below along with a few thoughts:
- Capcom is overseeing the project closely – Collaborations such as Konami and Kojima Productions on Castlevania were incredibly minuscule (atleast from an onlookers perspective) while Capcom seems dedicated to ensuring that DmC plays like a Devil May Cry game. A comment in 1up.com’s preview of the game likened the reboot to Christopher Nolan’s Batman films with unique, but worthy, versions of recognizable characters. With Ninja theory’s knack for great storytelling, I can’t wait to see if classic characters such as Virgil (or Nelo Angelo), Trish, or Lady make an appearance.
- Dante’s design has undergone a few changes – In a move that I think we can all be happy with, Ninja Theory has made a few minor alterations to their original Dante design. Now a little less crackhead and a little more social deviant, the Dante that exists today seems somewhere in between the original Dante and the newer, grittier version. Also, despite the lightning fast combat footage that made up the GamesCom trailer, flashes of silver haired Dante can be glimpsed.
- Combat is “classic” Devil May Cry – Pardon the quote from another preview but this one sentence alleviates a lot of my concerns:
“The gameplay doesn’t look repetivive, simplicistic or flat — in contrast to the combat in Enslaved or Heavenly Sword — at all.” – 1up.com
The word coming out of Germany is that DmC resembles a classic Devil May Cry game in many respects and that any concerns regarding speed and fluidity should be squandered. While I will hold my judgement for the day in which I finally see the game in motion myself, it is nice to hear that Capcom’s guidance seems to be paying off. - Air Focused Combat – Like prior entries in the series, juggling and battling enemies while airborne is still a major part of the game. Dante will be able to juggle his foes into the air using his primary weapon which he can switch between using the d-pad. Hearing that Ninja Theory is also devoted to providing a ranged and destructive arsenal for Dante to employ is also great to hear. Of course, the success of this combat will rely on the ease in which players can switch between targets and employ other abilities and secondary weapons. From the looks of things though, Ninja Theory is on the right track.
- Devil Trigger and combat stances – Replacing the popular fighting stances of Devil May Cry 3 are devil and angel fighting stances which will have an affect on his fighting styles and abilities. The popular Devil Trigger mode also returns but in a different form. Entering this mode will heighten his fighting skills and transform him into a form that fans of the series will instantly recognize. That’s right folks, Dante’s Devil Trigger brings back the bright red jacket and silver hair! I don’t know about you but I find this to be a really great way to incorporate classic DmC trademarks into a wholly new experience.
- Living World – In this new game, Dante will spend much of his time in a limbo world that shifts and contorts to impede his progress. This opens the doors for some fantastic platforming sequences and exciting scenarios for Dante to battle in. Reading about the demo in which a hallway continued to elongate as he approached the end resulted in the use of the word “parkour” in one preview.
There you have it. The long and twisting tale of a game that shows promise despite a few missteps in the eyes of Devil May Cry purists. Under the watchful eye of Capcom, Ninja Theory seems poised to deliver a product that many believe can’t exist: A game as crazy and over-the-top as Devil May Cry with the presentation and storytelling euphoria of a Ninja Theory title. Slated for release sometime in 2012, ‘DmC’ is a game with a lot of work yet to be done but a polished, triple-A title is already beginning to take shape. I may not have made it out for GamesCom but I will jump on the opportunity to play the game myself when it finally makes it’s U.S. debut in the near future. Until then, I will just have to go back and play through Devil May Cry 3 again and dream.What do you think of DmC as it exists today? Is Ninja Theory onto something or is all hope for DmC lost?
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