Devil May Cry 3 - PlayStation 2

• Pick from 4 styles of combat, slinger, master, Trickster and Royal Guard, all offering greatly improved skills in each area.
• More powerful bosses and enemies that act independently and react more realistically.
• New range of weapons - Battle your enemies in style with the enchanted Electric Guitar, Nun-Chucks, and newer s and firearms.
• Advanced game engine with all new Shadow Effects, weather conditions, graphics and sharper gameplay.

From the Manufacturer --------------------- Devil May Cry 3 is a thrilling new game that features an involved plotline, outstanding graphics, and brings back our mysterious hero, Dante, once again. Set before the first Devil May Cry, the story unfolds that eful clash between Sparda's twin sons. One of the characteristics of this game is that it adds even more styles of action, besides firearms and s, to the mix. Players are free to choose your own fighting style by customizing Dante to your advantage. Review ------ The good news is that we no longer have to worry about the Devil May Cry franchise falling into generic action game obscurity; Devil May Cry 3 rises from the ashes of the series' sopre slump with a vengeance that cannot be ignored. The bad news is that it seems pretty angry. Offering improvements that add a brand new dimension to the combo-driven demon meat carving, this title takes the concept of a hardcore action experience and contorts it into a humiliating position before administering a hand enema. Devil May Cry 3 is, without a doubt, the most difficult game I have played this generation. Yes, it's even harder than Ninja Gaiden (pre Hurricane pack). However, it lacks the same strategic finesse of Tecmo's infamous title, often requiring you to earn your victories through pure blood and sweat rather than art and precision – it's the working man's ruthlessly challenging game. Some victories are just made sweeter by working hard to earn them, and the game allows you to replay previous missions to collect orbs and style points to make sure those triumphs are within reach. The sense of accomplishment you get when you master your skills and beat one of the insane bosses into submission makes all the toil worthwhile. That is, if you consider performing outstanding feats of supernatural combat "toil." Of all the new tools at Dante's disposal, the ability to switch armaments at the press of a button does the most to add new depth to the battles. Given the versatility of each weapon, I was frequently impressed by my own overwhelming awesomeness as I effortlessly switched s mid-air and seamlessly kept the combo going with a barrage of new attacks. The game masterfully blends form and function to create situations that look incredibly stylish and complex while keeping players intently focused on the frantic action at hand. In an utterly unexpected turn of events, even the story commands the player's attention. With cutscenes before and after each mission, Dante's purpose and intentions are much clearer and the sequences provide the perfect venue for him to showcase his unique talents. The only gripe I have in this department is Dante's recent attitude adjustment; his one-liners and party dude demeanor were so clearly brewed in the early ‘90s that I expected Bebop and Rocksteady to show up for a boss fight. The game has its fair share of problems: the difficulty is an obvious hurdle, your demon form isn't available until you've completed the seventh of 20 missions, and the camera remains a consistent problem (though it is thankfully better than in DMC 2). Even though Devil May Cry 3 hasn't entirely renewed that indefinable spark of the first game, it is still relentlessly entertaining, and has certainly established DMC as an enduring and dynamic franchise as sed to a one-trick demon-pony. Concept: Dante is back, and he wants to kick your ass for badmouthing his last game Graphics: The looming gothic environments return, setting the stage perfectly for the outstanding, over-the-top cutscenes Sound: An ideal combination of rockin' metal and eerie choral compositions Playability: Even the coolest looking combo can be pulled off with ease, but the game has a prohibitive learning curve Entertainment: Always stylish and satisfying, though it is sometimes an unbalanced mix of frustration and fun Replay: High Rated: 9 out of 10 Editor: Joe Juba Issue: March 2005 2nd Opinion: Gluttons for punishment, rejoice! The ass-kicking of a lifetime has just arrived! Devil May Cry 3 beat me senseless, poured salt on my wounds, and told me to go home and cry to my mommy. As my blistered fingers and frazzled hair are testament to, there hasn't been a game quite as arduous as this in a long, long time. Some people may view the unrelenting difficulty as a major turn off, but I tip my hat to the developer for not bowing down to the masses. You have to master the arts and prove that your skills are truly worthy to reap its benefits. The implementation of different fighting styles, ability to switch weapons on the fly, and multitude of new weapons really opens up the options that players have at their fingertips. It's combo heaven. Level designs are very reminiscent of the first chapter in the series, boss fights are larger than life, and the story breaks are just flat out cool. This is the sequel that you have been waiting for, but only the greatest of gamers will truly embrace it. Rated: 9 out of 10 Editor: Andrew Reiner Subscribe to Game Informer ( /exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000AN45D/ ) -- .com