Damn that Robert Workman. Damn him for his aggressive gaming ways. There I was, a typical PlayStation 2 controller, living the happy life packed in with my slim system cousin, eager to play some games for some young kid. Then Robert comes in and picks up our little package, assuring us that we would have our work cut out for us since this guy reviews games constantly. But, jeez, you want to talk about a workout. After so many games and the occasional banging on the floor, you'd think he'd let up easy on me. But that wasn't the case, as Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening was inserted into my unit buddy for play.

He was skeptical at first, I admit. The first Devil May Cry left him in much joy, putting his processors to work as he spurned out one of Capcom's best next-generation efforts to date with that adventure. But then Devil May Cry 2 arrived shortly thereafter and left him colder than beer left in a fridge over the winter season, as it failed to live up to the potential of the original and came across as too easy. Dante's Awakening has since remedied that little issue, as its difficulty has been ramped up. How much? Let's put it this way- the Japanese "hard" setting has now been defaulted to the typical "normal" difficulty here in the States. I braced for the worst, slightly shaking in my Dual Shock frame.

And, boy, did I. The first few levels proved to be just as over the top as I feared. Enemies came pouring out, and Robert quickly had to adjust once more to the combination of gunplay and swordsmanship that the game offers, lining up enemies with everything from an upward sword thrust that would launch them into the air to a neat little thing where he could launch themselves with them and come striking down hard, or fire a few rounds into them on his way down. But the difficulty came into play a bit too quickly, and soon Dante found himself in a dead spot. Robert got a little frustrated and banged me upon the counter, and I knew I was in for a battle.

Fortunately, the game does allow the unlocking of an "easy" mode if you die too many times, and it might be the way to go here. I know, some of you out there like your games "hardcore", as my buddy Xbox Controller would tell me with all his sessions of Ninja Gaiden. But "easy" is the way to go so you can adjust to the game with its four different styles that are thrown in, a new feature included with this version.

See, the four styles vary, utilizing my "O" button and the L2 and R2 buttons at best. There's four styles in all. The first is Trickster, the default system that you're set up with. It basically allows you to roll with ease using the buttons and bounce off walls without all my joystick motions. It's the best style in there. However, for those seeking something a little different, there's also Royal Guard, which uses defensive tactics to help cut down on energy loss; Gunslinger, a neat little style where you can fire in different directions and even take part in a fantastic diving shooting attack; and Swordmaster, where Dante packs a few more vicious sword swipes that makes him lethal up close. Each of these styles add something to the game, and allow you to build up combos, which come in handy with the combo counter in the corner of the screen, which ranges from the simple "Done" to the outstanding "Showtime".

As you progress further into the game, the storyline unfolds. At least, that's what the game system tells me. See, this game is a precursor to the original Devil May Cry, and tells the story of how Dante comes about. It appears that he's actually got the blood of a demon warrior from long ago, and thus finds himself locked in a frenetic battle against his evil brother, Vergil, who's sitting atop a tower that has somehow popped up right next to Dante's shop. There goes the neighborhood, I suppose. So, as the game progresses, you learn more about Dante's true powers, and also get to learn a little bit about Lady, a side character who's a bit of a demon hunter herself.

The way it unfolds pleased the game system rather nicely. It's told through story sequences that look outstanding, fresh with details. But he even got more pleased by the in-game graphics, increased dramatically from the failed second game. The lighting itself is a showstopper, with the kind of details you just don't really see in a PS2 game anymore (aside from, oh, Tekken 5- he got a kick out of that as well). The game moves at a constant frame rate with hardly any slowdown whatsoever, and the levels look dazzling. Some of the camera angles got a little bothersome, but never to the point of frustration.

The sound also did its job. You've got the music, which ranges anywhere from a haunting score that runs through the hallways of the tower to the occasional break of hard rock, complete with lyrics, that makes for perfect music to thrash to. The voicework is compelling, especially Dante's actor, who runs through his lines with conviction as Dante proceeds on his battle with destiny. And how about those sound effects, ranging from all sorts of gunfire to the slicing through a fresh enemy? I almost did back flips...but then again, controllers don't do back flips. Damn it.

But it's the gameplay that's jumping leaps and bounds here, and it's what put me to the test. Along with the styles already incorporated into the game, Dante's able to upgrade to new weapons and learn new attacks, including some nifty looking sword moves and a wicked maneuver that allows him to jump on a bad guy and "surf" on them as he shoots at other enemies. He can upgrade with the assistance of red orbs, which he picks up throughout his adventure as he defeats the next bad guys in line.

But the game gets harder as it goes, and this is where I began to feel my wear and tear. This especially came into play with the bosses sprinkled throughout. Oh, sure, Robert had some slight issues with the Grim Reaper-like figure in round two, swinging around his scythe and screeching all the way. But it's when we started dealing with the later bosses, including an electricity-fueled caterpillar the size of a subway train and a three-headed demon dog with a penchant for ice attacks that I really began to feel the pressure. And it's somewhere during the final battle (which I won't even detail- hell, I had been put through so much by that point that I couldn't remember) that I got thrown to the wall and fell to several pieces, which ended my life as a game controller.

Ahh, it was a fun ride, but I couldn't believe it came to such an end. Oh, well, what a way to end, right, with the kind of journey that Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening provides. It's a little harder than expected, and those expecting a ride will have to work at it, as it certainly isn't free. However, if you stick with it, you'll be aptly rewarded, thanks to the incredible presentation and the increasingly growing gameplay. There's rewards to unlock as well, including an all new Hard mode (and, believe me, I would NOT have survived that) and some new outfits to uncover.

As for me, no worries. I've been taken back to a game store and a new controller's taken my place, and soon I'll be fixed up and placed back with another system, or maybe packaged in my own container and placed next to a cute RetroCon. A controller can only hope, right?

Our Final ScoreExcellent

What did you think of this game? Post Your Own Review