We discussed Devil May Cry 5 as part of the February 2024 Outside is Overrated Podcast episode. As newcomers to the series, we were impressed with the overall package.
Devil May Cry 5, developed by Capcom, was released in March 2019. It had favorable reviews, with a Metacritic score of 87-89 across platforms.
What is Devil May Cry 5 About?
Devil May Cry 5 follows three main characters – Nero, Dante and V, as they attempt to thwart the demon king Urizen. Roughly two-thirds of the game follows Nero and V as they move down parallel paths to the big bad.
Throughout the adventure, you’ll battle hordes of demons, collect red orbs to expand each character’s move sets, and explore to find secret levels and upgrades.
The heart of the game is fast-paced, stylish combat, akin to Bayonetta or God of War. The combat is based on a deep combo set you upgrade throughout the game.
Devil May Cry 5 Characters
Longtime series fans will celebrate Devil May Cry 5’s characters. The game features three playable characters and some recurring stars as non-playable characters.
Playable Characters
Dante
The central figure of the IP plays a prominent role in Devil May Cry 5. While you don’t control the red-coated devil hunter until after the midway point in the game, he makes up for it with an ever-expanding arsenal.
After nearly every one of his missions, Dante adds a new weapon or fighting style. He ends up with 12 weapons and four fighting styles.
While skilled players will appreciate his deep move set, it was overwhelming for me as a series newcomer.
I can appreciate the deep options. I’m sure there are longtime fans who love the intricacies of matching the right style and weapon to each session. My interest lay in progressing the story, and although I played sub-optimally, I was rewarded with over-the-top and bombastic action while relying on several basic combos.
Nero
A central figure in Devil May Cry 4, Nero features prominently again in this installment. In addition to his sword and guns, Nero’s build focuses on Devil Breakers. These prosthetic arms replace the Devil Bringer arm after it’s ripped off his body. Think Mega Man blasters reworked for melee and traversal mechanics, and you’re on the right track.
Eight Devil Breakers are in the base game with five more available as downloadable content.
V
As a new character in the franchise, V’s mysterious background is uncovered as the story progresses. While the other playable characters have aggressive melee-focused abilities, V stands farther back from combat and commands demons to do his fighting. Griffon and Shadow do the bulk of your attacks, and V can summon Nightmare instead of having a Devil Trigger ability.
Vergil
Vergil is available as a playable character in the Special Edition or as DLC. I didn’t explore his gameplay in this review, but fans of the character can expect a unique combat experience.
Non-Playable Characters
Nico
While Nero’s thrashing demons on his way to Urizen, shredding a Devil Breaker every time a panicked player tries to fire off a Devil Trigger, someone has to keep those arms coming. Enter Nicoletta Goldstein, the granddaughter of the legendary gunsmith who made Dante’s Ebony and Ivory handguns.
In addition to cooking up new Devil Breakers in the galley, Nico is the wheelman for the group, shuttling Nero and V between missions and moving heaven and Earth to get them upgrades before each boss fight.
Nico also breaks the tension with some well-timed humor. Originally cast as a darker, brooding companion, Faye Kingslee’s outstanding voice work forced developers to shift the character’s direction.
Trish
After joining Dante in his original assault on Urizen, Trish goes MIA. After you rescue her as Dante, the demon serves as a guide. She shares crucial plot information that drives the group to intervene before Urizen can consume the fruit of a giant demon tree. She also helps V process his background.
Lady
After appearing in Devil May Cry 3 and Devil May Cry 4, Lady is back in Devil May Cry 5. She is also captured in the initial assault on the demon king. After you rescue her, she remains in the background, and you eventually get a replica of her rocket launcher.
Is Devil May Cry 5 Good?
Yes, Devil May Cry 5 is exceptional in many ways. For narrative-driven players, the convoluted story may be difficult to follow, but the characters are superb.
If you are more gameplay-focused, the combat system is deep and nuanced. You can easily replay missions to expand your skill set. Even if you are bad at the combat, like I was, if you can master a couple of simple moves, it should be enough to get you through the game.
From a visual standpoint, it’s spectacular. Each character has a strong design, and the fights are characterized by chaotic visual splendor. It is one of the best-looking games I have ever played.
The sound design is also outstanding. The voice acting is consistently excellent, and the soundtrack matches the visual vibe perfectly. The entire package is incredibly satisfying between the gameplay, narrative, visual and sound design.
Is Devil May Cry 5 Open World?
No, Devil May Cry 5 is not an open world. Each mission is linear with small areas to explore. There are secrets hidden in nooks and crannies, which may upgrade your health or devil trigger, unlock secret levels, or give your orbs to revive your characters.
Can You Play Devil May Cry 5 First?
Yes, you can play Devil May Cry 5 first. It was an extremely polished experience and the first game I played in the franchise. While I struggled to master the nuance of the combat system, I enjoyed the story and learned enough moves to get through each level.
How Hard is Devil May Cry 5?
Devil May Cry 5 is as hard as you want it to be. The game features four difficulty levels. For our discussion on the podcast, I played on the Devil Hunter difficulty.
I did not come close to mastering the combat. I felt fairly competent with V, struggled with Nero and barely scratched the surface with Dante.
How Many Missions in Devil May Cry 5?
There are 20 main story missions in Devil May Cry 5. I completed the game in 15 hours. How Long to Beat pegs the main story at 11 hours for a median player and 16 hours at a leisurely pace.
Devil May Cry 5 Review
The Good:
- Deep, rich combat system that gives hardcore fans plenty to optimize, but simple enough that casual players can keep the action moving.
- Outstanding presentation: visual and sound design are top-notch.
- Terrific balance between characters, with notable side characters from throughout the series interspersed.
The Bad:
- As a newcomer to the series, Nero’s Devilbreaker mechanic was a constant source of frustration. I frequently burned the arms when trying to maneuver through fights, and seldom felt I had the right options equipped.
The Verdict:
Devil May Cry 5 is an outstanding action game. It has recurring characters and mechanics that will resonate with longtime fans, and is a polished and accessible option for newcomers. As someone who generally struggles with stylish action games, I had a terrific time with this game.