Devil May Cry 5 review: One of the best action games ever made

Devil May Cry 5 marks the return of the legendary over-the-top stylish action series.

Savage? Check. Sick skills? Check. Smokin’ sexy style? Triple check. Devil May Cry is back. Finally we're getting the sequel we all deserved after the polarising release of the reimagined spin-off DmC: Devil May Cry. This is the long-awaited continuation of the legendary devil hunter Dante’s story.

Nero, Dante and newcomer V take centre stage. Nero was introduced in Devil May Cry 4 and Dante, the obscenely cool devil hunter with his large sword and penchant for red is the series protagonist. V however, is an entirely new character who plays unlike any in Devil May Cry history. But after 11 long years since the last release, has it been worth the wait?

After mercilessly carving through monstrous enemies with a motorcycle and zapping beasts with V’s demons, it’s clear to see the new innovations brought to the combat. All in all, it’s the most over the top, technically advanced and utterly insane action experience yet.

Utilising Capcom’s in-house RE Engine allows the game to deliver new heights in fidelity, featuring ground-breaking graphics that utilise photorealistic character designs and stunning lighting and environmental effects all mix together to forge a truly breath-taking experience.

The combat is the best it’s ever been. Like in previous games, there’s no greater feeling than fighting through hordes of grotesque enemies, as you slowly build up your style gauge to obtain that elusive SSS ranking to win the most blood orbs (an in-game currency used to buy skills) all to the beat of a devilishly catchy soundtrack. While it is to an extent button mashing, there's a subtly sweet science to the mayhem.

Each encounter is gloriously cinematic. Whether you’re surfing through the air on a rocket as Nero, bravado-ing your way through demons as Dante or riffing off dramatic poetry lines as newcomer V, you’ve no shortage of obscenely awesome attacks up your sleeves to sate both your bloodlust and love of William Blake.

Nero activates one of his powerful Devil Breaker abilities (Capcom)

Nero's eight devil breakers have a limited number of uses and unique abilities which enormously increases your potential for devastating combos.

With that said, you’re unable to switch between the different arms as you like and this feels like you're being stifled for wanting to try and chain together different combos utilising each one in your arsenal. Want to change Nero's arm? You have to destroy it.

On the other hand, it’s likely a gameplay balance to get you to think of using them more tactically as they pack some serious firepower, with all of them being useful for different situations.

The three characters play starkly different enough you’re left with a ravenous hunger for more hellions to slay. With so much variety between the character's unique play styles, you’ll be dying to experiment creatively macabre ways to send these demons back to hell. Just don’t overdo it as V, or all the button mashing required will begin to hurt your hand.

At first blush the level design is beguiling and twisted, but after spending 14 or so missions in the underworld, with no sense of connectivity to previous sections it blends into an amalgamation of seemingly re-used assets and an entirely forgettable sight. Featureless platforms and bland corridors are the only thing leading you to your next exhilarating fight.

Compared to the first game in the series, where you explore an inter-connected and oppressively atmospheric gothic castle, Devil May Cry 5 has you travel deeper and deeper into a malformed underworld that feels empty.

Further to this, outside of the main three characters the other members of the cast become an unfortunate afterthought. With the exception of mechanic Nico, whose charming southern drawl steals the spotlight, series veterans Trish and Lady feel incredibly two dimensional and fall off the radar rather quickly. The latter two become passing references at best and shameless eye candy at worst.

Devil hunter Dante wielding his trademark sword, Rebellion (Capcom)

Don’t worry though, the game is filled like a bloody chalice with classic Devil May Cry style writing, laugh out loud moments and cut-scene direction we’ve all come to know and love. Baring that in mind, the story lacks a level of emotional gravitas present in previous entries. Nero, who was impassioned and quick to tears in Devil May Cry 4, seems to have lost this softer side entirely.

Clearly it’s an unfortunate by-product of the series overall. The seldom moments of vulnerability and tenderness shown in our often austere characters are hastily undermined by countless jokes and infuriating swagger, especially between Dante and Nero whose relationship epitomises toxic masculinity.

Brutally by the time the final act rolls around you’re feeling more than ready for a tear-jerking gut punch, or in this case, a rather powerful slap, but it doesn’t hit you very hard at all.

Amazingly, after battling your way through the demonic hordes and epic boss battles, you never feel burnt out on the combat, owing entirely to the direction and stylish nature of Devil May Cry. Love it or hate it, despite these shortcomings in the presentation and repetitive level design, this is what the series has always shown itself to be: no more or less than one hell of a good time.

Simply, sweetly and stylishly more than anything, Devil May Cry 5’s exceptionally satisfying combat, twists and turns and overall gameplay delivers an experience unlike any other of its ilk, firmly cementing it as one of the best action-adventure games ever made.