When DMC first debuted, it hit the internet like the least popular kid showing up at prom. Misunderstood. Underappreciated. Single. In the comment thread of the debut trailer, IGN reader DaveJ41 wrote: "what the F*CK is this BULLSH*T." Bugman offered a similar sentiment: "character looks like a douche." Dante's new appearance -- coupled with a new development studio -- caused an uproar in the Devil May Cry community.
...Or rather, the sections of the community well-versed in complaining and overreaction. Other fans (this author included) stroked their chins and pondered over what wonders a new team could bring to the rambunctious, demonic death orgy that Dante made famous with two pistols, a sword, one red coat, and some envy-inducing hair.
This community backlash is especially shameful because DMC has so much potential -- now more than ever after another strong showing at E3 2012. Furthermore, the "new Dante" shares so many similarities to the "old Dante" that any comparison deeper than "No White Hair No Thank You" reveals that Ninja Theory's adaptation falls much more in line with the original than rabid fans dare to admit.
Dante has always been defined by three pillars: his appearance (i.e. his outfit and weaponry), his effortless display of power, and his attitude. All three of these pillars stand proud in DMC.
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First, Dante's looks. While his hair may not be white by default, you'll notice that when Dante initiates his Devil Trigger in recent trailers his appearance changes. With white hair and a blazing red coat, Old Dante shines through when New Dante decides to step it up. Dante's twin pistols and sword also return, rounding out the weaponry bit with a proper checkmark.
Next, Dante's display of power -- often punctuated by an effortless lean or impossible feat. Watch Dante face the fleshy demon queen in our E3 live show demo to see all the nonchalance a demon killer needs. Or enjoy the Hangover trailer to see Dante dress in midair while his home literally flies past him -- a scene invoking the intro to Devil May Cry 3 in more ways than one.
And what would Devil May Cry fans do without Dante's biting attitude? We all remember his no-nonsense personality and one-liners, including the infamous "flock off, feather face" in Devil May Cry 1. Once again, New Dante echoes his predecessor with a fitting middle finger.
Ninja Theory is more than capable of building a great game atop these pillars. At Captivate, journalists received a closer look at the scoring system employed by DMC. It attempts to clarify previous scoring systems by showing exactly which moves score a certain number of points, specifying the details in real-time, on-screen. This system brings a much-needed sense of transparency to style combos and still preserves the charm of the original Devil May Cry.
The visual spectacle on display in recent trailers further highlights the raw coding might of Ninja Theory -- a studio that betters itself with every project. If you trace the team's history from its beginnings with Kung Fu Chaos through each colossal step of growth -- including Heavenly Sword and Enslaved -- you'll see that the studio has come a long way both critically and creatively.
Not to say that Ninja Theory is incapable of committing utter insult to the gaming space -- no one is. But a studio that improves with such a flourish from project to project deserves the community's trust when handling a classic series like Devil May Cry.
With the reboot of Devil May Cry in perfect tune with the original series, the initial internet rage has no place in the larger reception of Ninja Theory's efforts. Fortunately it looks like the more vocal gamers are steadily warming up to New Dante, as the comments posted on our E3 live demo read much more positive. IGN user zeroskiel wrote "wow, it looks way better than I thought it would." Meanwhile, j1spen summarizes the totality of this DMC debacle with this final pearl: "if this game was a cat, it'd be a very nice cat."
Hear, hear, j1spen.
With DMC still agonizing months away from launch, let's put our faith in Ninja Theory and trust that a developer with years of experience will bring a new and exciting spin to Devil May Cry. Let's also recognize that despite a change in hair color and some potential psychological issues, our favorite demon killer never really left us.
We extend the olive branch to you, Emo Dante. May you slaughter all the writhing baddies haunting closets and street corners in the city of Limbo.
Source : feeds.ign.com
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