DmC: Devil May Cry: Definitive Edition (PS4, 2015) - The Raunchy Rebirth of a Demon Huntin' Dude

Since its 2001 debut on the PS2, the Devil May Cry series has grown a rabid fan base of all sorts; from those obsessed with high scores and perfect combos to those who love it for its relentless difficulty to those who, somehow, get really into its angsty melodrama, the series has earned quite a following across its four installments. When Capcom announced that it was being rebooted by Ninja Theory rather than following up on DMC4's cliffhanger ending, fans were suspicious.

Devil May Cry 4: Special Edition (2015, PS4) - White-haired Hoodlums Ride Again

When it was first released in 2008, the fourth game in Capcom's Devil May Cry series was notable as both a fresh start for the franchise, with its focus on a new hero with simpler combos, and as a wonderful visual delight. With over three million copies moved between the PS3, Xbox 360, and PC, it was a sales success, and was well received by players and critics alike. As a response, Capcom unceremoniously abandoned the franchise, in the first of many perplexing moves the company would make over the next decade. The series was rebooted in 2013 with Ninja Theory's DmC, and now both DmC and Devil May Cry 4 have been remastered and re-released on PC, PS4, and Xbox One. So, how does DMC4 stand up today, and are its new Special Edition features worthwhile?

Review - Devil May Cry 4 (2008, PS3)

Devil May Cry 4 is at the same time the best of the original DMC series and among the most frustrating. Combat, graphics, and stage design are at their peak here, yet for everything the game does right, it does something else wrong. DMC4 is my favorite of the series, but I still have a very hard time finishing a playthrough after the halfway point.

Review - Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening Special Edition (2006, PS2)

Released two years after the dismal Devil May Cry 2, Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening is a prequel that shows the audience the devil hunter Dante's first big mission. The Special Edition, released a year later in 2006, is the definitive edition of the game and is the version included in the recent HD Collection. The Special Edition adds new boss fights, a much fairer continue system, the ability to play as Vergil after completing the main game, and more. DMC3: Special Edition still has its own flaws, but it's the first game in the series that really starts to do things right.

Review - Devil May Cry 2 (2003, PS2)

Devil May Cry's 2003 sequel is a messier, uglier game that makes a few improvements to its predecessor but mostly makes everything worse. Once again, devil hunter Dante leads the charge against a world full of monsters, this time accompanied by Lucia, a second playable character whose story feels like a rehash of the first game's Trish, albeit with less stupid fashion, or at least stupid in a less pandering way. With shallower combat, a much more boring story, and repetitive stage design, DMC2 is the low point of the franchise.

Review - Devil May Cry (2001, PS2)

Capcom's 2001 title Devil May Cry set a new standard for combat-focused 3D action/brawler games. While DMC wasn't the first game of its kind, it was the first to really get things right, even if the original game in the series has aged poorly in some areas. From massively popular titles like Sony's God of War series to perfections of the genre like Platinum's Bayonetta and Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance to new takes on old franchises like Konami's Castlevania: Lords of Shadow, modern brawlers owe pretty much everything to Devil May Cry.