We've recently been playing Devil May Cry 4, which got me back into playing Devil May Cry 3.
You see, Xeno, with his shiny black colossus that he theoretically got to play MGS4 and then promptly ignored it, can play DMC4. See, I don't have an XBOX or a PS3, and don't feel like getting the PC version (DMC is the epitome of a CONSOLE game) so I'm stuck with my older DMC3SE. You know what, though? I don't mind.
I started playing DMC3 again, to remind myself of why I loved this game so very much back in the admittedly recent "day." Somewhere around the final fight with Vergil, it hit me, roughly the same time I missed blocking one of his DT'd Helm Breaker->Stinger combos: This rocks. I don't think I got the same feeling with DMC4, but I'm not surprised. That feeling is so very difficult to duplicate.
All three battles with Vergil in DMC3 are remarkable for their simplicity; it is simply you and your sword(s) against Vergil and his sword(s). That's it. There's no "hit this guy in the eye and you'll stun him so you can pull his tail and chuck him into the spikes," there's certainly no "break this guy's shield and use buster on him while DT'd," and there's most assuredly no quicktime speed-kills or whatever. In order to beat Vergil, you have to be downright awesome at kicking ass.
As I watched Xeno complete the final battle against what's-his-face in DMC4, I realized his health bar was meaningless. You could instead give him 5 little dots. Beat him up enough to get off a cheap shot that actually deals damage, and you've knocked away one of his health segments. That reminded me of bosses in a game like, say, Crash, or Mario. There certainly isn't anything wrong with that. It's just way out of place in a twitch-based action game.
That final battle against Vergil is a heartpounding duel with no tricks. The worst Vergil does is disappear towards the end to do his infinite Judgment Blade thingy, which I just blocked to fill my Royalguard gauge. Otherwise, you'll beat him around, and then he'll beat you around. It's perfect.
For the record, I was playing the special edition on Very Hard, and had to use 3 Vital Star L's. I can only imagine what Dante Must Die will be like.
That wound up being all about boss battles. I must say, however, that kicking regular ol' demon ass is great fun in both games.
- Tim, Resident Site Lurker
I do mind...
You see, Xeno, with his shiny black colossus that he theoretically got to play MGS4 and then promptly ignored it, can play DMC4. See, I don't have an XBOX or a PS3, and don't feel like getting the PC version (DMC is the epitome of a CONSOLE game) so I'm stuck with my older DMC3SE. You know what, though? I don't mind.
I'd rather have DMC3SE than DMC4...
But yeah, I have to agree. The Devil Bringer is a stupid gimmick. DMC3 was more fun.
Hopefully DMC5 will completely transition Nero over to Vergil and he'll have the Yamato permanently and be able to use Dark Slayer.
Or, lacking that, they just stick with Dante.
Actually, just picking a single character and polishing them to a shine would be better than the two unpolished characters we got in DMC4.
Although I'd kinda like to see Lady as a playable character...
The Key To Beating Vergil 3 on DMD
According to Devon, one of my friends, the key to beating Vergil on Dante Must Die mode is, and I quote:
"Use your DT when he DTed and stay the fuck out of his way...shoot the shit out of him and get in a hit here and there when and IF he recovered, otherwise, [just use] Trickster to dodge an attack then quickly move in and do a good ol' combo then get the fuck out of there"
Eloquent.