Kamiya's masterpiece that invented stylish action. Dante, charismatic demon hunter, chains devastating combos in gothic levels. The combat system's depth, style and iconic soundtrack make it an unshakeable PS2 pillar.
Your verdict
Category
Action1 player16+
Description
Released in 2001 by Capcom and born from an early Resident Evil 4 prototype, Devil May Cry defined a new genre: stylish action. Half-demon Dante, armed with a sword and twin pistols, tears through a gothic manor in virtuosic, score-driven combat.
Devil May Cry review
MAX
Art direction
★★★★★
"Iconic"
MAX
Music
★★★★★
"Legendary"
3/5
Story
★★★★★
"Solid"
Gothic castles bathed in shadow, sculpted demons and a hero stylish to the fingertips: the action takes on a striking dark-fantasy elegance. The fluidity of the combat and the baroque atmosphere stand apart for the time. This visual direction, dark and sleek, laid the foundations of a whole genre.
Blending raging heavy metal and unsettling gothic pads, the music matches the style and fury of Dante's battles with an electric energy. The riffs ignite the moment the action intensifies, fuelling the demon hunter's panache. This sharp sonic identity laid the foundations of a cult signature for the series.
Gameplay
"Masterful"
Chaining gunfire, sword strikes and dodges to polish your style laid the foundations of the modern beat'em up with immediate elegance. The snap of the combat and Dante's swagger stay exhilarating with a controller in hand. The fixed camera and a few difficulty spikes betray the era, but the fluidity of the action and its flair have lost none of their force.
Fun
"From the very first seconds"
Slicing through hordes of demons with unstoppable style, alternating sword and guns to sustain an endless combo: here, the fun comes from the pure class of the combat. The more you chain with flair, the more the game rewards boldness. Snappy, demanding and furiously cool, this pioneer of stylish action laid the foundations of a whole genre.
Addictiveness
"Obsessive"
Chaining gunfire, sword strikes and dodges without ever getting hit to push your style rank up creates a quest for elegance in combat that drives you to replay each room better. Unlocking weapons and techniques keeps reviving the urge to push on. The fixed camera and a few difficulty spikes irritate, but this ballet of action keeps a founding intensity that is still exhilarating.
The founding act of stylish third-person action, born from a deviated Resident Evil project, which set aerial combos and style ranking as the grammar of a new genre. Still fairly widespread in the West, its interest lies in this pioneer status of a major franchise rather than scarcity. A piece of history for fans of brisk action of the PS2 era.
Memorable bosses
A benchmark of the stylish action game, this title turns combat into a dance where every guardian tests your mastery: the lava arachnid Phantom, the spectral Griffon, and above all the black knight Nelo Angelo, a tragic returning figure with a fearsome blade. Between pinpoint dodges and furious combos, these gothic duels laid the foundations of an entire genre.
A cult cover
Silver hair, long scarlet coat and a defiant stare: Dante stands out in a gothic gloom shot through with blood reds. The tight framing on the half-man, half-demon hero instantly signals the game's stylish action and baroque swagger. Elegant and menacing, this image set the visual codes of an entire fast-action saga.
Is Devil May Cry still worth playing in 2026?
Released in 2001 on PS2, Capcom's project under Hideki Kamiya's direction refounded modern third person action. Dante, the demon hunting and the combo system across sword and firearms install a school that will durably irrigate the genre. The baroque gothic art direction and the tense music keep all their power. The fixed camera and some loading times have aged. Strongly recommended today for any stylish action devotee, for Capcom fans curious about the pivot moment and for PS2 collectors fond of a major console signature on Sony's second home console hardware globally.
