Demon slayer Dante finally makes a return to the PlayStation 2 in this long-awaited sequel to the sleek and stylish Devil May Cry. Twice as impressive as the original, Devil May Cry 2 comes on two discs and offers two separate adventures, one for Dante and the other for a brand new playable character Lucia. While each character undertakes different quests, their fates are inextricably linked.
As the adventure begins, it is soon obvious that both hero and heroine share a common cause, even though their focus is different. For Lucia, her nemesis is the shadowy Arius. President of a multinational business conglomerate, Arius has harnessed the power of the underworld to increase his dominance in the human world. As his power has increased, so too has the stark city he inhabits. Its evil influence is spreading across the land known as Vie de Marli and already encroaching on the old town. Dante has another target, the Demon King, who is providing Arius with the means to execute his diabolical plans. Success for Arius will result in the Demon King breaking his seal of imprisonment and enslaving the Earth. Is Arius aware of the consequences of his actions? Regardless, the fate of mankind lies in the hands of the Demon Slayer and the mysterious female.
The game itself carries on where the first instalment left off, with players travelling through gothic cityscapes and old European towns, slaying masses of demons with an array of sleek and stunning moves. This time Dante's moves are even more fluid and his manoeuvrability is increased to the max. He can now run up and along walls, leap above rooftops - all the while targeting enemies with his trusty pistols. He can also fire in two directions at once, using the rather stylish overhead or cross-body moves.
Devil May Cry 2 also comes complete with a host of brand new enemies for our hero and heroine to do battle with. From the flame throwing Pyromancer to the Golem with its regenerative powers and bosses such as the enormous monkey like Orangguerra, Dante and Lucia will have to keep cool heads if they are not going to end up as worm food. But if the going gets really tough both characters can transform into their alternate devil states unleashing super powerful attacks on Arius' minions.
Visually the game is even more stunning than its predecessor. The screen resolution has been doubled so the game's environments look pretty luscious. Both interior and exterior locations are highly detailed and steeped in atmosphere, from dank underground caverns to hi-tech factories, a sinister metropolis with its towering skyline to a European style village.
Back in the early days of the PS2, the original Devil May Cry was a must-have title. It was a difficult task, but this sequel has far surpassed it - this game is beautiful, atmospheric, immersive and extremely stylish.
| Publisher: |
Capcom |
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Platform: |
PS2 |
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Category: |
Shooter |
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| Players: |
1 |
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Release Date: |
28 Mar 2003 |
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PEGI Rating: |
 |
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