Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening - M
Common Sense Note
Kids with any fear of the occult should probably avoid this title completely. The game is set in motion by the coming of Hell on Earth and while the main character tries to lighten the mood with stylish moves and sassy dialogue, darkness permeates the game's atmosphere.
You may want to talk to your kids about what drives Dante. Is he fighting for good or just to settle the score with his brother? Also, you might use Dante's teen-like personality to discuss video game heroes: What archetypes exist? What's good or bad about each one? You may ask if he or she could imagine a different kind of hero.
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Aaron Lazenby
DEVIL MAY CRY 3: DANTE'S AWAKENING, the latest in Capcom's popular occult-themed action series, ups the mayhem and increases the difficulty (to an almost unplayable level) to inject some new life into a franchise that faltered on its second outing. The result is a game experience that is equal parts fascinating and frustrating, immersing payers in a dark world where Hell and humanity collide in a perpetual gruesome battle.
In this prequel, you control Dante, the half-demon offspring of an underworld outcast who betrayed his evil colleagues by sabotaging a plan to destroy the Earth. Now, this army of darkness is back and it's up to Dante to use his demonic bloodline and an arsenal of weapons and firearms to repulse the impious invaders and settle the score with his evil brother.
To do this, he has to invade a massive, hellish clock tower that blew a hole in the middle of his city and navigate its many puzzles and traps, all while hacking away at a menacing menagerie of malevolence: 24 different demon types to be exact, all intent to slicing, chewing, dicing and shooting our hero. This seemingly endless supply of enemies would be tolerable in a lesser game, but DMC3 goes the extra mile to give the baddies the advantage over the hapless player. Enemies are intelligent: They change their movements to increase their strategic advantage, combine short-range and long-range attacks to keep you on the defensive, even pinning you into a corner to finish you off.
This savvy, combined with the sheer number of enemies the game throws at you, and a shortage of save points, makes DMC3 an experience for seasoned gamers only.
Once you get over DMC3's difficulty, there is a lot to like here. Combat is about strategy, reflexes and timing -- not just rapid and random button pushing. The game has a nice streak of humor running trough it, showcasing Dante's adolescent cockiness and nonchalance in some memorable cut scenes. Battling the minions of the dark lord isn't enough to interrupt Dante's pizza lunch, and his post-battle one-liners are worthy of Schwarzenegger at his smug and destructive best. DMC3's sassiness brings more than a couple laughs and lightness to the action, saving the game from oppressive darkness.
On the other hand, creatures are sufficiently gruesome, selected from a horrific pantheon of moaning zombies, spiny demons, three-headed devil dogs and gigantic electrified centipedes. An apocalyptic sense of dread sets the tone for the whole game, complete with burnt out cars, smoldering buildings and the impending end of the world. The persistent echo of the ticking clock tower adds a hollow dread to the middle section of the game, and the tower's design transports players into a creepy world of occult images and symbols.
Parents should use caution when considering this game for kids and teens who are easily impressionable, or who will find the game's dark tone frightening. When the fast-paced battles stop, the presentation of DMC3 lives up to its titles demonic namesake.
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ViolenceNo human blood is spilled (aside from your own), but the non-stop slaughter of netherworld creatures makes violence central to the game. |
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Social BehaviorViolence is the only way to solve problems in DMC3. Then again, your adversaries are demon spawn from Hell. |
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