Common Sense Media Review
By Marc Saltzman
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Violent action collection destroys demons on new systems.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 18+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
Videos and Photos
Devil May Cry: HD Collection
What's It About?
Whether or not you recall playing these celebrated gothic adventures on the PlayStation 2 -- released between 2001 and 2005 -- DEVIL MAY CRY: HD COLLECTION features all three award-winning titles with remastered graphics and other extras. This set brings together the first three cinematic and single-player Capcom games from the series: Devil May Cry, Devil May Cry 2 and Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening (Special Edition). Each of these hack-and-slash action games stars Dante, an antihero of sorts, whose mother was human and whose father was a dark lord named Sparda. With his extraordinary skills as an acrobatic and weapon-savvy warrior, the half-man, half-demon wages a war against evil to save humanity from damnation. The first game introduces Dante as he takes on multiple enemies throughout unique missions (levels), collects red orbs, performs some "platforming" tasks, and solves the occasional puzzle to unlock the next part of the environment. Released in 2003, Devil May Cry 2 introduces a secondary playable character -- a redheaded femme fatale named Lucia -- who possesses the skill to slash demons with her scalpel-sharp scimitars. Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening serves as a prequel to the original 2001 title and introduces Dante's sinister twin brother, Vergil. While the story is a bit hard to follow, the action is nonstop.
Is It Any Good?
While this is the second time this collection of games has been released, it still highlights how good these action games were when they first appeared. Devil May Cry: HD Collection offers 1080p visuals running at a higher frame rate to take advantage of the better hardware that powers the Xbox One, PS4, and modern PCs. While the textures have been updated, the lighting still looks flat, and many of the dull gray walls and rust-colored floors look only so-so after the makeover. The PC version also had some visual stuttering issues here and there that many players will find to be jarring. Still, the action is fast, intense, and memorable. The bundle also adds some new content, including exclusive artwork and videos, and other assorted goodies available from the main menu. The third game in particular is a real thrill; Dante can kick a creature into the air and, with the help of twin handguns, kill it eight times over before it hits the ground. For under $30, these three repackaged award-winning games are a delight for longtime fans and newcomers alike (especially those that may have missed the collection the first time around) -- but this demon hunter's adventures should clearly be kept for only mature players who can handle the gothic occult adventure and constantly bloody combat found in all three games.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the impact of violence in games. Is the violence in games like Devil May Cry: HD Collection acceptable because you're fighting nonrealistic enemies like demons, or is it a problem because of the large amount of blood that's constantly spilled and the frequent combat?
What drew you to this bundle of games that were published several years ago? Do they feel dated to you?
Game Details
- Platforms : PlayStation 3 , PlayStation 4 , Windows , Xbox 360 , Xbox One
- Pricing structure : Paid
- Available online? : Available online
- Publisher : Capcom
- Release date : March 13, 2018
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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