Review: Devil May Cry 2
After spending a couple of months playing almost nothing but RPGs, it’s nice to have a change of pace. Today, I’m going to be talking about a completely different style of game, Devil May Cry 2. If you’ve been been reading this blog for a few years, you may remember that back in 2022, I played and reviewed the first game in this series. Since this entry in the franchise is very similar, I would suggest that you read my review for the first Devil May Cry before you continue. Many aspects of this game are the same, and this review will assume that you are familiar with the first entry in the series.
Like it’s predecessor, Devil May Cry 2 was originally released as a Playstation 2 exclusive. For this review, I once again played the Devil May Cry HD Collection version for PS4. This collection is also available on PC, and Xbox One/X/S.
The story for this game is set after the events of the original. It begins with Dante entering a museum so that he can inspect a demonic artifact. While there, he meets the character of Lucia, a fellow demon-hunter. She invites him to her home, where she explains that a man named Arius is currently in the process of attempting to free an ancient demon so that he can take over the world. Ultimately, Dante agrees to help and sets out on a quest to collect various artifacts that Arius seeks in order to achieve his goal.
In this game, players can choose to play as either Dante or Lucia. When the game was originally released, it came with two separate DVDs. One disc of Dante’s version of the game, and one for Lucia’s. When playing the HD version, you select which character you want to play when launching the title. Regardless of the character you choose, the game is essentially the same. But there are some levels and bosses that are exclusive to each character. If you want to experience the game in full, you will need to play through it with both characters. Dante and Lucia are very similar in their attacks, with the majority of the differences being mostly cosmetic and with only a few minor variances in strategy.
When it comes to playstyle, this game works almost exactly like the first Devil May Cry, only not quite as in depth. There’s not nearly as much strategy involved when fighting as their was in the original game. The combat in this game is also considerably easier. However, the rating system seems quite a bit harsher. This makes the game feel a little off compared to the first title. On the positive side, there are a few quality of life tweaks in this sequel that are a nice touch. For example, being able to switch between weapons without having to pause the action and open the inventory screen.
My biggest gripe with this game doesn’t come from the gameplay, but rather from the fact that it just feels thrown together. The whole experience is just not very cohesive. The story is barebones when compared to the deep lore from the first game and both the level designs and boss fights just feel uninspired.
Players who are willing to complete the game with both characters are rewarded with an option to play the game on Hard Mode. This new mode of play doesn’t really change anything except for boosting the enemies HP and reducing the damage you deal. If you manage to complete the game with both characters on Hard Mode, a third “Must Die” mode becomes available. This option makes enemies more hostile and boosts them up even further than what is seen in Hard Mode.
I’ve heard plenty of stories about how this game was rushed to release and having played it to completion, I tend to think that’s very true. So much of this game feels like something that’s only been half-baked. The core gameplay elements from the first Devil May Cry are certainly here. But they are watered down considerably. Any new elements that are present feel tacked on and not particularly interesting. I certainly appreciate the option of having a second playable character right from the beginning. In the last game, Trish was unlockable only after beating the game on Hard mode (this is still case in DMC2, by the way), so having Lucia available right out of the gate is a nice touch.
I think I would have liked to have a seen a little more effort from the dev team into polishing the final product. DMC2 is certainly playable, but it does feel a bit janky at times. It’s not the worst game I’ve ever played, but the very definition of mediocre.
Version Reviewed: PS4
Difficulty: Medium – Even though this game features multiple difficulty settings, they are not accessible from the beginning. The default difficulty “Normal”, is considerably easier than the previous game, but some boss fights can still provide a bit of a challenge. Aside from boss battles, the rest of the combat is the game is almost mind-numbingly easy.
Multiplayer: N/A
Story: The storyline here is pretty weak, I’ll be honest. It’s the classic “stop the bad guy from destroying the world” scenario. Only, we have no real insight into the bad guy’s motives or how it’s supposed to tie into the existing lore of the first game.
Originality: There’s really nothing new brought to the table in this sequel. It’s very much more of the same, only not as well done.
Soundtrack: The music is fitting and well composed. However, the the soundtrack is a bit sparse and repetitive. The voice acting, on the other hand, is downright atrocious.
Fun: Even with its shortcomings, I found the game to be enjoyable on its own. I cannot deny that there are other games that do the same thing, only better. But, I’ve certainly played games way worse than this as well.
Graphics: Naturally, the HD version of this game looks considerably better than the original PS2 release. The graphics are basically equal to what is seen in the original game. However, I feel like the first game had a much better level design and that difference makes the first game more pleasing to the eye.
Playcontrol: I played this game using a regular PS5 controller and encountered no real issues in playcontrol. Everything felt natural and fluid. My only gripe were the occasional obscure camera-angles (which seem a bit worse in this game). On several occasions, I would be forced to fight enemies that I couldn’t see because the camera was focused on my character and not on the enemy I was supposed to be fighting. Thankfully, these annoyances were rare.
Downloadable Content: No.
Mature Content: Blood, Violence, Occult Imagery.
Value: Used copies of the original game can typically be found pretty cheap ($15-$20). But you’re going to get a much better value if you purchase the Devil May Cry HD Collection. This version contains the first three games in the series and typically sells for around $30. This is an insane price for three classic games.
Overall score (1-100): 65 – This game doesn’t come anywhere close to capturing the magic of the first Devil May Cry. It falls short in almost every way. Still, there are worst ways to spend your time. If you’re a fan of the series, it’s probably worth playing this title for the sake of completion. But, I can’t imagine this would be anybody’s favorite.
Original System: PS2
Available today on: PS 4/5, Xbox One/X/S, PC – (Updated as of Early Winter 2025)
Best Experience: PS 4/5, Xbox One/X/S – (Updated as of Early Winter 2025)
Other Reviews In This Series:
Devil May Cry – Devil May Cry 2 – Devil May Cry 3 – Devil May Cry 4 – Devil May Cry 5
DmC: Devil May Cry
