Devil May Cry 5

Devil May Cry 5 marks the series' return after a long pause, and at the same time shows exactly what a pure action game without unnecessary filler should look like. A demonic tree has grown through the city, and players alternately take control of three characters: Nero with his mechanical prosthetic arm that can be fired off like a rocket, the mysterious V, who doesn't fight himself but sends bound demons into battle, and the legendary Dante with four combat styles and an arsenal that fills the entire screen. The style rating during combat forces the player to vary attacks, avoid getting hit, and look flashy doing it, turning the combat system into something close to a musical instrument.

Technically the game runs on the RE Engine, and on PlayStation 4 it ranked among the cleanest-looking things the console had to offer. It runs smoothly, the characters were captured from real actors, and the game loves cinematic cutscenes that flow directly into gameplay. The music is typically over-the-top and excellent, blending metal and electronic sounds, and for some characters the track dynamically builds up during combat depending on how well the player is doing. The whole title maintains a self-aware sense of humor and never takes itself too seriously, even while saving the world.

Reviews were very positive and brought the series back to the top of the genre. Criticism aimed mainly at repetitive environments in the second half and at the fact that some players never quite warmed up to V's unconventional playstyle. Its influence on the genre is fundamental, since this series is the one that defined how style is measured in action games, and many later titles build on it. Today Devil May Cry 5 is an ideal choice for anyone who wants a game with a high skill ceiling that can be finished quickly but polished almost endlessly. It offers a wide range of difficulties, including ones that unlock only after finishing the game, so anyone who wants to can return to the same levels many times over and push themselves toward ever greater style and precision.