Dante's adventures still hold up okay today, but as far as HD re-releases go, this is one of the laziest.
The original Devil May Cry was a powerful kick in the face to the third-person action title. Mixing in the haunting horror atmosphere of Resident Evil with a high-intensity sword-and-gun gameplay setup, Devil May Cry was able to stand out considerably from the rest of the PS2 library. As much of a maverick the game was back then, it's tough to say that the static camera angles don't run on the nerves here and there. Dante's jumping controls aren't particularly Mario-esque, especially when the camera decides to change angles mid-jump. The constant "use Key A for Door B" objectives can feel grating after the tenth time as well. Fortunately, the combat is slick and exciting, retaining the over-the-top and gory action that players have expected from the series. Bosses are bombastic and challenging, always requiring that extra boost of reflexes and twitch skills to overcome. Being able to check out new skills and combo moves is also enthralling and it keeps the gameplay relatively diverse. It would be a lie to say that the game has aged flawlessly, however. Compared to the later installments in the series, the original Devil May Cry comes off pretty unpolished by today's standards. Though it remains a pioneer of the genre, Devil May Cry still feels a tad dated in the modern gaming climate.
Devil May Cry 2 is widely regarded as the worst of the trilogy and that really hasn't changed since the early 2000's. Dante's second outing is a much more stripped-down Devil May Cry. Gameplay doesn't feel as tight and responsive as it did in the first, environment design feels derivative, and the challenge has been considerably toned down. Enemies will barely put up a fight and can be taken down with button-mashing alone. Even the largest of swarms can be controlled with well-placed, auto-lock-on bullets. The very essence of Devil May Cry is disappointingly absent in the second game, making it an underwhelming sequel to an otherwise action-packed title.
Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening can easily be considered the best game on the disc for many reasons. It's expectedly the most modernized of the three, offering a versatile combat system with different styles to try out. Whether you like guns, swords, tricks or whatever, you'll find a style that will complement your way to play. The different challenges can be fiercely difficult, especially the epic boss fights, but they never feel cheap or unrefined. Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening does inherit some of the confusing camera situations that the genre has grown, but even when set next to other modern classics of its kind like God of War or Ninja Gaiden, the game puts its best foot forward when trying to be crazy, but controlled. You even have a few extra gameplay options from the Devil May Cry 3: Special Edition like unlockable characters. The third time's a charm for Capcom's bloody action series, as Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening stays fresh and invigorating even years after its release.
Disappointingly, Devil May Cry HD Collection is a pretty bare-bones release. You do get an art gallery, sound test and the archetypal Achievements/Trophies, but the game doesn't offer any new modes to speak of. The game doesn't even let you switch games without restarting your console. The HD graphical upgrade doesn't offer a considerably better look either. The menus, gameplay and in-game cinematics have notoriously confusing picture qualities, as the screen will adjust itself to full screen or traditional letterbox viewing on the fly. It's a distracting move and the high-definition graphics rarely show off any significant improvement from the PS2 versions. Though it packs a budget price, unless you're after a few measly Achievements/Trophies, the changes to the games are so minute that you're more than likely better off just looking for the original PS2 discs. Devil May Cry HD Collection's lackluster bonus content makes the entire package all the less appealing, even with its lower-than-average price.
Dante's original trilogy has its ups and downs, but the real killer here is the completely lazy re-release of the series. Capcom hasn't done very much to make these games palatable to a modern gaming audience. The bonus content is pathetic and tedious to navigate, while the HD update is undermined by confusing technical design. However, if you're looking to revisit the PS2 era through this collection, the games themselves aren't too bad. Sure, Devil May Cry 1 and 2 have their flaws, but the gameplay still is influential and there are some exciting moments throughout all three installments. Though the genre has made new strides since the days of the Playstation 2, Devil May Cry still is a series with guts to spill. As far as HD re-releases go, on the other hand, Devil May Cry HD Collection is a real letdown. If you haven't played the original DMC trilogy before, it'll be hard to see what all of the hype was about. HD collections don't get much more straightforward than Devil May Cry HD Collection and it's that bland and mindlessly repackaged effort that makes this collection difficult to recommend, even to the most avid of Dante's followers.