The Cool Nerd

HELLO EVERYONE~ I have appeared from the void today! Why you may (or may not) ask? Because I have things to talk about. Video games things.

BUCKLE YOUR BRITCHES Y’ALL, I GOT A LONG POST ABOUT DmC A-COMIN.

So, I surprised myself by watching this two part series of videos called DmC Retrospective (they are very long, the second one is an hour but they are quite engaging I think!) And I have some thoughts I wish to share!

DmC Retrospective: The History of a Controversy

DmC Retrospective: Reboot Dissonance

First things first, I really enjoyed this guys breakdown of DmC from the perspective of someone who is an OG fan but has well thought out and constructive reasoning and opinions about the game that isn't just mercilessly shitting on the game. He also goes in depth in part 1 and a bit in the beginning of part 2 about Capcom's involvement and their motives and desires for the reboot as well, as opposed to just blaming everything squarely on Ninja Theory.

In part 1 I like how he definitely does make a point to begin with on how there are fundamental cultural differences in the game. While the OG DMC has that very european aesthetic to it, it is very much a Japanese game stylistically and in the way the characters are done. Which is the reason why people fell in love with it. The people are playing the OG DMC are not particularly the people who are going to enjoy the western style and characterization and storytelling.

In part 2 is where he talks mostly about the game itself. I can see and understand a lot of his points on the characterization of reboot Dante. His personality is definitely a type where you either like it or you don't. And whether you see him as a loveable asshole or not, I feel, is subjective. This guy does not see him as such because, to sort of summarize/paraphrase, he thinks reboot Dante takes himself more seriously  and isn't so irreverent as OG Dante, making him seem more like a straight dick than a loveable asshole. I, personally, think he is a complete asshat and I love him. My kind of loveable asshole character is someone you can just cuss out back and forth with and it would be fine, and that is the kind of guy I feel like reboot Dante is. The kind of dude you call a fuck nugget and then like go get drinks, and that is my kind of dude.  (Side note, I feel like generally the same kind of people who make fun of his like angsty characterization are the same kind of people who mercilessly make fun of Linkin Park music.) Overall, I feel like OG Dante was generally more wholesome character whereas reboot Dante definitely is not. So in that regard, I can see where OG Dante would not like reboot Dante because that's not the Dante they fell in love with.

He also touched on a point about motivating characters and also the female side characters in both games. And I will have to agree that Lady and Trish were kinda more engaging and generally more badass. I like the idea of what they tried to do with Kat, but they could have done better to make her a more fully developed character who can still be a more vulnerable character but who has more agency and isn't ultimately reduced to a sort of damsel in distress. Though there are arguments that could even be made against that. But, apparently, the like creative director or whatever for Ninja Theory made some kind of comment sort of disrespecting the OG ladies reducing them to simply eye candy when they are absolutely more than that while trying to say that something different in Kat, a more girlfriend type, is better (but thats a whole nother rant).

Jumping back to part 1 when he was discussing people's reactions to the initial design of reboot Dante. I'm not gonna lie, I was also averse/aghast to the original redesign of Dante, the clips he had inserted of people lashing out and saying he looked emo and like some "faggot" were frankly abhorrent. And I'm not entirely sure they know what emo looks like. (Like seriously, emo guys have like... so much more hair...) Not to mention, personally, their comments sound like the shit that dusty niggas (excuse my language) who look rougher than an old thrift store carpet say.

Moving on to some comments about combat! ...Low key offended with his commentary about the boss fights though. 😂 I loved the succubus, she was gross, she puked on everything, and honestly I enjoyed the dialogue even though dude said it was lacking. Honestly, as someone who is consistently cursing, I wish there were more video games were you just mercilessly cursed out the enemies who are trying to kill you. Personally I also thought the fight kept me on my toes, but maybe I'm just bad at video games so therefore my opinions on combat are inconsequential. I am very glad though that he gave high praise to the Bob Barbas fight because it was very cool and creative. But he also said it was like very easy which honestly makes me feel like shit because I struggled with it and died. But once again, I'm not super great at video games so what I think doesn't matter right?🙃I will give it to him that the final fight with Mundus was kind of underwhelming, but, and someone stop me if I am wrong, was it not similar to the final boss fight in DMC4? Like, stop me if I am wrong, but if we are gonna say it was bad, then we are saying they are both bad. However, I get his general point that there could be more complexity to the fighting styles of the bosses but...meh. I'm honestly just really defensive of the Succubus because she is super super unsexy and I love it.

(Side note: I feel like with his tone in some moments that he really hates that this game is making social commentary about capitalism 😂)

Overall, I respect this dude's opinions and breakdowns on the perceived failings in the eyes of OG fans. It was well thought out and enlightening.I still am going to continue to fucking love the reboot though and nothing is ever gonna change that. It makes me really genuinely sad to think/know that there will not be another game to see how the world evolves after having the demon presence exposed, nor will I get to see how the rivalry further develops between Dante and Virgil following the events in Virgil's Downfall. I won't ever get to see this Dante's more matured self and how he handles being a more committed devil hunter.

But one thing me and this guy can 100% agree on: fuck Virgil's dumb hat.