Devil May Cry HD Collection (PS3)
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Genre: Action \ Third-Person
Platform: PS3
Price: Rs 2500 (Flipkart.com)


In the past few months, several PS2 games have been ported onto the PS3 in HD goodness. The latest entrant in this league is Devil May Cry HD Collection (DMC). This HD port covers the first three titles, taking us through Dante's adventures at different points in time. Does this qualify as a worthy HD excuse to play through the PS2 classics, or is it another perfunctory bundle? There's no better way to find out.
 

This bundle features three outlandish campaigns.

Impressive Combat
In a reckless world that houses eccentric characters, Dante is just the protagonist you would want to transform into. Offering three different timelines to explore in Devil May Cry, Devil May Cry 2 and Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening Special Edition, the HD collection gives you a chance to try out loads of weapons and hack through a variety of enemies - all in a typically bizarre Japanese fashion.

The original DMC was revolutionary in its own right. It pioneered uniquely stylish combat mechanics combining swords and guns (the turn-based Final Fantasy series doesn't count). I believe it has remained the best in the genre despite all the clones it has spawned over the years. DMC3 is an enjoyable game as well, and offers enough action and shenanigans to make even Rajinikanth hang his head in shame.
 

DMC HD Collection is all about Dante.

The black sheep of this collection, however, is DMC2. It essentially violates the very essence of what being Dante is all about. It's not very challenging, so it never really transitions into an interesting game. Overall, all the games vest immense power into Dante's character, satisfying your craving for some over-the-top third-person action.

Combat forms the core of the series. Its hack-and-slash style flows smoothly as you're given a wide variety of killer toys, especially in the third title. You are judged in terms of a Combo Rating which scales from Dull to Stylish, depending on your play style and ability to inflict pain. Some enemies in the first and second iterations of the game seem disappointingly easy to dispatch. The third game, however, is way better in this regard. The challenges are difficult, but not insurmountable.
 

Hey Mr Goatling, are you related to Bai Ling by any chance?

Lost In HD Conversion
Don't buy this expecting a complete geaphics overhaul, because you'll be disappointed by the way the graphics have been remastered. It's not that the graphics are poor, they look much better than the PS2 version, to be honest. However, there are many flaws in the HD version that you simply can't ignore. First up, the title menu and cutscenes have been left untouched. The latter look quite outdated and blurry. Moreover, dull lighting makes everything look dreary and uninteresting.

While you are busy ripping apart opponents, wonky camera angles give you a hard time. There are times when you are neither able to watch your own moves, nor see the enemy. It can be especially cumbersome for first times, as none of the three games manage to offer some respite in this regard. Acoustics aren't the strongest point of the game either. Often, the dialogues are out of sync, whereas the remastered background hasn't been transfered too well either.
 

The HD remastering is disappointing.

A Flawed Remake
Devil May Cry HD Collection does a good job of reviving a decade-old series. Innovative and interesting combat is this bundle's strongest point, which gives even the current crop of hack-and-slash games a run for their money. Nonetheless, sub-standard graphics, rigid camera angles, and lacklustre enemies (in the first and second games) take the sheen away from this HD collection.


Gameplay/Design: 3/5
Graphics: 2.5/5
Sound: 2/5
Mojo: 3/5

Overall Rating: 2.5

TAGS: Gaming, PlayStation, Sanali