Summary
It has been five years sinceDevil May Cry 5was released, though the title shows little signs of age. Cementing itself asa revival of theDMCfranchiseand a heavy-hitter for Capcom’s sales, the attention to detail shown in the series' fifth mainline entry was, and continues to be, evident in its success. Its robust combat system along with its other design disciplines make for a compelling approach to game design, one that remains worthy of appreciating five years after it debuted.
TheDMCseries has become synonymous with excellent combat design, and most would considerDevil May Cry 5to set the bar in the “character action” genre. Boasting three characters with incredibly nuanced movesets, Nero, Dante, and V were equipped with enough combo power to make the title’s battle system a rewarding spectacle to dive into. From newcomers to series veterans, the opportunity to tackle chapters from a myriad of difficulties made the title more than worth its replay value, a feature that would only become more pronounced with the addition of its Vergil DLC. Still, despite the immense quality of its combat,Devil May Cry 5- which released on July 14, 2025 and is celebrating its anniversary today - deserves to have its praises sung for the other facets of its game design as well.
How Devil May Cry 5’s Design Considerations Have Contributed to its Success Over the Years
The Storm That is Approaching
The music ofDevil May Cry 5has been lauded for its quality these past five years, with both its vocal and ambient tracks working to enhance the title’s gameplay. As the game oscillates between the solemnity of its backdrops to its more visceral, action-packed moments, its OST takes in each circumstance with aplomb. Moments of reprieve make for an eerie yet beautiful listening, like the haunting quality of the divinity statue theme that sets an otherworldly example. On the opposite end, the high octane slashing of Nero’s Red Queen against his upbeat Devil Trigger theme makes for a perfect encapsulation of his character, tying in well with the dynamic nature ofDevil May Cry 5’s combat.
Composer Casey Edwards' work on Nero’s theme is a testament to the strength of his contribution to the soundtrack and the way it is deftly woven intoDevil May Cry 5’s most pivotal story moments. The feature of Silver Bullet during the clash between Nero and Vergil shows the character’s growth throughout the story while tying excellently into the build up of its combat through Nero’s newfound DT abilities. The same can be said for Edwards' work on Bury the Light, the nearly ten-minute long track forVergil’s DLCthat has amassed over a hundred million plays online. Its in-game use is a fantastic motivator for players to learn the utmost intricacies of Vergil’s combat, as performing combos and raising the style meter allows for the vocals to come through and the song to truly shine.
Devil May Cry 5’s Character and Environmental Design Makes its Combat All the More Rewarding
Smokin' Sexy Style
Aiding in its music isDevil May Cry 5’s excellent attention to detail when it comes to its character and environmental design. Between Nero, Dante, and V, each character is embedded with personality from the ground up, making their appearances feel wholly unique. Beyond the realism of their physical features and stylish attire, enough to spur onDevil May Cry 5collectors' editions of their coatswith crazy price tags for cosplayers, the ways in which they are presented in the story make for a compelling indication of how they fit into the bigger picture. Dante’s overwhelming moveset and powerful arsenal of weaponry sets a high status for his prowess at killing demons, while Nero’s gradual mastery of the Devil Breakers shows him growing into his own, though his power lies in much more than them alone.
The considerations made towards these characters' personalities are imbued not only into their combat abilities, but in their taunts as well. Some, like the opportunity for Nero to put on the hood of his coat, manage to be rewarding combat interactions that tie into the fun, more trivial side ofDevil May Cry 5’s costume design. Because the title maintains a relatively small cast, these same considerations are taken toward the title’s supporting characters as well. The trailing smoke of Nico’s cigarette against her flashy tattoos and revolvingarsenal of Devil Breakers, for example, ties excellently into her character’s presentation and status as an inventor as she helps Nero along his journey.
The Streets of Red Grave
Devil May Cry 5’s backdrops have stood the test of time in the years since its release, and through them its combat truly shines. The boss arenas of the title manage to be both breathtaking and haunting, drawing from the dilapidated rubble of European architecture to give its enemies both weight and presence.Goliath, for example, destroys the building on which it stands to draw the arena outwards, sending chunks of stone Nero’s way while inadvertently making it easier to dodge the demon’s attacks. In Artemis' boss fight, the light cascading on the pillars of a dome-shaped library draws attention upwards, a fitting backdrop for the agile demon that flits around the air with speed.
Traversing around Red Grave, and later, the demon infested Qliphoth, is as harrowing as it is intriguing, where a city in ruin feels all the more compelling to save. As enemies grow stronger and more frequent, the abilities of Nero, Dante, and V work in tandem with the severity of the environment; while the player learns and becomes more competent atDevil May Cry 5’s combat mechanics, they are driven away from the remaining humanity of Red Grave City and into the literal lion’s den. It’s a clever way that the titleups the stakes and sets its goal up front, as the battle against Urizen is not one that can be won on the first try (unless, of course,Devil May Cry 5’s secret endingis achieved).
Standing the Test of Time, Five Years Later
In 2024, the merits ofDevil May Cry 5continue to hold weight, cementing the game’s success as well-earned. Though its combat is largely considered the title’s defining feature, the ways in whichDMC5’s other disciplines work towards its gameplay loop help to make its battle system all the more rewarding. The level of quality and polish that was evident in the title’s release continues to hold a high standard for the future of the series, and whereverDevil May Cry 6takes things next, the lessons that it can take from its predecessor should not be cast aside.
