Returning is everyone’s favourite white-haired pizza enthusiast, Dante. Being the main character of the series, Dante feels the most traditional and well rounded. He is also the one with the most robust and extensive moveset. At all times you’re able to swap between four melee weapons, four ranged weapons and four styles - Trickster, Swordmaster, Gunslinger and Royal Guard - all of which unlock a whole new plethora of distinct abilities.



Dante’s arsenal of weapons has always been an odd and eclectic one. In DMC3 you had ice enhanced nunchucks, an electric guitar that summoned electric bats; in DMC4 you had a briefcase that could turn into an assortment of heavy duty weaponry. Continuing this trend, Devil May Cry 5 features what may be the most diverse set of weapons yet, spanning from traditional swords, a cowboy hat that uses red orbs as ammunition, flame-gauntlets that have a built in hype man, to a motorbike that splits into two giant buzzsaws. From the get-go Dante dons his trusty sword Rebellion, which features all the tricks and moves from previous games; his beloved pistols Ebony & Ivory; the ass-blasting shotgun Coyote-A; and an entirely new gauntlet weapon named Balrog. Gauntlet weapons have been a series staple since DMC1, and while all share the same basic movesets they each have distinct abilities that set them apart from each other. Balrog is no different as it can switch between a kick and punch mode, essentially turning it into two weapons in one. Switching between Eddie Gordo-esque capoeira kicks, and a flurry of lightning fast punches feels exceptionally fluid and just plain awesome.



As Dante’s arsenal grows throughout the course of the game and his gameplay becomes more and more diverse, the options you have can honestly feel a bit intimidating. With the new loadout system you can change how many you want to cater to your playstyle. Do you switch between as many weapons and styles as possible to dizzy the enemy as they attempt to comprehend where Dante keeps all of these weapons; or do you stick to two main weapons, and one style to go for a more focused and direct approach? The choice is entirely yours.



Last, and definitely not least, we have the mysterious newcomer V who - instead of taking an I’m-in-your-face-buddy approach to butt-blasting like Nero and Dante - prefers to take a step back and let his three summoned demons do the work. The three demons include the aerial wise-ass laserbeam shooting Griffon, the shapeshifting swiss-army knife Shadow, and the towering cyclops Nightmare.



Playing as V is more about taking a tactical approach to combat as you predominantly use both Griffin and Shadow at the same time while keeping an eye on where they are, where your enemies are, and where V is. Griffin’s ranged based attacks are usually charged and quickly engulf the battlefield with devastating laserbeams, and Shadow’s melee attacks are usually quick and nimble; you may also mix and match both demon’s attacks to barrage the enemy with as many blows as possible. You can dive bomb an enemy with Griffin, knocking them into the air, then keep them there with Shadow’s mid-air saw blade attack, and ending with a charged lightning storm with Griffin. When the enemy’s life is depleted, V himself will have step in to finish them off as, apparently, demons cannot kill other demons. Nightmare, who is summoned with V’s devil trigger, acts independently of V’s control, shooting destructive laser beams from his single eye, or clubbing enemies around with his colossal fists. V can take direct control of Nightmare by jumping onto his back, allowing the player to use all of Nightmare’s abilities, with a few unique ones suited for this occasion.



Both Griffon and Shadow can be downed temporarily, so it’s good to keep a close eye on their health and surroundings as you dish out the punishment. They’ll revive after a set time, which is shortened if daddy V stands close to them. They can also be revived instantly by summoning Nightmare, the greatest father figure of all.