• Publisher: Capcom
  • Release Date: Jan 25, 2003
Metascore
68 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 40 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 40
  2. Negative: 3 out of 40
  1. Lucia's tale alone, a cruel sonnet of self realization wrapped in a story steeped in religious overtones, is reason enough to buy this game. [Mar 2003, p.40]
  2. While the game looks great, from the meticulous gothic locations to the finely detailed demons you encounter, the game play itself was only mediocre.
  3. The most noted improvement? Better in-game camera angles that no longer get in the way of action. [7 Feb 2003, p.90]
  4. It seems to lack the personality that the first had. Is it a good action title? Yes. With multiple difficulty modes, two characters to play as and secret rooms to find, dedicated action buffs should have a good time with this sequel.
  5. A few flashy new moves hardly compensate for the lack of subtlety and polish that was so evident in the original title.
  6. A major disappointment... The inclusion of additional playable characters sweetens the deal a bit, but the fact remains that DMC2 is too easy, too short, and too inconsistent in terms of storyline to be considered a worthy successor.
  7. 80
    What’s really missing is the intense, edge-of-your-seat close-quarter combat that made the first game so arresting.
  8. Clunky camera moves hit the occasional sour note, but the eventual showdown with the Dark Lord Currently Known as Satan makes it all well worth the ride.
  9. Perhaps it’s the flaky difficulty or weak story plot, but something is definitely holding Devil May Cry 2 back from upping the ante of the series’ first comer. In the end, DMC2 boils down to a simple result: a solid sequel, but a failed attempt in revolutionizing action gaming.
  10. A title that still has camera faults, is far too easy in some of its boss battles, does little to increase the depth of Dante as a character, and little to freshen the formula that was so winning the first time around.
  11. 75
    A great game... just not as good as the original. I'm all for the evolution of a series and it's characters, but when it means slowing down a character so he/she will look cooler is just plain ridiculous.
  12. An exciting and diverse experience, easy on the beginner yet providing harder modes for the more experienced player.
  13. 75
    Games this intense are rare, and DMC2's minor flaws are well worth dealing with. [Mar 2003, p.45]
  14. The lame-o difficulty (the first game was probably too hard, but come on, I've played tougher "Rugrats" games) means that you'll blow through it in a night. [Mar 2003, p.114]
  15. Many of the changes to the gameplay are marginal at best, and many of them can be completely ignored for more conventional methods of slashing and shooting, and while it is fun to try to pull off ultimate action-movie sequences, this thrill only lasts so long.
  16. A perfectly competent game, but it falls notably short of the original brilliance. [PSM2]
  17. The problem lies in a finicky third-person perspective camera that swivels around the protagonists. In many cases, it will switch angles right in the middle of combat, making it difficult to stay focused on who or what you're attacking.
  18. A solid game with plenty of action, but the original set new standards for this genre, and DMC 2 just doesn't match its level of personality or polish. [Mar 2003, p.34]
  19. A superb game, dragged under by some minor flaws, which could have been rectified given a bit more time and effort. But does suffer from time to value difficulties.
  20. 70
    It's a disappointing title that's shallow where the first was deep, plain where the first was decorative and imaginative, and simple where the other was complex.
  21. One of the most enjoyable (and expensive!) guilty pleasures of 2003 so far, but one that falls short of its predecessor’s ahead-of-its-time greatness.
  22. I stared at the television in disbelief for a good hour wondering how Capcom cold have messed up this bad. Devil May Cry 2 in not only a grave disappointment, it's a painful one. [Mar 2003, p.78]
  23. What is completely unforgivable are the sound bytes from Dante, or should I say lack thereof.
  24. A pretty game with a bad camera and no attempt at coming close to the fun of the first game makes this an extremely bad purchasing decision.
  25. Kept from greatness by the terrible camera, pacing issues, short quests, and general lack of continuity, making it a sequel that actually tacks more criticisms on to the series, instead of fixing them.
  26. The problem is that the game was taken from its original close quarters setting and brought to a more open setting. Something about it just doesn’t feel right.
  27. It's just disappointing to see such an uninspired sequel that simply goes through the motions of being an action game rather than taking advantage of concepts introduced in its predecessor.
  28. 62
    Almost every gameplay change in DMC2 is ill-advised, and does far more harm than good. It's like curing a man's cold by chopping off his head... DMC2's most painful flaw: Without the unique weapons of the original game, DMC2 also loses its compelling strategic elements.
  29. The frustrating, non-compliant camera and general lack of challenge keep DMC 2 from being great. [Mar 2003, p.60]
  30. The most disappointing game I have ever played. Expected to extend the superb gameplay, style, and attitude of the first game, Devil May Cry 2 fails to improve in any form.
  31. The game seems to have taken a step back in the "cool moves that are also helpful" department. [Mar 2003, p.106]
  32. Not a bad game overall -- it simply pales in comparison to its predecessor. It makes few leaps forward in terms of originality or depth.
  33. Unfortunately for fans, the whole experience can be summed up in one sentence: Too bland, too easy but looks good.
  34. While technically polished, the artistic vision of the first game has been lost. There's just not enough style or substance to DMC 2.
  35. A deeply flawed combat-based action game that offers a mere fraction of the depth and the challenge of the original... It's a shock to see the mighty Capcom let its standards slip in such a dramatic fashion.
  36. The game simply bores me to tears. The original game still has me coming back for more, and yet I cannot imagine stomaching another trip through this sequel, even though the adventure is significantly shorter this time around.
  37. The best part about "Devil May Cry" was the combat. The worst part about Devil May Cry 2 is the combat... The team didn’t think past the cool factor on this one.
  38. The most monumental loss is style.
  39. Glaring deficiencies, such as the redundant environments, weak camera system, and most importantly, a severe lack of challenge.
  40. 30
    One of the most disappointing sequels in gaming history.
User Score

Mixed or average reviews- based on 62 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 41
  2. Negative: 10 out of 41
  1. [Anonymous]
    0
    In sharp contrast to Devil May Cry, the sequel dumbs down the difficulty an extreme amount. It caters to everyone who whined that the first was too hard, the game play it watered down, it ruins Dante's lovable **** confident, and competent personality, and the characters and storyline are absolutely unengaging. Full Review »
  2. Dante. You are in some pretty awesome games, Dante. But your initial fame left you confused and searching for an identy. What resulted was the black sheep of the Devil May Cry franchise. The first Devil May Cry is legendary, but in my opinion hasn't aged as well as it should have. I don't like this game beause the first was so good and this game doesn't live up to the original, but instead it took all the horror and creepiness of the first game, chewed it up, spat it out, and said "here's the sequel, enjoy." This game took the horror aspects of the first game and ran with them, but unfortunately made Dante so slow that a snail could actually pose a threat in this game. In the first game, Dante was fast and moved with grace. In this game he moves like a guy who thought it would be cool to run around with a sword today. The open enironments in this game are the only thing this game has to offer that is relatively good, but even then, the game suffers from low resolution and character models that make the first game cry itself to sleep. The plot is pretty dull and boring and is so forgetable it makes my yawns yawn. Playing as Lucia on the second disc is a cool addition and she feels a hell of a lot different from Dante, but her levels are just as boring as Dante's. In fact "boring" is the best word to describe this game. It's so dull and lifeless that it can bairly be considered a game. It is just a time waster, and when you consider the fact that this franchise has three good games out of its four released ones, a time waster doesn't quite cut it. Full Review »
  3. This game was an utter waste of my money and time. The graphics may have been good, but that's it. He is waaaaay too serious in the whole thing and the story moves waaaay too fast. There is nothing good at all about this game and i suggest not even renting it. There is nothing amusing or amazing about this game at all. Full Review »