Devil May Cry 2

Play Magazine

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]

Gamezilla!

While the game looks great, from the meticulous gothic locations to the finely detailed demons you encounter, the game play itself was only mediocre.

Entertainment Weekly

The most noted improvement? Better in-game camera angles that no longer get in the way of action. [7 Feb 2003, p.90]

Into Liquid Sky

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.

TotalGames.net

A few flashy new moves hardly compensate for the lack of subtlety and polish that was so evident in the original title.

GameZone

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.

GamePro

What’s really missing is the intense, edge-of-your-seat close-quarter combat that made the first game so arresting.

Maxim Online

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.

TotalPlayStation

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.

netjak

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.

Four Fat Chicks

An exciting and diverse experience, easy on the beginner yet providing harder modes for the more experienced player.

GameNow

Games this intense are rare, and DMC2's minor flaws are well worth dealing with. [Mar 2003, p.45]

Electric Playground

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.

GamingWorld X

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.

Electronic Gaming Monthly

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]

Games Radar UK (Pre-2006)

A perfectly competent game, but it falls notably short of the original brilliance. [PSM2]

PSX Nation

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.

GamingTrend

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.

Cincinnati Enquirer

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.

Game Informer

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]

Gamestyle

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.

Game Over Online

What is completely unforgivable are the sound bytes from Dante, or should I say lack thereof.

PSM Magazine

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]

IGN

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.

Yahoo! Games

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.

Cinescape

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.

GameSpot

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.

GameSpy

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.

Gamer's Pulse

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.

GMR Magazine

The frustrating, non-compliant camera and general lack of challenge keep DMC 2 from being great. [Mar 2003, p.60]

Cheat Code Central

Unfortunately for fans, the whole experience can be summed up in one sentence: Too bland, too easy but looks good.

All Game Guide

Not a bad game overall -- it simply pales in comparison to its predecessor. It makes few leaps forward in terms of originality or depth.

Official U.S. Playstation Magazine

The game seems to have taken a step back in the "cool moves that are also helpful" department. [Mar 2003, p.106]

Game Revolution

While technically polished, the artistic vision of the first game has been lost. There's just not enough style or substance to DMC 2.

eToychest

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.

Gaming Age

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.

Eurogamer

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.

GameCritics

The most monumental loss is style.

Adrenaline Vault

Glaring deficiencies, such as the redundant environments, weak camera system, and most importantly, a severe lack of challenge.

NTSC-uk

One of the most disappointing sequels in gaming history.