This 2001 action-adventure main game, a hack and slash title, sets players on Mallet Island as Dante, a demon hunter seeking vengeance against the demon lord Mundus. The core loop involves mission-based exploration and intense third-person combat, distinguished by its dynamic camera system and the unique Stylish Rank feature, which grades player performance based on combo variety. The game emphasizes executing stylish maneuvers, with mission scores reflecting combat flair and collected items.
The gameplay loop centers on intense, third-person combat encounters interspersed with exploration across varied environments. Unlike previous action titles that relied on fixed camera angles, this game introduced a fully dynamic camera system, allowing for more fluid movement and tactical positioning during fights.
A defining feature of the experience is the Stylish Rank system. This mechanic actively grades the player's combat performance in real-time based on the variety, creativity, and execution of their attacks. Successfully chaining together different moves and weapons elevates the player's rank, which in turn influences mission scores.
The adventure is segmented into individual Missions. Each mission is scored upon completion, factoring in elements such as the number of hidden Orbs collected and the amount of damage sustained by the protagonist. This scoring system encourages replayability and mastery of the combat mechanics.
The primary innovation lies in the fusion of deep, combo-heavy melee combat with a constant, visible performance evaluation system. This emphasis on style over mere survival fundamentally shifted expectations for action games moving forward. Players are rewarded not just for defeating enemies, but for doing so with flair.
As the foundational main game, this title remains the core experience, though it has received at least one remaster since its initial release, bringing the visuals up to modern standards for continued playability. It does not feature any downloadable content (DLCs) or expansions.
Medium level animated violence, Horror themes