When you first see Dante, he’s probably eating a pizza or getting stabbed through the chest with a massive broadsword. Weirdly, both happen pretty often. If you’re asking what is Devil May Cry about, the short answer is that it’s a high-octane action series about a silver-haired demon hunter who treats world-ending threats like a boring Tuesday. But there is a lot more under the hood than just red leather jackets and dual-wielded pistols. It’s a tragedy wrapped in an 80s heavy metal album cover.
The core of the story revolves around the twin sons of Sparda. Sparda was a powerful demon knight who, roughly 2,000 years ago, "woke up to justice" and turned against his own kind to save humanity. He sealed off the demon world and eventually had a family with a human woman named Eva. They had two kids: Dante and Vergil.
Then everything went wrong.
The Bloodline that Defines the Action
The central conflict of almost every game is the relationship between these two brothers. While Dante decided to use his demonic powers to protect people—running a "handyman" business called Devil May Cry—Vergil took the opposite path. He felt that their mother’s death was a result of weakness. He wanted more power. He wanted to be like their father. This sibling rivalry isn't just a plot point; it's the DNA of the entire franchise.
Dante is the "wacky woohoo pizza man" we all love. He’s sarcastic, flashy, and seemingly invincible. Vergil is stoic, precise, and obsessed with his katana, the Yamato. Most of the narrative tension comes from these two clashing over how to handle their father's legacy. In Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening, which is actually a prequel and arguably the best place to start the story, we see them as teenagers fighting atop a massive tower called Temen-ni-gru. It’s a mess of family resentment and supernatural swordplay.
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You see, the demons in this world aren't just monsters. They are manifestations of human sin, or sometimes just literal invaders from a hellish dimension. Dante kills them because it’s his job, but also because it’s the only way he knows how to connect with his roots.
It’s Not Just About Hitting Buttons
If you talk to a hardcore fan, they won't talk about the plot first. They’ll talk about the "Style System." This is what truly separates DMC from other games like God of War or Bayonetta. The game literally grades you on how cool you look while fighting. If you just mash the same button, the game gives you a "D" for Dull. If you mix up your combos, switch weapons mid-air, and taunt your enemies, you climb up to "S" for Savage, "SS" for Sick Skills, and eventually "SSS" for Smokin' Sexy Style.
It’s a game about expression.
Director Hideaki Itsuno, who took over the series after the somewhat rocky second game, really leaned into this idea. He wanted players to feel like they were choreographing a movie. You aren't just trying to survive; you're trying to humiliate the demons. You can use a motorcycle as a pair of chainsaws. You can use a hat that uses "Red Orbs" (the game's currency) as ammunition. It is deeply, intentionally ridiculous.
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The New Blood: Nero
By the time we get to Devil May Cry 4 and Devil May Cry 5, the scope expands. We meet Nero, a younger hunter with a "Devil Bringer" arm. He’s a bit more hot-headed and emotional than Dante. His inclusion changed the dynamic because it shifted the focus from two brothers fighting to a legacy being passed down. Nero represents the human side of the demonic bloodline. He fights for his girlfriend, Kyrie, and eventually to prove he isn't just "dead weight"—a running joke in the fifth game that actually carries some heavy emotional weight by the end.
The Chronology is a Bit of a Mess
Don't play them in order if you want a linear story. It doesn't work that way.
The actual timeline goes:
- Devil May Cry 3 (The Origin)
- Devil May Cry 1 (The Classic)
- Devil May Cry 2 (The one most people skip)
- Devil May Cry 4 (The Torch Passing)
- Devil May Cry 5 (The Grand Finale)
There is also a reboot called DmC: Devil May Cry by Ninja Theory. It’s a different universe entirely. People hated it at the time because Dante had black hair and a bad attitude, but honestly? The gameplay was solid. It just wasn't the "real" Dante. If you're looking to understand the main lore, stick to the numbered titles.
Why Does It Still Matter?
Honestly, DMC shouldn't work as well as it does. The dialogue is often cheesy. The plots usually involve a giant tower or a giant tree growing in the middle of a city. But it works because it has a soul. It’s about the struggle to remain human when you have the blood of a monster in your veins.
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The music plays a huge role too. In DMC 5, the music is dynamic. If you’re playing poorly, the track is muffled and quiet. As your Style Rank goes up, the vocals kick in and the drums get heavier. When you hit that SSS rank and "Bury the Light" or "Devil Trigger" is blasting at full volume, it’s a gaming high that few other series can match.
It's also worth noting the influence of Shinji Mikami and Hideki Kamiya. The first game actually started as an early prototype for Resident Evil 4. It was too fast-paced and action-heavy for a horror game, so they turned it into its own thing. That "Resident Evil" DNA is still there in the gothic architecture and the creepy boss designs, like Phantom the lava spider or Mundus, the king of the Underworld who looks like a giant marble statue.
What You Need to Know Before Playing
If you're diving in now, you've got it easy. The Devil May Cry HD Collection has the first three games, and DMC 5 is available on almost everything.
Don't expect a deep RPG. This is an "Action-Hack-and-Slash" or "Character Action" game. You will die. You will get frustrated by the camera in the older games. But once the combat "clicks," you’ll understand why people have been obsessed with this series for over twenty years. It’s about the flow. It’s about the moment you realize you can parry a giant scythe with a well-timed shotgun blast.
Actionable Steps to Get Started:
- Start with DMC 3: It’s the chronological beginning and sets up the stakes for the rest of the series.
- Don't ignore the taunt button: It actually increases your style meter and makes the game more fun.
- Watch a "Combo Mad" video on YouTube: See what high-level play looks like. It’ll show you the potential of the mechanics.
- Focus on one weapon first: Dante gets a lot of gear. Don't feel like you have to master it all in the first hour. Get comfortable with the Rebellion (his sword) and his pistols (Ebony & Ivory) before getting fancy.
- Pay attention to the enemy names: Many are based on the Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri. The game loves its literary references, even if it uses them to justify smashing demons with an electric guitar.
The series is essentially a heavy metal opera about a broken family trying to fix itself through supernatural violence. It's loud, it's stylish, and it's surprisingly heartfelt when it wants to be. Just don't ask about the timeline of Dante's various haircuts—that's a mystery even the developers can't fully explain.