Does Devil May Cry still need guns? What firearms mean to the series
Devil May Cry’s gameplay, stories, and lore are so intertwined that it’s hard to imagine any one aspect being changed without an entire game falling apart. This could be why developer Ninja Theory’s reboot of Dante’s origin story didn’t sit well with series fans and why Devil May Cry 2’s easy combat made the title so polarizing.
Speaking of combat, one of the main pillars of Devil May Cry’s gameplay is gunplay. Ranged weapons are often infused with some kind of magic that allows them to hurt demons. But seeing as Devil May Cry games tend to steer players into using melee weapons, is there still a need for guns in the franchise?
Guns in Devil May Cry have their uses in combat
Guns in Devil May Cry games are generally used as combo extenders (more specifically in air combos). Whether it be Dante’s iconic Ebony and Ivory handguns or Nero’s Blue Rose revolver, firearms tend to be less powerful than their melee counterparts but are quicker to deploy. Some guns work differently, like Lady’s Kalina Ann rocket launcher and Devil May Cry 4’s transforming Pandora Devil Arm, but players will most likely be slaying demons with melee weapons rather than shooting at them.
The only times players are likely toprefer using firearms is when playing as a gun-focused character like Lady or when using Dante’s Gunslinger style. Introduced in Devil May Cry 3: Dante’s Awakening, Gunslinger turns the style button into another gun input. This allows Dante to do crazy gun-based moves like twirling a shotgun like a nunchaku or transforming the aforementioned Pandora into a mobile missile battery. The damage done when playing as Lady or using the Gunslinger style is just as impressive as any other melee-based build and the moves the players can pull off look cool to boot.
Devil May Cry incorporates firearms into its story too
Players might not immediately notice this, but Devil May Cry’s weapons also heavily influence its stories. The Devil Sword Sparda plays a big role in all of the mainline Capcom-developed games except for Devil May Cry 2. Dante’s sword Rebellion is also a key component that unlocks the devil hunter’s full power.
Guns are no exception, as Lady’s Kalina Ann is named after her deceased mother and was lent to Dante in Devil May Cry 3 to face her father. Even their absence is important, as is evidenced by Vergil’s choice not to use them. Since he views firearms to be unfit for a true warrior, he instead opts to generate magical summoned swords that can be controlled at will.
Are guns still necessary in Devil May Cry?
Removing firearms in Devil May Cry would be removing a core part of the franchise’s identity. With the number of third-person action games out there, Devil May Cry sets itself apart by combining stylish combat with compelling stories. Considering the series is over 20 years old, it is highly unlikely that Capcom will be drastically changing the formula anytime soon. Even if future Devil May Cry titles change things up, we can likely keep expecting there to be some sort of ranged option in them.
