Info about Devil May Cry HD Collection:

Official game description:
The popular stylish action games Devil May Cry, Devil May Cry 2, and Devil May Cry 3 Special Edition return in one collection! As Dante, the ultimate devil hunter, you'll join forces with appealing characters such as Trish, Lady, and Lucia and enjoy incredible action for the first time in blistering 60fps.  
Devil May Cry: The first appearance of Dante, the ultimate devil hunter! With the blood of a legendary demon warrior flowing through his veins, Dante takes on the king of the underworld, Mundus.  
Devil May Cry 2: Dance with the devil. Set decades after the first game, this sequel adds moves like the wall run and Rain Storm, bringing Dante's action to the next level of stylishness. The bonus mode Bloody Palace also makes its debut.  
Devil May Cry 3 Special Edition: This prequel to the first Devil May Cry introduces Vergil, Dante's twin brother. Customize your game style by selecting from various styles to level up and gain new moves and abilities.

Release date: Mar 13, 2018

Categories: Hack and Slash, Action, Third-Person Action, Character Action, Combo Mechanics, Boss Fights, High Difficulty

Feature scans:
- Wiki: score 10; verdict: Needs Improvement; summary: The primary issues highlighted by users revolve around technical instability, particularly with alt-tab crashes, and a lack of in-game guidance for finding items and completing missions. These problems significantly impact the user experience, making the game frustrating to play without external resources.
- Proton/Linux: score 55; verdict: Tinkering Required; summary: The game has mixed reviews regarding its compatibility with Linux and Proton. While some users report a smooth experience, others encounter significant issues, particularly with cutscenes and the need for specific Proton versions or additional tweaks. The consensus suggests that the game is playable on Linux but may require some level of tinkering for optimal performance.
- Steam Deck: score 60; verdict: Tinkering Required; summary: The Devil May Cry HD Collection on Steam Deck faces several significant issues, including the lack of cloud saves, problems with cutscenes, control issues, and performance instability. These problems detract from the overall user experience and require substantial tinkering to mitigate.

- Hardware Profile:
  - Summary: Performance varies significantly across hardware cohorts, with lower VRAM systems experiencing stability issues and crashes, while higher VRAM systems report smoother performance despite some visual and performance drawbacks.
  - Sample size: 84 (2% coverage)
  - Audience skew: Review sample is mostly Windows-based.
  - Windows <8GB VRAM (positive, 50 reports): Reports stable performance and smooth experience on modern systems.
  - Windows 12-15GB VRAM (mixed, 17 reports): Visuals are outdated and FPS drops cause slowdowns, but it runs smoothly with stable 60 FPS on good hardware.
  - Windows 8-11GB VRAM (negative, 14 reports): Frequent hard crashes and instability issues, particularly on Linux systems.
  - Caveats: 84 of 5511 reviews expose hardware metadata.; Review sample is mostly Windows-based.
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $10.00 - $20.00
  - Reasoning: The evidence consistently mentions that the game collection is worth purchasing, especially when on sale. The price range often cited is around $10 to $20, with many users emphasizing that the value is particularly high at the lower end of this range. The reviews highlight that even at the higher end of this range, the collection is considered a good deal, particularly for fans of action games and those interested in experiencing the series' evolution.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 25.0h
  - Story completion: 10.0h
  - Session length: 0.5h
  - Endgame: 20.0h
  - Reasoning: The evidence provides insights into various aspects of playtime. The first quote suggests that players can spend an additional 10-30 hours on extra content and achieving high ranks, indicating significant endgame content. The second quote mentions the collection offering two great games and a 'proper torture method,' implying a substantial time investment for completionists. The third quote highlights the frustration and reward cycle, suggesting that players spend considerable time on difficult missions and bosses, which supports the idea of lengthy session times and overall game completion time. The fourth quote indicates that the reviewer enjoyed the game despite not finishing it, implying a substantial playtime for partial completion.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: Players generally find DMC1 and DMC3 fun after overcoming initial control and camera challenges, with combat systems that improve with time. DMC2 is widely criticized for being boring and poorly designed.
  - Stance: Fun then drops
  - Anchor: Getting accustomed to the controls and gameplay mechanics
  - Time to anchor: 2h 0m
  - Friction: Controls and camera movement; Initial learning curve; Repetitive enemy and boss design; Backtracking and lack of instructions
  - Unlock drivers: Mastering combat mechanics; Experimenting with different weapons and moves; Investing time into the game
  - Conditions: Playing DMC1 or DMC3 instead of DMC2; Using mods to enhance gameplay (e.g., Crimson Mod); Playing on higher difficulties for a challenge; Co-op gameplay
- Player Archetypes:
  - Challenge-Seeking Veteran (buy)
    - Motivation: Mastery and challenge
    - Playstyle: Strategic and persistent, focusing on mastering combat mechanics and overcoming difficult challenges.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: diehard fans; hardcore players
    - Reference games: DMC3
  - Series Newcomer (sale)
    - Motivation: Exploration and initial engagement
    - Playstyle: Exploratory and learning-focused, trying out different combat styles and strategies.
    - Experience: newcomer
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: new players; casual gamers
    - Reference games: DMC1; DMC3
  - Mod-Enthusiast (buy)
    - Motivation: Customization and enhancement
    - Playstyle: Experimental and customization-focused, utilizing mods to enhance gameplay and add new features.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: modders; PC gamers
    - Reference games: DMC3


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- DMC3 is a masterpiece (weight 0.97): Devil May Cry 3 is widely regarded as the best in the series, praised for its story, gameplay, combat system, soundtrack, and overall quality. It is considered a pinnacle of the hack and slash genre with deep mechanics and satisfying combat.
- DMC1 is a classic (weight 0.44): The first Devil May Cry game is celebrated for its gothic atmosphere, challenging combat, and engaging story. It is seen as a classic that has aged well and remains enjoyable despite its age.
- Legendary hack and slash series (weight 0.19): The Devil May Cry series is a favorite among hack and slash fans, known for its stylish action, memorable characters, and over-the-top gameplay.
- Fun and enjoyable gameplay (weight 0.17): The series is known for its fun and addictive gameplay, with enjoyable combat systems and challenging yet rewarding gameplay loops.
- DMC1's gothic atmosphere (weight 0.15): DMC1 is praised for its unique gothic atmosphere, dark setting, and memorable level design, which contribute to its distinctive feel.
- Positive overall impressions (weight 0.13): The games are generally well-received, with many reviewers considering them to be very good or excellent, offering entertaining and enjoyable experiences.
- Challenging boss fights (weight 0.08): The series features challenging boss fights that are manageable and add to the replay value of the games.
- Favorite games of all time (weight 0.06): Many reviewers consider the Devil May Cry series, particularly DMC3, to be among their favorite games of all time.
- Memorable soundtracks (weight 0.06): The series is praised for its great and memorable soundtracks, which complement the gameplay and story.
- Unique combat mechanics (weight 0.05): Each game in the series offers unique combat mechanics and improvements, contributing to varied and enjoyable gameplay experiences.
- Well-designed levels (weight 0.05): The games feature well-designed levels with diverse enemies and unique locations, adding to the overall enjoyment.

Common complaints:
- DMC2 overall poor quality (weight 0.91): Devil May Cry 2 is often described as the weakest entry in the series, with numerous flaws including poor level design, repetitive boss fights, and a lack of redeeming qualities. The game is frequently recommended to be skipped or avoided.
- DMC2 story and character flaws (weight 0.79): The story of Devil May Cry 2 is widely criticized for being weak, uninteresting, and poorly executed. Characters, including Dante, are often described as lacking personality and charisma, contributing to the overall disappointment with the game.
- DMC1 camera and control issues (weight 0.31): Devil May Cry 1 is often criticized for its bad camera angles and clunky controls. These issues can make combat frustrating and navigation difficult, detracting from the overall gameplay experience.
- Save system problems (weight 0.11): The save system in the games is criticized for various issues, including lost save files, no Steam Cloud saves, and a complicated process to restore save files. These problems can lead to frustration and a poor user experience.
- Performance and porting issues (weight 0.11): The games suffer from various performance issues and poor PC ports. These technical problems can include bugs, performance issues, and poorly adapted controls, leading to a subpar gaming experience.
- High difficulty level (weight 0.1): The games, particularly DMC1 and DMC3, are noted for their high difficulty levels. This can be a significant barrier for some players, making the games challenging and sometimes frustrating to play.

Gameplay feedback:
- DMC3 praised for combat (weight 0.6): DMC3 is highly praised for its improved and deep combat system, offering challenging gameplay, a variety of weapons, and styles. Players enjoy the fluid combat, complex mechanics, and the ability to perform intricate combos.
- Variety in combat and weapons (weight 0.2): The games offer a variety of combat styles, weapons, and combos, allowing for a diverse and engaging combat experience. Players appreciate the depth and customization available in combat.
- Hack and slash genre (weight 0.13): The games are recognized for their hack and slash mechanics, which are central to the gameplay experience. This genre is highlighted for its action-packed combat and stylish action.
- Boss fights and challenges (weight 0.1): Boss fights are a significant aspect of the games, providing unique and challenging encounters. These fights are often highlighted as memorable and enjoyable parts of the gameplay.
- Story and gameplay integration (weight 0.08): The integration of story and gameplay is noted for enhancing the overall experience. Players appreciate the combination of engaging narratives and solid gameplay mechanics.
- Difficulty levels (weight 0.06): The games feature multiple difficulty levels, catering to both new and experienced players. This variety in difficulty adds to the replayability and challenge of the games.
- Devil Trigger mechanic (weight 0.05): The Devil Trigger mechanic is a key feature in the combat system, allowing players to enhance their abilities and perform powerful moves. This mechanic is integral to the gameplay dynamics.
- Customizable controls (weight 0.04): The games offer customizable controls, allowing players to tailor the control scheme to their preferences. This feature enhances the accessibility and enjoyment of the games.

Performance notes:
- Performance and technical issues (weight 0.15): The game collection suffers from various performance issues, including general lag, crashes, and texture problems. These issues affect gameplay and visual quality.
- Graphical and visual issues (weight 0.14): The game has several graphical issues, including missing textures, broken effects, and resolution limitations.
- Framerate and resolution support (weight 0.13): While the game supports 60 FPS and modern resolutions, there are issues with frame drops and resolution limitations.
- Cutscene and cinematic issues (weight 0.11): Cutscenes and cinematics have various issues, including audio desynchronization, lag, and failure to load.
- Audio desynchronization (weight 0.1): Audio frequently goes out of sync, particularly during cutscenes and cinematics, which detracts from the overall experience.
- Controller and control issues (weight 0.09): There are various issues with controllers, including disconnects and poor control mapping, which affect gameplay.
- Save file corruption (weight 0.09): The game has issues with save files, including corruption and loss of progress, which can be frustrating for players.
- Compatibility and launch issues (weight 0.08): The game has compatibility issues with modern systems and can crash or fail to launch, particularly on Linux and Steam Deck.
- Positive performance aspects (weight 0.06): Despite various issues, the game runs smoothly and has stable framerates on many platforms, with minimal loading times.

Recommendations:
- DMC3 is highly recommended (weight 0.22): DMC3 is frequently highlighted as the standout game in the series, praised for its combat, story, and overall quality. Many reviewers suggest that the collection is worth buying for DMC3 alone.
- Collection highly recommended (weight 0.18): The Devil May Cry collection is often recommended for both new and returning fans. Reviewers suggest it is worth buying, especially for those interested in the series' origins and evolution.
- Recommended for action game fans (weight 0.13): The series is highly recommended for fans of stylish action games and hack and slash genres. Reviewers highlight its appeal to those who enjoy fast-paced and challenging gameplay.
- Start with DMC1 or DMC3 (weight 0.11): Reviewers often recommend starting with DMC1 or DMC3 for the best experience. These games are seen as the strongest entries in the series.
- Avoid DMC2 (weight 0.09): DMC2 is often criticized and generally not recommended due to its flaws. Reviewers suggest skipping it unless you are interested in experiencing all parts of the series.
- Worth buying on sale (weight 0.08): Several reviewers mention that the collection is worth buying, especially when on sale. This makes it more accessible for those who might be hesitant about the full price.
- Use a controller (weight 0.06): Many reviewers recommend playing the Devil May Cry games with a controller for the best experience. This suggestion is made to enhance gameplay and control.
- Use mods for enhanced experience (weight 0.05): Some reviewers suggest using mods, such as the Crimson mod, to enhance the gameplay experience in DMC3.
- Consider other versions or platforms (weight 0.05): Reviewers mention that certain versions or platforms, like the Nintendo Switch or PlayStation versions, might offer a better experience.
- Recommended despite some flaws (weight 0.03): The collection is recommended despite some aged aspects and port issues. Reviewers still find it worth playing for its overall quality and significance in the genre.

Other player notes:
- Secret costumes and difficulties (weight 0.02): Players have noted the inclusion of secret costumes and unique difficulties, adding to the game's replay value.
- Nostalgic content and bugs (weight 0.02): The game includes nostalgic bonuses and some legendary bugs, which might affect gameplay experience.
- Steam overlay resolution issues (weight 0.02): There are reports of resolution issues specifically related to the Steam overlay.
- Steam Deck compatibility mentioned (weight 0.01): A user mentioned the Steam Deck, but did not provide additional context or details.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.21): Players are primarily frustrated with the camera mechanics across multiple games in the series, which hinder combat and overall gameplay. Technical issues such as crashes, poor porting quality, and save file deletions also contribute significantly to this frustration. Additionally, the difficulty spikes and poorly designed missions in various games add to the players' negative experiences.
- Disappointment (weight 0.13): Disappointment stems largely from the perceived poor quality of Devil May Cry 2, including its story, combat, and overall gameplay. Many players feel that DMC2 does not meet the standards set by the other games in the series. Additionally, the lack of significant improvements in the HD collection and various technical issues contribute to this disappointment.
- Excitement (weight 0.12): Players express excitement mainly due to the engaging and stylish combat mechanics, particularly in Devil May Cry 3. The story elements, challenging gameplay, and the overall high quality of DMC3 also contribute to this excitement. Many players look forward to experiencing more of the series and achieving high levels of completion.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.1): Nostalgia is evoked by the classic gameplay and memorable aspects of the early Devil May Cry games. Players appreciate the series' impact on the gaming genre and enjoy revisiting these games for their nostalgic value. The atmosphere, music, and historical significance of the games also contribute to these feelings.
- Joy (weight 0.08): Joy is derived from the overall positive experience with the games, particularly Devil May Cry 3. Players enjoy the combat mechanics, story elements, and the satisfying gameplay. The engaging and fun nature of the games, along with their soundtracks and cinematic qualities, contribute to this joy.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.08): Satisfaction comes from the enjoyable and challenging gameplay, particularly in Devil May Cry 3. Players appreciate the combat mechanics, story depth, and the overall quality of the games. The sense of achievement from completing difficult missions and the positive nostalgia associated with the series also contribute to this satisfaction.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.07): Enjoyment is derived from the engaging gameplay mechanics, story elements, and the overall quality of the games, especially Devil May Cry 1 and 3. Players appreciate the combat system, variety of weapons, and the unique enemies and boss fights. The positive aspects of the game collection and the entertaining nature of the games contribute to this enjoyment.
- Appreciation (weight 0.03): Appreciation is felt for the gameplay mechanics, story depth, and the overall quality of Devil May Cry 1 and 3. Players value the combat system, character designs, and the improvements made in DMC3. The nostalgic value and the historical significance of the series also contribute to this appreciation.
- Frustrated (weight 0.03): Players are frustrated with the poor quality and gameplay mechanics of Devil May Cry 2. The fixed camera angles and various technical issues, such as performance problems and camera flaws, contribute to this frustration. Additionally, the annoying puzzles and repetitive levels add to the negative experience.
- Admiration (weight 0.03): Admiration is expressed for the high quality and improvements in Devil May Cry 3. Players admire the combat system, narrative depth, and the character designs. The historical significance and overall excellence of DMC1 and DMC3 also contribute to this admiration.
- Happy (weight 0.02): Happiness comes from the fun and engaging gameplay, particularly in Devil May Cry 3. Players enjoy the combat mechanics, stylish gameplay, and the entertaining nature of the games. The positive aspects of the game series, such as the soundtrack and character design, contribute to this happiness.
- Excited (weight 0.02): Excitement is generated by the high quality and engaging gameplay of Devil May Cry 3. Players are enthusiastic about the combat system, story elements, and the overall excellence of the game. The positive experiences with DMC1 and DMC3, along with the high ratings and recommendations, contribute to this excitement.
- Love (weight 0.02): Love for the series is expressed due to the high quality and engaging gameplay of the Devil May Cry games. Players appreciate the story depth, character designs, and the overall excellence of the series. The nostalgic value and the positive experiences with the games contribute to this love.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.02): Enthusiasm is felt for the gameplay mechanics, story elements, and the overall quality of Devil May Cry 1 and 3. Players are excited about the combat system, character designs, and the improvements made in DMC3. The positive aspects of the games and the high ratings contribute to this enthusiasm.
- Amusement (weight 0.01): Amusement comes from the humorous and entertaining aspects of the Devil May Cry series. Players enjoy the dialogue, one-liners, and the absurd boss encounters. The fun gameplay experience and the unintentionally comedic elements contribute to this amusement.
- Anger (weight 0.01): Anger is primarily directed towards the technical issues and poor gameplay mechanics of Devil May Cry 2. Players are frustrated with the need for extensive modding, poor camera angles, and the lack of certain features. The disabled cloud saves and the overall poor quality of DMC2 contribute to this anger.
- Anticipation (weight 0): Anticipation is felt for the future releases and the opportunity to play more of the Devil May Cry series. Players look forward to experiencing DMC4 and DMC5, and are excited about the potential improvements and new gameplay mechanics.
- Nostalgic (weight 0): Nostalgia is evoked by the classic gameplay and memorable aspects of the early Devil May Cry games. Players appreciate the series' impact on the gaming genre and enjoy revisiting these games for their nostalgic value. The tolerance for retro games and the reflection on the early 2000s gaming experience contribute to these feelings.
- Addiction (weight 0): Addiction is felt due to the engaging and enjoyable gameplay of Devil May Cry 3. Players find the sense of achievement and the fun nature of the game addictive. The challenging and satisfying gameplay mechanics contribute to this addiction.
- Stress (weight 0): Stress is experienced due to the very challenging and demanding gameplay of the Devil May Cry series. Players find certain missions and mechanics stressful, contributing to a tense gaming experience.}