Big Gap Between DmC Critic Scores And Hostile Fan Backlash
DmC: Devil May CryDie-hard fans of the franchise haven't liked the idea from the get-go. So maybe it was inevitable that no matter how the game turned out, the backlash was going to be furious and widespread.
Despite what most all critics are calling a really solid - and in some cases, elite - production, it seems obvious that fans are none too happy with the newly released reboot, DmC: Devil May Cry. If you've ambled over to Metacritic, you will find an 86 average review score from critics, and that's with 41 reviews tallied for the Xbox 360 version (the PS3 version only has 19 reviews, but it also holds an 86 average).
But the average user review score for the same game? 3.2.
Once again, this is why we say you really shouldn't trust user analyses, especially when it comes to certain games. Take last year's Call of Duty: Black Ops II, for instance: The user review Metascore was a 4.0, which we noted back in November. Now, very clearly, DmC is not worth a 3.2 and BOII is not worth a 4.0. Love 'em or hate 'em, the quality of the games in question is well beyond that of the user review scores. Petty hatred and bitter fan hostility badly impact the result and really, it's sort of embarrassing from the standpoint of a member of the gaming community.
Obviously, scores are always debatable. One could make a legitimate argument that maybe these two games shouldn't score above an 8. One could also make an equally legitimate argument that they shouldn't score below a 9. But threes and fours? ...maybe we shouldn't trust our peers when silly emotion gets in the way.
Related Game(s): DmC: Devil May Cry
Tags: dmc devil may cry, devil may cry reboot, devil may cry reviews, dmc reviews
1/16/2013 11:34:32 AM Ben Dutka
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Comments (46 posts)
WorldEndsWithMe
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 @ 1:22:08 PM
1 up, 1 down
Temjin001
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 @ 12:40:03 PM
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Many Dmc fans liked the look and feel and style of classic DMC just fine. The backlash I don't think is because gamers think the game is functionally terrible and flawed beyond reproach but because the soul of the product betrays what they loved about the series and they can't stand the thought of the old being erased for the new..... sort of like Final Fantasy eh?
7 up, 1 down
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 @ 1:15:42 PM
DMC has always had a more Western feel, right from the start; it wasn't full of anime or other clearly Japanese-inspired artistry. It was downright Gothic, which is very much European in style. And that attitude and flash was most definitely Western.
So I really don't see how the style and presentation has changed much; Ninja Theory simply took it to another level and honestly, it seemed like a logical step.
But most importantly, despite the changes in combat, DMC is still an action game, through and through. Final Fantasy has basically gone and changed GENRES on us...and that's a very different thing. :)
3 up, 3 down
Lord carlos
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 @ 1:28:10 PM
1 up, 0 down
Temjin001
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 @ 2:11:21 PM
In this issue I feel very much as a street-side bystander. But if I put myself in the shoes of the ardent, the ardent who capcom were afraid of continuing to cater to directly because of DMC4's lackluster response-as they seemingly termed it-to bring in a wider audience, with a clock cycle that's been cut to a clunky half of what it once was, I think I could relate to a degree of the negativity.
Basically, if something like Virtua Fighter, where frames really do matter, and the game received an acutely different artistic direction, consisting of punk'ish and somewhat perverse overtones, I'd be pretty put off. Heck, I'd probably revile it no matter what the emotionally detached had to say about it's quality.
4 up, 0 down
xenris
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 @ 4:22:58 PM
It was definitely gothic and european in style but a lot of the humor and over the top action stuff felt very japanese it was a really weird blend of things.
Then there is the complete changing of dantes looks which was the last straw for more people than I think is reasonable but meh to each their own.
I'm personally not upset over anything, I did like how the old dante looked more but other than that it looks like a good reimagining to me.
0 up, 0 down
sawao_yamanaka
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 @ 4:35:39 PM
3 up, 5 down
Underdog15
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 @ 8:17:30 PM
I mean that seriously. I haven't gotten into DMC ever, so I honestly can't say one way or the other. But the reviews this one is getting is making me think I might. (Hence... new fan to the franchise, potentially)
1 up, 0 down
Akuma07
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 @ 8:59:06 PM
DMC seems the same as DMC4.
I love the new DMC from what i've seen so far.
0 up, 0 down
Temjin001
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 @ 9:25:13 PM
the low scores by peer reviews sometimes represents an entirely different set of values. i say it's a reflection of their satisfaction level. it's received a 4 out of 10 on a scale of terrible to ecstatically happy by those who liked DMC the way it was before the change.
2 up, 0 down
Coffeya
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 @ 10:39:16 PM
The legend of dragoon had a mixed reception when it came to professional critics, but amongst the customer reviews it was received more positive.
Metacritic----74 of 100 pro critics (12 reviews)---
Metacritic----9.3 for user ratings-----
To all who have played this game, should be well aware that TLOD back in those days did not deserve that type of review score at all. It should have been a rock solid 9 out of 10. The pro critics in this case were just flat out wrong.
This dmcdmc is just a heavenly sword 2 gameplay wise with a new devil may cry paint job. To be fair to dmcdmc, it should have around the same review critic scores as heavenly sword and shouldn't be compared to dmc1 or dmc3. I still feel it is inferior to those two. I believe it to be the 2nd worse in the franchise. Mostly because of abandoning the originals gameplay style instead of improving on what was already there. The new appeal does bother me, but was willing to forgive if gameplay met expectations.
Hopefully capcom will still continue the original series and this one can be just a different universe. Just like the many megaman games that were created.
Btw ff13 didn't change genres, it was still a turned based jrpg. It was just too damn linear in all aspects and fast paced. The job switching on the fly and atb with no pause was much similar to FFX-2. That particular game is considered turned based jrpg by many.
Last edited by Coffeya on 1/16/2013 10:42:03 PM
1 up, 0 down
xenris
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 @ 10:58:34 PM
Not to mention a couple of the reviewers flat out lied about certain aspects of the game.
But I don't think this game deserves a 4 either, I'm with temjin in that it seems to represent a satisfaction level.
Much like how CoD got a low user review, sure the game plays fine and is somewhat polished but the low user reviews are probably because people are sick of it essentially being the same thing and the low score was their dissatisfaction with that.
0 up, 0 down
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 @ 11:05:15 PM
You need the 60FPS on PC, fine. Critics aren't saying the same thing because for the vast majority, it's an absurd thing to say. Not sure why you can't get that.
2 up, 0 down
Deleted User [Administrator]
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 @ 12:49:35 PM
Reply
I really don't take those user review scores seriously. Many of those reviews are done before the game even releases. Same thing at IMDB. They are meaningless. People have to vent, I guess.
Lets wait until the NPD numbers arrive to see for sure if these haters affected the sales or not. Not like other highly rated games have flopped i.e. Mark Of The Ninja.
2 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 @ 1:27:53 PM
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I just picked up an old RPG that got bad scores called Venetica and the user reviews I read helped me and wow it's an amazing game.
1 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 @ 2:32:01 PM
1 up, 0 down
Beamboom
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 @ 1:32:00 PM
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1 up, 0 down
Geobaldi
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 @ 6:47:14 PM
3 up, 0 down
Underdog15
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 @ 8:20:50 PM
I think some sources are consistent and professional, but you're right. There are some sites that just rate games for their own readership to rise...
I've said this in the past, and others here have too, in other ways... there really should be a governing volunteer board of professional reviewers. It could be the new Metacritic where only reviewers who have proven themselves to be objective, level headed writers could join. A large panel would have to select the sources allowed to join so that no one person is in charge of such a thing.
I dunno... like a gaming writers union (minus the labour supports)... Something... anything to give the industry secured credibility.
0 up, 0 down
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 @ 11:06:11 PM
1 up, 1 down
Snaaaake
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 @ 1:50:09 PM
Reply
0 up, 0 down
slugga_status
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 @ 1:54:47 PM
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0 up, 0 down
JDC80
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 @ 1:56:18 PM
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And on the videos where someone gives this game a thumbs up the trolls attack the person. I played the demo and it feels like a Devil May Cry game to me.
I think you had a lot of people hoping this game would fail so Capcom would pretend this game never happen and they bring back classic Dante and by most accounts the game is doing very well with the critics and they're pissed.
0 up, 0 down
SaiyanSempai
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 @ 1:57:36 PM
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Why even have user reviews if people are going to desecrate it like this? Just makes the whole thing unreliable.
0 up, 0 down
bigrailer19
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 @ 2:00:43 PM
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Now im not looking at metacritic, but MoH is another good example. The reviews were not great but users all over really enjoyed it.
Theres a distinct difference in the two types of analysis though. And both can be important given they are at least informational and not a long tangent. A user review typically will be about preference and a like for a specific genre and so on. While a review from the critics are in depth and typically thought out to cover the broad range of offerings. Sometimes its easier to relate to another user. Thats how I see it anyways.
3 up, 0 down
Ultimadream
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 @ 2:13:09 PM
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2 up, 0 down
Oxvial
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 @ 2:14:13 PM
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0 up, 0 down
Killa Tequilla
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 @ 2:14:58 PM
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2 up, 1 down
CrusaderForever
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 @ 2:25:12 PM
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On the flip side, I believe the developer should realize and anticipate this fan outcry and offer a an option to check a box in the options to change the main character or enemy to look like what they want. I think in DMC there is a white wig you can find. It would be nice for the die hard white haired DMC fans to have the option right from the get go without having to find a wig or however it's handled in DMC.
1 up, 1 down
Knightzane
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 @ 3:39:03 PM
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Note, i have never played a DMC game before. Unless Dante's inferno counts. Anyway, if i were to see one of my favorite characters turned into something that looks less epic then i would be upset too. Thats just my opinion though, and i don't think the fans thumbs downing the new game is right, but they want to feel like their doing something to change the new dante. Its better than them cutting themselves. (the whole justin beiber thing made me laugh so hard and shake my head in disappoint)
1 up, 1 down
Akuma07
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 @ 9:00:55 PM
What, did you think that Dante looked like that his entire life do you?
I know he is a Nephilim and everything, but I would find it hard to see any mother giving birth to a fully grown male. So yeah, he HAD to have grown up from something.
0 up, 0 down
ChaseHammer
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 @ 7:47:16 PM
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2 up, 3 down
Underdog15
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 @ 8:25:45 PM
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1 up, 0 down
sawao_yamanaka
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 @ 11:29:42 PM
2 up, 0 down
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 @ 11:43:49 PM
Last edited by Ben Dutka PSXE on 1/16/2013 11:44:09 PM
0 up, 0 down
sawao_yamanaka
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 @ 11:57:03 PM
2 up, 0 down
Akuma07
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 @ 9:02:42 PM
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I would definitely call it a worthy addition to the DMC franchise.
It may be a reboot, but I see it more as an origins story.
0 up, 0 down
___________
Thursday, January 17, 2013 @ 4:38:49 AM
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its amazing how anti change and progression people have become these days!
yea id love to see the series go back to a in house, more darker less colorful, 60FPS style, something more like DMC3.
but that does not mean DMC is a bad game, in fact FAR from it!
see it more like the fantasy reboot of PoP, or red faction guerrilla.
2 VERY different games to their respective franchise, but also 2 of THE best games in said franchise!
not saying DMC is the best in the series, far from it, but its no where the stinker DMC2 was!
i wasent a big fan of the original either, in fact id have to say this is probably the 3rd best game in the series.
really hated DMC4, the combat just felt so wrong, and the repeat dante missions did not help, but there was something about the level design and environments that just felt so DMC!
something im REALLY missing now, the reboots level design, environments, just look and feel so wrong!
0 up, 0 down
Akuma07
Thursday, January 17, 2013 @ 6:53:54 PM
Hahahaha.....
0 up, 0 down
DjEezzy
Thursday, January 17, 2013 @ 11:19:14 AM
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0 up, 0 down
The Real Deal
Thursday, January 17, 2013 @ 4:37:06 PM
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My Buddy,
BOPS 2 deserves a lower score then 4.0. I am ashamed you still side with companies whose goal is to monetize, not innovate. A man who admires game's that require the most imagination to make, RPG's. It makes no logical since and is very hypocritical.
In relation to user reviews, they should always be taking into consideration. Often times its the so called reviewer that scores a game to high, not the average user. If history has taught us anything, its that we should remember it and learn from it.
I suspect there are two types of people making up these two user scores. The haters: they exist, and the scholars. These scholars take all past works from a franchise and make an informed analysis of the most current form of such franchise.
If we look at DMC and BOPS 2 as a stand alone game, we get a decent product. If we take the collaboration or evolution of that franchise to base our decision we get something else. This is why i believe the user score's and the metacritic score are so far apart; neither of which, are wrong or should not be considered when purchasing wither DMC or BOPS2
Last edited by The Real Deal on 1/17/2013 4:39:13 PM
0 up, 0 down
ransomink
Sunday, January 20, 2013 @ 2:24:46 AM
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1. It was Capcom's decision to change devs, don't hate on Ninja Theory. DMC4 sales were the highest from the franchise but still not enough to satify CAPCOM, even releasing multiplatform: possibly because of increased development cause. They chose a western dev to reboot the franchise. It's common sense the game isn't going to look and feel the same.
2. Even I was upset about the change in appearance: hair, body type, etc. of Dante but it all made sense for a reboot. It's more an origin story and I wanted to see how Dante got his white hair, his relationship with his brother, and how he came to be the guy from the 1st game (that's what made it exciting).
3. The biggest issue is gameplay but that goes for any game. After playing it I believe both games (old DMC and new DmC) have similar combat but I find the pacing of the story more inviting with the new entry. Specially since there is something to follow. I do miss the darker-themed color scheme and gothic art though; should've kept that.
4. Capcom does have a say in the creation of content for the game. They wouldn't allow NT to completely change the idea of the character or world of DmC. I mean they brought someone from their studio to collaborate with NT.
0 up, 0 down
Xombito
Reply
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 @ 12:24:55 PM