The problem is when Devil May Cry is at its best, it defies explanation. Sure you can try, and I'm going to for professional reasons. But half the game is "You have to see it to believe it" and the other half is "You have to play it to understand" and the two meet at the middle (albeit joined by some clunky loading screens) to create a relentlessly entertaining video game--one that's self-confident, satisfying, and stylish as hell. Imagine my surprise, that in the span of a year Capcom could make me a fan of first Monster Hunter, then Resident Evil, and now Devil May Cry. It's an incredible run, by a company that a few years ago I would've said seemed listless. In any case, this is the first Devil May Cry in over a decade--for fans, that is.

Ten years after the debut of Devil May Cry 4, Nero is back in the driver's seat and he's never looked better. It's not just the haircut, either -- Devil May Cry 5 runs on the RE Engine built for Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, and Capcom's goal is to build a photorealistic game filled with gooey demons, witty one-liners and flashy combos. The title's first hands-on demo at Gamescom 2018 highlights these exact elements and wraps all of it up in an ichor-crusted, gorgeous package. Devil May Cry 4 was the first game in the franchise to star Nero, a reluctant ally to series protagonist Dante. Nero is a human with a smattering of supernatural abilities, including a demon-powered arm named Devil Bringer.