Will I like this if I like Team Ninja games?

[Rontemon]

Nioh series, Wo Long, Stranger of Paradise, etc.

Also like Diablo-like, Souls-like and roguelite games.

The combat looks nice but there doesn't seem to be any level, progression, upgrades, loot and end-game grind in DMC5.

Also the store page says "Buy Devil May Cry 5 + Vergil" but Vergil is also a DLC character that is sold separately? What gives?

I have this on my wishlist for years and it just never seem to go on a sale more than 67%. So maybe I will bite the bullet and get this game if it 67% is really the best sale it will ever get.

[LCpl Nubcake]

DMC 5 is not a Souls-like. It does not have a leveling system or end-game grinding, and Thank God for that.

You unlock weapons and spend orbs dropped from defeated enemies on new combos and moves, and that's exactly what you use them for: expanding your moveset. The "end-game" is simply mastering the combat system and mechanics to chain combos together while looking stylish, and that's where the fun comes from.

This game is a character-action/spectacle hack-n-slash more in-line with the likes of Bayonetta. It seems you're more into the RPG side of things, which this game is not.

[k-ricks]

Vergil come with the game
Vergil DLC is for people who has game before DLC

[ワイフ至上主義者]

How might have fallen when people who like Team Ninja games haven't even played Ninja Gaiden.

[7K]

If you going in with the expectations that DMC5 is gonna be anything similar to those games then you setting yourself up for disappointment. There is no way to tell if you will like it so you just have to try it.
DMC5's end-game "grind" is you getting better at the game and there is a lot to learn and master. A lot of people make the mistake of dropping the game after the first playthrough thinking that's everything the game has to offer which couldn't be further than the truth.

[Rontemon]

After much dilemma I finally got the game after watching a video about Dante's Royal Guard style. As I have been playing a lot of Wo Long recently, the "Parry/block" style of Dante is very intriguing to me.

I just got through the first boss (Goliath) and.. I enjoyed every second of it!

The boss fight and combat was satisfying and cinematic with how the arena changes. The open-form combat flow is a welcome change compared to the rigid approach to combat of Nioh and Wo Long that I have been playing a lot lately.

Even though there are no gear progression or loot this is a different kind of fun I welcome. I hope all the later bosses and level is as good as what I experience now at the start. I also like the linear and simple design of the levels and how I will never get lost as holding left thumbstick will point me to the right direction. I personally dislike the big open levels in some games where I can spend 20 minutes running around lost.

Now I only hope muscle memory doesn't mess me up as I bounce between DMC5 and Wo Long.

edit: my only gripe is not being able to swap devil breakers without breaking them.. And they cost orbs that I can otherwise use for unlocks

[7K]

Glad you like it so far and yeah getting used to how the breakers work takes some time. Also don't waste orbs on buying Breakers and focus more on other skills. They are not that essential on the first playthrough and you can find some during missions, assuming you continue playing on DH as your first playthrough. The Breakers are somewhat of a NG+ system where you prepare your loadout before the mission starts and you will be swimming in red orbs on higher difficulties so buying them would hardly be an issue.

[LCpl Nubcake]

Good to hear that you enjoyed some of what the game had to offer in your initial playthrough. It's definitely a different approach to combat than others like Nioh or Souls-like games. Closer to a fighting-game I'd say.

There are many ways of parrying/dodging/countering the various enemies in the game. You mentioned getting intrigued because of watching the Royal Guard videos? I'd also recommend watching some other videos such as the Combo Mads just to see what you and others are capable of doing in this game, it can be pretty inspiring.

The combat has depth and can get complex, but once you get the feel for the combat flow you can experiment and get creative with it. Once you attain that zen moment, it's like you're playing a freestyle dance or freeform jazz.

[Black Lamb, Rock Enjoyer]

If you count getting better at the game grind, then it does have grind akin to fighting game grind yea.

[Rontemon]

Originally posted by Black Lamb, Shrimp for Shark:

If you count getting better at the game grind, then it does have grind akin to fighting game grind yea.

I'll also consider grinding for orbs to unlock the EX provocation and completing DmD to unlock the super costumes... Somewhat of an end-game goal I guess?

Instead of buying them off the store as DLC.. (Where's the fun in that)

[k-ricks]

buy super and play DMD is where the fun you got from Super if you complete DMD nomally and unlock super from it well there is noplace for play super anymore you are already good enough without it and super has down side with no heal maybe use super to chessed bloody palace i guess

[[GTH]]

I guess that you're into hack-n-slash games, so yeah, definitely check the whole series out.
As for the RPG elements, you're right, this game isn't about grind at all, it's about increasing your own skill, not stats numbers. There is no gear system, no lvls, only unlockable weapons and combos.
Gameplaywise, I see the 5th and the reboot (DmC:Devil May Cry) as the best entry points into the series.
Storywise, I'd recommend to start from 3 and 4. But in case they're too outdated in your opinion, at least watch them on youtube first.

[demoman enjoyer]

Devil May Cry progression is just how you skilled you are at the game. It's kind of like playing a fighting game against only AI opponents. You gotta learn the tech, especially the animation cancelling tech. Unlike Souls games, in DMC you have very low commitment to your animations.