#I'm well aware that these probably won't even be fully shown off in the final project but | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

4dmc · 1 year

Text

This is definitely a sensitive topic and something that I had long read the characterization of reboot Dante, his dark past, poverty, etc. and in conjunction with the issues I take with the entire franchise as a whole

I also probably won't make a lick of sense as I'm just typing these down like well polished rough thoughts...

Now it's never explicitly shown just how poor and marginalized the reboot character is, but it's undeniable the guy lives in squalor. The 2010 concept trailer, although a concept, does give an implied but harsher picture of the cruelty dealt on this Dante. In the final current version Dante shrugs off any sort of insult, lives like he's gonna die, squats on an amusement pier and yet nary anything too much of his past trauma because, well, none of the characters are therapists nor support groups (he'd probably even refuse it if he was finally given money)

He's lived on his own, survived on his own and owns nothing but that squatting trailer van, which has a LOT of poor economic connotations in American-western media and perhaps in real life (i personally don't know as of this writing but there's been repeated depictions of such a nice trailer van being a poor person's home for some reason in America, etc.), and the very clothes he likely had been given to or had to buy on the most affordable level. His coat doesn't even fit him well. And there's even some fanservice with regards to him fixing his coat sometimes, but whether there's any deeper intentions to that, I will say in my own experience as someone who has a ton of hand-me-downs, some of my jackets and coats don't fit me either. I don't buy clothes as often, and I'm more well-off than reboot Dante's situation. So take that what you will about his and perhaps my "poor taste" in fashion.

(It's really bewildering when "fans" make fun of this reboot character and his fashion, and even make fun of how poor he looks, etc. 🙄 and it flies over their heads that it was part of the intentions for his character, backstory and journey, AND really shows such questionable behavior. And they have the gall to say he has poor taste, but their lacking of reading beyond surface value in fictional media is definitely garbage)

A lot of his dark story is never quite made too dark. The edgy tone, in my opinion, is very surface level, and the the dark moments are all utilitarian, serving the crucial plot elements. Most of the story and his lines are satirical and very self-aware, referencing past titles (and YES especially the wig scene, which is about reboot Dante NOT being the same as the og, because he's his own character and must stand on his own, also the stylistic difference of their hairstyle looks off on reboot Dante!!)

I would say the mainline actually has spades of this edginess more, especially as it's been around longer. This tone and style is more pronounced in DMC 3, which seems to be unanimously many of the fandom's favorite but is also highly the origins of the current tone and style of the og Dante. (So the fans do like edginess.....they just didn't like it because it wasn't the classic series that was going to continue it at that time)

In the og, Dante's financial status floats in a vague state: both clear and something that isn't fully fleshed out. We know his office is generally in poor condition, he has debts and mishandles money, as he relies on Morrison. Perhaps the manga/s and anime would supplement further his status or his reactions to his financial distress. Yet his office is hilariously "renovated" (by the devs) over and over again, has a vintage jukebox, has a full alcohol bar, a full drum kit, etc.

It's a comedic power fantasy, the og Dante lives a devil may care lifestyle without worry, because he can with whatever allowance he has left and just because he can, nevermind whatever consequences are gonna come to him

But his office is a great extension of who he is as a character, and as years go by, however, it's pretty clear that the og Dante is not so much a solid character, but an idealized, stylistic power fantasy character.

His own internal issues are never the focal point and his office and financial state are even part of the jokes about his character. Heck, there's never a lot about Dante's inner thoughts nor his backstory, or most significantly any deeper emotionality to...anything. Most of these happen in the manga and novels, and discrepancies had happened before, and I'll let the hardcore fans have a say on ANY of the characterization, etc. that's even happened (and perhaps the quality of the writing). I now sometimes think mistranslations may occur, particularly with Japanese only/restricted content.

And personally it's fine, the game wants the players to focus more on the flashy, power fantasy escapism Devil May Cry is known for...

...the way I see it however, this is both this classic/mainline strengths and weakness. By giving their fans these bursts of fantasy, there's nothing deep that sustains an audience to remain invested to the og Dante. Sure, he's fun and charming and his attitude towards all obstacles is admirable, "cool",etc. The lore of Sparda, the other characters (ahem Lady and Trish, & other characters, Nero👀👀) and the Demon World show an expansive fictional world. And I'm sure people's mileage will vary as many want this iteration. But what else is the og Dante besides these? And despite such an ongoing lore, how can it not be a great factor to any of their adventures, struggles and perhaps better 👀 character arcs [ahem ahem the supposed badass WOMEN of devil may cry, AHEM AHEM Dante himself??? AHEM VERGIL AHEM?!?!?!? K Y R I E !!!!???]

I think that's my biggest gripe about the reboot DmC as well. They have such a creatively well made universe, but because of "fans" reactions, Capcom's decisions and what NT and Itsuno-san's team had to make do with the resources and time, what was undeniably a story with dark struggles, perhaps having visual storytelling on the reboot Dante's worldview and backstory, etc. they are all dashed and simply implied away at certain scenes of the game. I'm quite entertained with what we have of the franchise, and definitely of DmC: Devil May Cry, but I think, in a longer run, people would gravitate to a more cohesive, well-thought out story, a story that isn't afraid of depiciting cruelty, or a harsh reality, and a story of a more vulnerable male character who's humanity doesn't just have to depend on his supernatural genetics, but his journey alone can help reflect what we, as humans, keep all do, striving and enduring for the best

#now I'm well aware that the dichotomous nature of the og Dante and Vergil is a long running theme especially regarding their humanity #my conclusion is against the critics of the reboot who say that because they are Nephilim that the story and themes suddenly lacks humanity #or love etc which couldn't be further from the truth #whether it's favoritism blinding their senses or willfully not exercising the same media analysis just because it's the reboot #is utterly their own absurd opinions and quite unfair to do so #dmc devil may cry #devil may cry #dmc reboot #reboot dante #dmc: devil may cry #reboot dmc #dmc #dante #dante dmc #devil may cry 5 #dmc dante #devil may cry reboot #reboot devil may cry #dante devil may cry #devil may cry dante #dante reboot #dmc 5 #dmc 5 dante #dante dmc 5 #nero dmc #nero devil may cry #dmc 5 nero #women of devil may cry

92 notes · View notes