I have a lot of mixed feelings when it comes to dmc5, first off I do not think that it is the best dmc game or even the second best. It might be the third best dmc game for me but honestly dmc5 and dmc4 are close to me, but neither of them are anywhere near the level of greatness that dmc1 and dmc3 are on. Dmc5 arguably has the best combat in the series and it probably has the best individual story too, I really liked how it referenced dmc1 and dmc3 a lot and pulled together everything from all the prior games. Shadow, griffon, and nightmare manifesting as V’s familiars from the nightmare and hellish experience that vergil had as nelo angelo under mundus was really fucking good and one of my favorite aspects of the game. With all this said though, dmc5 is extremely lacking when it comes to the atmosphere and artistic/aesthetic appeals, which is something I value HIGHLY when playing video games, also the ost really wasn’t that great compared to the prior games. The only tracks I really like from dmc5 are bury the light, subhuman, and the song that plays when nero unlocks his devil trigger form (the ending credits song). Dmc5 is just an ugly ass game to me that is not appealing to the eye whatsoever, and the atmosphere is not immersive or memorable for me. I also did not like the new dmc5 enemies at all or the bosses, they were all too easy and forgettable. I think I will come back and platinum dmc5 with vergil, but for now I don’t see myself playing dmc5 as much as dmc3 or dmc1. I did really enjoy the nero in this game more than I did in dmc4, I fucking loved every cutscene in this game they’re some of my favs in the series. Nico was an amazing fucking character as well she’s one of my all time dmc favs and her banter and relationship with nero is fucking everything to me. The ending missions and cutscenes of this game really made up for the beginning sections, I enjoyed myself greatly finishing up this game and was left with that light hearted giddy and melancholic bittersweet feelings that I always have and strive for upon finishing up video games. The beautiful ass song that played during the credits made everything so much better as well.