You only start with one difficulty level and that is ridiculously easy. According to EGM you have to beat each character's disc to unlock the harder difficulty levels, but you HAVE to use the leveled up character you acquired while finishing the game so Hard is even easier than Normal.

Let's put it this way..... this game is sooooo easy that someone's grandmother could complete it with their eyes closed.

I am really disappointed with DMC2. I don't understand how a classic like DMC has turned into this.

While playing, I tried soooo hard to believe it was going to get better with every level, but I just couldn't lie to myself anymore.

I just don't understand it. Capcom pretty much had the blueprint from the first game. All they needed to do was add:

- The new moves like "bullet rain" and the acrobatics.

- New exciting weapons.

- New and more deadly enemies.

- Improved camera angles.

Instead they:

- Added the new moves but the failed to keep the original "custom combo system" You know....the one where you launch an enemy, shoot, slice & dice, shoot and finally DT their ass.

- Took step back on developing new weapons. Where the hell are the various swords and gauntlets? A mini-gun would have been nice.

- Degraded the A.I. The old A.I. could rip the DMC2 A.I. a new one in a matter of seconds. There is absolutely no enemy retaliation when they’re attacked. Like, in DMC 1 all the enemies could block and reverse your attacks (remember the Nelo Angelo fights).

- Screwed the camera system. Why give Dante new moves if you still cannot improve the camera system? For example, when using the "Bullet Rain" move shouldn't the camera go into an aerial view so you can see what you’re shooting at? I could have sworn I saw the camera do this in the various DMC Trailers.

That's about it. (looks like I got too carried away)

I pray to the Gods that there will be a DMC3 and it truly redeems itself by correcting all the wrongs of this game.

I've put in some more time playing this, and unfortunately I'm not as pleased as I was yesterday. At first the AI wasn't much of a problem, but now it's grating on my nerves - the enemies just aren't putting up a fight whatsoever. I have hardly put my sword to use - there is no need to, because the enemies are just too damn stupid. I don't know everyones complaints about juggling - I'm still able to High Time, shoot like a mofo, slash, etc. I like the action changes the new team made, but now I wish they didn't adjust the difficulty. From the sound of it, this game doesn't have Ifrit, which really makes me mad...
I'm going to play through as Dante and Lucia to unlock Hard mode, in hopes there is some challenge provided then.....

Yes you can, as long as there is no scratches and you exchange it whitin 7 days, that's what one of the employees told me (this is for the gamestop trade in deal) hope I helped you out

Thanks Kazuma05. I may be done with the game in 7 days if I can get past the damn helicopter. I agree with most of you:
- The enemies barely fight back at all
- At first I thought I ws on easy mode because the guns autofire and the AI was dumb, but this is the default difficulty (normal). In the original you had to pump the guns to fire this fast.
- They removed the door symbols from the map so sometimes it's hard to see what doors you can and can't enter.
- Graphics are nice and animation is brilliant.
- Dante needs to speak more. Where's the smack talk gone?!?
- I'm still enjoying it, but I prefered the smaller arenas even with their rapid camera switching rather than these wide open spaces where you can't see the cool moves.
- You have some of the special abilities you had to earn in the first one right from the start (double jump, stinger etc)

The game is still fun, just not as stylish. Has anyone been able to get a good style rating? The game keeps telling me I suck even when I'm doing crazy stuff to enemies.

dammit

why do companies ruin a good thing?

I keep getting a "Don't worry" rating which i'm still trying to figure out if its a good or bad thing..

I am stuck on the helicopter boss too. Were you able to get past it? I've tried at least 7 or 8 times and have had no luck. Any tips?

I got past the helicopter boss on the first try - I found it to be very easy. All I did was constantly fire the guns and jump whenever I saw the rockets. When going up the inside of the building, I kept jumping floor to floor, never letting off the trigger, and always DT'ing when the guage was full. When I got to the rooftops, I didn't bother with fighting the helicopter until it forced a confrontation, I just collected orbs and avoided the birds.

As for the ratings, the first letter is highlighted, which is your rank. It will say things like Come on!, Bingo!, and Showtime!!, which is the best. As before, you need to use your sword to get the best rankings, and either string together kills, or get multiple enemies with a single swing. It also seems to help if your swords are leveled up - I have Vendetta at Level 3, and I'm tearing up the enemies and getting lots of high rankings with it.

DMC 2 has gotten better towards the end of Dante's missions. The enemies get a little more active, but the new weapons I've found are the coolest part - two new swords, and two new guns. Still, I'm on Mission 15, and the storyline is completely absent - I threw down on this guy Arius who is apparently the uber antagonist(considering he spent most of the fight sitting down smoking a cigar or drinking wine), and I don't know how I got there, what he's done, or why I'm fighting him in the first place. *sigh* I'm not one for plot in action movies/games, but this is ridiculous..........

Kaiser, yeah I finally beat him but it was kind of a pain. Basically the best strategy is to avoid him till you get to the top of the tallest skyscraper. First the copter attacks you on the ground with all the fire around you. Run into the building and jump all the way to the top and get on the roof. Here you'll have to fight him by firing guns and using DT untill you get blown onto the next roof. Here just avoid him and get to the top of the building where there should be 4 pillars. Just ignore the bird things. Finally just fire away with your guns or shotguns and DT when he get's close and fire away. Wasn't too hard except for the damn missles you can't see till the last minute.

I'm on some oil rig or something now and have no idea who the guy I'm fighting is. I have till tomorrow to return this game but I don't think I'm going to finish it. Hmmmmm..... should I keep it or return it for the Getaway? I'm enjoying it, but not as much as the first, and the lack of story is really crazy.

Well, I had gotten in on the Gamestop deal for Devil May Cry 2, and after just about an hour or so of playing I decided to take it back.

The fun of the first one just wasn't there anymore. The graphics were ridiculously bland, the enemies wouldn't attack me (i could literally just stand next to them and they wouldnt' DO anything), the puzzle element from the first one was gone, the story seemed to be non-existant, etc...

I just took it back and pre-ordered Zelda instead. I was thinking about The Getaway, but I hear that ones not that great either...
Sigh.

How many levels are there for Dante? I'm on level 12 and am wondering how much there's left to go. Haven't started on Lucia's missions. Do her missions explain the story a teensy weensy bit more???

Dante has 18 missions - I just finished his disc, and wow......I still don't know wtf happened. I'm telling you, the ending is a doozy.............
I've only played two of Lucia's missions so far, so I can't tell you yet. I'm going to spend a few hours tonight playing hers, maybe even finish, since it only took me 4:10 to finish Dante's missions.

Just finished Lucia's disc after completing Dante's yesterday. Boy am I returning this game (since it's within 7 days for gamestop). I can't remember the last time I finished a game this quickly or easily. The new modes are kinda cool but the only incentive for playing them is if you liked to fight to begin with. And the Diesel based outfits are kinda lame compared to the actual ones. they left it way open for a sequel too which hopefully wont blow as much as this game did. Actually I take that back, the game was alright, but the story (or lack thereof) really made it pointless. Plus the fighting was mindless button mashing in hopes of getting your DT up.

OK, enough ranting. My advice: rent it, beat it, return it.

Played it for an hour, then exchanged it for Panzer Dragoon Orta.