I don't usually play third-person action games with the exception of From Software whose works I have followed for a long time. After seeing how this game had beaten out fan favorites and big names for Action Game of the Year like Call of Duty, Gears of War, Apex, and Metro, I was curious as I had never played a DMC game. I got it on sale and endeavored to give it a try.
From the moment the opening sequence began, I was hooked. Even with only the basic knowledge of game lore provided, the story drew me in with its rapid-fire pacing and high-speed action, starting from the end of the very first cutscene. I quickly grew invested in characters with and of whom I had no previous experience or knowledge, though at times dialogue felt forced for the sake of unnecessary exposition, which was often provided redundantly through flashbacks.
The game's greatest strength, its combat, also serves to hinder it at times. In comparison to the purity and fluidity with which the most combat-intensive portions play, many of the other simpler sections of platforming or exploration can feel dull by comparison.
That's not to say that the combat holds the game back, on the contrary. The developers were definitely aware that the combat was the true keystone feature of the game, and they make excellent use of it. The combat never once feels stale or repetitive, and every character plays in a totally different manner. Unlike many other games, the combat can allow even the clumsiest, most button-mashing noobs such as myself to pull off awesome combo chains through the use of the auto-chain feature, something which I have not seen in other games. The combat itself is incredibly responsive and has better feedback than any game in recent memory for me. This is underscored by the game's sound design, providing real meaty THWACKS alongside the games excellent soundtrack. At the normal difficulties, the game is perhaps slightly too easy, to the point that an uninitiated such as myself can make it more than 3/4 of the way through the game without dying. Perhaps this is not the case on higher difficulties, but as this review was written during my first playthrough, I am not yet certain.
At no point during this game have I felt that it was at all undeserving of the hype which it has received. Perhaps someone with more investment into the series may feel otherwise, but as my first DMC game this has served both as an excellent introduction and to ignite my interest in the other games in the series. A firm recommendation to all who will listen, and an easy choice for one of my favorite games of 2019.

I'll skip DMC2 when I play the rest, don't worry Vinny