One of the Devil May Cry series’ most intense gameplay modes has finally been released for Devil May Cry 5. Out now for PC, PS4, and Xbox One as a free update, Bloody Palace is a survival mode that pits you against waves of enemies within a 101-floor dungeon. As a returning gameplay mode, first seen in Devil May Cry 2, the Bloody Palace is a lengthy challenge that aims to put your skills with the game’s trio of playable characters to the test.
To unlock the Bloody Palace, you’ll first need to complete the game on Human or Devil Hunter mode. After the end credits, entry into the new mode can be found in the main menu. In similar fashion to previous games, you’ll fight through a long set of increasingly tough encounters against common foes and bosses. As you reach the higher floors, the difficulty will increase, resulting in enemies dealing higher damage and the elite foes showing up more often. If you come to a defeat, you will have to start from the beginning and work your way back up. In addition to facing off against groups of enemies that are in greater numbers than in the main game, some characters will also fight certain bosses that they never encountered against in the main story–such as Nero doing battle with Cavaliere Angelo.
When first starting the Bloody Palace mode, keep in mind that the current moves and skill-sets of your characters will be taken into account. So it’s in your best interest to make sure that Dante, Nero, and V have the best moves unlocked. Also, certain weapons and devil breakers won’t be useable for balance purposes. For instance, Nero’s DLC devil breakers and Dante’s Cavaliere-R cannot be used in the Bloody Palace mode due to maintaining proper balance. If you’re able to complete the Bloody Palace, you’ll acquire a massive sum of red orbs and a new taunt for your chosen character to use.
The thing that makes Bloody Palace so enjoyable is that it allows you to cut loose without any restrictions or filler from the main missions. Not only is it a great way to experiment with Dante, Nero, and V’s abilities, it’s also a stellar test for your skills. Just when you think you’ve made great strides in the gauntlet mode, allowing you to feel a bit more comfortable–even if for a moment–you’ll come to an encounter that will have you rethink how best overcome the battle. It’s incredibly satisfying getting the better of a massive group of demons, unleashing your top skills and chaining together smoking, slick maneuvers with ease.
Along with Resident Evil 2, Devil May Cry 5 has been another title that Capcom has found solid success with. Recently at GDC 2019, DMC5 director Hideaki Itsuno revealed that the game had sold well over 2 million copies, earning its spot as the fastest selling game in the series. In GameSpot’s review, editor Matt Espineli gave the game a 9/10 and stated:
“DMC5 thrives on the stylistic and mechanical prowess of its predecessors. It sticks to tradition above all else, pursuing a few ambitious new ideas along the way, but mostly maintaining the series’ focus on intricate fighting systems and campy bravado. Rarely does the game stumble, consistently leveraging its spectacle and mechanical depth to push aside any small frustrations. All the while, the story exudes a charismatic charm that keeps you constantly intrigued as you’re refining your skills. DMC5 proves the series can still be brilliant and imaginative without compromising its longest-held traditions.”