This is discussion archived from a time before the current discussion method was installed.
- Contrary to what Well Intentioned Extremists and Anti Heroes might say, you cannot "fight The Dark Side with The Dark Side." Heroic Willpower notwithstanding.
I removed the last sentence. The Dark Side is more about attitude and methodology than about a form of power — evil as a form of power is Black Magic. It's true that you cannot fight the Dark Side with the Dark Side, but that's not a matter of fighting fire with fire, as much as descending to the same level of villainous tactics as the villain and expecting to come out smelling like roses in the end. Heroic Willpower is when you use heroic intent to harness evil power, not when you use evil intent to use evil power.
fleb: No, the trope description is about one specific aspect of Black Magic, mysterious anonymous person. Plus it's named for Star Wars, where the 'dark side' meant the corrupting form of power, not the Siths' standard methodology that goes hand-in-hand with it. I'll add it back.
Big T: Removed the following as it is (1) a contested example and (2) natter on the main page.
- Subverted in Devil May Cry 4. Main character Nero's arm is possessed by the spirit of Dante's brother, Vergil (who became a powerful demon after being corrupted by Mundus). In fact, Nero's Devil Trigger form shows the spirit of Nelo Angelo behind him, mirroring his movements, and stacks his voice with that of the malevolent demon. However, despite this fact, Nero remains completely in control 100% of the time. Even better, he's committed to his power in the same way many characters fall victim to the Dark Side: his obsessive desire to protect the one he loves. Basically he's Anakin without all the suck.
- Objection! If Nero's devil arm isn't working to corrupt him, it doesn't count as The Dark Side at all. It's just a case of Dark Is Not Evil and belongs there rather than here. At most, it's extremely mild Black Magic.
- Potentially seconded; while most of the demons of the Devil May Cry universe are quite malicious, the primary supernatural forces for good have also come from the demon world and Nero's arm is never presented as an evil thing.
