History YMMV / DevilMayCry2

** While even its defenders admit that ''[=DMC2=]'' is easily the weakest of the first four titles and may admit that, from a technical standpoint, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhVLh-sx7YQ#t=23m9s it's a worse-designed game]] than [[VideoGame/DMCDevilMayCry the controversial reboot]], a growing contingent stands by its opinion that the second game is merely dull and mediocre by ''DMC'' standards, but not abjectly terrible like the fandom might paint it. This sentiment grew when more players [[https://www.reddit.com/r/DevilMayCry/comments/8tcvw0/reminder_that_dmc2_was_essentially_a_miracle/ discovered]] via the ''Devil May Cry: 3142 Graphics Arts'' artbook that Hideaki Itsuno not only came in about halfway through the game's development period, but also had a mere '''[[https://imgur.com/yd3bXLu six months]]''' to slap together the finished project. [[note]]The scenario was not yet written at the time, there were no filmed cutscenes, no finished environments, no Devil Trigger for Dante, and no moves programmed for Dante other than his infamously {{nerf}}ed Stinger.[[/note]] Given how Itsuno was similarly constrained during ''4''[='s=] development yet that game turned out an adequate product (to say nothing of how the [[SurprisinglyImprovedSequel third]] and [[EvenBetterSequel fifth]] games turned out when he was given a proper budget and development time), this revelation made many wonder how ''[=DMC2=]'' would've fared if not for [[ExecutiveMeddling Capcom's actions behind the scenes]].

** Not helped by the fact that up to the final encounter, he had been fairly serious and not all that ridiculous at all. Then Dante [[spoiler:swaps the coin that was supposed to help his plans]], and Arius turns so utterly [[VillainousBreakdown pissed off] that the batshit shrieking voice enters the fray with an absolutely ''ridiculous'' noise before his fight starts.

* RewatchBonus: During the cutscene where [[spoiler:Dante hands over the Arcana to Arius]], if you look closely at the Medaglia, you can see it's actually [[spoiler:[[TwoHeadedCoin Dante's coin]]]].

* SelfImposedChallenge: One that existed beforehand but was popularized by/saw a resurgence thanks to Website/{{YouTube}}r Null
in the summer of 2023: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xNuilv6YRY Beating the game without using any guns.]] [[note]]With the exception of any circumstances in which the game would otherwise be {{Unwinnable}}, such as bosses or puzzles that require the use of firearms.[[/note]]

** [[MacabreMothMotif Noctpteran]]. The challenge comes not from the moth itself (it's completely harmless) but the eggs it constantly lays, which hatch into hard-to-avoid larvae that try to eat Dante and Lucia after they burrow out from underground. If they succeed, you're left helpless for a moment until Dante/Lucia breaks free (though rotating the analog stick speeds up the process). Being a flying boss also means close-range combat is out of the question -- it's simply too high up for even Aerial Heart/Air Raid to reach at most times and is only briefly vulnerable when it descends to lay eggs.

* CommonKnowledge: Much like ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006'', it's not uncommon for people to believe that the game was [[CanonDiscontinuity officially taken out of continuity]] because of its abysmal reception. This was never the case. It's true that the subsequent games and Creator/{{Capcom}} [[ElephantInTheLivingRoom went out of their way to avoid acknowledging this installment]] but both ''[=DMC4=]'' and ''5'' briefly reference it in their story recaps and Lucia returns in the ''Before the Nightmare'' novel.

* ContestedSequel: ''[=DMC2=]'' isn't as technically polished as the other games, but some think that [[SoOkayItsAverage it still holds up fine]] because it contains some memorable concepts [[note]]the game's intro is slick, [[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic the OST is pretty damn good]], Dante's outfit is highly regarded and considered to be one of his best designs, his Majin Form is interesting, The Despair Embodied is the best boss fight of the game, and ''[=DMC2=]'' is the first game that made Trish [[PromotedToPlayable playable]][[/note]] in spite of the game having a TroubledProduction. Others [[FanonDiscontinuity swear off its existence and events entirely]].

* FanonDiscontinuity: Many skip or forget ''[=DMC2=]'' entirely because of its questionable gameplay and plot relevance ([[GaidenGame or lack thereof]]), and later installments barely [[ContinuityNod reference]] it at all; it's only mentioned briefly in the [[PreviouslyOn story recap]] of both the fourth and fifth installments, while female lead Lucia only made one other appearance outside of ''2'' in the ''Before the Nightmare'' novel that serves as a prequel to ''5''. From that novel, Argosax was also deemed inconsequential to the point where Dante ''[[ButForMeItWasTuesday forgot the demon king's name]]'' even though in-universe lore paints the entity as being on par with [[VideoGame/DevilMayCry1 Mundus]]. Even the [=PS2=] version of ''VideoGame/ViewtifulJoe'' has Dante [[DiscontinuityNod fail to remember what happened at Dumary Island]] when crossing paths with Alastor. [[note]]Though given both ''Devil May Cry'' and ''Viewtiful Joe'' were directed by Creator/HidekiKamiya, this could also be seen as BitingTheHandHumor regarding Kamiya's lack of involvement with this entry.[[/note]] ''[=DMC2=]'' being last in the games' original AnachronicOrder also retroactively created conflict with later games and their greater emphasis on narrative and continuity, such as Dante being more mellow here than in any other classic game (a stark contrast to his cheerful personality in ''4'', which originally took place before ''2'') and the lack of references to [[IconicSequelCharacter major characters introduced later on]] (i.e. Lady and Nero). Very little from the first game is brought up either (likely on account of ''[=DMC2=]'' being greenlit before ''[=DMC1=]'' even finished production), and [[SecretCharacter Trish]] doesn't have a role in the story of ''2'' despite being playable. The timeline was [[{{Retcon}} later revised]] to move ''2'' between the anime and ''4'', a decision that was [[AuthorsSavingThrow better received]] because Dante's personality here is [[AlternativeCharacterInterpretation more cohesive]] if it follows the anime, though it can be argued a few plot holes still exist. [[note]]The biggest one likely being why Dante didn't use the Ultimate Devil Trigger in ''4'' if he already had access to it in ''2''. However, a "Double Devil Trigger" was conceptualized for ''4'' before being scrapped, while neither ''2'' nor ''4'' depict Dante activating his regular Devil Trigger for combat purposes as opposed to the first and third games. (The closest he comes is when he partially transforms after his first fight with Nero in ''4'', seemingly an involuntary reaction to Nero's Devil Bringer.) This suggests he was at a level of power where the threat of either game didn't necessitate his full strength, which would be in line with ''4''[='s=] claim that [[SuperiorSuccessor Dante had surpassed Sparda]]. To wit, this game sees Dante kill the FinalBoss while in his human form.[[/note]] As noted above, the prequel novel to ''2'' actually does explain Dante's drastic shift in personality ([[spoiler:he regrets killing an AlternateUniverse Trish]]), but not everyone is aware of the side materials anyway.
* FranchiseOriginalSin: The melee mechanics of this game are criticized mainly because Dante's {{BFS}}es Rebellion, Vendetta and Merciless [[AllSwordsAreTheSame all share the exact same combos, only the look and damage differ]]. The same goes for Lucia's [[DualWielding blades]]. ''[=DMC1=]'' also had this in effect; the Force Edge, Alastor and [[spoiler:Sparda]] share some similar attacks even if they differ in their appearance and damage output, but the implementation was more acceptable back then because the swords from the first game still have some unique mechanics to spice things up instead of playing the AllSwordsAreTheSame trope straight; the starting weapon Force Edge has few basic combos, Alastor retains them but adds more purchasable combos and its [[SuperMode Devil Trigger]] allows Dante to fly. And then in the late-game, the Force Edge gains some plot relevance as it [[spoiler:transforms into the Sparda, which adapts Alastor's combos and can further transform into other weapon types]].

** [[SecretCharacter Trish]]. She is playable in both Dante's and Lucia's campaigns (only requiring the player to beat Dante's campaign on Hard as opposed to being a BraggingRightsReward), her sword Sparda combines the immense reach of Dante's Merciless with Vendetta's damage, her Luce & Ombra deal damage comparable to Dante's Ebony & Ivory while firing faster (both weapons also start at maximum level and don't need to be upgraded), and her moveset is incredible in general: her Stinger has greater range unlike Dante's, [[ThrowingYourSwordAlwaysWorks Round Trip]] is easily the best non-DT move in the entire game, and her DT is only slightly less damaging compared to Dante's Majin Form without having any of its drawbacks. Trish only struggles during the underwater levels, as Nightmare-γ is nowhere near as effective as Lucia's Bowgun.

** [[MacabreMothMotif Noctpteran]]. The challenge comes not from the moth itself (it's completely harmless) but the eggs it constantly lays, which hatch into hard-to-avoid larvae that try to eat Dante and Lucia after they burrow out from underground. If they succeed, you're left helpless for a moment until Dante/Lucia breaks free (though rotating the analog stick speeds up the process). Being a flying boss also means close-range combat is out of the question.

* ReplacementScrappy: Lucia became this to Trish, which is ironic as Lucia's creation was a response to the lack of a playable Trish in ''[=DMC1=]'' and Trish herself was a SecretCharacter ''in this game''. While the sentiment died down in the intervening years, partially because many fans actually like Lucia (or feel that she was a [[TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodCharacter wasted potential]]), it was mainly because the majority of ''DMC'' fans [[FanonDiscontinuity blot out this game from memory]].

* HarsherInHindsight: Lucia's line about her being expandable becomes this when you consider how this game has come to be [[FanonDiscontinuity seen by fans]] and that Lucia has not appeared in a DMC game ever since.

* RewatchBonus: During the cutscene where [[spoiler: Dante hands over the Arcana to Arius]], if you look closely at the Medaglia, you can see it's actually [[spoiler: Dante's coin]].

* HarsherInHindsight: Lucia's line about her being expandable becomes this when you consider how this game has come to be [[FanonDiscontinuity by fans]] and that Lucia has not appeared in a DMC game ever since.

* HarsherInHindsight: Lucia's line about her being expandable becomes this when you consider how this game has come to be [[FandomDiscontinuity by fans]] and that Lucia has not appeared in a DMC game ever since.

** Devil Trigger was strong in the first game, but it's just ridiculous here. Unless you're playing on the highest difficulty levels, most bosses are trivialised by the ability to just charge up Devil Trigger and then unload an insane amount of non-stop damage (enough to melt through most bosses in one or two goes). You're also ([[ImmuneToFlinching practically]]) invincible and [[RegeneratingHealth heal from the damage you deal]] (though unlike most ''DMC'' titles, this is not a default passive ability of Devil Trigger, instead tied to the collectible Devil Hearts used to customize the Amulet). Devil Trigger is the main reason the game was considered [[ItsEasySoItSucks disappointingly easy]] by critics. It applies further for Dante because his Devil Trigger has more perks than Lucia's:

** The prequel novel, which takes place before the events of the game, provides some explanation for Dante's [[SameCharacterButDifferent drastic shift in personality]]. He is very much like how he was portrayed in [[VideoGame/DevilMayCry1 the first game]] until near the finale when it ends on [[BittersweetEnding a bittersweet note]]. He [[AlasPoorVillain expresses regret for having to kill]] [[spoiler:an AlternateUniverse Trish who remained loyal to that universe's Mundus]] after repeatedly trying to persuade her to pull a HeelFaceTurn.

* SalvagedStory:

** Many fans consider the rearranging of the timeline prior to ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry5'' as an improvement; ''[=DMC2=]'' was originally set after ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry4'', but with the games being reordered so that ''2'' is now set beforehand, it provides another explanation wherein Dante is still upset over Vergil's death in [[VideoGame/DevilMayCry1 the first game]] (a line of thought congruent with a similar AlternativeCharacterInterpretation for ''[[Anime/DevilMayCryTheAnimatedSeries The Animated Series]]''), with ''Devil May Cry 4'' being when [[HesBack he shows signs of recovery]] thanks to meeting Nero in that game.

* AuthorsSavingThrow:
** The ''2'' prequel novel, which takes place before the events of the game, can be considered one for providing some explanation for Dante's [[SameCharacterButDifferent drastic shift in personality]]. He is very much like how he was portrayed in [[VideoGame/DevilMayCry1 the first game]] until near the finale when it ends on [[BittersweetEnding a bittersweet note]]. He [[AlasPoorVillain expresses regret for having to kill]] [[spoiler:an AlternateUniverse Trish who remained loyal to that universe's Mundus]] after repeatedly trying to persuade [[spoiler:her]] to pull a HeelFaceTurn.
** Many fans consider the rearranging of the timeline prior to ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry5'' as a saving throw; ''[=DMC2=]'' was originally set after ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry4'', but with the games being reordered so that ''2'' is now set beforehand, it provides another explanation wherein Dante is still upset over Vergil's death in [[VideoGame/DevilMayCry1 the first game]] (a line of thought congruent with a similar AlternativeCharacterInterpretation for ''[[Anime/DevilMayCryTheAnimatedSeries The Animated Series]]''), with ''Devil May Cry 4'' being when [[HesBack he shows signs of recovery]] thanks to meeting Nero in that game.

** Hideaki Itsuno got all the blame for the game's problems due to being the sole credited director, but as it turns out, the game was directed by someone else ([[UncreditedRole who remains unknown]]) for most of its development, and [[TroubledProduction left production in a very disastrous state months before release]]. If anything, the game might have been ''even worse'' if not for Itsuno. He would even go on to direct ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry3DantesAwakening'', which is considered the best entry in the series, and has served as the director of every mainline installment since.

* MisBlamed: Hideaki Itsuno got all the blame for the game's problems due to being the sole credited director, but as it turns out, the game was directed by someone else ([[UncreditedRole who remains unknown]]) for most of its development, and [[TroubledProduction left production in a very disastrous state months before release]]. If anything, the game might have been ''even worse'' if not for Itsuno. He would even go on to direct ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry3DantesAwakening'', which is considered the best entry in the series, and has served as the director of every mainline installment since.

** Many fans consider the rearranging of the timeline prior to ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry5'' as a saving throw; ''[=DMC2=]'' was originally set after ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry4'', but with the games being reordered so that ''2'' is now set beforehand, it provides another explanation wherein Dante is still upset over Vergil's death (by his own hands, no less) in [[VideoGame/DevilMayCry1 the first game]] (a line of thought congruent with a similar AlternativeCharacterInterpretation for ''[[Anime/DevilMayCryTheAnimatedSeries The Animated Series]]''), and ''Devil May Cry 4'' is when [[HesBack he shows signs of recovery]] thanks to meeting Nero in that game.
* BigLippedAlligatorMoment: [[VideoGame/DevilMayCry1 Phantom's]] reappearance towards the end of both scenarios (Mission 14 for Dante, and Mission 10 for Lucia). [[GiantSpaceFleaFromNowhere He just randomly pops out of nowhere]], despite (in his last appearance) ''melting after being impaled on a spiked pillar''. It doesn't help that he's inexplicably [[TheVoiceless mute]], although the description for Dante's mission hints that TimeTravel may be involved.

* CommonKnowledge: Much like ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006'', it's not uncommon for people to believe that the game was [[CanonDiscontinuity officially taken out of continuity]] because of its abysmal reception. This was never the case. It's true that the subsequent games and Capcom [[ElephantInTheLivingRoom went out of their ways to avoid acknowledging this installment]] but both ''DMC 4'' and ''5'' briefly reference it in their story recaps and Lucia returns in the ''Before the Nightmare'' novel.

* DifficultySpike: Bloody Palace gradually increases in difficulty the higher you go; the first 100 levels are set in Normal mode, levels 101 to 1000 are set in Hard mode, then all other levels past that are set in the "[[HarderThanHard Must Die]]" difficulty mode, all without prior warning.

* FranchiseOriginalSin: The melee mechanics of this game are criticized mainly because Dante's {{BFS}}es Rebellion, Vendetta and Merciless [[AllSwordsAreTheSame all share the exact same combos, only the look and damage differ]]. The same goes for Lucia's [[DualWielding blades]]. ''[=DMC1=]'' also had this in effect; the Force Edge, Alastor and [[spoiler:Sparda]] share some similar attacks even if they differ in their appearance and damage output, but the implementation was more acceptable back then because the swords from the first game still have some unique mechanics to spice things up instead of playing the AllSwordsAreTheSame trope straight; the starting weapon Force Edge has few basic combos, Alastor retains them but adds more purchasable combos and its [[SuperMode Devil Trigger]] allows Dante to fly. And then in the late-game, the Force Edge gains some plot-relevance as it [[spoiler:transforms into the Sparda, which adapts Alastor's combos and can further transform into other weapon types]].

* ReplacementScrappy: Lucia became this to Trish, which is ironic as Lucia's creation was a response to the lack of a playable Trish in ''[=DMC1=]'' and Trish herself was a SecretCharacter ''in this game''. While the sentiment died down in the intervening years, partially because many fans actually like Lucia (or feel that she was a [[TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodCharacter wasted potential]]), it was mainly because the majority of ''DMC'' fans [[FanonDiscontinuity blot out]] ''[[FanonDiscontinuity 2]]'' [[FanonDiscontinuity from memory]].

** Wall Hike, as it almost always activates when you don't want it to, doesn't really help with dodging or conserving Stylish Rank and, for Dante, trying to shoot Ebony and Ivory after it will activate Rain Storm instead.
** Rain Storm is a very annoying move, whose very existence causes many players to swear off using Ebony and Ivory in this game. The problem with it is that it always activates if you shoot after an [[DoubleJump Air Hike]] or [[WallRun Wall Hike]], and it always shoots straight down. This can ''easily'' ruin the player's Stylish Rank, since it only takes about a second of not hitting anything for the rank to vanish.

** Downplayed with Dante's Ebony and Ivory; they are perfectly serviceable, they just have to contend with [[ScrappyMechanic Rain Storm]] existing.

* ThatOneLevel: Dante's Mission 14 is criticized for its confusing level design that makes players want to [[GuideDangIt look for a walkthrough]]. You have to find and activate four Seal Spheres that are scattered in the area, but three of those are found in non-conspicuous spots that require some effort to reach, such as by looking up, double-jumping, or flying via the Aerial Heart. By comparison, the Seal Spheres in Lucia's tenth mission are easier to find. The FixedCamera angles can make it hard for you to spot your objective since they change at almost every corner, and the entire stage's dark atmosphere also makes it very easy for you to get lost. The map won't help you that much either as it doesn't pinpoint Dante's exact location. To top these off, the mission ends with a boss fight against Phantom.