REVIEW: Square Enix Play Arts Kai Devil May Cry 3

Dante And Vergil Dual To The Death In Action Figure Form...

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If you're anything like me, portions of the last decade have been spent playing the exciting, engaging and incredibly visceral hack and slash video game Devil May Cry and its many sequels. Playing as one of the coolest anti-heroes in all of video game history - Dante, you shoot, slice and dice your way through countless enemies as you seek to save humanity and the world from the likes of the demon hordes and your brother, Vergil.

Of course, one of the coolest entries in the series was the prequel to the entire series; Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening and now fans of this epic can pick up the super-articulated, superbly designed and gorgeously detailed Play Arts Kai action figures from Square Enix. Standing over 9" tall and featuring more than 25 points of articulation, each of these figures beautifully brings to life these fan-favorite characters in action figure form.

PACKAGING

Each of the figures is packaged in an attractive, durable window box with a velcro front flap which both protects the window as well as provides additional space for graphics and descriptions. The interior flap cover includes a description of the character as well as information regarding the game Devil May Cry 3 while the back and sides include additional imagery and information.

The box's interior includes a solid, vacu-formed black tray in which the figure and all accessories are held. Over this, a clear vacu-formed piece fits to ensure the secure transfer of each and every part and piece. While impressive and no doubt attractive, the packaging takes up a lot of room on a display shelf for those fans who collect mint in box.

SCULPTING

The sculpting here is - like most other Play Arts Kai figures - gorgeous, impressive, and accurate to the source material. The two figures - Dante and Vergil - look like the demon hunting bounty hunter and his dark twin (respectively) from Devil May Cry 3 and feature the clothing, hair styles, and detailed looks which will no doubt impress die-hard fans.

Vergil features a venerable, regal look: long, flowing blue coat, button up frill shirt, dark pants, and knee-high brown leather boots (above). As the game antagonist, this classy look comes in stark contrast to his villainous, evil ways. Of course, this look also provides a drastic difference when compared to the game protagonist and our hero, Dante, who wears a red trench coat with no undershirt, brown/black pants, a pair of black leather cut-off gloves and a pair of black buckled boots (below). The pair differ in more than just their attitudes, abilities and goals and their garb ensures player and non-players a like know this.

While both scupts impress with loads of details - including the flow in both character's coats, the small buckles on Dante's boots, the neck frill on Vergil's shirt, the minute stitches on both figure's clothing and the various sculpted aspects of both figure designs - maybe the most impressive thing about the sculpting is the way in which it incorporates the articulation.

ARTICULATION

If you own any other Square Enix Play Arts Kai figures, you know this is a line not just for fans of impressive sculpted detail, but also for those fans and collectors who like to play with their figures, pose their figures, and attempt to make the figure do each and every magnificent move the character does in the game. "Stylish" combat truly comes to life in three dimensions here as, with over 25 points of articulation, the figure can truly take on a variety of poses from the game.

Something worth noting that's unique to both of these figures is the articulated portions of the coat which provides the opportunity for collectors to actually pose the sculpted coat tails in a variety of ways to make the figure look as if it's striking a "stylish" dynamic action pose. While this isn't new to the line, it is extremely well done here and should make fans appreciate the level of design and detail Square Enix puts into this line of figure.

Both figures feature ball-in-socket necks, ball-joint hips and shoulders, rotating chest joints, double hinge elbows and knees, stick-twist/hinge wrists and ankles, ball-in-socket chest and waist, and cut mid-foot joints. When combined, the poseability of these figure is truly dynamic and provides for hours of fun in countless opportunities to play.

PAINT APPLICATIONS

Both figures feature the screen-accurate, professional-grade paint applications expected from the Play Arts Kai line. There is very little paint bleed anywhere on the figure and all lines are tight and accurate. The multilevel shading is impressive as well since is it this shading which brings to life the depth of the sculpt. The coat, pants and boots all feature various levels of gradient shades which provide depth. Overall, the painting is as it should be - impressive, blemish-free and attractive.

ACCESSORIES

Both figures include a number of accessories from the game. Dante includes an alternate pair of hands as well as his trademark handguns, Ebony and Ivory, his heritage sword, Rebellion, and one special weapon from the game - Nevan, a guitar which transforms into a sinister scythe (above).

Vergil includes an alternate pair of hands as well as his trademark katana Yamato and his heritage sword Force Edge - the Sword of Sparda. Each character's weapons compliment the figure and, should a collector own both figures, it's possible to have Dante wield the Force Edge, the ultimate objective of the game.

COST & OVERALL IMPRESSION

With an suggested retail price of $79.99 each, a slight increase in the previous Play Arts Kai price of around $65, these are still a solid buy for die-hard fans. Considering the scale, the impressive detail and paint apps, the number of accessories and the overall pair of figures when combined together, for $160.00, fans can finally have what many would consider one of the best sibling rivalries of all time as a part of their collection.

Be sure to pick up your own Square Enix Play Arts Kai Devil May Cry 3 - Dante & Vergil figures. Adding these impressive figure to your collection is a no-brainer if you're a fan of the series. And if you're not (yet) a fan of the games, you can pick up Devil May Cry 3 on the cheap and quickly become a fan of both Dante and Vergil.

CHECK OUT OVER 90 IMAGES OF DANTE & VERGIL HERE!

- photos and words by Jess C. Horsley