Devil May Cry 5 features an emotionally charged final boss in the clash between father and son. The combat encounter sets a notable precedent for an eventual Devil May Cry 6 through its clever use of dynamic music, working to solidify the tone set by the plights of its main character Nero and his desire to keep what little family he has alive, even if it's through a fight.
The music of Devil May Cry 5 is as integral to its gameplay as the combat itself. The title's OST features a number of ambient tracks that work to heighten its atmosphere, from the solemn tones that linger while traversing the ruins of Red Grave City to the upbeat battle theme of Nero set amidst the backdrop of demon carnage. The direction set by music composer Casey Edwards amplifies this in an inventive way through the title's final boss encounter, coupling two tones that work to demonstrate the characterization of Nero and his development over the course of the game.
The Dynamic Use of Music in Devil May Cry 5 Could Further Accentuate DMC6's Combat Encounters
Nero's fight against Vergil begins with a more solemn approach. As Vergil tells him to stand down, the somber violin chords of one of the title's main themes, Legacy, plays in the background, telling of a sense of reluctance. The two exchange a few remarks as they clash, with Nero putting up a fight against the Yamato with strikes of his Red Queen sword and bullets of his Blue Rose pistol, given the loss of his Devil Breakers crafted by Devil May Cry 5's Nico.
The real battle, however, begins when Nero shows his true strength, dismissing the validity of his 'dead-weight' title entirely through his tenacity to win. When he activates his Devil Trigger, the violin strings turn into the high-octane track 'Silver Bullet' as Nero curses out his father.
The dynamic switch-up of music demonstrated in the fight between father and son ties directly into the strengths of Devil May Cry 5's characterization of Nero as well as its nuanced combat system. While Vergil is certainly a formidable opponent, the energetic theme of Silver Bullet works cleverly to pump up the player as they utilize Nero's newfound DT abilities to bring his father down.
In contrast, the instrumental Legacy theme that plays beforehand establishes a somber tone fitting for such a fight given the history of Devil May Cry's Lady and her own father. With the use of lyrics from Nero's standard combat theme remixed for Silver Bullet, the character's resolve to keep his father and uncle from killing each other while smacking some sense into them feels all the more perfect.
Though the Nero versus Vergil boss fight takes its approach a step further, the use of dynamic music can be seen all throughout Devil May Cry 5's runtime. The distinct character themes of Devil May Cry 5's main characters—Nero, Dante, V, and then Vergil in the title's DLC—oscillate in intensity depending on the player's style ranking, making combat feel all the more bombastic as intricate combos are executed and demons are defeated. This dynamic nature sets a notable precedent for Devil May Cry 6's own handling of its music tracks, working to aid in the strengths of the series' gameplay.
A similar formula may even extend to Devil May Cry 6's boss encounters, though given the powerful nature of its depiction in the Nero versus Vergil fight, an approach on that level could be saved for more emotional moments to keep its allure. With the success of its predecessor and the overwhelming support of its music, DMC6 certainly has a solid foundation to take inspiration from, and while Capcom has many avenues to take the Devil May Cry series next, one thing's for certain: its music is sure to play a big role.
Devil May Cry 5 is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
