Really, the only issue I have with DMC 2 is that it's good as far as just being a game goes, but as far as being a Devil May Cry game, it falls short, and I think for most that is what's most frustrating; So much potential lost.
But, there were a few things that I did like and appreciate about DMC 2...
- The end of mission Ranking system was actually broken down to allow the player to see where they're going wrong, be it taking too long, not acquiring enough orbs, etc
- The style in general. Running up walls, turning completely upside down in mid-air whilst wildly firing E&I, etc.
- The 'Boss run' level, where it was every Boss you'd previously fought, pitted against You in the same mission.
On the whole, DMC 2 isn't that bad, it just isn't that good either, the paper thin story line and lifeless characters make it very uninteresting. The best example of how hollow DMC 2 is would be Phantom. A returning boss from the first one, the one that smashes through the giant window pane, and prepares to insult Dante by letting him know how much of a disappointing catch He is, only for Dante to appear unconcerned and let Phantom know what a big surprise his arrival is. The exchange between the two is brilliant and is why Phantom remains My favourite boss across the whole series. In DMC 2, Phantom just 'appears' randomly in some unexplained Orb portal in the sky, says absolutely nothing, gets beaten, says absolutely nothing, disappears, next mission.
"What?"