Let’s be real for a second. If you’re booting up a fat PlayStation 2 to play Dante’s Awakening, you aren't looking for a casual stroll through a gothic tower. You’re looking for a fight. Most people remember Devil May Cry 3 as the game that essentially told the North American audience to "get good" by swapping the difficulty modes. What we called "Normal" back in 2005 was actually "Hard" in Japan. That’s the legacy of this game. It’s mean. It’s stylish. It’s incredibly rewarding once you stop smashing your head against the wall.
This devil may cry 3 ps2 walkthrough isn't just about telling you to go left or right. It’s about surviving the mechanics that the game doesn't explicitly explain. You’ve got the Styles—Swordmaster, Gunslinger, Trickster, and Royal Guard. Most beginners flock to Swordmaster because, hey, more sword moves, right? Wrong. If you want to actually finish this game on a first playthrough without crying, Trickster is your best friend. That dash is the only thing standing between you and a game over screen when Cerberus starts dropping ice pillars on your head.
The Early Game Wall: Mission 1 to 3
The game starts with a literal bang in Dante's office, but Mission 3 is where the "real" game begins. You’re introduced to Temen-ni-gru, this massive, looming tower that serves as your playground for the next twenty hours.
Before you even think about the first boss, you need to understand the "Style Rank." It’s not just for show. Getting that SSS rank actually helps your red orb intake, which you desperately need for Purple Orbs (Devil Trigger) and Blue Orbs (Health). Don't just spam Rebellion’s basic combo. Mix it up. Use High Time to launch an enemy, jump up with them, and then rain down lead with Ebony & Ivory.
Then comes Cerberus. Honestly, this three-headed dog is the ultimate gatekeeper. He’s the reason many people traded the game back into GameStop within forty-eight hours.
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How to Beat Cerberus Without Losing Your Mind
First off, stay back. His ice armor makes him invulnerable to direct sword strikes at the start. Use your pistols to chip away at the ice covering his heads. Once the ice breaks, he’ll stagger. That’s your window. If you chose Trickster style, use the dash to evade his lunges.
- The Lunge: He’ll scrape his claws on the ground. Dash sideways.
- The Ice Rain: Look at the floor. Circular shadows mean death is coming from above. Move.
- The Breath: He’ll freeze the ground. If you’re caught in it, you’re a sitting duck.
Once he’s down, you get the Cerberus nunchucks. They are arguably the best defensive weapon in the game because of "Revolver" and "Windmill," which can deflect projectiles.
Navigating the Middle Missions: The Agni and Rudra Spike
By the time you hit Mission 5, the game expects you to have the basics down. You’ll face Agni and Rudra. These fire and wind blades are a nightmare because they double-team you. The trick here? Focus on one. If you kill one, the other picks up the fallen sword and becomes a super-powered fire-wind god.
Try to lower their health equally. When one is stunned, hit the other. It sounds complicated because it is. But there’s a secret: if you clash your sword against theirs at the right moment, they get disarmed. This "parry" mechanic is something this devil may cry 3 ps2 walkthrough needs to emphasize—clashing isn't just luck; it’s a timed strike.
The Leviathan’s Belly and Beyond
Mission 8 takes place inside a giant flying whale. It’s weird. It’s gross. It’s classic Capcom. The boss here is the Heart of Leviathan. You aren't fighting a monster so much as a puzzle. The side lungs protect the heart. The left one sucks up your Red Orbs, and the right one drains your Devil Trigger.
Focus on the right lung. You need that Devil Trigger (DT) for the speed boost and health regeneration. Once the heart opens up, unleash everything. If you’ve unlocked the "Stinger" move for Rebellion, spam it. It’s the highest DPS (damage per second) move for a stationary target at this stage of the game.
Vergil: The Ultimate Rivalry
You cannot talk about a devil may cry 3 ps2 walkthrough without talking about the three Vergil fights. Vergil is the antithesis of Dante. He is fast, precise, and he will punish you for "button mashing."
- Mission 7: This is your first encounter on the roof. He uses Yamato. He will teleport. When he says "Slay all," he’s about to use Judgment Cut. Do not try to outrun it; jump. Jumping in DMC3 gives you "i-frames" (invincibility frames) at the start of the animation.
- Mission 13: He adds Beowulf (gauntlets) to his arsenal. He’s heavier and hits harder. This is where Royal Guard experts shine, but for the rest of us mortals, Trickster is still the way to go.
- Mission 20: The final showdown. He uses everything. Force Edge, Yamato, and his own Devil Trigger.
The secret to beating Vergil 3? Patience. You have to wait for him to finish his combo. When he sheathes his sword, that’s your half-second window to strike. If you get greedy and try to land a five-hit combo, he’ll parry you and take half your health bar.
Hidden Mechanics: What the Manual Didn't Tell You
The PS2 version of this game is notorious for its secrets. Did you know you can "jump cancel"? It’s an advanced technique where you jump off an enemy’s head to reset Dante’s animation. This allows for infinite air combos. It’s not required to beat the game, but if you want to look like those pros on YouTube (or what we used to call "combo videos" back in the day), you need to learn this.
Another thing: the Kalina Ann. You get this rocket-launcher from Lady after Mission 16. It’s slow. It’s heavy. But it has incredible "knockback." If you’re being swarmed by those annoying "Enigma" statues that shoot arrows, one rocket will send the whole crowd flying.
Secret Missions and Blue Orbs
Don't skip the glowing red symbols on the walls. These are Secret Missions. Some are easy, like "Eliminate all enemies," while others are sadistic, like "Stay in the air for 20 seconds."
Completing these is the only way to max out your health bar. If you’re struggling with the late-game bosses like Arkham (the big blob monster), you probably need more health. Also, for the Arkham fight in Mission 19, you lose your Style button because Vergil joins you. It feels clunky. The best strategy is to stay mobile and let Vergil do the heavy lifting while you shoot from a distance with the Kalina Ann.
Mastering the Style System
You can only switch Styles at Divinity Statues or between missions in the original PS2 version. This is the biggest difference between the PS2 original and the later "Special Edition" or "HD Collection" versions. You are locked in.
- Trickster: Best for survival. The "Air Trick" (Level 3) lets you teleport to enemies instantly.
- Swordmaster: Best for damage. It adds moves like "Aerial Rave" which lets you combo in mid-air.
- Gunslinger: Honestly, it’s the weakest style for a first run. "Rain Storm" looks cool, but the damage is negligible.
- Royal Guard: The highest skill ceiling in the game. If you time a block perfectly, you take zero damage and build up "Rage." You can then release that rage for a massive counter-attack that can one-shot some mini-bosses.
Essential Items and Orbs
Managing your resources is half the battle. Don't buy Vital Stars unless you are absolutely stuck. The price increases every time you buy one. By the end of the game, a Large Vital Star will cost you a fortune.
Instead, invest your orbs into "Purple Orbs" to increase your Devil Trigger gauge. DT isn't just for extra damage; it’s your panic button. When you activate it, you get a defense boost and you slowly regain health. In a game as punishing as this, that health regen is a godsend.
Weapon Recommendations
You’ll end up with a huge arsenal, but you can only carry two melee weapons and two guns at a time.
- The "Safe" Loadout: Rebellion and Cerberus. You get the range of the sword and the defensive speed of the nunchucks.
- The "Speed" Loadout: Agni & Rudra and Beowulf. High attack speed and massive single-target damage.
- Guns: Always keep Ebony & Ivory. For the second slot, use the Spiral (sniper rifle) for long-range damage or the Kalina Ann for crowd control.
Dealing with the Hell Vanguard and Chess Pieces
The Hell Vanguard (the guy with the big scythe) shows up as a mini-boss and later as a regular enemy. When he disappears into a black mist, he’s about to teleport under you. Jump. It’s always a jump.
Later, you’ll encounter the Chessboard room. It’s a literal game of chess where the pieces want to kill you. Kill the King. If you kill the King, all the other pieces die instantly. Ignore the Pawns and Knights; they are just distractions. Use the Beowulf gauntlets to break the King’s defense quickly.
Closing Strategy for the Final Stretch
By Mission 18, you have to fight almost every boss again in a boss rush. This is the ultimate test of your gear and your memory. You don't have to fight all of them, just enough to light up the symbols on the gate. Choose the bosses you found easiest. For most, that’s Cerberus, Agni & Rudra, and Beowulf. Avoid Geryon (the horse) if you can—it’s a long, tedious fight that drains your resources.
This devil may cry 3 ps2 walkthrough boils down to one truth: persistence. You will die. Dante will get impaled by his own sword (standard Tuesday for him). But every death teaches you a telegraph. You learn that when a boss’s eyes flash red, an attack is coming. You learn that the "Stinger" move is great for closing gaps but leaves you vulnerable if you miss.
Next Steps for Success:
- Grind Mission 1 and 2: If you're low on orbs, these are fast. You can rack up thousands of orbs in minutes to buy those much-needed Blue Orb fragments.
- Learn the "Roll": While jumping has i-frames, the side-roll (R1 + Direction + Jump) is tighter and faster for dodging Vergil’s rapid strikes.
- Customize your Controls: Many pros swap the Gun and Special Attack buttons to make "charging" shots easier while performing sword combos. Give it a try if your thumbs are cramping.
- Watch the Shadows: In this game, the camera is sometimes your worst enemy. If you can't see the enemy, watch the floor for shadows or listen for audio cues. Every enemy has a specific sound they make before attacking.
Stop worrying about the "Easy Mode" unlock. If you die enough times, the game will offer it to you. There's no shame in taking it to learn the patterns, but the real pride comes from seeing that "Hard" or "Dante Must Die" mode cleared on an original PS2 memory card. Keep your style high, your DT full, and don't let Vergil have the last word.