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DmC "Is a reflection of our times": Ninja Theory explains the game's satire

DmC: Devil May Cry is full of humour and satire, but many people didn't get the joke. Regardless, Ninja Theory's twisted take on a world full of subliminal messages, right-wing media and drugged soft drinks isn't too be taken too seriously, even if it was created to loosely mirror some of the failings of modern life as we know it.

Speaking with RPS, Ninja Theory's Dominic Matthews discussed the game's satirical comedy, and how it is presented in the game's world and twisted propaganda, "Satire is a peculiarly British focus. From Spitting Image to Have I Got News for You, we don’t hold back in ridiculing the establishment and getting to the truth through humour. DmC is no different in that regard. It’s a comical satire on the world we live in. It shouldn’t be taken too seriously but it is a reflection of our times”.

Matthews made no attempt to shrug off references to the Rowdy Roddy Piper flick 'They Live', in which subliminal messaging is thrown at humans constantly, and explained that DmC's activist group 'The Order' as well as nods to the idea of fighting back - as depicted by Dante's aptly-named sword 'Rebellion' - are about the need to rebel within the game world, and shouldn't be stacked parallel against agendas or cases of activism in real life.

They are themes that should get people thinking, as Matthews suggested, "Our games are being played by intelligent adults, so there is no reason why we can’t treat them as such.”

On The Order and what it stands for Matthews added, "We thought about what tools a small resistance group like the Order would use to fight back. The themes presented shouldn’t be taken as Ninja Theory’s political stance or us trying to say one thing or another. We’re representing how we believe an organisation like The Order would operate in our world.”

What's your take on the messages within DmC's world? Do they have a poignant political sub-text, or are they just to be taken as fun? Let us know below.

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DmC: Devil May Cry

PS3, Xbox 360, PC

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Dave Cook avatar

Dave Cook

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Dave worked on VG247 for an extended period manging much of the site's news output. As well as his experience in games media, he writes for comics, and now specializes in books about gaming history.

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