Devil May Cry 3 is the Canon Origin Story

When it comes to the Devil May Cry series, figuring out the canon timeline can be confusing for fans. With prequels, reboots, and retcons across the games, determining the true canon order is tricky. But after deep analysis as a longtime DMC expert, I can definitively say Devil May Cry 3: Dante‘s Awakening is the canon origin story in the timeline. Here‘s a comprehensive look at the canon games and the evidence behind DMC3 as the definitive start to the series.

Overview of Canon Devil May Cry Games

Let‘s first recap which Devil May Cry games are considered canon:

• Devil May Cry 3: Dante‘s Awakening (2005) – A prequel centered on a young Dante meeting Vergil
• Devil May Cry (2001) – The first game released chronologically after DMC3
• Devil May Cry: The Animated Series (2007) – Directly follows DMC1 and introduces Morrison
• Devil May Cry 4 (2008) – Stars Nero, later revealed as Vergil‘s son
• Devil May Cry 5 (2019) – Most recent entry, Dante/Nero/V team up 5 years after DMC4

The only non-canon entry is the reboot DmC: Devil May Cry (2013) which takes place in an alternate universe.

Now let‘s dive deeper into why DMC3 stands out as the origin.

DMC3 Explores Dante‘s Early Years

As a prequel, DMC3 depicts a young Dante before the events of the later games. Chronologically it comes first, showing Dante as a teen unlocking his demonic powers for the first time. Set before Dante opens his demon-hunting shop, we see his origins as he first encounters his brother Vergil and battles a demon tower unleashed by their father Sparda.

DMC3 establishes key backstory like Dante and Vergil‘s rivalry, their demon-human heritage from Sparda, and Dante‘s cocky lone wolf personality that evolves over the series. As the intro to the iconic character and universe, DMC3 contains the DNA that flows through the whole canon timeline.

Gritty Prequel Tone Shows Early Dante

Beyond chronology, DMC3‘s tone and style supports it as the thematic starting point for the canon. The gritty gothic environments and hardcore heavy metal soundtrack match a young, edgy Dante. He hasn‘t matured into the ultra-confident hero of later games yet. DMC3 captures Dante‘s raw, rebellious energy as a fledgling demon hunter.

DMC creator Hideki Kamiya said DMC3‘s younger Dante was inspired by Kurt Cobain. The grunge aesthetic in Dante‘s design and attitude grounds him as a troubled, punkish teen – a fitting intro to contrast his later development.

Launched the Stylish Action Combat Style

Most importantly, DMC3 introduced the series‘ signature stylish action combat. Later entries obviously built on this foundation, but DMC3 innovated the fast-paced, stylish battling for the first time.

DMC3 let players actively switch between weapons and combat styles mid-fight. The style ranking system rewarded skillful play, from D onwards up to the coveted SSS rank. These concepts became franchise staples, but DMC3 established them in a major evolution from DMC1‘s combat. As the pioneer and indicator of what was to come, DMC3 clearly launched the canon combat identity.

Sales and Reviews Support Prequel Status

Looking beyond story and combat, DMC3‘s strong sales and reviews reaffirm its status as the starting point:

• Sold 1.3 million copies worldwide as of early 2006
• 84 critic average on Metacritic (vs DMC1‘s 94)
• Often considered among the best action games of all time

For a prequel, DMC3 held its own and was well received by fans and critics. It didn‘t quite surpass the novelty of the original, but excelling as a prequel supports DMC3 kickstarting the canon.

The Canon Story Begins With DMC3

In summary, I believe the in-universe chronology and real world releases prove Devil May Cry 3: Dante‘s Awakening to be the true canon origin story. As the first meeting of Dante and Vergil, establishment of the stylish action gameplay, and a gritty prequel tone, DMC3 comes first and sets the stage for the later canonical entries. The hero‘s journey must start somewhere – for Devil May Cry, that place is DMC3.

Let me know if you have any other questions about the Devil May Cry canon timeline or games! I‘m always happy to chat more about this iconic action series.