The fact that Dante's brother Vergil goes on to become a villain should be no surprise to anyone who has played Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening. In that game's finale, it is established that these two brothers were once close. While Devil May Cry 3 gives you an idea of why Vergil is the way he is, the idea isn't explored with as much care as it is in DmC: Devil May Cry, and more specifically, in this add-on, Vergil's Downfall. This expansion isn't as memorable or as fun as the core game on which it is based, but it's worth it if you want more DmC.

DmC: Devil May Cry - Vergil's Downfall picks up right where DmC ended. Vergil's intentions to rule the world with Dante at his side have backfired tremendously; Dante's refusal resulted in a brutal fight that ended with Vergil with Rebellion in his chest. Only Kat's intervention persuaded Dante to spare his ambitious twin. However, Vergil has completely alienated his two closest friends by divulging his plans for domination. This is the story of his descent into madness and evil. The story is told through a number of striking hand-drawn cutscenes that reminded me of Ashley Wood's work on Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops. The story itself is kind of a fuzzy mess, and it's probably by design; all of this action is presumably taking place in Vergil's mind as he pursues visions of his mother and brother.

Vergil plays differently than Dante, and not for the better. Their fighting styles are fundamentally different, and my preference for Dante's wild swings and leaps over Vergil's carefully calculated swipes cannot be overstated. Vergil's movements seem to carry a sense of economy to them; he seems only willing to move as much as it takes to get the job done. Many of his abilities overlap Dante's; his summoned swords act as both projectile weapons and platform-traversal tool. It's still recognizably DmC, but the experience is fundamentally changed by the subtle differences that Vergil brings to the table.

DmC: Devil May Cry - Vergil's Downfall is oddly priced at 720 Microsoft Points, or $8.99. Since this offering is essentially an extra campaign, I can recommend it pretty easily. It might not play as well as the core game, and its story isn't as engaging, but it's much longer than most add-ons and feels just different enough to make it worth your attention.