Sure it does. The fact that the lightning fast canceling and complex freeform combos in that video aren't possible in DmC suggests a major disparity between the combat systems of the two games. Experts aren't the only players who benefit from snappy controls, quick movement, and a huge move list that promotes experimentation and supports any play style.
There are still 'complex' free form combo's in DmC even if the ceiling is lower and they;re easier to initiate. There's not even a '
major' disparity per say, it's still a combo game with cancelling. It's absolutely still a 'stylish action game'.
DMC is a stylish action series, period. Platforming is tedious filler that's only interesting the first time you do it, and loads of linear platforming is DmC's only substantial addition to the formula it stripped down and simplified.
But a part of the problem, as the franchise went on, is that the majority of people weren't
that stylish. The barrier to entry to even approach something paling in comparison to the youtube 1% players is still massive. That, along with the tunnel vision, is what DmC is trying to address.
Then they'll have to wait for a different game, because more platforming + simplistic combat doesn't equal a well rounded experience. And a so-called well rounded experience isn't what anyone should expect from a stylish action title anyway. You're implying it's a bad thing for games to specialize, but that's exactly what subgenres are for: games that are narrow in scope but extremely polished and deep within those confines.
Specialization to the degree that DMC ended up is a problem and was holding the franchise back, and really, broadening the experience slightly, harkening back to the more well rounded DMC1, is probably not even a bad thing for a decent amount of DMC fans.
If Capcom wanted to make DMC more accessible, they could have included a comprehensive training mode, MVC3-style combo challenges, a practice room with tons of options for enemy spawns and player traits, and a bunch of short tutorial missions. That would have made a lot more sense than throwing away or diluting everything that made the series special.
Or they could have expanded elements around the combat itself which is what they've done. I think we could see more options and even more free form combo branches in the eventual sequel. Even bringing it mechanically closer to DMC4. Just adding tutorials for how to combo etc wouldn't have done as much as what they went with.
Watch some
Truestyle Tournament videos on YouTube to have your mind blown.
Mind blown? Why exactly? Seriously though I'm not denying they're impressive; they look really nice and have some very high skill requirements, but so what for the 99%? I'm sure DmC will have some impressive vids as well given time. Sure it won't be quite as technically involved in doing so, but maybe DmC2 will get there on the upper end with all the added platforming and optional mission events giving a bit more meat.
