Ever feel like a particular game or challenge just *won't* let you go? That nagging feeling that a record is within reach, but for some reason, it remains elusive. For years, the speedrunning community for *Devil May Cry* has been chasing a seemingly impossible goal: a 100% completion world record on Dante Must Die difficulty in the original game. This wasn't just any speedrun; it was a legendary quest, a testament to dedication that spanned two decades. Today, we're diving deep into the incredible story of the runner who finally conquered this ultimate challenge and breaking down exactly *how* they did it.
Introduction: The Unbreakable Record
For over two decades, the speedrunning community has celebrated the iconic *Devil May Cry* series. Its stylish combat, challenging difficulties, and deep mechanics make it a prime candidate for extreme optimization and record-breaking attempts. Yet, within this vibrant community, one specific challenge stood as a titan, seemingly insurmountable: the Dante Must Die 100% completion run. This wasn't about simply beating the game fast; it was about achieving absolute perfection across every single mission, collecting every item, and defeating every enemy, all on the game's hardest setting. The original release of *Devil May Cry* was in 2001, and for twenty long years, no one had officially submitted a completed world record for this specific category. That is, until now.
This is the story of that relentless pursuit, the incredible dedication of a runner named Slickford, and the deep dive into the strategies that finally unlocked this legendary feat.
The Dante Must Die 100% Challenge
What makes the Dante Must Die (DMD) 100% run so notoriously difficult? Let's break it down.
* **Dante Must Die Difficulty:** This isn't just a slight increase in enemy health. DMD significantly buffs enemy aggression, damage output, and introduces new attack patterns. Enemies become relentless, punishing even the smallest mistakes with swift and brutal efficiency. For a speedrun, where every second counts, surviving these onslaughts while maintaining optimal movement and combat is a monumental task.
* **100% Completion:** This is where the true grind comes in. It means completing *every* mission, finding *every* secret, collecting *every* red orb, *every* yellow orb, *every* vital star, and defeating *all* mandatory enemies, including bosses. In a game designed with optional paths and secrets, achieving this while simultaneously going as fast as possible requires an intimate knowledge of the game's layout and enemy placements.
* **The Combination:** Merging these two elements creates a perfect storm of difficulty. You need the resilience to survive DMD encounters, the meticulous planning for 100% item collection, and the execution speed to shave milliseconds off every action. For years, runners would get close, but a single mistake, a missed item, or an unlucky enemy spawn could derail a run that had taken hours.
Enter Slickford: The Man Who Refused to Quit
The world record for the DMD 100% run in the original *Devil May Cry* now belongs to a runner known as **Slickford**. His journey to this #1 spot wasn't a sudden breakthrough; it was the culmination of years of practice, dedication, and an unwavering belief that the record was achievable.
Many runners tackle speedruns with the goal of a single category, but Slickford's commitment to this specific, incredibly demanding run is what sets him apart. He meticulously studied the game, experimented with countless strategies, and faced the frustration of near-perfect runs ending in devastating mistakes.
"There were so many times I thought I had it, only for one bad combo or a missed orb to cost me minutes. It's a test of mental fortitude as much as it is skill." - Slickford (paraphrased)
His persistence highlights a core tenet of speedrunning: never give up. Even when facing a challenge that has eluded the community for two decades, the drive to improve and eventually succeed is what fuels these incredible achievements.
Mastering the Missions: Key Strategies and Skips
To understand how Slickford achieved this world record, we need to dissect the run mission by mission. The provided timestamped breakdown offers a granular look at his strategy. While a full analysis of every single frame-skip and enemy manipulation would require a full gameplay video commentary, we can highlight key strategic elements that are crucial for any 100% DMD run.
Mission 1: The Foundation
The opening mission sets the tone. For a 100% run, the focus here is on efficient enemy clearing and ensuring all accessible red or orb clusters are collected. Early game execution is vital as it builds a foundational orb count necessary for later upgrades and healing. Slickford's approach here likely involves optimal weapon switching and crowd-control patterns to clear the initial waves without taking unnecessary damage.
Mission 2: Early Aggression
Mission 2 often involves navigating more complex environments and facing tougher early-game enemies. The key here is to maintain momentum from Mission 1, utilizing upgraded or more potent early-game combos to dispatch foes quickly. Efficient traversal through the gothic architecture is also paramount.
Mission 3: Navigating the Labyrinth
This mission can be a maze. For a 100% run, precise navigation is essential to avoid backtracking and ensure all orb caches are secured. Slickford would have likely memorized the most direct route that also encompasses all mandatory item pickups.
Special Bonus: The Secret to Efficiency
The "Special Bonus" sections in *Devil May Cry* often involve unique challenges or combat encounters that can be exploited for resources. In a 100% run, these aren't just diversions; they are vital opportunities to farm orbs and potentially gain a slight advantage for the subsequent missions. Mastering the specific requirements of these bonus stages is key.
Mission 4: Facing the Undead
Mission 4 typically pits Dante against hordes of weaker, but numerous, demonic enemies. Crowd control abilities, such as area-of-effect attacks or rapid multi-hit combos, are crucial here. The goal is to clear these waves as quickly as possible, minimizing downtime and damage taken.
Mission 5: The Gauntlet
As the game progresses, missions become more demanding. Mission 5 might feature more elite enemies or complex combat arenas. Slickford's strategy would focus on identifying the most efficient combat patterns and weapon choices to overcome these challenges with speed and minimal risk.
Mission 6: Mastering Aerial Combat
*Devil May Cry*'s combat system shines in the air. Mission 6 might require significant aerial juggling and stylish combos to defeat enemies effectively. Mastering air combos and using weapons like the Alastor or Ifrit (if applicable in the original DMC's progression) for maximum damage output would be critical.
Mission 7: The First Boss Hurdle
Boss fights are always a major bottleneck in speedruns. Mission 7 often introduces a significant boss. For a 100% run on DMD, this requires not just defeating the boss but doing so efficiently while potentially having to manage adds or environmental hazards. Exploiting boss weaknesses and attack patterns is paramount.
Intermission 1: Resetting the Pace
Intermission segments often serve as a brief respite or a transition. In a speedrun context, they represent moments to re-evaluate, potentially use collected orbs for upgrades if the category allows, or simply prepare for the next set of challenges.
Mission 8: Into the Depths
Deeper into the game, environments often become more treacherous and enemies more resilient. Mission 8 might feature unique enemy types or environmental puzzles that require specific strategies to overcome quickly.
Mission 9: Enemy Variety
As the demonic forces escalate, so does the variety of enemies. Mission 9 likely demands adaptability, requiring Slickford to switch tactics and weapon loadouts on the fly to counter different enemy types effectively.
Mission 10: The Art of Crowd Control
With larger groups of tougher enemies, efficient crowd control becomes essential. Using abilities that can hit multiple targets, stun them, or keep them at bay is vital to prevent being overwhelmed on DMD.
Mission 11: Precision and Patience
Some missions require a delicate balance. Mission 11 might involve navigating hazardous areas or facing enemies that demand precise timing and defensive maneuvers rather than pure aggression.
Mission 12: Boss Rush Prep
Towards the latter half of the game, boss encounters become more frequent and challenging. Mission 12 might be a precursor to a series of tough fights, meaning players need to conserve resources and health as much as possible.
Mission 13: The Fire Element
DMC often features elemental themes. Mission 13 might involve enemies or environments tied to fire, requiring specific strategies or weapon choices (like the Ifrit) to deal with effectively.
Intermission 2: Mid-Game Strategy
This second intermission offers another chance to regroup. By this stage, a runner would have a good understanding of their orb count and potentially have access to key upgrades. Strategic use of these resources can make a significant difference in the remaining missions.
Mission 14: The Phantom Challenge
Bosses like Phantom often present unique movement and attack patterns that demand specific counters. Slickford would have perfected a strategy to quickly defeat this boss, likely involving specific combos and dodging patterns.
Mission 15: Environmental Hazards
Missions with environmental hazards add another layer of complexity. Navigating lava, falling platforms, or other dangers while fighting enemies requires heightened awareness and precise movement.
Mission 16: Necro-Mastery
Enemies like the Necromancer require specific tactics to defeat efficiently. Disrupting their summoning abilities and dealing high damage quickly is key to preventing the arena from becoming overwhelmed.
Mission 17: The Sky Battle
Aerial combat often culminates in missions like this, possibly involving flying enemies or arenas that heavily favor air-time. Mastering Dante's aerial mobility and combat options is crucial.
Mission 18: The Frosty Foes
Similar to fire, ice-based enemies or environments often require different approaches. Slickford would need strategies to counter freezing attacks and deal damage effectively against these types of foes.
Mission 19: Intense Combat Arenas
Later game missions often feature intense, multi-wave combat arenas designed to test a player's endurance and skill on DMD. Clearing these quickly and efficiently is vital for maintaining a good time.
Mission 20: The Spider Queen
Bosses like the Spider Queen ( a common archetype in DMC) have distinct attack patterns and vulnerable phases. Slickford's run would depend on exploiting these phases for maximum damage output.
Mission 21: Trickster Tactics
Some missions might heavily favor the Trickster style for evasion and positioning. Slickford would likely integrate Trickster's dodges and air-jumps to navigate the mission flawlessly.
Mission 22: The Final Gauntlet
As the game nears its end, missions become increasingly difficult, often throwing multiple bosses or elite enemy types at the player in quick succession. This section demands peak performance and a flawless understanding of the game's mechanics.
Mission 23: The Ultimate Showdown
The final boss of *Devil May Cry* is the ultimate test. On DMD, with the pressure of a 20-year-old world record on the line, the execution needs to be perfect. Slickford's strategy here would involve exploiting every weakness and executing the most damaging combos possible to end the run decisively.
Epilogue: A New Era in DMC Speedrunning
Slickford's achievement is more than just a personal victory; it's a landmark moment for the entire *Devil May Cry* speedrunning community. It proves that even the most daunting, long-standing records can be broken with enough dedication, ingenuity, and sheer willpower. This run sets a new benchmark for future speedrunners tackling this category and inspires countless others to push their limits in their favorite games. The pursuit of perfection in gaming continues, and this 20-year quest is a shining example of that enduring spirit.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What makes the Dante Must Die difficulty so hard in the original Devil May Cry?
DMD increases enemy aggression, damage, and introduces new attack patterns. Enemies are significantly tougher and more relentless, punishing any mistake severely.
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Why did it take 20 years to set the world record for DMC 100% DMD?
The combination of needing absolute perfection for 100% item collection and the extreme difficulty of DMD made the run incredibly demanding. Mistakes were costly, and finding optimal strategies for every segment took immense time and effort from the community.
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Who is Slickford and why is his achievement significant?
Slickford is the runner who finally set the world record for the Devil May Cry 100% Dante Must Die speedrun. His accomplishment is significant because it broke a record that had stood for two decades, inspiring other runners.
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What is the difference between a standard speedrun and a 100% speedrun?
A standard speedrun typically focuses on reaching the end credits as fast as possible. A 100% speedrun requires collecting all in-game items, completing all objectives, and defeating all mandatory enemies, in addition to finishing the game as quickly as possible.
We invite you to share your thoughts on this incredible run in the comments below! Did you ever attempt this challenge yourself? What are your favorite DMC speedrunning moments? Join our Discord server to connect with fellow gamers and speedrunners!
