Nero (Devil May Cry)

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Nero was created by the Capcom staff as a new protagonist who would develop across the Devil May Cry series because Dante had become stronger with each game. Originally a weak character, he develops new powers (primarily through his Devil Bringer ability) until he reaches Dante's level. Nero was also introduced to attract new gamers to the franchise.^[1] The Devil Bringer was originally intended to be part of Dante's mechanics, but the staff found that the games would be more interesting if a character who cannot transform into a demon develops a demonic arm. During their development, Capcom wanted to keep Nero's characteristics (except for Kyrie being his love interest) secret.^[2] Bingo Morihashi was inspired to write Nero's story by manga artist Ramo Nakajima in the Amagasaki City series: "I love you, so I protect the city you love". Love is the focus of the Devil May Cry series, and Devil May Cry 4 focuses on Nero's love for Kyrie. The staff were satisfied with Morihashi's simple story, similar to Hollywood films about a damsel in distress.^[3]

Fearing negative feedback similar to what followed the replacement of protagonist Solid Snake by newcomer Raiden in Konami's stealth game Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, producer Hiroyuki Kobayashi said that Capcom intended to make Nero fun to play compared with Dante and the team aimed to make him stronger.^[4] Kobayashi described Nero as "characteristically wild, quite immature, young, and very passionate ... kind of a rebel."^[5] Yuichiro Hiraki was one of the ones who came up with ideas for Nero's character based on notes from Kobayashi as the staff wanted the new game to feel more innovative. Hiraki wanted Nero to be a violent character as reflected on the way he handles swordsmanship. Hiraki consulted with director Hideaki Itsuno on other traits suitable for the new protagonist. Like in the first Devil May Cry, Hiraki worked with the two motion actors.^[6]

Capcom originally planned to name their new character after the French sculptor Auguste Rodin, who created The Gates of Hell from Dante Alighieri's Inferno, and the work makes demons spawn in the human world in Devil May Cry 4. However, the team later wanted a simpler name (similar to Dante and Vergil). Writer Morihashi Bingo persuaded the staff to use the name of the Roman emperor; according to Bingo, the similarities between Nero and the name of Vergil's alter ego (Nelo Angelo) were coincidental and there is no connection between the characters. Most of Nero's moves were named after casino terms, which Morihashi thought would suit the character's personality.^[7]

In Devil May Cry 5, Nero's gameplay emphasizes his anger at how Dante first treats him. The game's climax, where Nero awakens his demonic powers and ends the struggle between Dante and Vergil, was meant to give the story depth. Nero's new powers' availability near the game's end intended to enhance its replay value and emphasize the power Nero needs to face Vergil; he could not defeat his alter ego, Urizen, at the beginning of the game.^[8] Itsuno claimed that while Dante and V get power ups in Devil May Cry 5 during mid areas of the game, which he finds common in gaming, he wanted Nero to awake these powers for the final fight. Nero's relationship with Dante and Vergil was inspired by a mecha anime Itsuno watched as a child. Vergil was based on the protagonist's missing father who makes a sudden appearance with a giant robot that targets his family: Nero and Dante.^[9]

Nero was designed by Tatsuya Yoshikawa, who researched the entire Devil May Cry series. Yoshikawa was satisfied with Nero's appearance, believing that he fits the series' world.^[10] Nero's appearance underwent several changes during the development of Devil May Cry 4; although early designs looked more like Vergil, the final design resembled Dante.^[11] Capcom wanted to balance the traits of Nero and Dante, the game's two playable characters. Nero was created to be weak due to his youth, and Dante seems more experienced; existing fans would prefer playing Dante.^[12] Capcom had planned another Devil May Cry game, in which Nero would return and might team up with Dante, but first wanted to see fan response to Devil May Cry 4.^[13]

Yoshikawa also created the Devil Trigger (魔人化), another devil transformation, for Nero. Unlike Dante's transformation (which makes him look like a devil), Nero's Devil Trigger generates a creature behind his back. One prototype (which did not appear in the game) turned Nero into a demon like Dante, with his hood covering one eye.^[14]

Nero's redesign for Devil May Cry 5 was intended to contrast with Dante's older look.^[15] Since Nero's name means "black" in Italian, he was given black clothing.^[16] Capcom used an older incarnation of Nero, so he would be "at the top of his game in body and mind".^[17] Because the game's graphics are meant to be as realistic as possible, Nero's face was modeled on actor Karlo Baker.^{[citation needed]} Fans wondered if Nero was related to Dante or Vergil, as in Devil May Cry 4, Nero is said to be a descendant of Sparda (Dante and Vergil's father) based on their similarities and the Devil Trigger, Nero's power-up which makes him resemble Vergil's devil form. In June 2018, Capcom said that Nero is Vergil's son.^[18] Capcom replaced Nero's Devil Bringer with the Devil Breaker, a prosthetic arm useful in combat.^{[citation needed]} Purchasers of the Devil May Cry 5 deluxe edition received four Devil Breaker weapons for Nero, including a Mega Buster based on Mega Man 11.^[19]

Nero was voiced by Johnny Yong Bosch, who enjoyed playing Ichigo Kurosaki from Bleach and Vash the Stampede from Trigun but considers Nero his favorite. He went to Japan to do the character's motion capture.^[20] Before his debut, Bosch was familiar with the series, having played the first Devil May Cry. While he enjoyed Dante's character, he wanted Nero to be different personality wise despite his similar physical appearances. As a result, he considers Nero as a character he relates due to how close he was to the role. Bosch is also in charge of doing the motion capture which he originally challenging back in his debut due to some over the top actions the stunt had to make. The voiceover had to be redone during the making of the game. Although Devil May Cry 5 is a sequel, Bosch did three auditions to reprise his roles due to the large time the game took to be made.^[21] In regards to Nero's bloodline, Bosch found that Devil May Cry 4 made it obvious that Nero was Vergil's son but still look forward to how their relationship would be explored in the sequel.^[22]

In the Japanese version of Devil May Cry 4: Special Edition (an updated version of Devil May Cry 4), Nero was voiced by Kaito Ishikawa.^[23] Although Ishikawa tried to follow Bosch's work when dubbing the character to understand Nero's personality, he found it difficult because he did not know English. He had no previous experience with the series before working on Special Edition, but was encouraged by his friends. Ishikawa met Dante's Japanese voice actor, Toshiyuki Morikawa, during recording; they interacted many times, and Morikawa helped him understand the franchise. Ishikawa understood the game better as he worked because it was translated into Japanese (which might attract more fans), and he appreciated the experience.^[24]

He described Nero as a character who encompasses the universal "naughty young boy". Nero's interactions with enemies differ significantly from Dante's, and Ishikawa believed that Nero is taking his own path rather than following Dante's. He enjoyed the relationship between the two characters, which he brought into recording the game. Nero tries to act stylishly when facing his enemies (unlike Dante), and Ishikawa noted Morikawa's work.^[25]

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In the fourth installment of the Devil May Cry series, Nero is injured protecting his childhood friend Kyrie from a pack of demons.^[26] At a later mass at the Order of the Sword, Nero's injured arm becomes the Devil Bringer when Kyrie is endangered. With a lone-wolf reputation, Nero is given a mission to find and capture Dante.^[27] He learns that the influx of demons on the island was arranged by Sanctus, who was resurrected as a demon by Order scientist Agnus. Nero is revealed as Sparda's descendant, convincing Sanctus to use Kyrie as bait to force Nero to assume the role he intended for Dante. Dante sabotages Sanctus's plans, freeing Nero so he can save Kyrie and destroy Sanctus and the Savior.^[28] Nero parts on good terms with Dante, who convinces him to keep Yamato.^[29]

A Devil May Cry 4 novel by Bingo Morihashi expands Nero's background. Found as an infant in Fortuna, he is bullied by other children who call his mother a prostitute. Nero is taken in by Credo and Kyrie's family and later joins the Order of the Sword, often working alone to defeat demons. Dante says that he has fun with Nero because he reminds him of his brother, Vergil, although he cannot understand why.^[30][7]

In Devil May Cry 5, Nero has started a mobile branch of Dante's Devil May Cry business to provide for Kyrie and working with Agnus' daughter Nico. His life is uprooted when a mysterious figure rips his Devil Bringer arm off for the Yamato.^[31] Nero is outfitted with the prosthetic Devil Breaker arm and pursues the figure to Red Grave City, where he rejoins Dante and meets the mysterious V.^[32][33] It is revealed that V and Urizen are splintered halves of Vergil, who took Nero's arm and is his father.^[34] Nero decides to stop the brothers' fight, and overpowers Vergil with his awakened Devil Trigger.^[35] This convinces Dante and Vergil to entrust him with the world's safety, and they trap themselves in the Underworld to destroy the Qliphoth and end the chaos caused by Urizen.^[36] The light novel Devil May Cry 5 Before the Nightmare explores the character's actions between his appearances.^[37]

Nero was scheduled to appear in the fighting game Tatsunoko vs. Capcom, but did not due to time constraints.^[38] He is mentioned in Marvel vs. Capcom 3 by Deadpool, interacting with Dante.^[39] In Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, Vergil has a color scheme based on Nero in DMC4. In Street Fighter V, Nero is an alternate design for Ed.^[40] Nero was added to Teppen as a playable character in October 2019 as part of its "The Devils Awaken" expansion, he was initially announced during the 2019 Tokyo Game Show.^[41]