The term "character action" (or "spectacle fighter") is dominated by giants like Bayonetta, Metal Gear Rising, and the titular Devil May Cry. Indie attempts often falter due to budget or scope. Pretty Warrior May Cry Enhanced Edition is a rare success because it understands the genre’s soul: style over efficiency.
You could kill a Gloom Wraith with three basic sword swings. But why do that when you can launch it into the air, swap to Sorrow Stance for a mid-air blade wheel, switch to Rage on landing for a ground pound, then activate Cry Mode to finish with a beam of pure, screaming light? The Enhanced Edition’s combo scoring system now rewards variety with a "Pretty Rank" (ranging from Drab to Glamorous to Flawless Cry).
Moreover, the game understands that difficulty should be encouraging, not punishing. The new "Assist Glimmer" mode highlights enemy telegraphed attacks in gold and allows for one-button auto-combos—perfect for newcomers to the genre. Veterans can toggle "World of Tears" mode, which removes all healing items and makes each enemy hit drain your style meter. Pretty Warrior May Cry Enhanced Edition
The original had one basic combo meter. The Enhanced Edition introduces the Sorrow Style System, borrowing from Devil May Cry’s style-switching but with an emotional twist.
Lilia now has four stances, each tied to a different emotional state: The term "character action" (or "spectacle fighter") is
Switching stances mid-combo is not just encouraged—it’s required for higher difficulties. The Enhanced Edition adds a practice mode with frame-data displays to master stance-dancing, a feature the original desperately needed.
| Rank | Name | GG multiplier | Unlock | |------|------|---------------|--------| | D | Drab | 0.8x | – | | C | Cute | 1.0x | – | | B | Bright | 1.2x | Small heal on kill | | A | Alluring | 1.5x | Faster taunt | | S | Shining | 2.0x | Air dodge reset | | SS | Superstar | 3.0x | Idol Mode ready | | SSS | Eternal Encore | 4.0x | Full heal + screen nuke (once per stage) | | Action | Input | |--------|-------| | Light
Tip: Taunt near 3+ enemies at A rank → instant SS.
| Action | Input | |--------|-------| | Light Attack (Slash) | □ / X / LMB | | Heavy Attack (Pose) | △ / Y / RMB | | Style Action (Taunt / Flip) | ○ / B / F | | Transformation (Glitter Mode) | R1 + L1 / LB+RB / Q+E | | Parry / Mirror Deflect | L2 / LT / Shift+RMB | | Weapon Swap | D-pad Left/Right / 1-2 |
The most immediately noticeable change is graphical. The original used a muted color palette with flat lighting, which often clashed with its vibrant character designs. The Enhanced Edition rebuilds the rendering pipeline from the ground up.