Vergil

Editor's Note: This entry contains spoilers for the Devil May Cry series; read at your own caution.

About

Vergil is a recurring character of the long-running hack-and-slash video game series Devil May Cry by Capcom. The character's first appearance stems from the original DMC game released in 2001, and Vergil has since appeared in other titles as a recurring antagonist. He gained a notorious reputation for his one-liners, moves and inside jokes within the fanbase, as well as being featured in various memes.

Origin

Vergil debuted in the first Devil May Cry, released on August 23rd, 2001, where he's possessed by the archenemy of his father, Mundus.^[1] Here he takes the name of "Nelo Angelo," and after the last fight against Dante, it's revealed they both have the same amulet and are brothers.

Vergil's second appearance in the series occurs in the prequel, Devil May Cry 3, which fleshed out the character even further to show his relationship with his brother. Over the course of the game's storyline, it's revealed that Vergil is seeking more power and rejects his humanity, unlike Dante. This distinction between the two sets up Vergil as a recurring antagonist, which continues in Devil May Cry 5. In 2006 with the re-release of Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening Special Edition, Vergil was made into a completely unique character that players could control over the course of the story.^[2]

Online Presence

Vergil gained fame for being one of the best boss fights and rivals in video game history, to the point that it inspired characters in other franchises to similarly contrast protagonists with their counterparts. His fame has also been the source of several jokes, including memes referencing Vergil, especially his iconic lines throughout the series.

Related Memes

"Now I'm Motivated"

"Now I'm motivated" is a phrase uttered during the boss fights against Vergil in Devil May Cry 3, usually when players deal an overwhelming amount of damage, but also in achievements for the game.^[3] The quote went on to spawn numerous memes and references from fans (seen below).

"I Need More POWER"

"I need more POWER" is another famous line and one of the main themes of Vergil in Devil May Cry 3. Taken from all three boss fights in the game, this quote has also been frequently referenced in memes since the game's release (shown below).

The quote was similarly uttered by the Time Force Quantum Ranger in Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid, who shared the same voice actor, Daniel Southworth. The difference between the two is that he said "I need more Quantum Power," right before he pulls out a sword just like Vergil in DMC (seen below).

"Easy Mode is Now Selectable"

"Easy Mode is now selectable" refers to an option that becomes available when the player dies too many times in Devil May Cry 3. This reference has since been associated more with Vergil due to the much higher difficulty compared to the other bosses in the game, which became a common theme in various memes online (shown below).

Special Edition Treatment

Special Edition Treatment refers to when Vergil became a playable character in the special edition of Devil May Cry 3, but also when he was added as a fighter in the ultimate edition of Marvel vs Capcom 3, released in 2011.^[4] This reference started to become a running joke in the fan base when the special edition of Devil May Cry 4 came out in 2015, only to become even more embraced when the Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition trailer dropped on September 16th, 2020 (seen below).

Bury the Light / I AM THE STORM THAT IS APPROACHING

Bury the Light / I Am the Storm that is Approaching refers to the official theme song for Vergil in the special edition trailer of Devil May Cry 5. The song quickly became a massive hit with most uploads of it reaching over a million views. It spawned several memes later on, with some of the most popular from the Spongebob Squarepants series (shown below).

Various Examples

Search Interest

External References