I know this would take the difficulty away, but it would have been an interesting mechanic if griffon and shadow were unable to take Dante below 1hp. That would have fit with the lore and the mechanics v had

Not complaining too hard, feels like it's just kind of a missed opportunity. It would have added a lot of emotional depth to it and make it sadder than it already was. Watching griffon die was incredibly sad, now imagine him dying while litteraly standing no chance. (I know Dante's deaths by our hands is non Canon I just feel like doing it this way would have added some weight.)

...nightmare could prolly still kick his ass tho