The first time I played Devil May Cry- the original back when it was an original series/idea, I got hung up on the first boss. This came at a time when blistering difficulty was not something a game just had. I was so determined cause I could tell there was a great story behind this thing, and I just had to HAVE it! So I grinded those marionette men until I could afford as many green orbs as I could, and the biggest Devil Trigger bar as possible, without driving myself insane with grinding, and I beat that lava asshole into the ground (which is also where he retreated).
Now when I go back to him, he's one of my favorite boss battles still... and I wish he was harder.