[quote]Except what is shown in cutscenes doesn't really deviate from what's possible in-game.[/quote]

Funny. Last time I let some mooks hit me, i saw my life meter drop a considerable amount, but when it happens in cut scenes it's a "walk it off" situation at the very worst. In the opening cut scene for DMC 3, all the scythes Dante takes at once would kill you unless you had multiple health upgrades, but he pretends they're not even there, and even weaponizes them. He's basically got high speed regeneration and isn't bothered by most anything unless he takes a ton of punishment over a long period of time. 

Seriously, there is a definite segregation of story narrative and gameplay mechanics.