Devil May Cry 4

"“An excellent game, Lives up to it’s name.”"

“An excellent game, Lives up to it's name.”

I am a huge Devil May Cry fan, and I was looking forward to this game for a long time. I was not disappointed.

Gameplay. 9.5/10

The good ol' stylish fighting from the other games is back, and it's back with a vengeance. This game has fast paced action and epic fights. The monsters vary from combo fodder scarecrows, to ethereal, cloaked Mephistos, to quicker-than-the-eye Blitzes. And we're not even to the bosses yet. Ranging from fiery giants, to deceptive demon toads, to…. Well, that's a plot spoiler. Suffice it to say, it gets better and better. Now, on to the characters you play with. Lets start with the newcomer, Nero.

Nero may look a lot the previous games protagonist, Dante, but he stands on his own in this game with plenty of style and a couple new ideas for the genre. He has a nifty, motorcycle-enhanced sword that flames when revved, adding a whole new level of game play to DMC. And then we see his Devil Bringer arm, a glowing blue appendage that can do anything from pulling your enemies nearer to you, to slamming them into the ground from 20 feet up. He gets another weapon later on, but due to spoiler purposes, I can only say you will be using it a lot, with gusto. His only downside is his gun. It's fairly weak, even on easy, making it close to worthless in the harder difficulty levels.

And then we get Dante back, as much a badass as ever. Nero, as cool and strong as he is, can't compare to when it comes to pure awesomeness. Dante has several weapons and guns, and although I can't mention any names, it's more than enough to keep you occupied with killing demons in style. He also has the good ol' devil trigger from previous games, in which you can unleash even more demon slaughter on the evil masses. All in all, Dante is a joy to play with.

The only reason game play doesn't get a 10, is the large amount of backtracking. I personally like it, but most people don't, so there you go.

Story 6/10

This is by far the worst thing with this game. The story is cliche after cliche after cliche. And then there are the huge plot holes, predictable “twists”, and cheesy cutscenes. I really couldn't care less about the story, I play for playings sake, but it is there, so be warned.

Graphics 8/10

This game is one of the best so far at showing off the playstation 3's graphics engine. The remarkable and varied environments look astounding, the enemies are detailed, the characters look human, and overall, is wonderful eye candy. The cutscenes look almost like real life, and the game itself isn't much less realistic looking. This is the kind of game you could play for hours just for the graphics. Unfortunately, there is a flaw. The shadows edges are kinda fuzzy throughout the game, and in the jungle especially, it's inexcusably horrible.

Replay value 9/10

One of the biggest reasons to play the DMC series is for it's unlockable difficulties. It ranges from easy for the newcomer, to Dante Must Die, considered by many one of the hardest game modes in existence. And in this game, you're given the chance at an even more difficult one to fight your way through. That alone gives it excellent replay value. And then if you beat Dante Must Die, you get something extra special to reward your great efforts….. Plus, there is the ultimate goal of awesome style, hooking you in for even more playing. And finally, there is the bloody palace. This is a hundred level long challenge for those who have beaten Devil Hunter (normal). This mode just throw enemy after enemy at you, and even if you survive, you can still lose for not doing it fast or stylishly enough. Definitely a game to buy.

Overall 9/10
This is an excellent game for previous DMC fans, hack and slashers, and newcomers alike to play and enjoy. It'll hook you in, and not let you go with it's incredible game play and challenging difficulties. Now go out and kill you some hell spawn!!!

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 02/12/08

Game Release: Devil May Cry 4 (US, 02/05/08)