Devil May Cry 4

"Next generation ! Next game !!!"

Intro
Ever since the original Devil May Cry game, I've been a huge fan of the series. Having experienced the previous games, I expected how Devil May Cry 4 would turn up. And I'm glad I was right ! It brings us a completely new storyline and a new main character !

Gameplay 10/10
The gameplay of this game is just like its predecessors - very good. It is an action game, featuring both sword slashing and gunfire. The battle system features the use of both swords and guns, with a combination of a new feature. This game is not hard, and neither is too easy. It's decent. The camera in this game is pretty good. It will let you see your character clearly and cannot really confuse you. This time around, you control two characters through the story. A famous and familiar devil hunter named Dante, and a new character with a mysterious past, Nero. Each have their own ways of battling enemies. As you may already know, Dante is half-human, half-demon. Whereas Nero is a little different, and I will not spoil it for you here. Both characters use swords as short-ranged attacks and guns as long-ranged attacks. Dante battles very similarly to his Devil May Cry 3 : Dante's Awakening self. Nero mysteriously receives the "Devil Bringer" at the beginning of the game, which grants him wondrous powers and increases the gameplay value. His sword possesses the ability "Exceed" which infuses it with fiery liquid, adding Fire elemental and increasing power. The only flaw in this game that is worth mentioning is that it has many backtracking. You explore many new areas with Nero, while Dante will do the same except it will be in the opposite direction. The game has twenty main missions, with each of them quite long.

Storyline 7/10
The storyline in this game is very interesting, but all in all, it leaves many holes open and questions unanswered. I, myself, am a great fan of mysterious stories and plots, and this game has plenty of it. The story is happening around a small city called Fortuna. The Legendary Dark Knight Sparda once served as the feudal lord to the city. The group called the "Order of the Sword" worships the demon and have a goal of exterminating all of demon kind, by opening the Hell Gate, then destroying the demons. Nero, as a member of the Order, is set on a task to track Dante, who assassinated the Order's leader. Why did he do it and what are the Order's true goals, I will not spoil for you here. Even at the end, one of the main questions will still remain unanswered.

Controls 9/10
The controls in this game are very well fixed and will make you get used to them very quickly. They are similar to previous games. The controls for Nero and Dante are different. When the time comes to switch from Nero to Dante, it will require you to get used to Dante, as the controls are different. Unlike the previous game, it is possible to switch "Styles" on the fly, making it much easier and more fun to fight.

Battle System 10/10
This plays a massive role in this game, as it did in previous games. You use "Devil Arms" for short-ranged attacks and "Firearms" for long-ranged attacks. You can combine this to be fun in battling enemies, but also to be able to survive in the game. There is also a great new addition to the game. The new character, Nero, has a mysterious "Devil's Arms" with which he can "Buster" enemies and throw them like a cheap toy ! Every enemy has a different "Buster" animation and it deals great damage. The other character, Dante, possesses four different "Styles" with which he has a large array of moves used for attack, defense and avoidance as well. Being half-human, half-demon, Dante has the ability to transform into a demon and increase his abilities greatly. Every move, including Style moves, are powered up once Dante is in his "Devil Trigger" mode. This game features many bosses. Each have their own set of attacks. You will need a different strategy for each boss, and they cannot be fought carelessly. Practice is needed, as you need to learn to dodge their movements and attacks.

Graphics 10/10
Amazingly beautiful. Character designs are stunningly done, in details. Environment is very good, showing almost everything in the background. In some parts, it is possible for the weather to change in the game, which shows us how does the background change from sunny to overcast. This is amazingly done. A minor issue is noticed in shadows, especially in the forest. Besides this, everything is clear and clean.

Sound 9/10
The sound in this game works just like in previous games. Battle music plays when you encounter enemies, which is really good. However, the sound from bosses are different and each have their own. The two main characters also have different musics for each of them. The music may be repetitive, but it is not as bad as some state.

Replay Value 9/10
The replay value in this game is huge. There are many secrets to be unlocked and many difficulties. By beating the other difficulties you can unlock various stuff. It is all very well worth replaying many times. You absolutely cannot unlock everything by only one playthrough. It is not enough to see the extent of this game.

Rent or Purchase ?
If you are unsure or want to make sure your expectations are there or not, you can rent this first. But if you played the previous games and loved them, I say you should purchase this now. I guarantee you will love this.

Overall
This is a next game of Devil May Cry series and, as I expected, it is amazing ! It features a new character, with great new additions to the game. It has stunning graphics and high quality sound. It has a completely new storyline, and it is generally worth replaying many times !

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 06/27/08

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