Devil May Cry 4
by Capcom
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Video Game Reviews of Devil May Cry 4
Customer Review: Aging Formula
Summary: 3 Stars
Devil May Cry 4 is a game of contradictions. For every instance where the developer improved the DMC formula there is an opposing area where things have remained untouched since the original game dating back to 2001.
I'll begin with what players will likely notice first about DMC 4 - the graphics; simply put they are gorgeous. Throughout the game the player will be treated to an assortment of environments from urban to jungle and even arctic. Each area is rendered beautifully and I found myself stopping to admire the scenery several times. However, as much as the environments have improved graphically there is one glaring issue, they're still pre-rendered static backgrounds. Just like the original DMC on the PS2, the backgrounds provide no interaction, other than a few props like chairs and benches nothing in the environment can be affected by the player. No matter the level of destruction you render on your opponents - and some of the combos in the game are fantastically destructive - you'll never scratch the environment around you.
The pre-rendered backgrounds also present another problem - the camera. Although certain environments do allow the player to adjust the camera for a better angle of the action around them, many areas do not. You'll be stuck with the same fixed camera featured in games like Resident Evil. I can't for the life of me understand why Capcom loves these fixed cameras. The frustration of repeatedly failing to make a jump or accomplish a given task because of the poor camera is only amplified when you're faced with fighting multiple enemies. Often times you'll be completely blind as to where your enemy is, resorting to mashing the attack button in hopes of escaping the area alive. The camera in short is simply not up to par with the attention paid to the graphics.
The game includes 2 playable characters - Nero and Dante. Both have their unique weapons and combinations though Dante is clearly the more diverse character with access to far more weapons than Nero. Here again the graphics for the combinations are spectacular. The unfortunate part of the combo system is that it's mostly centered around a single button. There are some slight deviations based on what character your using but nothing very diverse.
As I mentioned the game features 2 characters. At some point in the story you'll switch control from one to the other. Without wanting to spoil anything I'll leave out most of the details, suffice to say though that it marks a huge disappointment in DMC 4. One you do advance far enough into the game to switch characters be prepared to travel back through the exact same landscapes only in reverse order. You'll be seeing the same environments and inexplicably battling the exact same bosses that you just defeated. I feel as though Capcom finished the game and realized that it was far to short to sell as it was and made the player trudge through the game again just to artificially lengthen it. To make matters worse you'll be fighting the exact same bosses a 3rd time before the game ends.
The music and sound effects in game are merely passable. There are moments where the soundtrack is actually quite good and fitting for the cut-scenes. However, when in combat the exact same terrible heavy metal track plays over and over again. It's aggravating having to listen to the same song time and time again.
Speaking of cut-scenes Capcom included an abundance of them throughout DMC 4. They are generally quite good in terms of graphics and voice acting, however, the love story infused with a generic betrayal/revenge subplot falls flat. I found myself caring less and less about the confusing story as the game progressed. It basically boils down to "kill the bad guys, save the girl". Nothing revolutionary here.
Aside from the revamped graphics and some slight online implementation in the form of leader boards and achievements there isn't much new to the series. I keep reading in various articles how western developers are pulling ahead of their Japanese counterparts and I think games like DMC4 are a prime example of why. Instead of changing the more trivial and frustrating aspects of the game Capcom has only wrapped them in a prettier layer. I lost count of how many times I stumbled into a new area in the game and was sealed into the room by a "ghost web". The only way to proceed was to destroy the enemies in the area. Why is there a need to even have something like that? There are many other ways Capcom will test a gamers patience as well. A confusing layout to some of the maps, random mazes that have no logical reason and don't fit into the game are everywhere. It seems like Capcom just threw these things in to lengthen the game. The worst part is that you'll have to clear these areas and mazes more than once since you're forced to play back through the same areas you cleared.
Devil May Cry 4 is worth playing and die hard fans of the original game will likely be satisfied but there are far better games out there. Try before you buy, even at a discount price, it may not be worth admission.
Customer Review: Devil May Cry 4
Summary: 4 Stars
I think the only downfall of this game in my opinion, is that like the first it is capable of being beat in five or six hours much like the first one in the series. However, I liked this game very much the game is fairly challenging; totally worth the time for anyone who is a fan of the series. They finally took and integrated the various stuff from some of the previous gamesCustomer Review: Excellent Action Game,
Summary: 5 Stars
This game is cool and delivers the action to your heart, I bought the ps3 for this game,
Excellent Graphics,
Good Story ( DMC3 better)
Some of the Demons show some kind of being smart and tries to kill in many ways
Addition of Nero is good, while keeping Dante, I prefer if Dante was given more missions to play them,
A must buy for any action adventure gamer
Customer Review: Not quite DMC3 but miles above DMC2
Summary: 4 Stars
Devil May Cry makes its appearance on the next gen consoles with a style and gameplay that many fans of the series will be familiar with - you know the adage, if it ain't broke why fix it? For those unfamiliar with the series, Capcom introduced the series in 2005 on the PS2 with a game that many consider to be the best in the series. The series then fell off the map with a couple of hastily produced sequels and now we're given the fourth installment. So, does Devil May Cry live up to its reputation?
Story:
Nero takes the lead and his motivation for the acts that follow is his love Kyrie. The adventure begins in the gothic style town of Fortuna, where our new protagonist is on his way to hear his love sing at the local church. However, prior to reaching his destination, he is ambushed by demons and we quickly learn that our hero is anything but ordinary as he decimates them as only a devil hunter can. Upon reaching the church, we meet Sparda, the leader of the Order of the Sword, who begins to address the congregation when Dante crashes the party and fires a bullet into his head at point blank range. So begins the beautiful cut scenes that are speckled throughout the game.
Gameplay:
As I stated earlier in my review, Devil May Cry plays similar to the previous games in the series - you hack-n-slash your way to acquiring the best score and in the quickest amount of time while collecting red orbs to upgrade your abilities. For those who played Devil May Cry 3, Nero is markedly different than Dante. The biggest being Nero's Devil Bringer.....this arm is context sensitive and will aid in crushing minor enemies -to- ripping the throat out of major demons. Of course, the damage this arm inflicts can be increased with the system aptly named Exceed. By charging it up the damage that it unleashes is truly brutal. Nero is a welcomed addition to the series, but some may criticize the fact that Dante is only available for limited use....only seven missions with one being a tutorial.
Graphics and sound:
The graphics, like most next gen games, are incredible...with only minor shortcomings....mostly the shadow engine - the way the game adds shadows does distract from what otherwise is a beautifully rendered game. The sound does a superb job conveying the emotions of the scenes by delivering unique scores that fit the scenario well.
Final thoughts:
Devil May Cry 4 is a great addition to the series and is one of the better games in the respective genre. The gameplay is remarkable (not quite 3 but far above 2) that will introduce new gamers to the series and reward the veterans of the series that had to suffer through part 2. This is an addictive game with high replay value that will keep the gamer occupied for weeks.
Customer Review: Not very special
Summary: 3 Stars
I am a fan of the first and third Devil May Cry so I was looking forward to the this one especially after seeing gameplay and video trailers. After playing it though, I am kind of disappointed.
You start the game playing as Nero, a character with a demon hand, chasing the infamous Dante, son of Sparda and main character of the first three Devil May Cry games, for about 13 stages and the rest you play as Dante. There are about 20 stages total.
Well the stages where you play as Nero and Dante are the same stages. Basically, you travel up the map as Nero and come down the map as Dante. The bosses you played as Nero are the same bosses you play as Dante. It feels like you only have half a video game. Also, when playing as Dante the game feels way easier then playing as Nero. The last two stages you play through the same bosses a third time as Nero. The gameplay and graphics are decent and the story is ok, but I have no desire to replay this because of the repetitiveness.