Devil May Cry 4
Score: 90% ESRB: Mature Publisher: Capcom Developer: Capcom Media: Blu-ray/1 Players: 1 Genre: Action
Graphics & Sound: It's been nearly three years since the last Devil May Cry was released and since then, the once ground-breaking series has seen a number of challengers, most notably God of War. With the release of Devil May Cry 4, the series' "next-gen" debut, Capcom wanted to show that the series wasn't about to relinquish the throne without a fight. While God of War focuses on harsh brutality, Devil May Cry 4 brings sexy back. Everything, from visuals to gameplay, comes with the sleek stylishness that the series is known for. Even the most gruesome of enemies have a polished exterior that give them a creepy attractiveness. All of the main characters have standout features that help to make them instantly recognizable, including Nero and Dante, who are as stylistically close as two characters can get without actually being the same thing. However, the high polish does come with a bit of cost. Even the most vicious of combat situations feel a little too clean. Defeated enemies disappear instantly after you land the last blow, which takes away some of the satisfaction that comes with seeing the area littered with fallen enemies. At the same time, the lack of large amounts of blood does add a little more impact to the times where you do see some. Sound has always been a funny thing with the series. While most games are criticized for hokey dialogue and overacted voicework, it is something that is accepted and almost expected from the series. Much of the game's script is made up of one-liners and clichés that really fit the series and characters. This is helped along by the over-the-top voicework. Music is another issue altogether since you're really getting two soundtracks rather than one. Most of the background music is composed of moody, orchestral themes; at the same time, fast-paced rock/ metal kicks in whenever the action picks up. Regardless of what you're currently listening to, it all fits the series perfectly.
Gameplay: Story has always been something that was just "there" for the series. The previous three games all had a story, but the overall structure wasn't something that was easily followed. Devil May Cry 4 takes a similar approach while making more of an effort at squeezing a good story between gameplay sequences. One of the major differences compared to past games is that the series' main hero, Dante, takes a backseat to newcomer Nero through much of the first act. While this may upset long-time fans, Nero is every bit as fun and engaging a character as Dante, so anyone fearing another Metal Gear Solid 2 Snake/ Raiden situation can rest easy. Nero is a member of an order that worships Sparda. Although presented at the beginning of the game, the actual story picks up in the middle of the overall story; it's not until the later Dante sequences that the entire story is told. Though confusing at first, you are given enough breadcrumbs to keep you interested until everything is revealed. While fun to watch, story sequences happen a little too often at times and can drag down the otherwise fast-paced gameplay. While it is fun to watch some of the action sequences, most players would likely want to play through these sequences instead. Although I'll be the first to admit that the mechanic is becoming too played out and overused, a few timed button-mash sequences would probably work well here. Gameplay takes place over 20 missions, though the actual levels are all one giant, interconnected area. Unless prevented by plot, it is possible to run through nearly every area in the game during every mission. While it won't do much for your Clear Time score, it does add a fun level of freedom and cohesiveness to the entire game. The layout also plays a big part in the overall gameplay structure since you'll have to go through many of the same areas both as Nero and Dante. While the idea of backtracking through already completed areas might not appeal to many players, the vastly different play styles and skill sets of Nero and Dante make each area a completely different experience. The only noticeable downside to levels wrapping around each other is that it is possible to unintentionally make levels longer than they usually are - at least if you're the type of player who likes to explore. Sometimes the forward path isn't incredibly clear, so in the process of finding the path forward, it is sometimes possible to find your way back to an already explored area. Beyond the ability to replay levels multiple times for higher rankings, you can also unlock Bloody Palace, a timed survival mode where you fight successive waves of enemies. Each time you kill an enemy, time is added to a clock. Once unlocked, the mode is a lot of fun and a great way to build up extra Orbs and Proud Souls.
Difficulty: Devil May Cry 4 features five difficulty levels; two are available from the start while the other three are unlocked by completing the game. Compared to past games, the two initial difficulty modes aren't incredibly hard, but do provide a few challenging moments. Games become progressively harder as you move through each difficulty level; not only do enemies become harder to kill, but their patterns and locations change, as do puzzles and other level-specific traits. Aside from the initial difficulty levels being easier, there also seems to be an effort aimed towards making the game more accessible to more players. Levels can be replayed multiple times, which helps you build up your character's skills and items, and some aspects can be automated if you don't feel like worrying about them. In particular, you can choose between preset skill sets that automatically assign abilities to your character. Though more skills certainly help, there's also a certain amount of player skill and planning that goes into each fight.
Game Mechanics: After completing a level, you can always go back and replay it. This is useful when trying to build up enough Red Orbs and Proud Souls - both of which play a part in your character's skill progression. Red Orbs are used for purchasing power-up items as well as extending your health and Devil Trigger meters. Proud Souls, which are earned based on your level performance grade, are used to purchase ability upgrades for both characters and their respective weapons. Although both look identical, they have completely different skill sets. Dante comes armed with his now-familiar skills from the past three games; the only difference is that Dante keeps the same basic moves regardless of which Style he's using. Styles only impact a special move activated by pressing (O). However, Dante does earn new weapons in the form of Pandora's Box and the powerful Gilgamesh. Nero's abilities are similar, yet completely different from Dante's. His core attacks come from a dual-barreled pistol that, while not as fast as Dante's guns, pack a powerful punch. Nero's other main attack comes from his sword, which can be revved up similar to a chainsaw. Each rev adds a little more power to the next strike; though doing so slows Nero down and leaves him open to attack - adding an element of risk. Nero's other big weapon his is Devil Bringer, a demonic arm that can be used in a variety of ways. Not only can it be used to grab enemies and extend combos, but it unlocks a couple of context-sensitive moves that do extra damage when timed right. The arm also allows Nero to grapple - Bionic Commando style - around areas. This feature is one of the skills that really sets Nero and Dante apart and is used quite a bit while navigating levels and fighting bosses. Devil May Cry 4 is an all around great game; it offers fast-paced action and a challenge level that should appeal to players of every skill.
-Starscream, GameVortex Communications AKA Ricky Tucker
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