First, an important note: I am a self-proclaimed achievement whore, and as such am reviewing the Xbox 360 version of the game. I have not played the full PS3 version (only the demo), so all comments I make regarding graphics and control will apply to the 360 version only...
Finally.
After many months of waiting, the first "blockbuster" Japanese title of the next generation systems arrives, and not a moment too soon.
For those unfamiliar with the Devil May Cry series, it began life as a Resident Evil project during the early life of the PS2, and then evolved into a supernatural hack-and-slash popcorn game relying on tight combat controls and multi-hit combos, but including clever puzzles and storylines that - while shallow - manage to keep you playing. The series is much more offense-driven than an action game like Ninja Gaiden, and focuses much more on attacking and keeping the pressure on enemies, as opposed to defending or dodging. It isn't a button masher by any means (especially on the higher difficulty levels), but simply provides more focus on offense as opposed to other games of this type. The first game did well both critically and commercially, selling over a million copies worldwide. Two sequels followed. Devil May Cry 2 is widely considered a step back for the franchise, with its wide-open environments limiting the close-quarters based combat the series is known for. Part 3, on the other hand, was a "return to form" of sorts, and is widely considered the best in the series despite an extreme hike in difficulty.
DMC4 manages to keep all the changes to the series that made the third game great, while toning down the difficulty level substantially. This is offset somewhat by the inclusion of many different difficulty levels and bonus modes, including the tough-as-nails Bloody Palace (a bonus mode containing 99 levels of enemy fights), along with the inclusion of multiple playable characters.
The game's story centers around Nero, a younger, more emo replacement for series lead Dante. Nero is "cursed" with the Devil Bringer, a demon's arm that brings an entirely new dimension to the combo-driven gameplay. Instead of simply relying on sword and gun attacks, Nero is able to grab enemies with the Devil Bringer and pull them in Scorpion-style ("GET OVER HERE!") for an extended combo, or simply smash them to the ground for massive damage. The addition of the Devil Bringer allows for a new dimension in attacking, and you end up missing this addition dearly when (*SPOILER*) control shifts back to Dante halfway through the game (*END SPOILER*).
The game's presentation values are extremely high, with beautifully detailed graphics that the series is known for. The choreography of the cutscenes is also exceptionally high-quality, and is a step above not only previous games in the series, but most other next-gen games as well. Not quite Heavenly Sword, but close. Some sound effects are reused from previous games in the series, and the cheesy-but-charming scriptwriting and voice acting are back in force. Hope you like one-liners, because just about every cutscene is chock-full of them. The villains of the game (which I won't name here due to spoilers) have loads of personality too.
Though the game is made for a Playstation controller, it manages to control fine on the 360. The only real complaint I have is that the lock-on feature is difficult to access mid-combo due to its mapping to RB. Rumble is a plus, and adds a lot to the action-driven gameplay. There are also lots of achievements to unlock, both for completion and for skill. Completionists be warned: completing the game on Devil Hunter (Normal) does NOT unlock the achievements for completing the game on Human (Easy).
DMC4 has everything that a next-gen entry in the series could be expected to have, from interesting gameplay innovations like the Devil Bringer to beautiful graphics, loads of unlockables, and a story that opens up some interesting questions for where the series is headed. Keep 'em coming, Capcom!
Rating System: Who needs stars and numbers? I'm all about the otaku emoticons!
*-* = Amazing
^-^ = Good
-_- = Fair
T_T = Poor
Graphics: *-*
The game's graphics are more than substantial, and are just about everything that could be expected from a next-gen Devil May Cry. The environments are rich and detailed, there are destructible objects in every stage, and the cutscenes are beautifully choreographed. Aside from a few framerate hitches when things get REALLY intense, it's next-to-impossible to tell that development on this game was lead on PS3. The game looks beautiful on the Xbox 360.
Sound: ^-^
The one-liners common to the series are here in full-force, and some sound effects are reused from previous entries in the series. The fact that the same annoying heavy-metal tune plays every time you battle an enemy is annoying as well. Overall, not bad. The inclusion of L'Arc En Ciel's "Drink it Down", along with the beautiful opera sung by heroine Kyrie are stellar, and more than make up for the disappointments.
With extra difficulty modes to unlock (which, in turn, give you more achievements for beating them), the Bloody Palace (survival mode), and a gallery containing both artwork and a series summary, there are plenty of reasons to sink lots of time into beating the game multiple times. Getting all 1000 achievement points for this game is no easy task.
Downloadable Content: -_-
Nothing planned at this time. On the positive side, there's tons of content in the original game. Only thing that I could possibly wish for is online co-op...
Fun Factor: *-*
The combo-centric gameplay is smooth as silk, and the storyline - while somewhat insubstantial - provides enough interesting questions to keep you interested in what happens next. Expect some twists and turns along the way. The difficulty curve isn't too steep, but plan on spending some time leveling up in previous missions along the way...
Overall: *-*
Thank you, Capcom, for a job well done.
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