Review: Devil May Cry 4 (Xbox 360)

Platform: Xbox 360 (Also on PS3)
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Capcom
Release: February 2008

Devil May Cry 4 is an engrossing, memorable experience that will keep you glued to your console for hours on end.

My only prior experience with the Devil May Cry series was with the universally-panned second entry. That is to say, I was still incredibly eager to check out the next-gen debut of one of Capcom's most highly-regarded series. Although the game is a wee-bit repetitive in some aspects and may fall short in the sound department, Devil May Cry 4 is still a highly-captivating title that will satisfy any gamer who cherishes the action genre.

You initially play as Nero, but he is not the sole character you control within the entire course of the game. You do eventually get to control the original demon slayer Dante, and both characters function uniquely. Both have their own sets of different moves (for example, Nero has a special gripping hand and Dante has sword styles that only he is able to obtain).

Unfortunately, both characters do not progress through entirely separate levels. Instead, you'll hack, slash, and shoot through the same stages you've played before but with new objectives and puzzles to solve. Also, you'll have to play the same bosses multiple times. Fortunately, the bosses are extremely satisfying to defeat, so that's not an enormous issue - but it would have been far more appealing to slay new bosses as opposed to ones you've fought before. The soundtrack also falls extremely short. Every time you battle an enemy the same atrocious rock song blares through your speakers over and over. For a game with such an appealing world it's a shame that Capcom didn't bother putting any effort into the sound design of this title. All of these flaws make the title feel a bit repetitive at times.

That is to say, there's no legit major issues with the game play itself. As mentioned, there are several fighting styles, and whether you're gunning or slashing, it all feels very satisfying. The level designs are for the most part very well done, and most of the characters feel worthwhile.

Difficulty-wise, I'd say the Devil May Cry 4 is one of those titles that gets it just right. I found this release to be challenging in some parts but not to the point where I'd get stuck for hours at a time. There are two difficulty modes to chose from, so whether you're a newbie or a series veteran, you will have a blast. And while this may not an obscenely large 70 hour epic, you will definitely want to replay Devil May Cry 4 for the achievements. Due to the clever way Capcom implemented them they add a surprisingly large amount of replay value to the title.

Visually, Devil May Cry 4 is a tour-de-force. Beautiful worlds, superb character models, and thrilling boss designs make the world come to life.

Although some unfortunate design flaws may drag down the experience a bit, Devil May Cry 4 is still a must play. It is an engrossing, memorable experience that will keep you glued to your console for hours on end.

Rating: 8.7 (out of 10)