A fast-paced, adrenaline-surging, reflex-demanding, demon-slaying action game that doesn't disappoint.
The game does deliver a particularly surprising element in the form of the main character. Instead of the ever-present anti-hero Dante, now the player follows the adventure of through the eyes of Nero. Nero is a young, stubborn and smart-mouthed youth with a twist - he has a demonic arm known as the Devil Bringer. This may put a few fans of the series off, but I assure you, Nero is just as much fun to kill demons with as Dante was, and there's not too much reason to fret as you do get to control the legendary demon hunter through some of the later stages of the game.
Nero is a part of a religious group known as the Order of the Sword, which worships the legendary Sparda. However, as the story unfolds, you will find out that this organisation isn't quite as it appears to be.
The graphics in DMC are cutting-edge and are some of the best you will come across on the PS3 as of yet. The characters, demons and environments are all very well designed and compliment each other tremendously. The boss characters stand out in particular and the cut-scenes are beautifully polished. The only thing weighing the graphical side down is the lack of variety. You are forced to replay your way through some maps several times and backtrack your way through entire environments with Dante, having already played through them at least once with Nero.
In the sound department, there is also a little drawback. Although the music is fairly fitting to the situation - a metalesque soundtrack does go well with the action sequences, though it is the same track for every time you run into a hoard of blood-thirsty demons, which can get repetitive at times. It has to be said that the voice acting is pretty decent throughout, something that comes as a surprise from Capcom (i.e. Resident Evil!).
On to the gameplay aspect of Devil May Cry 4...
First and foremost, the DMC series is known for its fast-paced, adrenaline-surging, reflex-demanding, over-the-top, demon-slaying action. And I'll be quick to note that DMC4 does not disappoint! Nero is a great addition to the series and you will quickly come to appreciate his Devil Bringer abilities. The attacks and combos that are possible with him are awesome to execute and some require solid-reflexes (although the Automatic mode does make performing combos much easier). The controls are a little difficult to master, but after a few missions the player will feel right at home dragging demons around and smashing them into each other and the floor.
Dante controls slightly differently to Nero, and suddenly switching from Nero to Dante in the story takes some getting used to, as I'm sure you will miss Nero's Devil Bringer at first as it will have been the staple of your fighting style. Dante's abilities build on the style-switching from DMC3, however, you are able to change styles on-the-fly using the D-pad. As you defeat bosses, each character is given either a weapon or ability in order to aid them through the subsequent missions. You will also come to appreciate the rather ridiculous Pandora's Box which Dante acquires following one such boss fight.
The plat-forming can become slightly annoying at times and some of the puzzles seem to take a bit too long and you will crave for another demon-slashing fest when completing some of them.
The difficulty is just right here, as the Human and Devil Hunter modes (which you begin the game with) are both relatively easy in comparison to the frustratingly difficult DMC3, however, further difficulty levels are unlockable, which means more replay value and also hardcore gamers will be tested. Aside from more difficulty levels, there are secret missions to find and complete, combos to unlock and hidden orbs to be found throughout the game to keep you coming back. And if that isn't enough to keep you trying to better your previous mission score, your progress is posted against all others online, so you can see how you compare to the world's best, and perhaps even be up there with them yourself!
Devil May Cry 4 is an awesome action game, and fans of the series will enjoy this latest addition. The repetitive music and settings are simply small blemishes on what is a truly enjoyable video gaming experience. I would advise all those you are into the action genre to at least give this a try, it will be worth it (even if its just for the observably lesbian snow demons!).