Devil May Cry 4 is actually the second sequel in the game series, with Devil May Cry 3 being a prequel. And YES, you do get to play as Dante. Although the story kicks off with Nero - [spoiler removed], and a very emotional story.
Don't get me wrong, I did like the badass kick the crap out of everything story that DMC3 was, but in Devil May Cry 4 the story really touches you. I didn't get this feeling since Metal Gear Solid (I didn't know you could save Meryl, lol). You actually feel sorry for what happens (no spoilers, don't worry), and want to kick the crap out of everything in an emotional and intrigued state.
Also when you start playing the game, you might get a "WTF, did they just pull a Raiden on me?" feeling, but don't worry, you do get to play as Dante and this is definitely Devil May Cry.
Now onto the gameplay. This game is **** hard. It's a little bit easier than Devil May Cry 3, but still, casual players beware - if I see a review with someone saying "omg teh gamez too hard 1/10″, stab yourself in the head, please. Seriously, if you don't know how to play HARDCORE games, go back to Zuma.
The difficulty is indeed unforgiving. It kicks off much like DMC3 with hordes of enemies coming at you, but this time around you are rewarded with lots more gorgeous cut-scenes and a very deep and emotional story.
Unlike DMC3 where you had lots of backtracking and "time to breathe", in this Devil May Cry 4 review I have to say that sometimes it gets even too challenging for me (I've beaten DMC3 on the hardest difficulty twice), as sometimes you go into a room filed with enemies, only to get thrown into another battle in the other room - and just when you think you have time to breathe (and your health bar is almost at null) - another horde of demons is sent your way.
As you can see, it spikes right in the middle. At that point an average player would be covered in sweat, preying "oh god, let this be the last level", as you are pretty much raped by demons, barely survive and get a D for not doing enough combos while trying NOT to die.
That said, there are new moves to explore. While Nero's demonic arm gives you an interesting twist on gameplay, Dante still can choose styles. And just like in DMC3, I like the acrobatic style the most - the guns style comes in a close second. More on this in my gameplay review.
Remember those amazingly incredible and unbelievable INGAME cutscenes from Devil May Cry 3 on PlayStation 2? Well, it's next gen, so guess what? The visuals are totally amazing. As always, the developers OWNED Hollywood movies with the production values of cut-scenes - especially ones filled with freackin' sweet over-the-top action extravaganza. I've been playing it on a 42″ 1080p, and seriously, this IS the game you want to an HDTV for. It's probably one of the few current games that I'm sure IS NOT upscaled. Yes, it might just be smart use of upscalers and anti-aliasing, but both the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions look stunning.
Speaking of versions. I confess - initially I tried to play it on my 360, as I just kinda fell in love with the controller. Although when I actually started playing, it didn't feel right. Ever got that weird feeling that something is WRONG? It wasn't the framerate, it wasn't the HDTV - it was the controller. Devil May Cry 4 is just ment to be played on the PlayStation 3. It just feels... dunno - more comfortable, more responsive?
Furthermore, it is now clear that the game was initially developed for the PS3 and then ported to the 360.Occasional frame-rate issues are to blame. Loading times are also _a bit_ faster on the PS3.
Aside from the system wars BS, did you like DMC3's hard metal soundtrack? You'll love this one. Although it does have a fair amount of opera-like deep and touching songs (that fit perfectly), the core soundtrack is all metal. You'll love it. I've already gotten it on my iPhone, it's awesome for listening.
Overall I have to say that - despite playing such masterpieces as Gears of War, BioShock, Uncharted, Ratcher & Clank and others - Devil May Cry is _the_ Next Gen game. If you really want to experience (probably) TRUE HD gaming, this is definitely the game you want to play. Looks great, the gameplay is challenging and the story is intriguing - go and buy it now! Although by the time of this review it's not out yet, so preorder it right now. And if you have a choice, get the PS3 version.
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