Devil May Cry 4

The End of The Tunnel

The most annoying thing about Devil May Cry 4 though is that underneath all this previously mentioned chaff, there’s clearly a fairly solid game. It’s nothing groundbreaking—nothing to send people into the dizzying hits of fanboy-fuelled arrogance—but a solid romp and enjoyable hack and slash nonetheless.

The difficulty curve for the game is perfectly judged and although players will be bemoaning easy bosses at the beginning, by the time it gets round to the mid-point you’ll be banging your head on the wall.

The combo system too is fun to use and coolly alterable to player style, roundly showing past games in the series how to make a control system which isn’t a chore to get to grips with.

Graphically, the game is astounding. Everything from the in-game sword slashing and gun-toting to the cutscene slow-motion segments which track up the legs and breasts of female characters (no, really), yet which reveal nothing but a case of the Barbies, is wonderfully put together. A few animation problems aside, the detail really is top notch.


In terms of plot too, the game takes a bound forward from previous instalments by making players genuinely curious about the situation and the developers use these questions effectively to draw players onwards through a decent tale.

The game is pleasantly accessible as well and although the Devil May Cry series has a bit of a reputation among n00bs as being very complex in terms of plot and game design – this isn’t the case. The game is actually quite easy to get to grips with and the combo system is excellently refined so that, when Nero does fall beneath the swarm, there’s nobody to blame but yourself.

On the other hand though, and in spite of what the fanboys will say, the combat system is actually a little too simple if you ask me. It’s a hack-n-slash game where the player can’t effectively block incoming attacks – need we say more?

Devil May Cry 4 certainly retains some appeal thanks to the arcade mission layout and end of level rankings but this apparent focus on quick gameplay and an understandable scoring system is ruined and lost beneath the years of cutscenes you’ll have to sit through.

All of this makes it pretty damn hard to score.

On the one hand there’s a good game. On the other hand there’s an enjoyable movie. Both are passable on their own if you’re into those types of things, but fusing them together has ruined both.

Is Devil May Cry 4 fun to play? Yes, it is. I enjoy playing it. I like cutting my way through baddies and collecting demon blood, expanding my character and waging a one-man war. I’ve even come to appreciate the anime-styled presentation, floppy hair and big swords – it’s not something I’m proud of, but Castlevania will do that to a man.

Because the cutscenes get in the way of the game and vice versa though, the whole unfortunate mess is bought tumbling down.

Boiled down to its core; the stark reality is that no matter what the fanboys say, Devil May Cry 4 is just a game of two decent, but unremarkable halves being added together. Sure, there’s a decent romp in there if you want it and the game has plentiful cleavage and blood – but if you’re after a game in which you can invest your time then there’s other titles in this genre that can deliver more.