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[[1UP.com]] graded it A-, praising the gameplay and "predictably slick" looks, but criticized the "divisive industrial hard-rock nonsense.... that sullied DMC3 [and] returns here" and the game's "overly frugal approach to level design".<ref name="1UpDMC4review" /> [[GameTrailers]] rated it an 8.6/10, and praised the voice acting while criticizing the corny dialogue.<ref name="gametrailers review" /> IGN gave it a 8.7 saying, "Whether it's on the PS3 or the 360, action fans are going to get one incredible experience with this game, and if you own either system, you'll have a great time." However, the review also noted that, contrary to Kobayashi's claim, "Dante simply doesn't have nearly as many weapons as he did in DMC3" and found that "the amount of backtracking and repetition makes the game feel somewhat half-heartedly finished in the design department."<ref name="IGNDMC4review" /> [[GameSpy]] gave it 4 stars out of 5, stating that "DMC4 succeeds on many levels because it fuses fan service with entertaining gameplay", finding that "visually, DMC4 is a dynamo." The review also praised Nero for "[bringing] something fresh to the franchise" and being "as diverse as DMC3 SE's Vergil";{{Failed verification|date=October 2008}} however, they also claim that "it cheapens things a little to see that the team has opted to recycle assets in lieu of showing us more of this rich world" and call out the "annoying industrial-meets-butt-rock soundtrack".<ref name="GSpyDMC4review" />
[[1UP.com]] graded it A-, praising the gameplay and "predictably slick" looks, but criticized the "divisive industrial hard-rock nonsense.... that sullied DMC3 [and] returns here" and the game's "overly frugal approach to level design".<ref name="1UpDMC4review" /> [[GameTrailers]] rated it an 8.6/10, and praised the voice acting while criticizing the corny dialogue.<ref name="gametrailers review" /> IGN gave it a 8.7 saying, "Whether it's on the PS3 or the 360, action fans are going to get one incredible experience with this game, and if you own either system, you'll have a great time." However, the review also noted that, contrary to Kobayashi's claim, "Dante simply doesn't have nearly as many weapons as he did in DMC3" and found that "the amount of backtracking and repetition makes the game feel somewhat half-heartedly finished in the design department."<ref name="IGNDMC4review" /> [[GameSpy]] gave it 4 stars out of 5, stating that "DMC4 succeeds on many levels because it fuses fan service with entertaining gameplay", finding that "visually, DMC4 is a dynamo." The review also praised Nero for "[bringing] something fresh to the franchise" and being "as diverse as DMC3 SE's Vergil";{{Failed verification|date=October 2008}} however, they also claim that "it cheapens things a little to see that the team has opted to recycle assets in lieu of showing us more of this rich world" and call out the "annoying industrial-meets-butt-rock soundtrack".<ref name="GSpyDMC4review" />

Fans of the series, however were not so positive despite its commercial success. There were instant negative reactions due to Dante taking a back seat this time around, and being replaced by a character similar in nature. There were heavy criticisms against the gameplay for not containing nearly as enough depth as the previous installment in the series, and that the Devil Bringer mechanic was introduced to attract the general gaming crowd that rely on cheap and easy thrills. Complaints were also made towards Dante's immature portrayal, poor script and an atmosphere that replaces the series regular dark and gothic settings for a bright and colorful fantasy like world.




Revision as of 13:00, 21 March 2009

Devil May Cry 4
North American box cover art
Developer(s)Capcom
Publisher(s)Capcom
Designer(s)Hiroyuki Kobayashi (Producer)
Hideaki Itsuno (Director)[1]
Yuji Shimomura (Cutscenes)
Composer(s)Kento Hasegawa
Akihiko Narita
Tetsuya Shibata
Kota Suzuki
Shusaku Uchiyama
SeriesDevil May Cry
EngineMT Framework [2]
Platform(s)PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows[3]
ReleasePlayStation 3, Xbox 360:
Microsoft Windows:
Genre(s)Hack and slash, Action
Mode(s)Single-player

Devil May Cry 4 is the fourth installment of the Devil May Cry series. It was announced in March 2007 that the game would be released simultaneously for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC.[5]

In the game, the player controls both Nero, and Dante, the game's protagonist and the series' title character respectively and fights enemies in close combat using firearms, swords, and other weapons. The characters Lady and Trish from previous games in the series make appearances, along with new characters Nero, Kyrie, Credo, Gloria, and Agnus. The game is set after Devil May Cry and before Devil May Cry 2.

The game received generally positive reviews, attaining an 84% overall rating from Metacritic. GameSpy commented on the gameplay and said that "DMC4 succeeds on many levels with its entertaining gameplay," and commented on the graphics, saying "visually, DMC4 is a dynamo."

Gameplay

Gameplay in Devil May Cry 4 is similar to previous games in the series. The player must fight through levels called "missions", occasionally solving puzzles or gathering items. Performance in a mission is graded from D being the bottom grade through C, B, A, and S being the highest grade. Grades are based on items used, Red Orbs gathered, time taken, and the amount of Style Points accumulated. Each Style Point grade has its own tag-word. For example, the SSS grade shows up as "Smokin' Sick Style" on the side of the screen when achieved. Stylish combat is the main focus of the game, which is conveyed through unbroken combos of varied attacks while avoiding damage. The player must avoid enemy attacks to continue performing combos, often by memorizing attack patterns.[6]

The Devil Trigger is a super state that enables the player to become more powerful adding a slow but steady health regeneration, with increased damage done. Devil Trigger can be activated by pressing the button to trigger it when the minimum amount on the gauge is filled or when the player is near death during combat, and also through items called Devil Stars.[6]

File:DMC4DanteStinger.jpg
Dante performing one of his signature moves, the Stinger attack

Some changes introduced into Devil May Cry 4 are the presence of two playable characters, Dante and Nero, and a slight modification to the shop system. A new currency, Proud Souls, is used to buy new abilities while Red Orbs are used to buy items. Proud Souls are rewarded at the end of missions and the amount varies depending on how well the player performed. Cost of abilities also increase with the purchase of other abilities, though all abilities can be sold back for the original price.[6]

The player plays as Nero throughout most of the game. He starts and ends the game with his Red Queen sword, Blue Rose revolver, and the powers of his Devil Bringer (his demonic right arm). The Red Queen features an Exceed Gauge that can be charged up, allowing for subsequent attacks that are more powerful than regular slashes, until the gauge empties. The Exceed Gauge can also be filled by pressing the rev button at the peak of each slash, which allows for more powerful combos capable of breaking the opponent's guard. Nero also has the powers of his Devil Bringer, and can use it to pull himself towards enemies or vice-versa. The Devil Bringer may also be used for context-sensitive throw attacks, leading to high damage and various effects depending on the enemy. Nero's Devil Bringer also gains new abilities during the course of the game, such as being able to detect secret missions or caches of Red Orbs. Nero eventually gains the ability to use Devil Trigger after getting Yamato, which increases his Devil Bringer's power, thus changing his Devil Bringer attacks into more powerful versions with different animations.[6]

The player plays as Dante through seven missions, taking over halfway through the game. His gameplay is similar to that of Devil May Cry 3, with him having access to multiple melee and ranged weapons which he gains after boss battles, and being able to cycle through them freely in combat, being no longer limited to equipping two weapons of each type as he was in the previous game. Dante also starts with his four styles (Trickster, Royal Guard, Sword Master, Gunslinger), each of which grants him different abilities, but he may now switch them at will with buttons or pads on the PlayStation 3 controller or the Xbox 360 controller, unlike in Devil May Cry 3. He also gains the Dark Slayer style near the end of his appearance, which only has one style level and can be accessed by pressing a direction button twice. Styles do not level up through experience as in the previous game, but must instead be upgraded in the shop screen in between missions or at statues. Dante can also enter Devil Trigger; in his Devil Trigger he gains most of the benefits that Nero's Devil Trigger has, though, as he does not have the Devil Bringer, he gets animation and property changes on some of his normal attacks instead.[6]

Synopsis

Characters

On September 6, 2006, Japanese video game magazine Famitsu reported that the series' eponymous character, Dante, will not be the protagonist in Devil May Cry 4. Instead, a new character named Nero, voiced and motion captured by Johnny Yong Bosch, will take the lead.[7] Nero resembles both Dante and his twin brother, Vergil, and is part of the Order of the Sword, a group of warriors who worship Sparda.[8]

File:DMC4 church1.jpg
Nero, the new main protagonist, and Kyrie look on as Dante makes his entry (in the game's Japanese version).

Nero's attire consists of blue jeans, a long blue coat, and a red vest with a hood. He wields a revolver named Blue Rose, which has a distinctive under-and-over double barrel, and a decorated single-edged sword called the Red Queen. Nero views Dante as the antagonist, after witnessing the devil hunter first killing the Order's leader, Sanctus, and then murdering members of the Order.[1] Gameplay videos and screens reveal Dante to be an enemy boss in the game.[9]

Nero's right arm resembles a demon's arm, and glows supernaturally; it is also the source of his "Devil Bringer" power. Nero has his own "Devil Trigger" transformation, consisting of a demonic spirit hovering above him.[10] Capcom promotional videos revealed that the spirit mimics Nero's actions and that the Devil Bringer moves change depending on whether or not the Devil Trigger is active.[11]

Dante, the franchise's protagonist, is also playable, and has been updated with the core animations from his appearance in Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening, as well as that game's four basic fighting styles of Trickster, Royal Guard, Gunslinger, and Swordmaster, which can be switched at will.[12] Game Informer reported that he was both an unlockable and playable character, playing an integral part of the game's storyline.[13] Capcom promotional videos revealed that, like Nero and the first Devil May Cry, the properties of his moves change if the Devil Trigger is activated.[14] Out of the 20 missions available, Dante is playable in seven of them. Returning weapons in his arsenal include the Rebellion sword, the Ebony and Ivory handguns, and the Coyote-A shotgun, but he will be able to acquire new Devil Arms after defeating enemy bosses.Cite error: The <ref> tag has too many names (see the help page).

Unlike Dante's progress in Devil May Cry 3, Nero was designed to become stronger by upgrading his Devil Bringer ability instead of receiving new weapons after defeating boss characters. During development, the production team noted several aspects of the game, including that Nero would be one of two main characters and that Dante was not going to be the only character from previous entries in the series to appear. Unlike Devil May Cry 3, the game's difficulty would be the same in both the Japanese and European versions as in the one released in North America.[15] The company presented the game's first demo at an event titled "Capcom's Gamer's Day", where Kobayashi highlighted several of the games features.[16] With the team focused in completing the game, a new demo was not produced in time for the 2007 E3 Media and Business Summit.[15]

Next-generation elements

Itsuno said in the Famitsu article that the visuals attempt to deliver a satisfying feel of being in the air, and that the actions of Nero's Devil Bringer could not be done on contemporary generation consoles, but they could be done on the PlayStation 3;[7] however, the game has since been released on the Xbox 360, and a PC version was released in July, 2008. Gameplay visuals, shown at the 2006 Tokyo Game Show, demonstrate this game mechanic. Kobayashi stated in a Game Informer interview that the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions would be identical, although he did not comment on the PC version.[13] In a Eurogamer interview, Kobayashi confirmed that the PC version "would be great, because the same team is working on both".[17]

Cross-platform move

On March 19, 2007, Capcom announced the game would not be a PlayStation 3 exclusive; it would also be released for the Xbox 360 and the PC. In a thread questioning the move on the official Capcom message board, the company's senior director of strategic planning and research, Christian Svensson, responded by saying that they were moved by people's strong feelings about the decision, but that it was the best decision for the company and consumers.[18] Kobayashi stated that Devil May Cry 4 will have no major graphical differences between the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 versions.[13] He also claimed that the contents will be identical, except that "the feel of the controller" may cause a slight difference.[17] The PlayStation 3 version requires the user to install 5GB of game data, taking 20 minutes, which shortens the length of the loading screens throughout the game. A slide show is shown during the installation process, which introduces characters from previous games in the series.[19]

Release

The first teaser trailer was shown at E³ 2005, depicting Dante traveling through a snow-covered environment, and quickly performing some fast, stylish moves.[20] A more substantial trailer was released at that year's Tokyo Game Show, with a more rugged and older Dante in a city-like setting.[21] Both teasers show very little detail of the game itself. At the 2006 Tokyo Game Show, a more complete trailer debuted, along with a playable demo, featuring the character Nero.[22]

Images from the March 2007 issue of Famitsu show Dante as a playable character. A short trailer was released later, displaying the character in gameplay. While Nero is the game's main character, Dante is the supporting character, playable during the second half of the game until the final boss.[23] A trailer shown at the 2007 Tokyo Game Show revealed the return of Lady and Trish.[24]

A fourth trailer, released on December 17, 2007, revealed more gameplay and story detail, as well as information on new songs for the game, including a new version of "Lock and Load", Dante's theme music from the first Devil May Cry, with new lyrics written and performed by Shawn "Shootie HG" McPherson, the lyricist and lead vocalist on the soundtrack of Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening. Released with the Japanese version of the game is Japanese rock band, L'Arc-en-Ciel, and their new single, "Drink It Down", which is used as the Japanese opening for the game.[7]

Collector's Edition

A collector's edition of the game was released at the same time as the regular version. The American version includes a DVD of four episodes of the American dub of the anime, while the European and Australian versions only include a signed artbook named "Art of the Devil".[25][26][27] It features a bonus disc containing the making of Devil May Cry 4, and an additional disc of the first four episodes of Devil May Cry: The Animated Series.[28] A very small number of Collector's Edition packages were signed by the game's producer, Hiroyuki Kobayashi, on the back of the metal tin on Dante's left shoulder. This number has been reported to be as low as only 100 signed copies of the Collector's Edition for each console, making for a total of 200 signed copies. Both versions were packaged in a Steel book case.[29]

PC Version

GameSpot revealed that the PC version would have exclusive features, including more modes and visual customization. Turbo Mode is featured, giving the game a slightly faster speed, and a new difficulty called Legendary Dark Knight Mode is implemented. The PC version also has both DirectX 9 and DirectX 10 mode. It is labeled Games for Windows and runs on both Windows XP and Vista.[30] It assumes a Gamepad is present and does not use the mouse at all, providing virtually the same user interface as the console versions.

Reception

Upon its release Devil May Cry 4 sold well in Japan and the United States. On February 20, 2008, Capcom's president Haruhiro Tsujimoto announced in a press release that the game shipped two million copies in its first month, making it the fastest sequel in the series to reach this mark.[44] As of March 31, 2008, the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions combined to sell 2.3 million copies, according to Capcom.[45] As of July 9, 2008, the PS3 version has sold 304,652 copies in Japan, according to Famitsu.[46][47]

The game received generally favorable reviews, receiving an 84% overall rating from Metacritic. Xbox World Australia gave the game 90/100, saying "Devil May Cry 4 is everything a hack-and-slash should be and then some. Sadly it falters with repeated level design and a moderately troublesome camera; but in the grand scheme of things, these are only minor flaws."[48]

PSM3 gave the game a 80 out of 100. The magazine discussed the difficulty of the game, saying, "Most games these days tend to hold your hand all the way through...Devil May Cry is not like that. It'll throw a million demons at you because it wants to, put in half a dozen arbitrary fights in a 30-foot stretch of map, force you to survive for ages on a tiny sliver of health... and then give you a D at the end of the level because you weren't doing enough combos."[49]

1UP.com graded it A-, praising the gameplay and "predictably slick" looks, but criticized the "divisive industrial hard-rock nonsense.... that sullied DMC3 [and] returns here" and the game's "overly frugal approach to level design".[31] GameTrailers rated it an 8.6/10, and praised the voice acting while criticizing the corny dialogue.[36] IGN gave it a 8.7 saying, "Whether it's on the PS3 or the 360, action fans are going to get one incredible experience with this game, and if you own either system, you'll have a great time." However, the review also noted that, contrary to Kobayashi's claim, "Dante simply doesn't have nearly as many weapons as he did in DMC3" and found that "the amount of backtracking and repetition makes the game feel somewhat half-heartedly finished in the design department."[39] GameSpy gave it 4 stars out of 5, stating that "DMC4 succeeds on many levels because it fuses fan service with entertaining gameplay", finding that "visually, DMC4 is a dynamo." The review also praised Nero for "[bringing] something fresh to the franchise" and being "as diverse as DMC3 SE's Vergil";[failed verification] however, they also claim that "it cheapens things a little to see that the team has opted to recycle assets in lieu of showing us more of this rich world" and call out the "annoying industrial-meets-butt-rock soundtrack".[34]

Fans of the series, however were not so positive despite its commercial success. There were instant negative reactions due to Dante taking a back seat this time around, and being replaced by a character similar in nature. There were heavy criticisms against the gameplay for not containing nearly as enough depth as the previous installment in the series, and that the Devil Bringer mechanic was introduced to attract the general gaming crowd that rely on cheap and easy thrills. Complaints were also made towards Dante's immature portrayal, poor script and an atmosphere that replaces the series regular dark and gothic settings for a bright and colorful fantasy like world.


References

  1. ^ a b "Official English language DMC4 site from Capcom Japan". Capcom. Retrieved 2008-07-08.
  2. ^ "lostplanetcommunity: Exclusive Lost Planet Lead Programmer Interview - Part 3". Lost Planet Community. Archived from the original on 2007-04-02. Retrieved 2008-07-08.
  3. ^ "Devil May Cry 4". GameSpot. 2008-07-08. Retrieved 2008-07-11.
  4. ^ "DEVIL MAY CRY 4". Capcom. Retrieved 2008-07-08. {{cite web}}: Text "デビル メイ クライ 4" ignored (help)
  5. ^ "Capcom's "Devil May Cry 4" Goes Multiplatform! Mega-hit Title set for PLAYSTATION 3, Xbox 360 and PC!". Capcom. Retrieved 2008-07-08.
  6. ^ a b c d e Devil May Cry 4: Prima Official Game Guide. Prima Games. 2008-02-05. ISBN 0761558977.
  7. ^ a b c "IGN: New Hero for DMC4". IGN. Retrieved 2008-07-08. Cite error: The named reference "nlr" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  8. ^ "Devil May Cry 4 official U.S. site". Devil May Cry. Retrieved 2008-07-08.
  9. ^ "Dante Boss Battle Screenshots". IGN. Retrieved 2008-07-08.
  10. ^ "Official Japanese Language Devil May Cry 4 website". Capcom. Retrieved 2008-07-08.
  11. ^ "Devil May Cry 4 Monograph ネロの魔人紹介" (in Japanese). Capcom. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
  12. ^ Hwang, Kaiser (May 2007). "Devil May Cry 4, The PS3's Ruby Red Slipper". Independent PlayStation Magazine. p. 11.
  13. ^ a b c Berghammer, Billy. "9 Things You Didn't Know About Devil May Cry 4". Game Informer. Retrieved 2008-07-08.
  14. ^ "Devil May Cry 4 Monograph ダンテ「魔人化」" (in Japanese). Capcom. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
  15. ^ a b Billy Berghammer (2007-06-20). "Nine Things You Didn't Know About Devil May Cry 4". Game Informer. Retrieved 2008-07-08. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  16. ^ Jeff Haynes (2007-12-07). "Devil May Cry 4 New Look". IGN. Retrieved 2008-02-22. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  17. ^ a b MacDonald, Keza. "Interview - Devil May Cry 4". Eurogamer. Retrieved 2008-07-08.
  18. ^ "Capcom official responds to criticism of multi-platform move". Capcom Unity. Retrieved 2008-07-08.
  19. ^ Kuchera, Ben (2008-02-05). "Capcom: don't worry, the 5GB Devil May Cry install is worth it". ars technica. Retrieved 2008-07-11.
  20. ^ Allen, Jason (2005-05-16). "E3 2005: Eyes-on Devil May Cry 4". IGN. Retrieved 2008-07-11.
  21. ^ "TGS: Booth Round-Up - Capcom Faces Devil, Dead, Monster-s". Gamasutra. 2005-09-17. Retrieved 2008-07-11.
  22. ^ Nelson, Major (2007-07-10). "Devil May Cry 4 Gamer pictures, Theme and Trailer (HD)". Major Nelson. Retrieved 2008-07-11.
  23. ^ "Party time for Dante". Game Informer. December 2007. p. 112.
  24. ^ "Devil May Cry 4 - user video". Game Trailers. Retrieved 2008-07-08.
  25. ^ "Devil May Cry 4 Special Edition Details". Kotaku. Retrieved 2008-01-10.
  26. ^ Berghammer, Billy. "Capcom Packs It In For The Devil May Cry 4". Game Informer. Retrieved 2008-07-08.
  27. ^ "UK Jumps on the Collector's Edition bandwagon". PS3 Fanboy. Retrieved 2008-01-13.
  28. ^ Capcom (2007-11-05). "Capcom Announces Devil May Cry 4 Collector's Edition". GameSpot. Retrieved 2008-07-11.
  29. ^ McWhertor, Michael (2008-01-14). "Capcom Adds "Golden Ticket" Bonus To Devil May Cry 4 CE". Kotaku. Retrieved 2008-07-11.
  30. ^ Miller, Jon (2008-06-27). "Devil May Cry 4 Hands-On". GameSpot. Retrieved 2008-07-11.
  31. ^ a b Bettenhausen, Shane. "Devil May Cry 4 Xbox 360 Review Index, Devil May Cry 4 Reviews". 1UP. Retrieved 2008-05-09.
  32. ^ Edge staff. "Devil May Cry 4 Review". Next Gen Biz. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
  33. ^ Joe, Juba. "Game Informer: Devil May Cry 4 Review". Game Informer. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
  34. ^ a b McGarvey, Sterling. "GameSpy: Devil May Cry 4 Review". GameSpy. pp. p. 1–2. Retrieved 2008-11-23. {{cite web}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  35. ^ VanOrd, Kevin (July 23, 2008). "Devil May Cry 4 Review (PC)". GameSpot. p. 2. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
  36. ^ a b "Devil May Cry 4". GameTrailers. 2008-02-05. Retrieved 2008-07-11.
  37. ^ "Devil May Cry 4 Review". GameZone. Retrieved 2008-05-05.
  38. ^ "Devil May Cry 4 Review". Hardcore Gamer. Retrieved 2008-05-09.
  39. ^ a b Haynes, Jeff. "IGN: Devil May Cry 4 Review (PS3)". IGN. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
  40. ^ Onyett, Charles (July 23, 2008). "Devil May Cry 4 Review (PC)". IGN. p. 2. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
  41. ^ "Devil May Cry 4". Metacritic. Retrieved 2008-07-11.
  42. ^ "Devil May Cry 4 Review (PC)". MetaCritic. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
  43. ^ "Devil May Cry 4 - X360". Game Rankings. Retrieved 2008-07-11.
  44. ^ Haruhiro Tsujimoto (2008-02-20). "Smokin'! Capcom's "Devil May Cry 4" Ships over 2 Million Stylish Units - Making it the fastest game in the DMC series to reach that milestone". Capcom. Retrieved 2008-02-21. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  45. ^ "Platinum Titles". Capcom. 2008-03-31. Retrieved 2008-08-03.
  46. ^ Weekly Famitsu, issue 1020
  47. ^ "Sony PS3 Japanese Ranking". Japan Game Charts. 2008-07-25. Retrieved 2008-08-03.
  48. ^ "Devil May Cry 4". Xbox World Australia. Retrieved 2008-07-11.
  49. ^ "PS3 Reviews: Devil May Cry 4". PSM3. 2008-02-06. Retrieved 2008-02-24. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
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