Devil May Cry 4

As an avid Devil May Cry fan, I was really looking forward to this fourth instalment, as I had played all three previous games and loved every minute of it (including the second one which most consider the weakest, but that's not true) so I couldn't wait to start playing this. At first I had doubts as the main protagonist Dante is now secondary and Nero is the main hunter for this game, but I have to say I was not disappointed at all.

Firstly the gameplay - absolutely superb what made the first three games so memorable was the extreme swordplay and here with Nero you also have the ability of throwing enemies with the use of Nero's devil arm which completely changes the way the game is played out. As with all DMC games, the more points you earn the better skills you upgrade. Nero can also use his devil arm to grapple not only demons but also the main bosses so you get to see some truly sick amounts of carnage.

Now onto Dante, he is as cool as ever, returning with the four styles from DMC 3, that can now be switched at random, so you can pull of some nifty combos. Apart from the gameplay, the graphics are absolutely beautiful and looks even better on a HD TV.

The first 12 missions begin with Nero, then Dante takes over from Mission 13 to Mission 19, with Nero returning for the last two missions. I've noticed most reviewers have stated the game is quick and easy to complete, this is only partially true as the game can be completed in a day, however to fully appreciate the game, the aim is to complete all twenty missions with a S (Super) ranking, that's where the challenge really is....

I have only had the PS3 for about eight months, and I have played some nice games (Mortal Kombat VS DC, Street Fighter 4, GTA 4, The Incredible Hulk, Uncharted) but the one game I constantly play more than any other game is Devil May Cry 4, because its so brilliant, I can't stop playing it.

The game also has the familiar extras, such as bloody palace mode (more of a survival mode really), costumes, artwork and videos.

Cant wait for Devil May Cry 5. Read more ›

This has to be the first Playstation 3 game I've bought which I haven't gotten fed up of in a week or less. With decent agmes being far and few between at this current stage, Devil May Cry 4 comes along and boasts itself a success. Itself being the fourth in the series - which shouldn't be a problem for new interested gamers who haven't previously played a Devil May Cry game. The installation of the game onto the hard drive is a very long process (I mean long, it took about 20-30 minutes), but it is filled with atmospheric music, pictures and even the storyline up until now from each of the previous three games. The installation times allows you to read through this two or three times before it is finished, giving you a good chance for it to stick in your mind. Having said that, it is not completely necessary even to read it if you don't want, as the story is a new one with a new main character: Nero. Previous characters do appear, namely Dante and a few others - which is where the previous story comes in handy, as previous names get mentioned throughout the game.

The tutorial at the start of the game allows easy access to the game, and walks you through all of the moves step-by-step in detail giving you an apportunity to try it all out before you move to the next step. Again, if you would rather skip the tutorial this can also be done. The controls are wonderfuly set up, and extremely fun to play. The battle system is simple, yet effective, and a lot of fun. There are two options in regards the battle system. One being the easy mode where you string a series of attacks together using just one button using timing. The other option is a form of combining buttons to attack giving it a more challenging feel for more hardcore gamers....

The game is relatively short, from about 7-12 hours. A shame is that 2 hours or so of this will be backtracking through previous levels later on in the game when you gain control of Dante. This can be a little frustrating at times, but the level design is wonderful, and the graphics are some of the best to date (especially on High Definition format). By the playing introduction to Dante about halfway into the game, you may find it a little frustrating using him because his battle abilities are very different. The timing is all very different, and he doesn't have the all-strong devil arm that Nero controls - meaning you may find yourself tapping away on the circle button having no effect and getting hit repeatedly by the enemy. As well as being a pain, this can also be good because it's almost like starting a new part of the game, and gives the game a great little twist with more things to learn. His introduction to the game is excellently timed and provides the game with extra lifespan and longevity.

The storyline is compelling, with beautiful characters, and some very impressive cut-scenes. Some of the boss's are so wonderfully designed, it really shows off the graphic capabilities of the Playstation 3. The game really benefits from being played on a High Definition television or Projector, as it seems the game was simply designed to be played on a large scale, detailed setup.

There is plenty of replayability. You gain a rank and grade for you fighting skills and orb collecting abilities for each of the missions. The better your grade, the more orbs you get, and the better the rewards. This is also a great addition for people who want to get everything from the game, in a lot of cases you may find yourself going over missions over and over trying to top youir previous score. This is in no way tedious, because the game is so much fun, and it is incredibly addictive trying to top your high score.

I would definitely recommend this game, whether you are new to the series or returning from previous games. It shows of the true power of Playstation 3, with beautiful graphics and design, and provides endless fun which will keep you up until the early hours of the morning. The collectors edition comes with a nice steel case and sleeve as well as a full colour art book which is a nice addition, however probably not worth the extra £10 unless your a big fan of game art. A fantastic purchase, and highly recommended. Read more ›

This has been one of the most exciting prospects for the PS3 for a long time. Now its finally here it delivers in every way possible.

Nero, the lead character during the majority of the game, does his job well. He makes the game more accessible for newcomers and provides just enough variation from Dante to keep fans getting bored. The most striking difference being the Devil Arm, a grappling hook used to chain combos together. However, his fighting style can feel pretty limited for series regulars. Dante becomes playable at just the right time, and all of his fighting styles from DMC3 are present, adding a whole new depth to the combat. The story makes the changeover necessary rather than an afterthought. Although one small criticism being that Dantes levels involve backtracking through previous stages. This does seem lazy, but they're designed well.

Later levels also put to rest fears this will be the easiest Devil May Cry. The harder modes are absolutely brutal. The bosses are on a scale never really seen before, nearly all are truly intimidating the first time you face off. Another high point are the games cinematics. Gloriously over the top and superbly animated.

DMC 4 is easy to pick up but difficult to master. There's tons of replayability; despite the game itself being quite short. Outstanding stuff.

If you've played on the first 3 games then you know that DMC is one of the most exciting game series ever produced. While the second outing was a little disappointing the others have been spectacular and i still play on them today. DMC4 is no exception. The story is excellent and the voice acting is wonderfully cheesy (we all love a bit of hollywoods freshly grated). The action is somewhat linear but i think this works well as the game is mostly action based with a few simple puzzles to solve. nero is deffinatly the best character. he has a demonic arm (devil bringer) which allows him to snatch enemys from a distance and either pummel them into oblivion with his sword (called red queen) or grab them with the devil bringer and perform sometimes dazzling throws. there is also an 'exceed' function which uses a 'fuel injection system' to propel red queen though the air to her victims. this mean you can perform dazzling combos by pressing the exceed button mid combo. dante is as brilliant as ever. his moves are just as fast as ever and just as deadly he even gets new weapons with which to punish his enemys.

Now i know that some have said that this game is easy but its not. its less challenging than DMC3 (which was so hard that it made you want to throw your TV out the window) but this can only help make it more playable than ever. the bosses are challenging and intimidating and you need to use different techniques to kill each of them.

In short Buy this game!!!!! it is the best game of the entire series.