Devil May Cry 4 Review - Xbox 360

7

Gameplay: 5
Graphics: 9
Audio: 7
Innovation: 6

Introduction

Grab your coat, blade and pistols - Devil May Cry is back. In the latest incarnation of the series, our previous hero Dante steps aside, for a newer, suave, and silver-haired hero Nero.

Devil May Cry carved out a successful existence over the first three games on the Playstation 2, ending up as one of the most recognised, and even flag-ship titles of the system. Playstation 3 owners were all set to gloat over the emergence of Devil May Cry 4 as a key reason to buy the console, however this changed. Capcom at the start of last year confirmed after much speculation that it was indeed coming across to Xbox 360 as well.

Gameplay

The game begins with you attending a ceremony for the High Priest Sanctus, leader of your Order of the Sword. In the middle, our previous hero Dante flies from the ceiling and gives him a stinging death blow. Chaos erupts, and Dante escapes. Quickly you try and pursue him, and so the rest of the game begins.

Nero's main weapons in the game are his blade imaginatively titled Red Queen and pistol Blue Rose. He can also use his special Devil Bringer enchanted arm to wield great destruction on his enemies, or to swing himself far across the room. The effect as Nero hurls enemies across the screen and into parts of the surroundings as they explode is impressive.

The best attacks and combos are formed by utilising each of these in the most creative way possible via a variety of moves. Nero can leap into the air, raining bullets from above, followed by a tasty slice of his blade to finish off enemies - chaining them all together. Or he can use his Devil Bringer to grab and punch enemies. It all flows smoothly from move to move, and it's completely over the top, but it's hell fun.

Devil May Cry 4 is broken down into a number of missions, which lead into a further juncture and story-sequence in the game, as the true plot reveals itself. You find the likes of old castles, mines, and cities as the true game progresses. At the end of each level, you receive an ABCDEF ranking for the time spent clearing, the total objects collected, and overall skill displayed. To get some of the tastiest secrets in the game requires going back and achieving a perfect ranking for these.

By killing enemies or objects Nero collects Proud Souls or Red Orbs. Proud Souls are used to upgrade Nero's special abilities and moves, and are gathered from completing a level. Red Orbs are obtained by killing enemies, or from destruction of the surrounds, and allow Nero to purchase health, or upgrades. These can be cashed in at the item statues you find around most of the levels.

There are some 20 missions in the game, including ...