Devil May Cry 4 is an interesting followup to DMC3 to say the least. It seems like Capcom wanted to take the series into a new direction, making some bold choices and it kinda works for me. It is pretty rough around the edges but I can’t deny that it’s one of my favorite entries to the series so far.
I love love love the atmosphere of this game. Best way I could describe it is biblical-gothic horror core. The cutscene direction especially is astonishing even for today’s standards. the character designs across the board are also pretty stellar, from returning characters to newcomers and the genuinely terrifying villain. Yes, it does feature the muddy visuals of its era, but the art direction really goes a long way into making DMC4 a visual feast.
The environmental design is a huge leap forward in terms of its aesthetics and its variety. It also helps that this game is a bit more modern so the environments are designed in a way that guides the player a lot more clearly than its predecessors. This is the first DMC game where I don’t get lost and have to look up where to go next, thanks to the way the levels are designed, the inclusion of a very helpful minimap, and the clarity of the objectives.
The story honestly leaves a lot to be desired. Devil May Cry isn’t a series that shines in its narrative with the exception of DMC3. What frustrates me, however, is that DMC4 actually lays the groundwork for a riveting and moving story to be told but doesn’t go anywhere with it. Previous entries had very simple stories and managed to tell them decently but I wish the added complexity in DMC4’s story was handled properly.
The highlight of DMC4 for me has to be the characterizations and the character interactions. This game finally brings back characters we met from DMC1 and 3 and they make for a really dynamic cast. It kind of sucks that all returning characters are given the short end of the stick in terms of story inclusion but I appreciate the little moments they had.
Newcomer Nero, unfortunately, ends up being hurt the most by the lack of narrative depth. I genuinely like him and think he goes through a great arc through this game but the game doesn’t elaborate on his personal relationships enough to make the players care. Especially in his relationship with Kyrie. I wish they did more on that front because what we end up with is a character that just comes off as needlessly edgy.
Devil May Cry 4 doesn’t nearly reach the heights of DMC3 and comes off as a weird follow up but, damn it, it did some things really well. The streamlined gameplay and fun moments really go along way into making this one of my favorite entries so far.
I love love love the atmosphere of this game. Best way I could describe it is biblical-gothic horror core. The cutscene direction especially is astonishing even for today’s standards. the character designs across the board are also pretty stellar, from returning characters to newcomers and the genuinely terrifying villain. Yes, it does feature the muddy visuals of its era, but the art direction really goes a long way into making DMC4 a visual feast.
The environmental design is a huge leap forward in terms of its aesthetics and its variety. It also helps that this game is a bit more modern so the environments are designed in a way that guides the player a lot more clearly than its predecessors. This is the first DMC game where I don’t get lost and have to look up where to go next, thanks to the way the levels are designed, the inclusion of a very helpful minimap, and the clarity of the objectives.
The story honestly leaves a lot to be desired. Devil May Cry isn’t a series that shines in its narrative with the exception of DMC3. What frustrates me, however, is that DMC4 actually lays the groundwork for a riveting and moving story to be told but doesn’t go anywhere with it. Previous entries had very simple stories and managed to tell them decently but I wish the added complexity in DMC4’s story was handled properly.
The highlight of DMC4 for me has to be the characterizations and the character interactions. This game finally brings back characters we met from DMC1 and 3 and they make for a really dynamic cast. It kind of sucks that all returning characters are given the short end of the stick in terms of story inclusion but I appreciate the little moments they had.
Newcomer Nero, unfortunately, ends up being hurt the most by the lack of narrative depth. I genuinely like him and think he goes through a great arc through this game but the game doesn’t elaborate on his personal relationships enough to make the players care. Especially in his relationship with Kyrie. I wish they did more on that front because what we end up with is a character that just comes off as needlessly edgy.
Devil May Cry 4 doesn’t nearly reach the heights of DMC3 and comes off as a weird follow up but, damn it, it did some things really well. The streamlined gameplay and fun moments really go along way into making this one of my favorite entries so far.