Devil May Cry 4

Gaming Age

It also marks a great jumping on point for newcomers with a more balanced difficulty level and a decent checkpoint/continue system, but offers plenty of harder modes for the die-hard fans. Easily one of the best action games in recent years.

Worth Playing

In high definition, DMC4's graphics and animations are nothing short of stunning, following the series' signature fantastical, pseudo-Gothic style fully detached from any comprehensible real-world time period.

Extreme Gamer

DMC4 returns showcasing how action games should be made. Staring a new hero and a few faces from the past, Devil May Cry 4 has everything you would expect out of your demon slaying, button-mashing game.

games(TM)

Taking the Devil May Cry formula and enhancing it with accessibility is a masterstroke from Capcom. Hopefully this slight tweak in the formula will lure many new fans to the series and more will sample one of the finest brawling series’ available. [Mar 2008, p.110]

Thunderbolt

Devil May Cry 4 doesn't concern itself with much outside of fighting, and here the focus and dedication shines through with a solid and ridiculously in-depth battle system, rivalling even that of modern fighting games like Tekken and Soul Calibur.

Game Informer

I’ve been a fan of this series since the beginning, and this entry surprised me by giving me new features and options I didn’t even know I wanted. They form a tight, precise combat system that action aficionados will adore, but newcomers can still utilize. Devil May Cry 4 delivers polished, fiendish thrills that eclipse other games in the series, and almost all contemporaries in the genre.

AceGamez

Devil May Cry 4 is a stunning triumph of an action game that easily competes with greats like "God of War II" and "Ninja Gaiden Sigma."

GamerNode

Devil May Cry 4 has set the bar for how a combat system should be made. I can't stress enough how fun it is to beat the hell out of every enemy encountered. Fans of the action hack and slash genre have a new champion.

ZTGameDomain

Take my advice don’t rent this one, just go out and buy it there is enough stuff to see and do after you finish the game to keep you playing for a long time afterwards.

Playstation Official Magazine UK

From one angle, you've seen much of it before, but it's never looked so searingly brilliant, or felt so surging. [Mar 2008, p.94]

PTGamers

Devil May Cry enters the new generation in great style. Congratulations to Capcom are in order, for including two of the most charismatic heroes in one single adventure. Definitely one of the best action games of the year!

GamePro

Even with its minor faults, you'll be hard-pressed to find a better-feeling, better-looking, jack-of-all-trades action game on the market today. [Mar 2008, p.82]

Pelit (Finland)

Devil May Cry 4 is, well, Devil May Cry. That's both good and bad, depending on how you see it. Mainly it's a very good thing. It's quite beautiful and shows of the muscle of PS3 quite nicely, though. One for the PS3 -shopping list. [Feb 2008]

IGN UK

It's polished and slick, it's got gargantuan-sized gods, near-musical interludes, and infernal, flaming bosses. It's nothing short of brilliant.

PSX Extreme

Devil May Cry 4 plays exceptionally well. It may not be revolutionary, but it sure won't leave you bored. If anything, Devil May Cry 4 is perhaps even more addictive than the last, thanks to a rather enjoyable, well-done story.

Games Radar (in-house)

All of the elements that have made the series great are here - the sense of humor, the slick sense of style and the ridiculously over-the-top action - and the game is at once instantly accessible and surprisingly deep, thanks to a more-elaborate-than-it-lets-on combo system.

Playstation: The Official Magazine (US)

It's also packed to the gills with lengthy, real-time cutscenes, which, true to the series' form, are filled with awesomely over-the-top action sequences. [Mar 2008, p.74]

Video Game Talk

Nero brings an awesome dynamic to the franchise. Combine that with Dante's parallel mission and the game is absolutely over-the-top.

GameZone

Exceptional. The exciting (and exhaustive!) gameplay outweighs the camera issues and other minor nuisances.

Official Playstation 2 Magazine UK

Sure, you've seen much of it before, but it's never looked so searchingly brilliant, or felt so surging. [Mar 2008, p.102]

Gamervision

An amazing game that blew away every expectation I had set for it.

TotalPlayStation

Devil May Cry 4 does exactly what the series has been trying to do since the first game: it recaptures the careful balance of light puzzles, tight, varied action, over-the-top cutscenes and clever little boss encounters, all starring a pair of smart-mouthed, swaggering dyed-in-the-wool action flick caricatures.

Gameplanet

The game is well balanced from the beginning to end. The story and beautiful cut scenes will be enough to convince anyone that this game is worth indulging in.

Eurogamer Portugal

Devil May Cry 4 is pure action and fun, presenting enough reasons to captivate whoever is interested in the genre.

Play UK

You're going to get it, and you're going to love it because, basically, it packs more glowing fistfuls of sheer entertainment than any other game on the PS3. But be warned: it's an inexcusable pain in the arse when it wants to be. [Issue#163, p.70]

MEGamers

Its intense action, brilliant visuals, tight controls and the very rewarding replay experience make this a must own for every action-adventure platform game fan.

Games Master UK

A far greater spectacle rather than gameplay overhaul but still a fabulous hack-'n'-slasher. [Mar 2008, p.64]

Kombo

With a solid mix of new meets old, Devil May Cry 4 pushes the series forward. Featuring a good balance of challenge and amazing gameplay, Capcom has produced another great installment to the franchise.

Cheat Code Central

This filler-feeling content would be a real kill joy in a lesser game, but DMC4's combat is so fast, so visceral, that it's just a joy to play. And those who really want to tweak the experience will have endless fun tinkering with the upgrades and enhanced abilities. On the other hand, if you're a casual hack-'n-slasher, DMC4 has a great auto-upgrade system that'll do all the work for you.

IGN AU

Devil May Cry 4 is still excellent stuff – thoroughly entertaining, mostly well paced, despite the on-off-on battles.

Console Gameworld

A wholly satisfying and worthy entry into the Devil May Cry franchise that adds several new dynamics to the formula without messing too much with what made the series what it is today.

IGN

Though the focus might be more on Nero than Dante, and could've been named something else with a Dante cameo, DMC4 still has everything that fans expect of the game – over the top fight sequences, tons of replayability and an experience with an excellent production value.

GameTrailers

Devil May Cry 4 is totally saved by its combat system. It’s deep and rewarding, no matter what level of player you are--making hacking and slashing your way through waves of repetitive enemies still fun.

1UP

Its gorgeous trappings, addictive combat, and well-balanced difficulty make it the most satisfying DMC in years, and Dante's such a killer character that you'll actually want to tackle the game on a tougher difficulty in order to fully explore his amazing arsenal.

Electronic Gaming Monthly

Devil May Cry 4 is easily the best DMC since the original--and it's loaded with massive replay value--but some puzzling design choices ensure that Capcom still has plenty of work to do. [Mar 2008, p.77]

Hardcore Gamer Magazine

This game is tightly designed and coded, contains tons of abilities to take advantage of, and is just downright fun.

PALGN

Through the tears of frustration and joy, you'll find that Devil May Cry 4 is the premier action game so far in the HD generation.

Gaming Target

Throw in some of the best cheesy voice acting there is, dames with accented mammaries, and the industrial hard rock soundtrack to get us pumped and you’ve got the complete Devil May Cry experience we all know and love.

DailyGame

A new character brings new and compelling gameplay elements, but the repetition gets a bit tired, even if it is a Capcom calling card.

GameShark

Even with its repetitiveness and awkward camera angles, Devil May Cry 4 provides a solid addition to the series and even towards the end, with its descent into a puddle of annoyance, the game features some exceptional gameplay and cinematics.

Jolt Online Gaming UK

Devil May Cry 4 is not the revolution that Capcom might have wanted from the series, but it’s their fault for lumbering Dante with lazy, repeated level design, and making Nero a far more interesting character to play as than to watch in cut-scenes.

PSM3 Magazine UK

There are bits in DMC4 that you'll absolutley love, and bits that you'll hate...Impossible to recommend to everyone, but the purest expression of the series' style yet. [Feb 2008, p.18]

Maxi Consolas (Portugal)

The combat system is still brilliant, Nero proves to be a good character and visually it’s pretty impressive. But we can’t help feeling a little disappointed. It’s still a great action game, but has the same flaws of every other title of the series. [Feb 2008]

GameSpy

The amazing visuals, 60 fps action and phenomenal cut-scenes make for an enjoyable experience. DMC4 doesn't completely outstrip its predecessors, but it's a fun romp nonetheless.

GameTap

If anything, the extra challenge is definitely a reason to play through the game a second (or third time) just to see if your skills can hold up. However, the addition of leaderboards, which rank players based on their overall score and scores for individual levels, will be the real reason to revisit the game.

GameSpot

The newest entry in the revered series features plenty of awesome action, a great new character...and a bit of repetition.

VideoGamer

With a little more effort, DMC4 could have been a genuine contender for 2008 game of the year. As it is it's a brilliant, addictive, just plain cool hack and slash action game which goes some way to bringing the series back to its initial lustre.

Game Almighty

While it is true that the game has a 20 minute install on the PS3, making any immediate demon slicing an impossibility, it isn’t that excruciating of an experience.

Edge Magazine

DMC4 is not the grotesque misstep it so easily could have been. DMC4 is hardcore. [Mar 2008, p.90]

Play Magazine

Despite the constant frustration of the stop-start gameplay, and the sheer humorless stupidity of the game's script in its first half, Devil May Cry 4 triumphs when you get to fight. [mar 2008, p.52]

The New York Times

In spite of its well-produced animated dramatic sequences, the game isn’t about story, it’s about destruction, and Devil May Cry 4 offers many ways to wreak havoc.

Gamer 2.0

In the end, Devil May Cry 4 really does nothing new, but damn, if it isn’t fun to play.

Play.tm

Was it worth the wait, yes, it did keep drawing me back but through the final missions auto-pilot mode had taken over. Regrettably, for a new game, it already feels dated.

netjak

Basically, Devil May Cry 4 is just the Devil May Cry game from 7 years ago with a fresh coat of paint, and that is fine by me.

DarkZero

Devil May Cry 4 despite its best efforts is still a puritan affair. There are many flaws that will put off newcomers, but for those who can tolerate those flaws there is an addictive, enjoyable and rewarding game just waiting to be played.

GotNext

Devil May Cry 4 is an excellent example of gilding the lily, with the beauty of its fighting engine weighted down by all the excesses ham-handedly piled on top.

Gamestyle

That doesn't change the fact that underneath the fireworks and glitter that the generation-jump brings DMC4 is a far less complete video game than its predecessors, and being new to the series will simply delay the realisation that the game just doesn't live up to the series' potential.

Boomtown

A shamefully small amount has changed with each game apart from graphical upgrades, new characters and some abilities, but it's still an entertaining formula, and DMC4 is proof of that.

Gamer.nl

The real fans undoubtly have DMC4 in their homes already and may think the positive in the game outweights the negative. With that said, the game wasn't able to win us over like "God of War" did. Devil May Cry might have a better fighting-system and more boss battles, but falls short aside from that. Not a must-have in the genre at all.

Eurogamer

When we finished "DMC3," we wondered what Capcom would do with new hardware. The answer is not an awful lot. The visuals are better, the combat's more accessible, the upgrade system's pleasingly flexible, but in practically every other sense Capcom has passed up the opportunity to do something new and exciting.

G4 TV

Devil May Cry 4 is also nothing close to the full next-gen transformation that the moody, gothic world of Capcom’s demons deserved.

Game Revolution

Devil May Cry 4 is riddled with too many flaws to really enjoy completely. It’s disheartening – there’s a kernel of a good game beneath all the terrible writing and poor design decisions.

The Onion (A.V. Club)

And then there's the issue of style. It feels like the creators of Devil May Cry 4 are trapped in the summer of 1999, when The Matrix was still the pinnacle of otaku-informed art.