Devil May Cry for Xbox

Published February 13, 2008

The Devil May Cry series makes its Xbox 360® debut with Devil May Cry® 4, and for those unfamiliar with the series, Capcom's flagship action series has secured its popularity among gamers with a combination of outrageously stylish sword and gunplay alongside stunning visuals.

Welcome to the fold, Nero.

Devil May Cry 4 continues the tradition of dishing out superb eye candy while simultaneously building a strong gameplay foundation to power the player-driven action choreography.

Nero's Game

Devil May Cry fans may find a bit of a shock as they take control of a new series hero named Nero, a talented demon hunter who takes his duties seriously even while thumbing his nose at the conventions of knighthood.

The point isn't so much to beat the level but to dominate it completely with never-ending, creatively crafted combos.

The previous series hero Dante initially plays the role of villain as he slays a slew of knights and the city's high priest, leaving a bewildered and enraged Nero behind to seek out his revenge and discover the meaning behind Dante's surprise assassination.

Stylish Depth

What sets Devil May Cry 4 apart from other hack-and-slash action fests is its clear and rewarding focus on stringing together gorgeous combinations that can extend for hundreds of hits at a time. The point isn't so much to beat the level but to dominate it completely with never-ending, creatively crafted combos.

Clear a room one enemy at a time and you can move on. But clear a room by seamlessly coordinating gunplay, sword swipes, knock-ups, juggle attacks, and throws, while deftly dodging and leaping over enemy attacks and you'll score massive points. More importantly, you'll earn a grade to be proud of at level's end.

The bosses only get better with time.

You'll find added motivation to play as Devil May Cry flaunts your friend's scores in front of you. When you clear a level with a lowly C grade only to find your buddy struck gold with an S rating, the lure of a repeat performance is strong.

Simple Depth

Devil May Cry 4 adopts a control style appropriate to the quick-witted action and tactics it promotes. Widely varied attack combos are achieved not by memorizing complex button patterns, but instead with rhythm.

For example, the Y button alone controls your sword attacks, yet Nero or Dante's blade attacks aren't limited to just one motion. Tapping Y quickly four times deals out a standard combination, but tapping it quickly twice, pausing, and then ripping out four more presses will lash out with a much different, even more dangerous combination. Likewise, tapping three times with quick pauses between each press will unleash a totally different attack type.

The list goes on and on, but it's this timing-based mechanic that makes complex attacks simple, and fits perfectly with the rhythm and feel of Devil May Cry 4 battles.

Attack Arsenal

Of course, your trusty sword is just one part of your arsenal. You'll use your pistol sidearm to great effect too, primarily as a tool to extend combinations, but its damage output can be increased significantly throughout the game if you so choose.

Gun levitation is back in effect.

The most radical addition to the game is Nero's Devil Arm, a multi-tool used to grab, throw, and fluster enemies, act as an ethereal grappling hook to catapult Nero to otherwise unreachable heights, and to collect faraway items and even animate objects, just to name a few.

Devil Hunter Evolving

To add a great deal more depth to the game, you can purchase items and abilities during, before, and after every mission, including all new sword combos, upgraded pistol attacks, and items like healing stones or resurrection orbs. New abilities are purchased with Proud Souls earned by completing missions, while items can be bought with Demon Blood found throughout every level.

What's more, the breadth of available options really allows you to customize how you play through each encounter as different ability combinations bring new tactical opportunities to light. How you play the game is up to you.

Devil May Cry 4 is a shining example of the action genre on Xbox 360. It is an exceptionally polished, fast, action-filled, beautiful game that rewards quick-thinking strategy over button mashing, while introducing a new hero to the franchise and further adding to the mythos of the series' original hero, Dante. Be sure to give it a try.

Article by Ryan Treit