Nero in Training

Published February 15, 2008

Nero's quest to track down the suddenly villainous Dante and uncover the mystery surrounding the knighthood will test him at every turn, and gamers that hope to claim victory over Devil May Cry® 4 can expect an equally relentless test of their own action skill and combat tactics.

Gun levitation until the coast is clear.

It will take more than just quick reflexes to earn S-grades throughout the game, but the following tips should make for a more informed approach to combo chains and overall tactics. Good luck.

Conservative Combo

The rare S-grade combos and above are generated by stringing together lengthy attack combinations without being hit. If you're struck even once during a combo, it will either reset entirely or suffer a drastic reduction, such as being knocked down from B to D.

With that in mind, don't swing recklessly into large groups of enemies, but instead, take your time. Aggressively dodge and leap over attacks, even at the immediate expense of your combo meter. It's better to take longer to build a large combo, than burn through the first couple grades quickly only to have a single hit obliterate your work.

EX-Powered

The EX system of your sword, the Red Queen, is powered by the motor you rev while holding down the Left Trigger. The power is activated by holding the trigger until the meter stops, letting go for just a moment, and holding it down again. Repeat this until you've filled all the red bars at the top of your EX meter. Only then can you unleash the full power of the Red Queen.

Beyond inflicting a good deal more damage with standard attacks you'll find unique, EX-specific moves in your skill list. These specialized moves are devastating and should be utilized at every opportunity. Make sure to fill your meter at every opportunity so you're revved up and ready to go when the next action sequence begins.

Pretty good combo fodder there.

Lock for Juggles

Locking onto an enemy is dangerous business. If you're focused on a single enemy, you can't fend off other demons with directional attacks. Try locking on only when absolutely necessary. For example, executing the High Roller attack to launch an enemy in the air for a juggle is aided greatly by locking on, but do it quickly.

Gunning Tool

Nero's pistol is used more as a tool than a weapon for inflicting damage, yet it's a vital element of your arsenal. Keep the following gun-based tactics in mind:

• Extending the combo: Fire off several rounds as you approach faraway enemies in order to keep your combo meter from draining.
• Gun levitation: Firing your gun in mid-air will keep you airborne virtually indefinitely. Use this move when a pack of enemies are clustered right beneath you, or, better yet, when more powerful enemies are unleashing their larger attacks.
• Gun shield: Dodging an enemy's ranged attacks is tricky business, and, thanks to your handy sidearm, largely unnecessary. If you're squaring off with an enemy you know uses ranged attacks, pepper them with gunfire while you close the distance. More often than not, your bullets will deflect their ranged attacks, shielding you from harm and keeping your combo intact.

The Devil Bringer Arm

Nero's Devil Bringer arm has more than a few tricks up its sleeve (sorry 'bout the pun), including unique grabs, throws, and attacks for virtually every enemy, so always take the time to use your Devil Bringer attack on each new enemy. Knowing how the arm interacts with every enemy type can go a long way to simplifying combat and extending combos.

High Roller for the aerial juggle is a combo staple.

Reckless Destruction

Nearly every breakable object in Devil May Cry 4 is filled to the brim with Demon Blood used for buying items and replenishing health, so swing with reckless abandon whenever you're surrounded by chairs, desks, pots, or anything else you can shatter.

Try battling it out with enemies near these objects so they'll break during the action. Otherwise, you'll have to take extra time to collect the Demon Blood, and wasted time reduces your overall score at the end of the level.

Big'uns First

Every combat encounter should be approached with an eye firmly planted on scoring the largest possible combo, and that means tackling the larger, more powerful enemies first. Leave them be and they'll almost certainly hit you with a cheap shot during combat, eliminating your combo.

Pay Attention

You can be sure that your initial run through a level will never be your best, so don't sweat trying for a spectacular run your first time through. Rather, pay close attention to the flow of the level, especially any time-consuming puzzles. This way you can approach your second playthrough confident that you'll post a grade worthy of your skill.

Article by Ryan Treit