Devil May Cry 4
Preview
You have got to hack, but when you do, do it in style
by MMAFighter90
previewed on PS3
The Devil is back
Devil May Cry 4 is the second sequel to the award winning franchise that originated on the Playstation 2. It will be released for Xbox360, Playstation 3, and some time later for the PC. Going multiplatform isn’t the only change to the series. A new character, Nero, is also making his debut and will be taking the lead role this year. Many have speculated about Dante’s fate with the appearance of this new character but I can assure you, he is still a playable character, and still a part of the story line.
Story and gameplay
The storyline of Devil May Cry 4 is pretty much a closed book. One of the few things that we do know is that the word “ally” does not describe the relationship between Dante and Nero. Nero does seem to look up to Dante as he is trying to live up to Dante's reputation as a hero. Nero also develops feelings for another new character, Kyrie, so I guess we are in for a bit of a love story. Unfortunately that is where the information about the storyline stops and mentioning anything else is pure speculation.
The gameplay mechanics will be familiar to anyone who has played one of its predecessors. Devil May Cry 4 will be a mission based game. The missions come in the form of levels that you will fight through in true Hack&Slash style. For the most part you will be on your own, facing enemies in groups, relying on your wits and skills to overcome them. The previous games contained a number of fun and challenging puzzles and this version will be no different. Publisher and developer Capcom will throw in a number of new puzzles to not just keep your fingers, but also your mind busy.
One of the biggest changes for the series is the addition of 'Style'. While your goal is still to kill as many demons as possible, it now also matters -how- you kill them. Points are awarded for the most beautiful and stylish kills and these points will have an effect on how easily you can progress through the game. How this works has not been revealed, but it sure sounds intriguing.
See it to believe it
Devil May Cry 4 features some amazing weapons. The main character Nero wields 2 weapons. The Red Queen is a swift and powerful sword that has a motorcycle-handle grip and a unique shaped blade. It is most effective at high speeds and can inflict some major pain. Its motorcycle-like handle also comes into play when using the sword. When twisted it unleashes more power which can demolish enemies in an utterly satisfying way.
Not only do you get to wield truly awesome swords; you get to wield guns which is something not seen in most games of this genre. The Blue Rose is a long range double barreled gun. It looks much like a magnum with a longer barrel which has a design lining it. It is Nero’s secondary weapon and is used only for weaker attacks when the enemy is too far to execute a slash and dash combo.
Dante’s weapons will consist of Ebony and Ivory, twin .45’s -which resemble the guns his father once owned- and Alastor. Alastor is a legendary sword that gains its power from the element of lightning. These are just some of the weapons you will find in Devil May Cry 4. The rest are just as badass as the ones mentioned above.
Game of the Year material
Players have been waiting anxiously for details on the much anticipated game. Devil May Cry 4 is a truly stunning game. It defines "The next generation of gaming" with gorgeous artwork, animations, and style. The game also does honor to the Hack&Slash genre with slick attacks both on the ground and in the air.
Xbox360 and PC owners should be excited about the multi-platform jump as this looks to be Game of the Year material, with the animation and texture quality that surpasses the expectations.
Devil May Cry 4 is scheduled for the first quarter of 2008 but after seeing the combat style and animations in this game, it seems like a terribly long time to wait. I'm dying to get some more time with it as the game looks to be a truly unique experience.
