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Devil May Cry 4

DMC4's savage swordsmanship still entertains, in spite of reheated levels and uninspired puzzles, and the addition of Lady introduces an explosive new style of combat to Devil May Cry's armoury.
Devil May Cry 4 Game Cover
85%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
grinding, atmosphere
89% User Score Based on 2,084 reviews
Critic Score 78%Based on 4 reviews

Platforms

Playstation 3Xbox 360PCXbox OneXboxWindowsPlayStation
Devil May Cry 4 Game Cover

About

Devil May Cry 4 is a single player hack and slash game with horror and fantasy themes. It was developed by Capcom and was released on December 21, 2009. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

"Devil May Cry 4" is the sequel to the original game, featuring a new protagonist named Nero with a powerful "Devil Bringer" arm, enabling unique attacks and combos. The game is set in a gothic supernatural world, with high-definition visuals and exotic locales. It offers dynamic action, explosive fighting options, and a gripping story, providing an unforgettable experience only Devil May Cry games can offer.

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89%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,084 reviews
story154 positive mentions
grinding22 negative mentions

  • The combat system is deep, rewarding, and allows for a variety of playstyles with both Nero and Dante.
  • The graphics are impressive for a game of its age, and the cutscenes are well-produced and engaging.
  • The game offers high replayability with multiple difficulty levels and modes, including the exclusive Legendary Dark Knight mode.
  • The second half of the game involves backtracking through the same levels and fighting the same bosses, which can feel repetitive.
  • The camera angles can be frustrating and hinder gameplay at times.
  • The story is considered weak and predictable, with some characters lacking depth.
  • story
    618 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of Devil May Cry 4 is generally viewed as decent but flawed, with many players noting its predictability and reliance on typical anime tropes. While the narrative follows new character Nero on a quest intertwined with returning favorite Dante, it suffers from pacing issues and repetitive mission design, particularly in the second half where players retrace steps as Dante. Despite these shortcomings, the engaging characters and entertaining cutscenes contribute to an overall enjoyable experience, especially for fans of the series.

    • “The story is enjoyable and the combat is great.”
    • “This game is really emotional and I love it so much, the characters and story are amazing, the aesthetic is beautiful as well.”
    • “Now the story is fantastic, it draws the player in and adds a sense of urgency and compassion at the situation suited.”
    • “The story unfortunately is really crap... like really bad.”
    • “The story is terrible but you honestly shouldn't care if you're not buying this to read the script.”
    • “The only real downside is how dante's side of the story is a literal backtrack of nero's story, down to fighting the exact same bosses.”
  • gameplay
    302 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay in Devil May Cry 4 is widely praised for its fluid mechanics, depth, and satisfying combat, making it a standout in the hack-and-slash genre. Players appreciate the distinct styles of the two protagonists, Nero and Dante, which add variety and complexity to the combat experience, although some note that the gameplay can become repetitive due to backtracking and limited boss encounters. Overall, while the story may not be as strong, the engaging and rewarding gameplay keeps players invested and entertained.

    • “Great gameplay, very smooth, and it was just overall fun as heck.”
    • “The gameplay is what really makes this game shine.”
    • “In terms of gameplay, Devil May Cry 4 is probably the best of the series.”
    • “Bosses - they are probably the most interesting part of the game, yet they are just 5 and you will go through the same boss fights about 2-3 times, so gameplay is absolutely repetitive; some people might like it, I didn't.”
    • “The cutscenes were over-the-top and fun to watch, but unfortunately, I really just wanted there to be more cutscenes because the gameplay is just... not good.”
    • “The gameplay with Nero is a bit repetitive, as his combat is a bit simple unless you want to use a few odd mechanics, like where you charge up the motor on his sword.”
  • graphics
    214 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers noting their impressive quality, especially considering the game's age (released in 2008). Players appreciate the beautiful art style, solid animations, and the ability to run well on lower-end hardware, although some mention minor graphical glitches. Overall, the visuals are described as stunning and still hold up well against more recent titles.

    • “The graphics are incredible given its age and the gameplay is off the charts.”
    • “The graphics hold up really well for being made in 2008.”
    • “The graphics are so amazing and I got a medium good computer Radeon HD 6490; gosh, so amazing, no lag, love this game, keep it up!”
    • “Unlike the special edition, this runs on a goddamn toaster, or, more specifically, laptops with Intel graphics.”
    • “The graphics are definitely showing their age, but I'd say overall it looks pretty decent.”
    • “When I played this game on the PS3, it was a bit bad, only for how some of the graphics and quality overall.”
  • music
    130 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising its high-quality rock and orchestral tracks that enhance the combat and overall atmosphere. While some players find the soundtrack exhilarating and fitting for the action, others criticize it for being repetitive and lacking variety, particularly during combat sequences. Overall, the soundtrack is generally regarded as a strong aspect of the game, contributing to its fun and engaging experience, despite some dissenting opinions.

    • “The soundtrack is a solid mix of rock and drum-&-bass for fights, using lyrical tracks to help amp up the mood, with orchestral/piano stuff for cutscenes/end bosses and even some ambient tracks while exploring, and it's all really high quality.”
    • “Soundtrack is epic and provides you with just enough adrenaline you need to fight hordes of demons.”
    • “The tight gameplay, great music and unforgettable characters make this game very worthwhile to pick up if you're a fan of the genre.”
    • “The music for the game is frankly abysmal, sounding like the sort of hard rock you’d get from some godawful band like Disturbed.”
    • “With the same damn song playing constantly through the game any time you enter combat and the action heats up.”
    • “But there was so much action, and the music was extremely annoying.”
  • optimization
    74 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The optimization of DMC4 is widely praised, with many users noting that it runs exceptionally well even on low-end hardware, often achieving 60+ frames per second. In contrast, the Special Edition is criticized for its poor optimization, including stuttering and performance drops. Overall, the original version is considered a technical marvel, showcasing solid performance and smooth gameplay, making it a standout PC port.

    • “The superior version of DMC4, better combat, all tech are included, the best optimized game I've ever played on PC, it'll run on any toaster with 60+ frames.”
    • “It is a gorgeous looking game, and is so well optimized that it runs like a dream, even on low-end hardware.”
    • “Runs smoother than the finest silk even on a toaster: a miracle of modern optimization.”
    • “Prevents modding, cheat engine, and reduces performance by up to 10-15 fps with stutters.”
    • “The special edition also has annoying microstuttering issues which can make you fail your combos/advanced techniques.”
    • “Combat sucks a rusty bucket of nails, the dodge move is a pile of junk, the PC optimization might as well not exist, since there's no bloody mouse controls!”
  • replayability
    56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is praised for its high replayability, featuring multiple difficulty levels, various playable characters, and engaging modes like the Bloody Palace survival challenge. While some reviewers note that the game's structure can feel repetitive, the overall content and scoring systems provide ample opportunities for players to revisit and enjoy the experience. However, the Special Edition offers even more replay value, making it a recommended choice for newcomers.

    • “The game is also packed to the brim with content, and has plenty of replayability with all its difficulty modes and the Bloody Palace (survival mode).”
    • “There's a lot of replay value if you like the idea of harder challenges or just want to get a better score.”
    • “The replay value is really high, having many difficulties, different characters, and secret mini missions.”
    • “First off, this version of the game has been made obsolete by the special edition, which has more playable characters, a couple of new modes, and more content for your buck.”
    • “While I feel this game has a ton of replayability, the game starts to lose its flow by having you play as Nero and then switch to Dante in the second half, replaying pretty much the majority of the game backwards.”
    • “My only complaint is that this game doesn't seem to have near as high of a replayability value as the other DMCs.”
  • humor
    36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its entertaining and over-the-top moments, particularly through the character of Dante, whose cocky and laid-back personality adds a comedic flair to the gameplay. Players highlight hilarious cut-scenes, including theatrical exchanges between characters, which contribute to a lighthearted tone that contrasts with the game's serious elements. Overall, the humor enhances the experience, making it both fun and engaging despite some criticisms of the game's structure.

    • “Good story, good combat, and funny moments with Dante.”
    • “Remarkably awesome spectacle fighter that ends up not taking itself too seriously with its great sense of humor, in contrast to how it starts out.”
    • “Over-the-top hilarious cut-scenes such as a back-and-forth theatrical soliloquy between Dante and one of the game's bosses that is one of the funniest moments I've experienced in a game.”
  • grinding
    24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be largely tedious, with repetitive puzzles, slow upgrade processes, and excessive backtracking detracting from the overall experience. While the combat and cutscenes are enjoyable, the reliance on RNG and the need for constant grinding in arenas can make the latter parts of the game feel like a chore. Overall, the fun elements are overshadowed by the monotony of grinding tasks.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The end game is rather tedious because it relies on RNG to keep you occupied before the final moments of the game.”
    • “It does have a downside; it has a very tedious story mode compared to the other DMC games, and involves way too much backtracking, covering the same ground, reusage of assets, etc.”
  • stability
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game demonstrates strong stability, running smoothly even on lower-end hardware, with minimal graphical glitches that do not significantly detract from the experience. However, some users have reported occasional control issues and bugs, particularly related to camera angles. Despite these minor setbacks, the game's performance is generally praised as reliable and enjoyable.

    • “The game runs great and is really worth the price tag.”
    • “Great hack-n-slash game, runs great even on low-grade components!”
    • “Making a game which you can virtually forget is on a computer in your home, due to its smooth bug-free performance, is the mark of an elite developer team at the top of their game!”
    • “Can be some graphical glitches here and there though, but nothing too big of a problem.”
    • “Anyway, this game is not as good as the other games; the controls are a bit crap at times, even buggy as well. The godawful camera angles and the non-existent character development make it boring. You never really get introduced to a character; they just sort of show up in a cutscene, and your player character already knows their name, and then that's it, no backstory.”
    • “The controls are a bit crap at times, even buggy, which affects the overall experience.”
  • character development
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is praised for its well-rounded characters and excellent voice acting, complemented by high-quality character designs. While some critiques suggest a lack of originality in the character and world design compared to previous titles, the overall artistic presentation and engaging gameplay are highlighted positively.

    • “The characters are well rounded with great voice acting, along with the character designs themselves.”
    • “Perfect art/character design, epic soundtrack and insane gameplay (with a turbo option to make the combat faster).”
    • “Seriously, it's like they asked Satan to do their character design.”
    • “The world design and character design is very similar to the previous games.”
    • “Senran Kagura will feature character designs from Nan Yaegashi and scenario work from Yukinori Kitajima.”
  • emotional
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is praised for its strong emotional impact, featuring a compelling story and well-developed characters that explore themes of humanity and love. Players appreciate the beautiful aesthetics and the emotional depth, particularly during challenging gameplay moments that evoke tears. Overall, it is recommended for those who enjoy action games with a heartfelt narrative.

    • “This game is really emotional, and I love it so much. The characters and story are amazing, and the aesthetic is beautiful as well.”
    • “It continues the themes of humanity and is driven by a sentimental, if rather cheesy, emotional core of love.”
    • “The hardest difficulty really makes me want to cry; the time has come, and so have I.”
  • atmosphere
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is predominantly described as creepy and eerie, reminiscent of horror titles, thanks to its dark level design and effective use of changing camera angles. This unsettling ambiance enhances the overall experience, making it more enjoyable for players than initially expected.

    • “The fresh atmosphere of this game made things actually more enjoyable than I thought beforehand.”
    • “Most of the time, it gives the impression that it's a horror game due to its creepy atmosphere and level design.”
    • “Some gameplay elements, such as the changing camera angles, carry over from Resident Evil, and it does have an eerie atmosphere to it.”
    • “The level design is suitably dark, and the atmosphere is appropriate.”
  • monetization
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization strategy for the game is effectively supported by promotional events like the true style tournament, which enhances visibility and engagement. Players appreciate how these initiatives contribute positively to the overall experience.

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13h Median play time
11h Average play time
11h Main story
62h Completionist
8-14h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Devil May Cry 4 is a hack and slash game with horror and fantasy themes.

Devil May Cry 4 is available on PC, Xbox One, Windows, PlayStation 3 and others.

The main story can be completed in around 11 hours, while the entire game is estimated to take about 62 hours to finish. On average players spend around 11 hours playing Devil May Cry 4.

Devil May Cry 4 was released on December 21, 2009.

Devil May Cry 4 was developed by Capcom.

Devil May Cry 4 has received positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

Devil May Cry 4 is a single player game.

Similar games include DmC: Devil May Cry, Devil May Cry HD Collection, Devil May Cry 5, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow, Bayonetta and others.