Devil May Cry 4

About

In Devil May Cry 4, play as Nero, a new protagonist with a demonic arm, battling through hordes of enemies in a gothic-inspired world. The game features fast-paced combat with a variety of weapons and styles, as well as a dramatic storyline with twists and turns. As you progress, unlock new abilities and combos to enhance your fighting style and take on even tougher challenges.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

89%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,042 reviews

story77 positive mentions

grinding11 negative mentions

The combat system is deep and rewarding, allowing for a variety of combos and playstyles with both Nero and Dante.
The graphics are impressive for a game released in 2008, and the PC port runs smoothly even on lower-end hardware.
The game features engaging cutscenes and a fun, albeit predictable, storyline that keeps players entertained.

The second half of the game involves backtracking through the same levels as Dante, which can feel repetitive and lazy.
The camera angles can be frustrating at times, making it difficult to navigate certain areas and engage in combat effectively.
Some players may find the character of Nero less appealing compared to Dante, leading to a less enjoyable experience during his segments.

story
309 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
68%
7%
The story of Devil May Cry 4 is generally viewed as entertaining but flawed, featuring a mix of predictable plot elements and melodramatic moments typical of the series. Players appreciate the character development, particularly of Nero and Dante, but criticize the repetitive nature of missions and the lack of depth in the narrative. While the story serves as a backdrop for the engaging combat, many agree that it is not the game's strongest aspect, often overshadowed by the action and gameplay mechanics.
- “The story is enjoyable and the combat is great.”
- “The story is awesome and the graphics are kind of good too.”
- “The story unfortunately is really crap... like really bad.”
- “The story is weak and rushed.”
- “The story is very well done with incredible cutscenes.”
gameplay
151 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
58%
2%
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. However, some critiques mention repetitive boss fights and backtracking, which can detract from the overall enjoyment, yet the core gameplay remains engaging and rewarding.
- “Great gameplay, very smooth, and it was just overall fun as heck.”
- “The gameplay is what really makes this game shine.”
- “The gameplay has many different ways to approach fights, the cutscenes will make you laugh, and then gape in awe, the characters are lovable, and the action is to die for.”
- “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 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.”
- “It's towards the end of the game that the cut-content and rushed nature of DMC4's gameplay shines through, though.”
graphics
107 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
38%
3%
The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their impressive quality, especially considering its 2008 release date, with many users noting that they still hold up well today. The visuals are described as beautiful, crisp, and colorful, with solid animations and a variety of environments, making it accessible even on lower-end hardware. While some reviews mention minor graphical glitches and the age of the graphics, the overall consensus is that the game delivers a visually appealing experience that enhances the gameplay.
- “The graphics are absolutely breathtaking... if you have a rig good enough to max out the graphics settings.”
- “Considering this game was released around the launch of the Xbox 360, the graphics are brilliantly crisp and a great opportunity for die-hard fans to enjoy the game again in all of its glory :)”
- “The graphics are perfect; for a 2008 game, it even beats some newer games.”
- “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
65 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
65%
31%
5%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising its high-quality rock and orchestral tracks that enhance the combat experience 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 gameplay.
- “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 music is great, the challenge is perfect, the boss fights are epic.”
- “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.”
- “The music is bad and there is a lot of backtracking but this is definitely a must play.”
optimization
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
49%
8%
The optimization of DMC4 varies significantly between versions, with the original being praised for its exceptional performance, even on low-end hardware, while the Special Edition is criticized for poor optimization, stuttering, and reduced frame rates. Many users highlight the original's ability to run smoothly on older systems and appreciate its lack of unnecessary graphical effects that hinder performance. Overall, the original DMC4 is regarded as a technical marvel, while the Special Edition suffers from notable optimization issues.
- “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.”
- “This game also still looks good and is optimized really well, even though it's over 10 years old now so I recommend you pick this one up to complete your DMC collection.”
- “The engine itself is so well optimized it borders on black magic.”
- “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
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
54%
11%
Overall, the game boasts high replayability due to its multiple playable characters, various difficulty modes, and engaging challenges like the Bloody Palace survival mode. While some players note that the narrative structure can feel repetitive, the abundance of unlockables and scoring systems keeps the experience fresh and enjoyable. The Special Edition enhances replay value further, making it a compelling choice for fans of the genre.
- “Overall, a great game and plenty of replay value.”
- “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.”
- “First off, this version of the game has been made obsolete by the special edition, which has more playable characters, a couple 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
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its entertaining and over-the-top moments, particularly through hilarious cut-scenes and character interactions, especially between Dante and his foes. Players appreciate the lighthearted tone that contrasts with the game's serious elements, making for a fun and engaging experience filled with witty dialogue and comedic situations. Overall, the humor adds a significant layer of enjoyment, enhancing the game's appeal despite some criticisms of its gameplay mechanics.
- “Good story, good combat, and funny moments with Dante.”
- “Over-the-top hilarious cut-scenes, such as a back-and-forth theatrical soliloquy between Dante and one of the game's bosses, are some of the funniest moments I've experienced in a game.”
- “There's a particularly funny moment when he and one of the villains act like they're in a play when they meet to fight on a stage.”
grinding
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
92%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, often involving slow upgrades, excessive backtracking, and reliance on RNG for progression. While some enjoy the combat and cutscenes, many feel that the latter parts of the game suffer from monotonous tasks and frustrating puzzles, detracting from the overall experience.
- “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 has a very tedious story mode compared to the other DMC games, involving way too much backtracking, covering the same ground, and reusing assets.”
stability
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
71%
29%
Overall, the game's stability is praised for its smooth performance and ability to run well even on lower-end hardware, with minimal graphical glitches reported. However, some users have noted issues with controls and camera angles, indicating that while the game runs great, there are occasional bugs that can affect gameplay experience.
- “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!”
- “There can be some graphical glitches here and there, but nothing too big of a problem.”
- “This game is not as good as the other games; the controls are a bit crap at times and even buggy. 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 with no backstory.”
character development
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
Character development in the game is praised for its well-rounded characters and excellent voice acting, complemented by high-quality character designs. While the world design remains consistent with previous titles, the collaboration with notable artists enhances the overall aesthetic. The combination of perfect art, an epic soundtrack, and engaging gameplay contributes to a compelling character experience.
- “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).”
- “Senran Kagura will feature character designs from Nan Yaegashi and scenario work from Yukinori Kitajima.”
- “Seriously, it's like they asked Satan to do their character design.”
- “The world design and character design are very similar to the previous games.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its deep emotional impact, featuring compelling characters and a beautiful aesthetic that enhances its themes of humanity and love. Players appreciate the blend of action and sentimentality, with some expressing that the challenging gameplay evokes strong feelings, making it a recommended experience for those who enjoy emotionally resonant stories alongside engaging action.
- “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
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
75%
The game's atmosphere is predominantly characterized by a creepy and eerie vibe, enhanced by dark level design and effective use of changing camera angles. This unsettling ambiance contributes significantly to the overall experience, making it more enjoyable than initially anticipated.
- “The level design is suitably dark, and the atmosphere is appropriate.”
- “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, but the atmosphere feels lacking and uninspired.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy for the game is effectively supported by promotional events like the true style tournament, which enhances visibility and engagement, making it a standout feature for players.