"Ill just get this out of the way: Nero is awesome. Any reservations fans may have about the young upstart replacing Dante as the main hero will evaporate in the first hour of Devil May Cry 4. Nero delivers all of the combo-driven action you would expect from this series, but he also opens the door for new mechanics that will make it difficult to go back to previous installments. Dante established the stylish combat at the core of the DMC, but Nero is taking it forward."
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I also wanted to know more about the characters and the plot, but it is ultimately a good thing that the games focus on combat never wavers. The expertly tuned balancing is better here than any other entry in the series; it isnt as punishing as the third game, and the difficulty gradually increases to ease you into new challenges. A seasoned DMC veteran will have no problem with the early missions, but a couple of the boss fights rank right up there with those in DMC 3.
Ive been a fan of this series since the beginning, and this entry surprised me by giving me new features and options I didnt even know I wanted. They form a tight, precise combat system that action aficionados will adore, but newcomers can still utilize. Devil May Cry 4 delivers polished, fiendish thrills that eclipse other games in the series, and almost all contemporaries in the genre."
9/10
- Joe Juba
Second Opinion
"Although Devil May Cry 4 introduces a new protagonist, theres little chance of him being booed off of the TV screen like Metal Gear Solids Raiden. Nero is a bona fide killer and, dare I say it, just as likeable hero as Dante. His Devil Bringer factors brilliantly into combat, and adds an over-the-top edge to his amazing combos. Nero could certainly carry this game on his own, but the shocking events in the introductory cutscene make you count the seconds until you get to suit up as Dante again, which you eventually do. And yes, he lives up to his legacy. For both characters, the series combat is as exciting as ever, and the bosses they confront are simply some of the best in gaming. The levels, however, suffer from lulls in the action, and far too much repetition in the fight these enemies to open this door goals, but their beautiful artistry cannot be denied. Even with some faults, this is the very definition of what I expect from an action game. Its intense, stylish, and all about the cut of the blade."
9/10
- Andrew Reiner
