Yeah, played all DMC games before DmC, with DMC3 being the first one. Shortly after realizing how impressive it was when it comes to gameplay, and rather liking the characters - however cliché they might've been - and its witty writing, I played DMC1. Was less impressed by that one, as its gameplay was shallower, but I thought it must've been pretty good back in 2001. It still has the best version of Dante in terms of personality, I think, though he could've been a little bit wittier and should've had a better actor play him. That would've helped immensely.
Played DMC2 after that ('meh' is all I can say), and lastly, DMC4. Despite 4 being less typically dark or gothic, I quite liked it. I thought its style stood for how a new age would start with Nero. After all, the idea was that he was the second coming of Sparda. Nero's gameplay was slightly too shallow, but I liked it. Loved the fight with Credo - throwing his huge spears back and impaling him. Loved Dante's gameplay, but not the backtracking. DMC3 had a kind of backtracking of its own, and DMC4 made it even worse. I guess you could say that DMC4 took most of the things from DMC3 and enhanced them, including the bad things. I sort of liked DMC4 Dante, as he was like a more mellow version of his DMC3 self. That said, he seemed invincible, and the getup didn't do much for me.
Played them in the HD Collection again too. I'm really hoping they'll find a good way to finish the series. Even though I liked it, DMC4 can be retconned or even pronounced non-canon for all I care.